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Mayor Tony Mack Announces Highlights of First Thirty Days
TRENTON—Mayor Tony F. Mack hosted a press conference today announcing key updates to his administration in the Mayor’s Conference Room. The press conference highlighted the administration’s first thirty days in office, and showcased the impact of the new administration’s constructive decision making.
“The election season is over. I am not in the business in slinging mud, my mother told me a long time ago, that mud spelled backwards is….well I can let you figure that out. Today I want to highlight our first thirty days of accomplishments. As it relates to all family matters, they are just that, family matters,” stated Mayor Tony Mack.
• As a result of the $3.2million dollars found in unspent Community Development Block Grant monies we will develop and complete a massive overhaul of our parks and recreational facilities. These include, but are not limited to: indoor academic and recreational facility at Hetzel field to include a computer learning center and an indoor track; also a major overhaul of Father Rocco Park with NFL great Troy Vincent we will begin construction on a Pop-Warner multipurpose stadium to include an all purpose fieldto include, but not limited to soccer and football. In addition, we will build a state-of-the-art artificial turf baseball stadium in Cadwalader Park at the existing location across from Joyce Kilmer Elementary School.
• Saving 1.5M dollars in cutting professional service dollars included but not limited to legal services.
• We evaluated the past policies, procedures, and proposed budget and staff restructuring created by the prior administration. Some of those choices were careless and irresponsible. We have already begun creating new policies and procedures to ensure our children and their parents are protected during summer months by making a commitment to maintain the extended hours of operation for our pools.
• Trenton’s libraries are near and dear to my heart- we are in the process of securing private philanthropic funding that we hope will alleviate some of the proposed closings to our five branches. Once these funding streams are confirmed we will make a formal announcement to the public.
• With the help of City Council President George Muschall, Vice President Phyllis Holly-Ward, Councilwoman Kathy McBride, Councilman Alex Bethea, Councilman Zachary Chester, Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson, and Councilwoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, we have established a series of purchasing seminars to educate local contractors on the bidding process for securing contractual opportunities with the City of Trenton.
• We traveled to Washington, D.C. to find answers to federal funding and national trends for urban cities. We met with the New Jersey delegation which includes: Senator Lautenberg; Senator Menendez; Congressman Rush Holt; and Congressman Christopher Smith. We also met with federal representatives from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation, and the Whitehouse Office of Urban Affairs.
• Terminated the irresponsible contractual agreement with Westside Plaza on Hermitage Avenue which saved the City of Trenton well over half a million dollars.
• We submitted our first grant application to the Administration of Children’s and Families through the Department of Health and Human Services, and if awarded it will allow us to create a program that mentors children of incarcerated individuals. The grant is titled, “Breaking Cycles of Crime and Incarceration.”
• We created a strategy to keep the same level of patrol on our streets regardless to whatever version of the lay-off plan come about.
• As it relates to our seniors we have identified grant opportunities that will expand senior services related to transportation, programming, and public safety in senior communities. We will open all five senior citizen centers, in addition we will provide additional transportation for shopping, doctors appointments, and enhance our senior gala.
• As it relates to parks and recreation, we have identified private and non-profit sources that are partnering with us to open all six recreation centers as well as religious organizations which committed to being after-school tutorial sites during the school year.
• In conjunction with local Pastors, Deacon Ollie Green and his son Darren “Freedom” Green, we will host a Youth Summit and expand existing opportunities for youth and seniors.
• We are in the process of developing a five year plan for improving our roads and infrastructure throughout the City with the help of the county and state. These plans include total repaving of downtown streets and troubled streets throughout the City.
• We partnered with Trenton Council of Civic Associations to clean and maintain highly littered areas throughout the City of Trenton resulting in random acts of volunteering from various stakeholders.
• We created the new Office of Grants and Funding to help secure additional revenue streams for the City of Trenton.
• We established a relationship with Artworks to provide an after school tutorial program and a summer camp enrichment program for the City’s youth.
• We have also attended numerous events encouraging and promoting unity in our community.
“This breaks the surface of what we believe will be an extraordinary facelift for our City. While the City of Trenton is facing an unprecedented historical budget deficit and retooling. we must find solutions, not excuses—and not personal attacks. As you see, the road to recovery-is paved with some unpleasant bumps and bruises, but, we’re well on our way to restoring the City of Trenton to its once greatness.
Thank you,” concluded Mayor Tony Mack.
If you have questions or concerns regarding any of proposals before they are implemented contact Lauren Ira, Director of Policy and Communications at (609) 989-3052.
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