Columns/Opinions

At this past Monday’s Livingston Township Council meeting, the West Essex Tribune received a proclamation, lauding the publication for its 90 years serving Livingston residents.

President and publisher Jennifer Cone Chciuk, along with three of the Tribune’s four living editors, were there to accept the honor (the fourth only did not attend because she was working at the Livingston Board of Education meeting, just down the road).

The proclamation read, in part: “The mayor and members of the Livingston Township Council take great pride and pleasure in honoring the West Essex Tribune on its 90th anniversary, and the Township of Livingston is proud to consider the West Essex Tribune its hometown paper.”

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Tonight, Thursday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Livingston Planning Board meeting, an open public forum will be held to discuss amendments to general zoning requirements prohibiting medical marijuana dispensaries, retail, and wholesale stores in all zoning districts.

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We discussed Veterans Day in this space last week, but we feel compelled to briefly bring it up here once more.

On the annual holiday this past Monday, some of Livingston’s veterans, including members of the local VFW, gathered at Memorial Park to pay their respects. It was an informal affair; our veterans did not make a big deal out of this gathering.

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Election Day has come and gone. The races are over. Thanksgiving is almost here, and Christmas trees are already being purchased. It’s time to move on, but it is hard to do so with campaign signs still littering our streets.

As of publication day, today, Thursday, November 14, it has been nine days since the elections took place. Yet we still see signs scattered along major roads and at intersections. We debated highlighting some locations of signs that continue to line the streets, but our goal is not to call out candidates whose names adorn the offending signs. We simply want the signs taken out of the ground.

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With Election Day behind us and Veterans Day in front of us, it is a good time to think about “honor,” whether that means honoring voter decisions or honoring those who have fought for our great nation. These two significant days of our year present us with an interesting timeline. On Tuesday, we face the election results cheering if our candidates win. Over the next few days, we begin to shake off our “winner/loser” attitudes and move forward. And on Monday, we will pay tribute to all of the men and women who have served in the United States military services that protect our great nation.

Election Day and Veterans Day are inextricably linked. Our soldiers protect our democracy and its values, including the right to vote. It is as simple, and as complicated, as that. Veterans fight on our behalf. On Veterans Day, we celebrate their service and their dedication to our country.

Messer is the only incumbent running in this race. Based on her qualifications in the field of education and her experience as a Board of Education member here in Livingston, we believe she is deserving of another term in the position. Especially considering that at least one of these positions will be filled by a newcomer, there is something to be said for the consistency Messer brings to the table.

Because none of the other three candidates bring prior Board member experience with them, it is much more difficult to gauge their readiness for the job. They also align on many issues, making it more challenging to differentiate one candidate from another. We must rely heavily on their resumes, their performances in various talks and debates, and their written responses in the Tribune each week to form an educated decision on who would best fit the role.

Next Tuesday, November 5, is Election Day, and Livingston residents’ ballots will feature two local elections. There will be a special election for a one-year term on the Township Council, and two open seats for three-year terms on the Board of Education. Republican candidate Brandon Minde is challenging Democratic incumbent Michael Vieira for the Council seat. The four candidates for the Board of Education are incumbent Board member Sam Messer, as well as newcomers Seth Cohen, Alyse Berger Heilpern, and Sasha Pailet Koff.

Last year, we noted that Livingston prides itself on its volunteer opportunities, and we hoped that the candidates who did not win would have a continued presence in town, pursuing other positions where their efforts and ideas can be put to good use. That stands again this year. We hope to see all six of these candidates contributing to Livingston for years to come, regardless of the outcome of next week’s election.

There are less than two weeks before Election Day on Tuesday, November 5, and this year’s ballot will feature two contested local elections. Four candidates are vying for two open seats on the Board of Education, while two candidates are running in a special election to fill the final year of a term on the Township Council.

Some have cast their early votes, so the process is already underway. But for the majority of residents who have not yet voted, we encourage you to pay attention to the candidates and the issues as we approach voting day, not simply focus on the best looking lawn signs. It is important to remember just how valuable each vote is in a local election; in recent years, less than 100 votes have made the difference in some of these races. So your vote, or lack thereof, will shape this town moving forward.

A few weeks ago, Livingston’s Business Improvement District (BID) distributed its annual directory, mailing a copy to each and every home in town. The directory is produced by the Tribune on behalf of the BID; we provide the photographs, the layout work, and sell the advertising. This is a handy booklet for all businesses that are part of the BID, arranging them by category and including addresses and contact information. But the directory is just a small part of what the BID does for Livingston.

The BID is a volunteer organization that works to keep Livingston businesses healthy and growing; the BID also makes sure the township’s business area continues to invest in itself and its future. It is a liaison between business and commercial property owners and township departments, helps new businesses through the permit process and understanding ordinances, and assists businesses in planning their marketing programs.

Livingston Chief of Police Gary Marshuetz wants to remind residents of the state’s idling laws.Those in town can expect to see the laws enforced in town as we enter the colder months, when idling is more prevalent.

“New Jersey is ahead of the curve in passing anti-idling legislation, with the purpose to reduce air and noise pollution,” Chief Marshuetz said. “But there are also other concerns for the police department. Idling leads to the theft of more vehicles, the potential for vehicle fires, and the risk of a child entering an unoccupied vehicle and putting it in the drive position.”

Anti-idling laws were strengthened in New Jersey in 2012. It is now one of the strictest states for idling limits in the country.

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