We finally have elected leaders who are committed to providing openness and transparency in our town government. I’ve been an Edison resident for 15 years and in the past I found it extremely difficult to find out about the town matters being decided by our government officials. I was uncertain of how to directly communicate my ideas and I didn’t have a whole lot of faith that my ideas were being heard. But it’s clear that our leadership in town has been committed to reversing those trends.
Residents should know about Mayor Jun Choi’s and Councilman Wayne Mascola’s recent initiative to allow residents to call a hotline and find out about what building plans and applications are going to be discussed before Zoning and Planning board meetings. In a town where land is being redeveloped and new businesses are being created, it’s important for residents to know about these critical decisions.
Zoning and Planning Board meetings are now also broadcasted on Edison TV, and the agendas and minutes for the meetings posted on the township website, http://www.EdisonNJ.org. These are things that just didn’t happen with our past leaders.
I’d also like to commend Mayor Choi for his willingness to hear opinions and suggestions from everyday residents. Living on a street where large trucks ride up and down my road threatening the safety of the children, I put together a petition and came to a Chat with the Mayor session to inform him of our situation. Soon after, the speeding trucks were forced to slow down while driving on our street.
This is the first time in 30 years this street has been given any respect by its travelers. Thank you to Mayor Choi and his administration for giving the residents back their quality of life.
It’s this type of openness to new ideas and his commitment to providing a more open government that have allowed Mayor Choi’s administration to directly connect with the residents of Edison and make our town a better place to live.
Not only is Mayor Choi committed to making government more open to everyday residents, he’s getting them involved in the political process. Even though I had never held a government position before, Mayor Choi asked me to run for a committee seat. He saw in me the motivation it takes to see improvements made. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen by only complaining about what is wrong. Being proactive is imperative.
New people are getting involved every day, allowing them a wonderful opportunity to make their voices heard. This is such a dramatic turnaround from the days where only a select few individuals had the only say on how government ran.
Under Mayor Choi’s leadership our town is headed in the right direction. If you have different views, it’s only because you have not yet taken the opportunity to meet or work with our wonderful mayor.
He is warm, kindhearted, funny, highly motivated and very smart. Mayor Choi is someone I obviously respect and admire, but what matters most to me, he is someone my children can connect with, look up to and trust.
We need him around for as long as he is willing to stay!
Marla Kentos
Edison