(L to R) Miguel Nunez, Sharon Hubberman, Councilman Joel Pabon and Mayor Wilda Diaz pose for a photo after the debate at Temple Beth Mordecai on 10/27/16
Miguel Nunez
1K
PERTH AMBOY – On Thursday, October 27, 2016 The Amboy Guardian held its Mayoral Forum at Temple Beth Mordecai. Over 400 people attended.
The following are excerpts from some of the questions asked of the candidates.
Illegal Housing:
Sharon Hubberman: The situation of illegal housing is very sensitive. Many families cannot afford to pay property tax (so they rent out spaces in their homes illegally) Our average rents are $1900/Mo compared to Woodbridge Township which is $1800/Mo. This the reason people choose to live in an attic or a basement. I will not stand by Code Enforcement to trespass on people’s property. The solution: we need to have a Rent Leveling Board.
Miguel Nunez: We are a community of poor families. We need to sit down with the developers, investors and residents so our residents can live with dignity.
Joel Pabon
1J
Joel Pabon: I’ve gone to see illegal housing myself. It’s especially hard when you see children living in these conditions, especially with extension cords are hanging down. The First Responders are in jeopardy. It’s (illegal housing) been going on for years. The Fire Department should work with Code Enforcement. It’s a safety issue for the residents. The Fire Department and Code Enforcement should be working together.
Wilda Diaz: Code Enforcement and the Fire Department and the Department of Recreation all work together. I want to thank our Directors. I know how hard you work. They are working 6 days a week to address any issues. We show compassion and educate the people instead of punishing them. We want to show them how to be safe in their units. We are an urban city and our population is growing just like other urban towns. The people want to live, work and play in a city like Perth Amboy.
Joel Pabon Rebuttal: We need to take preventative measures so that the Recreation Department doesn’t have to take care of these people.
Parking:
Joel Pabon: Surrounding towns have no meters. It’s a very tough situation. We should get rid of some meters, especially in residential areas. I don’t know how they can be completely eliminated.
Wilda Diaz
1M
Wilda Diaz: They are revenue generators and some of the money is used to make repairs to our parking lots. We have a vibrant business district. In downtown Woodbridge, stores are closing. Our business are expanding. They are no longer just on Smith Street but also on Hall Avenue, State Street and Amboy Avenue.
Sharon Hubberman: If you can’t make a decision about parking meters – how can you make executive decisions? We should make sure that we have accessible parking for people who want park downtown. Buses are parked in the train station. They should not be parked there.
Homeless: Perth Amboy and New Brunswick are the only cities in Middlesex County that participate in a program to take in the homeless in severe inclement weather. Because of this, other Middlesex County municipalities send their homeless to us which puts a strain on our resources. What solution do you have for this problem?
Wilda Diaz: We have taken a proactive approach and have teamed up with social services. Some of the individuals that are homeless have health and mental issues. The Recreation Department also takes some of them in. Our Police Department, especially our Police Chaplains help feed the needy. We seriously help people who need us. We have been in talks with the other cities about doing their part.
Sharon Hubberman
1L
Sharon Hubberman: Being raised as a Roman Catholic, I believe in helping and feeding people. Our homeless rate is 8% while the coutny is .26% We have to look at our own people who are losing our homes. We need to reach out to other communities and let them know it’s their duty to help their own. Let’s look at our property taxes to help our residents keep their homes.
Wilda Diaz Rebuttal: In Perth Amboy we are blessed to have the Salvation Army, God’s Army Ministry an the YMCA who are helping the homeless and to seek housing for them.
Sharon Hubberman Rebuttal: People have been on a waiting list for affordable housing for a long time, and then they find out that there number on the list has been dropped down greatly which means they have to wait even longer for affordable housing.
Joel Pabon: At the end of the day we do a little bit too much. Other towns know that we will take care of their homeless and that’s why they send them to us. We need to talk to the Freeholders about this. I do agree with the Mayor that we take care of our own, but we can’t take care of those who are sent here from other towns.
Miguel Nunez: I’ve seen a lot of homeless and people on the streets. There is just no place here for all of them anymore.
Recreation:
Sharon Hubberman: Going to Board of Education Meetings we need to provide our young people with something to do which is both entertaining and educational. I know there is a separation between the City and the Board of Education, but they need to collaborate to increase the activities for our children. The Board of Education said they have a hard time working with the Mayor.
Joel Pabon: I have to kudos to Kenny Ortiz, the Director of Recreation and the Department of Public Works who make sure the parks are in shape for the activities. These people work 7 days a week. There was a study that said we need more recreation for the amount of people here. We have small parks. What I like to see is to have big parts built on those properties.
Wilda Diaz: Recreation is not only about sports. We have to think not only about having programs about literacy and scholastics. We have art activities and also activities for adults such as Zumba classes. There are programs for families, too.
Miguel Nunez: This should be happening all the time, not during just campaigning.
Historic Buildings: In the past, many historic buildings have been demolished. There is a remnant of a very historic city owned building on the corner of Rte. 35 and Smith Street which is scheduled to be demolished for a redevelopment project. This building is one of the last remnants of Eagleswood (a famous artist colony and progressive school in Perth Amboy for all races and sexes in the mid 1800’s). It is a vital part of Perth Amboy’s historic past. What would you do to preserve this building? Can we move it across the street to City owned property or move the development across the street to City owned property and make it a welcoming center?
Joel Pabon: This is very important. We have a lot of history here and I just found out the value of this property. We lost too many historic homes. There was a house torn down on Convery Boulevard and a fast food establishment was put there which eventually went out of business. We definitely need to look into this.
Wilda Diaz: I’m a history buff and we’ve had funding to save or renovate our historic building such as the Library, Ferry Slip and Kearny Cottage.For historic site, it is our responsibility to restore it and have archeological digs to make sure there is nothing valuable on those sites. I happy to report that another historic structure next to City Hall is scheduled to open soon.
Sharon Hubberman: We need to preserve these sites. I hear they’re talking about putting affordable homes on that site. Rutgers University said we need to preserve these sites. Perhaps we should put a University there instead. Thomas Mundy Peterson (The First Black American to vote under the 15th Amendment) – We need to have a statue put in place for him, and on more than one site.
Miguel Nunez was asked a question by the Moderator: You are the owner of a business called Turismo Immigration and Tax. What personal experience in your business helped prepare you to become Mayor?
Miguel Nunez: I’m in touch with the people in Perth Amboy and how they feel because they come to me when they have to contact their relatives or friends in other countries. They feel comfortable talking to me about their needs living here.
Mayor Diaz was given several subjects to respond to. She chose to speak about the Muncipal ID Program.
Wilda Diaz: It helps all residents, especially those who don’t speak English. We encourage people to speak two languages.
Joel Pabon was asked if his experience as being a Board of Education member in the past would benefit him if he were to be elected Mayor.
Joel Pabon: There definitely needs to be better communications in the City and The Board of Education. The Mayor’s position has nothing to do with the inside workings of the Board of Education.
Wilda Diaz: I will not support wasting money on changing the dates of elections and bogus environmental studies.
Sharon Hubberman: It took a long time for the property to be found for a high school. In the past we had a Superintendent who ruled like a dictator. The people who are there now are making progress.
Wilda Diaz Rebuttal: The SDA (School Development Authority) made it clear that they would not build a school on a contaminated site. This is state money that is being used.
