By Katherine Massopust –

Citizen’s Campaign Co-Founder & Chair Harry
Pozycki

PERTH AMBOY – The Citizen’s Campaign Co-Founder and Chair, Harry Pozycki, welcomed over 50 attendees of the Citizen’s Campaign Meeting as they launched Bay City Conversations at the Terrazza Restaurant, Perth Amboy on Thursday, September 19. The Citizen’s Campaign is a nonpartisan group that helps people to be citizen leaders. They rely not on individual philosophy but on past results. This is the first in a series of meetings that will take place in Perth Amboy.

During the meeting, several members of the Citizen’s Campaign spoke.

“Our greatest strength is in the cities,” Pozycki states, citing positive results in Trenton and Camden. Perth Amboy is one of five cities including New Brunswick, Trenton, Newark and Jersey City which will take part in a three year plan for improvement. Pozycki stressed the fact that the group is non-political and for individuals to leave their agendas at home.

Dorian Smith, the Citizen’s Campaign lawyer stated he is a law policy expert and does research on what policies works for what cities. “The ideas and concerns for your community will be addressed.”

Resident Barry Rosengarten asked, “How do we identify what will work where you live?”

Smith answered, “It comes from your community. You will identify what needs to be done in Perth Amboy. You pick the issues. If there is evidence that something works somewhere else, then we try it.”

Aneil Mohammed, Senior Field Coordinator of the Citizen’s Campaign spoke about what you can do to make a difference in the community. One way is to be a citizen’s journalist. Another thing one can do is to engage organizations to bring out free resources to you.

Pozycki stated, “Perth Amboy will continue to be the model of every other city.

Citizen’s Campaign Meeting Attendees *Photos by Katherine Massopust

Heather Tuli spoke about “Impact Perth Amboy” a new website www.impactperthamboy.org. She urged everyone to “Start a Conversation,” and introduced three operating principals: 1) Common purpose, 2) Evidence based solution, and 3) No blame approach. “As long as these principals are adhered to.”

“We made a three year commitment to you. The needs of the City are the needs that you decide,” Tuli went on to say, “everybody knows somebody,” indicating the importance of networking. “The cities are the stepchild of the state. We bring in new power of our community.”

Resident Cathy DePow spoke, “You are more than welcome in Perth Amboy.”

Pozycki continued, “One thousand people came out to help after Hurricane Sandy. Perth Amboy is special. But we need to find more new leaders.”

Pozycki concluded the meeting and thanked his co-founder and wife, Caroline Pozycki and their daughter, Caroline Pozycki for their support.