A resident looks at the suggestions to help Perth Amboy.
By Katherine Massopust–
PERTH AMBOY – On Wednesday, September 25, 2013 there was an intense meeting open to the public at the Jankowski Community Center, One Olive St., Perth Amboy. The public was asked to give a no holds barred approach on the issues of what Perth Amboy needs to improve. Residents from many parts of Perth Amboy, ages early teens to late nineties, attended.
Seven organizations were present:
1. The N.E.A. (National Endowment for The Arts). Perth Amboy received an Arts & Cultural grant to improve arts in the City.
2. Together North Jersey – from New Jersey Transit which will concentrate on making Perth Amboy’s Train Station handicapped accessible.
3. An A.P.A. planning project.
4 and 5. Wells Fargo partnering with the Jewish Renaissance Foundation in a neighborhood revitalization project.
6. N.C.I.A. – A Brownfield Development Company which is working on a project to revitalize and develop the six to eight acre area of Second Street behind Wilentz School near the Waterfront.
7. A Rutgers University Graduate Project helping the people of Perth Amboy by prioritizing their needs.
Mayor Diaz, Annie Hindenlang.
The focus of the meeting was to bring a lot of attention on the Federal, State and Local level. “It’s the only way to make things happen is to get together,” Annie Hindenlang, Senior Planner, Office of Economic and Community Development, the City of Perth Amboy who coordinated this meeting stated.
Some of the issues residents were asked to addressed are: what businesses they want to see open up in Perth Amboy, along with what services are needed, the redevelopment of brownfields, etc. The public held nothing back when discussing their needs and the needs of the City. People were asked to provide suggestions (anything that they felt improved Perth Amboy) of recreational, educational, financial, quality of life needs, etc. Nothing was left off the table.
Resident Noelle Zaleski who attended the meeting with her son, Matthew stated, “Anything to better and beautify our City and better the quality of life.”
Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz was pleased to see so many young people at the meeting, “This is their City in the future. I want their input.”
Caroline Pozycki, cofounder of the Citizen’s Campaign who also attended the meeting stated, “It’s engaging in people in the process of revitalizing their town. It requires a willingness to keep an open process, giving encouragement to the participants and residents to contribute their ideas. This is the way you make things happen. If we all work together we will see some positive changes.”
This is the first in a series of meetings to improve Perth Amboy. The next meeting time and location is TBA.
