good luck with that...

New Industries...Good Paying Jobs ? A fresh new outlook on the problems facing Wayne ? Bringing businesses back into Wayne ?
Q. What businesses left that weren't scheduled to leave ?

Economics change. Demographics change.
Soon the 2 major automotive companies will begin retailing their rental cars instead of auctioning them to new car dealers, keep in mind that both corporations are owned by larger corporations that use the rental fleets as "play toys" while they invest in larger projects outside the auto industry.

The type of investors Wayne needs to encourage, have no interest in small parcels in locations that border-line " periodic flood-zone conditions".
After subtracting the tax exempt land mass created by our schools, hospital, college campus, 36 parks, places of worship, cemeties, golf courses, and the many other quasi-public clubs, civic centers, fire and rescue facilities, and senior facilities, then add in that we must maintain at least 5% of our undeveloped land (in each neighborhood ), and another 350 acres of land already owned in the flood zones, what space is left that is going to become a priority interest for "new business " ?
Wayne is an excellent town. It doesn't look like Clifton, and it shouldn't be looking towards trying to mirror economic growth like Clifton.
Therefor, our priority should be to continue expanding our current homes and encouraging our local government to keep buying "open space" properties to limit any further business expansion. Of course this means less ratables and higher taxes, but it also means more value for our property, and that's the real investment.

Anyone that wants higher taxes and more empty land is only fooling them selves. We can't live in a vacume. We could have had Home Depot in Wayne instead we have the traffic but not the tax, we could have had Lowe's on Rt. 23 but instead we have empty buildings. These two store settled on Rt. 23 north in Butler, what a shame. Wayne was to good for this type of business. Take a look around and you will see empty buildings here and there. Let's face it we are not a small farming community but a large town with a large population. This population requires services that can only be provided through tax dollars. More homes means more of these services, schools etc. How many other applications have been turned down because a minority tries to continue this illusion of a small town. We don't even have a main street.

My correction, Home Depot is on River View Drive (Rt. 46) in Totowa. We get the traffic through Alps Road and French Hill Road.

Sounds great if it were to actually be implemented. Currently our mayor issues out new business licenses also. Only problem they are to prostitution/massage parlors which are now all around our town and next to our schools!

Wow, on a platform of cutting spending, bringing businesses back into town and preventing future tax increase. I can't wait for this to happen. I used to vote for Rep. Now I am willing to give her a try.

She is not a politician. She's a professor.
What we have now, our current mayor and council are career politicians.

Isn't it a bit early to be close minded? While I admit, this candidate has an up hill battle, to shut her out right from the getgo is a bit short sighted. I get the impression if God ran on the Democratic ticket in this town, you close minded individuals would still vote for the current elected officials. If you're happy with one party rule in this town, if you're happy with a Republican monopoly, controlling both the BOE and Town Council, then so be it. You're certainly entitled to that. If you're happy with the taxes you pay, relative to the services you get, no problem. One thing is for sure...there will be no change in this Town, unless change is made at the governing level. Let me set the record straight. I am not certainly not endorsing this candidate at this point. However, I do want to meet her and speak with her to find out more about her. She must be an intelligent individual, being an Ivy League school graduate.

They most definitely are not career politicians. They all have other jobs and do this part time. Moonlighting as a mayor is not a career politician. Where was he when the town didn't have lights?

God is not in this town, except for a
few devotees.

Interesting is that her platform sounds like a GOP candidate, not a traditional tax & spend Democrat. Does this mean she is for less public employees on the payroll and less wasteful spending and less burden on us private sector workers? Is she willing to make tough choices/cuts and face the repercussions? Highly HIGHLY doubtful since she is an academician/ public sector worker herself - who has zero experience in the private sector in-order to streamline budget/tax shortfalls. I am willing to listen to her rhetoric & campaign promises - but already have a fish-eye raised.

At the local level, there is no difference between a Republican and Democrat. The problems Al Scala mentions (windmill litigation, OPRA requests, etc.), could have happened under a Democrat controlled council and mayor. However, I do agree that the same people should not be in office year after year after year. (I won't go as far as Thomas Jefferson, who believed we should have a revolution every now and then, but there is an institutionalization effect when the same person or group of people are in power for too long.

I try, I really try to read the rights comments but I can only get in a few words deep before I become bored of the usual talking point ad hominem that ultimately never really address the facts? Like tax-n-spend? As opposed to what? TAX-TAX-TAX?

Wow, a woman candidate for Mayor, BRAVO!!! This is exactly what we need. Someone with compassion and a fresh new outlook on the issues going on in Wayne. Someone who will be more concerned for the residents than their own personal political carreer. I applaud this candidate and cannot wait for the debates! Good Luck Ms Del Vecchio!

I always hear "changes ", changes how ? I also hear "new business", what businesses would make the town a better place to live or change the tax ratable - if it were possible ? How about "smaller government", who don't we need that could be terminated, making town-hall more effective ?
People post " more services " - what don't we have ?
Police-Fire-Resue are "excellent, not good- "excellent". If you don't think so-what would you change ?
There will always be new ideas, room for advancement, and a sense of urgency to fill any vacant buildings and properties. There is will be an out-cry of "No more taxes", just as there will always be a need for more money in the budget to accommadate those that feel that they aren't getting a fair shake.

Bobtwo:
That is correct, and many of the facors that make up our school tax are beyond the control of our 'local' government and elected or appointed officials.
" Excessive spending is not always-or even often-the root cause of rising property taxes. There are numerous mandates, regulations, and other state and Federal actions that impact taxes".
We also have to take into account how much the state DOESN'T give our municiaplity for relief, and how much of the school budget cannot be reduced. Education costs make up the largest portion of our tax bill, and much of that goes to 'compliance' with state laws and regulations. At the local level, we have no say in state mandated Education Programs, Environmental Programs, Health Services, Work Rules and Benefit Levels, Wage Requirements for Public Construction etc.

I'm sure that Ms. Francine Del Vecchio is aware of all of this, and if so, her platform has to be based on what we're limited to, and that's cutting the budget of our Police Force either in size, benefits or salaries. But as she will find, the salaries are determined by arbitrators guided by State Law. This leaves her with 'smaller size' and benefits ?
My question's stand: Cut what ? Change what? and to benefit who ?

Thank Govenor Christie for the property tax cap on arbitration and pension awards. Without it, our taxes would increased 4.7% last year, and about the same again this year.

This is a republican town. Better the devil you know than the one you don't.

What do you mean they collect pensions working less than part time hours????? Cut their pensions??? People who work 100 plus hours a week don't get pensions, why should the absentee mayor and council get pensions? I don't believe that they are entitled? OMG.

Is Del Vecchio even a property owner/ taxpayer in Wayne?

Linda, I think you might have wanted to ask the Democratic Party what they were smoking?? What's in that hookah pipe?

What information is known about this unknown?

I will ask her directly if we can do anything with the rotting Wayne Hills Mall. The other Pols told me no, because it is private property. Don't towns have Urban redevelopment committees? Why does Wayne only get new hair salons, dry cleaners & massage parlors? In the cross section of Passaic & Bergen Counties, the Mall could easily be redeveloped, & attract stores like Century 21, Whole Foods, Christmas Tree Shops, etc. Our politicians are plain lazy- they will spend hours debating a storage shed as our town deteriorates. And, 200+ dollars per year in tax increase & they act like they are doing us a favor. Disgraceful.

I'm curious, the head of the County Democratic party said she's business smart but I don't see anything related to business experience. It seems that she is a lifelong educator in the arts, not that there is anything wrong with that.

Perhaps Ms Del is using her maiden name as her professional name?

Justice.....I googled the candidate. She is married to a Kenneth Delvecchio, so I don't think she is using her maiden name. She holds a Doctorate degree from Columbia University, not too shabby. She is a Professor at Caldwell College, a private, not public college. Apparently, her and her husband are playwrights who write, produce and at times act in these plays and or movies. Her husband is an attorney who not only has practiced law, but has written several books on the law. They are an interesting couple. Both seem to be very intelligent. Not that ,that seems to be a criteria for office these days.

Al, thank you for sharing. It sounds positive.

Bobtwo.....If I'm not mistaken, I think Scuralli is the only educator on the Town Council. I think he is a college professor. I don't think there are any other educators on the Council.

Bobtwo, YES, some people started at the board and jumped to a bigger ship on the town council.

Chicken Little, take a look at your real estate taxes, with the new increase in school tax, and tell me what you think. The numbers don't make sense. You have 19K residences @ 205 dollars per household which comes to almost 4 million in additional income. This exceeds the 2% of the 132 million budget (132 million X .02 = 2,640,000). What about the commercial properties? Just curious about the numbers.

When one party controls the town politically, which the WRRO does, they could do whatever they want. They control both the Town Coucil and the BOE. They can cherry pick whoever they want. They simply take someone from the BOE, install them on the Council, then appoint another to take that place on the BOE. Politically, it's an enviable position to be in. The question is.....does this situation serve the people of Wayne well? Does this situation give the people of Wayne the voice they need or should have? Is there a checks and balance system? Only the voters can make that decision. I personally think too much control is unhealthy. However, that's just my spin on things. A perfect scenario in a perfect world would have a few Democrats, a few Independents and a few Republicans serve on the Council. Is that ever going to happen? I doubt it! It would also be nice to have a true non- partisan group on the BOE. When the controlling party wants to grab control of the BOE, as well as having full control of the Town Council, it makes you wonder, why?

In keeping with the above, having full control of the Town Council, they get to appoint all the Boards, Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, Library Board, Environmental Board, etc., etc., etc. Total control over everything and then some! It reminds me of a song my kids used to sing when they were young...."If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. The WRRO and the political bosses within must be clapping their hands profusely.

I wish her all the luck in the world in defeating "Ribbon Cutter Vergano". He has to go along with some of the other dinosaurs at Valley Road. I don't care what party she is from. We need change and a new perspective on where Wayne is going in the future. Its a shame what goes on in this town in the political circus that we have at Valley Road. At least she isn't another wannabe from the BOE like most of them now. Francine I wish you success in your election to Mayor. You have my support 150%.