Mayor Sal Vega handed over his job to some very tiny constituents last week as kindergarteners filled City Hall to become “Mayor for a Day.”
And while most were happy to enjoy a brief chat with the mayor followed by cookies and milk, some came with the issues in mind.
“My dad told me to lower the taxes down,” said David Fajardo, a kindergartner from the Harry L. Bain School, as he handed the mayor a letter.
Vega responded with laughter to that and other tough questions. The interrogations didn’t stop there. Brianna Clemente later informed the mayor that her mother said there’s no parking in the town, to more chuckles.
The mayor took questions from the students.
________
During the two-hour program the mayor talks to the students about his job, then takes their questions.
The students enjoy milk and cookies in the conference room and take pictures with the mayor before heading back to their schools.
Civics lesson
As the children filed into his office, Vega used a gavel to “start the meeting,” which led to a brief discussion on “what is a gavel?”
Vega proceeded to question the students on some political history and municipal departments, most of which the students answered correctly. However, some of the answers showed their youth.
In response to “Who was the first president?” one shouted “Barack Obama!”
During their discussion on the White House, Vega explained how City Hall provides a similar function for local government – with one exception.
“Even though I spend a lot of time here,” he said. “I don’t live here.”
A fake officer and a magic sword
On Tuesday, the kindergartners from Katie Schlitzer’s class and Christine Alfiere’s class were most interested in items displayed throughout the mayor’s office, including a mannequin propped up on a chair in the office wearing a policeman’s uniform, and a large box containing a Syrian sword.
Vega explained that the “fake” policeman, also known as “Officer Cuban,” is used to prevent speeding on West New York roads when he is set out in a police car with a camera and radar. He added that the mannequin is now being used to help prevent talking on cell phones while driving.
The honest kindergartners quickly sold out their family members with shouts of “My grandma always does that!” and “Yeah, my dad talks on the phone while he’s driving.”
The next item of interest was a sword given from a Syrian resident to the people of West New York as a sign of peace and friendship.
Vega said the sword was “magic” because it could fly – first class on an airplane. But the students were not easily fooled.
“Is everything true you’re saying?” questioned Kiara Allen. “Or is that really not a magic sword?”
Pondering job opportunities
Some of the kindergartners, including Kiara, thought being mayor might be an interesting job prospect in the future. “It’s really important for the environment,” she said. “And it seems like a good job.”
Her classmate Diego Prezas disagreed, noting that the mayor most likely doesn’t spend the day using a magic sword, but rather making important decisions.
Instead, Diego hopes to be a paleontologist one day.
Lana Rose Diaz can be reached at ldiaz@hudsonreporter.com.