To the Editor:
First off, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has supported me and wished me luck along this journey to city hall. It has been quite an interesting six months. The one proud accomplishment that I believe everyone can see is that imitation is the biggest form of flattery.
For the last six months, I and others have been active in the community, writing articles and gaining support among the residents of Bayonne. If one looks at the weekly column of the Mayor, one can see how politics really works. Every week the mayor has brought up the same items that we, the people have been vocal about in recent letters.
I ask the mayor, “Why did it take six years to be vocal and get things done? I know everything takes time, but only recently has Broadway, Transparency and Redevelopment been mentioned. The study of Broadway started in 2014 and no time before that. Was the Mayor’s plan in 2010 to let stores decay and do a redevelopment study?
If you look at the words of each council member and the mayor, one would think they are all related as they only repeat what the mayor has said. They will tell you how they cut the debt and that Broadway progress is taken on a block-by-block basis.
The truth is, the mayor transferred the city debt (150 Million) to our children, in the form of a higher water bill. Yes, Moody’s upgraded the city’s bond rating but only because the mayor passed the buck and cut a bad deal for taxpayers and our children’s future. It is not fair and honest for the mayor or his council to try to take credit for a deal that truly hurts taxpayers once again. It is all smoke and mirrors.
I attended the debate on April 24, and I have to tell you it is sad that the mayor did not mention the community being involved in any plans of Bayonne. It is his plan, with zero feedback from the community.
I chose to run for councilman because I truly care about the future of Bayonne and all citizens who live here. I do not take orders from anyone, and I want to be the voice of the people. My goal is to truly engage all citizens and get them more involved in the future of our great community. Think about this when you go to the polls May 13. Will you trust and believe the same old rhetoric? Or are you willing to choose an Independent, who will fight for you? God Bless us all.
JOHN MILAN SEBIK
Candidate for Councilman at Large