To the Editor:
I would like to thank all the wonderful people who voted for me when running for Councilman At-Large in the May 13 city election. Many of these people I have met in person who said they supported what I stood for and would vote for me. I felt proud trying to help these residents. Unfortunately we fell short. I lost the election but not for lack of trying.
The City of Bayonne had the chance to correct the very bad financial situation that we were in when it obtained from the federal government the former Military Ocean Terminal (MOTBY) for the price of $1. It was to be the goose that laid the golden egg. Sadly under the Smith Administration, it turned out to be a rotten egg due to mismanagement. With all the millions of dollars from lease’s and land sales, not one penny was used to lower property taxes or assist rent payers. What ever happened to the $296 million that the City of Bayonne received from the Port Authority? Not Mayor Smith or any one council person has told us. Why?
It is because of this mismanagement that I am endorsing James Davis for mayor and will help the entire Davis team on Election Day. I strongly believe that the Davis team will correct the disastrous direction the city is headed and turn it around to benefit the residents of this fine city, our city. They are also interested in helping the 11,000 senior citizens who live in Bayonne. Many of them are on fixed incomes, who every year lose more of their money on property tax and rent increases. They would like to see a city program instituted that would correct this. Unfortunately the City of Bayonne takes but does not give.
I ask the electorate of our great city to vote on June 10, Election Day, for the entire Davis team. Help them to help you. This is your chance to finally get “people“ representation. Make your vote, your Declaration of Independence against the political power machine of the Smith Administration.
LEONARD R. KANTOR