 |
Coston and Carlucci running for council
Breaking the cycle of civic mediocrity
My big complaint about Trenton is that its redevelopment has been too slow.
There's no reason for it and with just a few policy tweaks we'd take-off like
a rocket.
Those tweaks include breaking the Mayor's power monopoly over council. His slate of candidates (Pintella, Segura, Staton and Ungrady) have yet to vote against him. This was especially disastrous on the 7-0 vote to grant Leewood development rights in South Trenton. Leewood proposed to demolish 6 square blocks of privately owned and historic homes. The city would take many of them through eminent domain and the developer would trick residents into selling the rest.
Jim Coston and Jim Carlucci were both key members of the successful opposition to that project through their involvement with the Lamberton Historic District Committee (along with Mayoral candidate Frank Weeden). Meanwhile their opponents insulted their constituents in the papers and allowed Leewood to aggressively promote and acquire property for the doomed project.
Our incumbents now disavow their support for Leewood Village in a complete flip-flop from their original positions. Coston and Carlucci don't flip flop and will get it right the first time.
Carlucci ran unsuccessfully in 2002 but maintains a heavy civic involvement and is a recognized authority on civic life in Trenton. Coston is the pastor at First Baptist Church and President of LHDC.
If you live in Trenton, I can't urge you strongly enough to consider supporting these guys. They're both bright, thoughtful and are interested in fostering appropriate development. Coston would replace John Ungrady in the South Ward, who is possibly our worst councilman. Carlucci would replace one of three at large candidates, hopefully Paul Pintella.
Dan Dodson is a management consultant and Leadership Trenton Fellow.
Copyright 2006, Dan Dodson
