Union City Mayor Brian Stack is prepared to continue to guide America’s densest city after his election to a sixth term. He and his slate of incumbent commissioners including Wendy Grullon, Maryury Martinetti, Lucio Fernandez, and Celin Valdivia, sailed to victory on May 10.Ā
In an interview with the Hudson Reporter, the mayor reflected on the 2022 non-partisan municipal elešction and what is next for the city.Ā
Stack enters sixth term
Stack agršeed with the assessment that his re-election for a sixth term was a re-affirmation by voters of their support of his administration, but added his own take.Ā
āWe work every term like itās the āfirst term,ā Stack said. āThe people of Union City have chosen us to lead the city for the next four years. We will work just as hard as we did in the first term and really show our constituents how dedicated we are. We really do our best and will even have more services and more programs for residents in the community.āĀ
That coupled with the fact that he and his slate ranā unopposed is enough to make a case for Stackās popularity in Union City. This is further proven by the high voter turnout in Union Cią½§ty in the past election, which was distinguished by a low turnout across the state.Ā
However, Stack was pleased with the results. Hisš· finally tally in the municipal election was equivalent to a turnout rate highš er than nearly every other municipality.Ā
āWe went over 10,000 votes,ā Stack said of his . “I think our final was 10,046, which I was very happy about. Weāre always looking for everyone to participate in the election.āĀ
Turnout serves as report card
Aź§ccording to Stack, turnout was especially šimportant to him since he was running unopposed.Ā
āIf weāre running uāncontested, we look at it as a report card based on how many people come out,ā Stack said.Ā
If there was a report card for the most recent municipal election based on voter turnout, Stack would likely get an A. He said theršÆeās no secret to his get-out-the-vote suź¦ccess, that is, other than keeping constituents happy.Ā
āSome people think there is a special ingredient for getting out the vote to the polls on Election Day, but itās not,ā Stack said. āItās done through the four years up until that election. We worked hard every day to try to deliver results. Whether the person is coming in with a problem, a personal problem or a neišghborhood problem, or filing potholes, or that the parks look good, and our schools are running well, we listened.āĀ
While Stack enjoyed a great show of support from residents in the recent election, he opted not to have elaborate festivities around his inauguration such as in Bayonne for Mayor James Davis and the Bayonne City Council and to some extent in Weehawken for Mayor Richard Turner and the Township Council. Instead, iļ·½t was business as usual in Union City for the six-time mayor.Ā
What’s next for Union City?
Loāoking ahead, Stack looks to continue the work he has been doing in Union City for more than a decade. Residents can expect the same level of constituent outreach Stack has been known for over the years, among other key serź¦vices.Ā
āOur main goal is to try to stabilize taxes and continue to deliver good constituent serÜ«vices,ā Stack said. āWe want to build upon our quality of life and keep City Hall accessible to the all of the community.ź¦āĀ
In terms of specific projects, there š§are a number of things in the works in Union City.Ā
āWeāre working on redoing 32nd to 49th on Bergenline Avenue,ā Stack said.Ā
The Bergenline Avenue project follows ongoing street work on Palisade Avš§øenue and Central Avenue. In addition to that, tą²here is new open space in the works.Ā
āWeāre also į©į©į©į©į©į©ā¤ā¤ā¤ā¤į©ā¤ā¤ā¤ā¤į©ā¤ā¤ā¤ā¤į©š±į©į©į©working on bš uilding a small soccer field for young children on 41st and 5th Avenue,ā Stack said.Ā
On top of the new ź¦streets, sidewalks, and the new youth soccer field, the city is also šlooking to supplement the library.Ā
āIn addition, the library at 43rd Street will be getting an 1,000š square foot additiošn,ā Stack said.Ā
New school in the works
Theš„ cherry on top of the plans for the nešxt few years is a new school on Bergenline Avenue. Ā
āOne additšional item would be the brand new school next to 37th Stšreet between Bergenline Avenue and Kenānedy Boulevard,ā Stack said.Ā
The city is still in the planning stages š§øof the new schoolā project.Ā
āItāsĀ in the process of being designed,ā Stack said. āHopefully, weāll be out to bid soon, but itās in the design phase… We should be out there doing some base work, and weāll send it out to bid over the course of this year.āĀ
The school project in the works, as well as the other improvements and services planned and provided by the city, are the tšypes of things Stack was referring to that drive residešnts out to vote for him in droves.Ā
āWe deliver good services every single day,ā Stš ack said. Ā
Stack concluded by encouāraging residents to reach out to hļ·ŗim or the city if they need help with anything.Ā
āAll residā¦ents can call my on my cellphone at 201-376-1942, seven days a week. Iāll always be accessible and Iāll always be thereš¹ to help them.āĀ
For updates on this and other stories, check www.iccwins98.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
