Editorial: Time for new city leaders to get to work
Sunday’s swearing-in ceremony was a nice start to a new city government, but we’re hoping all the talk is not just talk.
New Mayor Reed Gusciora talked of big plans for the city, starting with reorganization of some departments to tackle big issues and the announcement that Mercer County Undersheriff Pedro Medina has been named acting Police Director.
City Council made strides toward a unified process after a reportedly shaky start with a battle for council presidency dividing the new council in two as some supported newcomer Jerell Blakeley and others supported returning council member Kathy McBride with the deciding vote going to McBride, with rumors of a deal being struck for that vote.
Blakeley made the formal nomination for McBride to get the position Sunday in a nice show of unity that the council desperately needs after the governing body has been plagued by years of bickering and divisiveness. This council will need to learn to work with each other and with Mayor Gusciora if they expect to make any progress at all.
Several speeches during Sunday’s ceremony touched on the topic of getting the citizens involved in the process. One encouraging note for us as journalists was when Robin Vaughn spoke of increased transparency and accessibility.
The newspapers of the city are supposed to be watchdogs of public officials and agencies and we will continue to be that. With an open and transparent government, that makes it easy for us, but also shows that they are trying to be above board by giving the citizens a view into the inner workings. Government agencies that want to close out the media and the citizens are the agencies trying to pull one over on us and do things that are not benefiting the public, but likely some special interest.
We are hoping to serve an additional role that we were able to play to a minimal extent with the previous administration. The Trentonian would like to be able to deliver news to the public about the positive steps the city is taking toward revitalization.
For that to happen, we need a city council and a mayor who are busy building and growing and transforming this city.
All of the previous administrations have promised big things. Tony Mack delivered big, but not positive. Eric Jackson said he righted the ship and we would agree, but he did little else but clean up the mess, making little progress on major issues.
We are hoping that the council and mayor are able to work together and push this city ahead. Trenton deserves it. Trentonians deserve it. There is a lot to do.
It is time to get to work.