Hamilton’s Bromley section can’t be left behind
During an intense interrogation in October of Mayor Kelly Yaede and her challenger Jeff Martin, Pastor Joseph Ellis Woods as debate moderator asked the deer in headlights question inside his St. Phillips Baptist Church.
“Again, looking at the data,” Woods said, “are there areas in town that have a higher crime rate? And, if so, why?”
Yaede, a Republican incumbent and history maker as the first elected female mayor, and her Democrat opponent, Martin, a U.S. Air Force veteran and relative political newbie, found themselves on the same side of Woods’ grappling hook — flummoxed.
Woods, on a fishing expedition with a question most Hamilton residents could have answered, well, at least one part of the head scratcher, could have reeled in the mayoral candidates on spider web twine — being they were seemingly floating unconscious in the sea of anxiety.
A Trentonian-published column recalled.
Notice the “again” narrative, offered after both Martin and Yaede failed to identify the alleged areas in question and the aspect of cause and effect. While both voiced desires for strong law enforcement interaction, neither made a notable connection between crime opposite a lack of jobs and diminished opportunities.
Now, after six months on the job, Martin wielded recently a go-to answer about violence recorded in Hamilton Twp. related to the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd.
Martin, during a conference call regarding a regional curfew implemented by Trenton, Hamilton, Lawrence and Ewing, a coordinated effort mainly to keep African Americans in their place from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m., identified Bromley as an area of concern.
The words that either stuck in his throat during the debate finally dislodged with a Heimlich maneuver. May as well make this column ultimately beneficial as we can use Mayor Martin as a volunteer.
Stand the mayor up then move behind him. Wrap both arms around his waist area.
Make a fist and place it just above the navel of the choking victim thumb side in.
Grab the fist with your other hand and push it inward and upward at the same time. Hopefully, this procedure propels the choking item.
Bromley Section. Whoa, look at that, the lost community of Hamilton Twp. flew out of his mouth. During a review of vandalism problems, Martin noted insurgents coming over from Trenton and incidents connected to Bromley.
Bromley, for those unfamiliar with this historically rich part of Hamilton, borders the city of Trenton on Logan and Greenwood avenues. Despite improvements and redevelopment in nearby areas, and several impressive streets, upgrades rarely reach this neighborhood populated predominantly by economically-challenged African Americans and similarly-classed Caucasians.
Case in point, a 20-row home section of East State St. nears a five-year anniversary of dilapidation after a six-alarm fire ripped through the houses in June 2015.
The Mayor Yaede administration had “been considering a plan to acquire the fire-damaged properties for the purpose of reconstructing the properties and converting them into affordable housing units,” according to a township resolution that Hamilton Council passed in March 2018.
In January, Martin had skillfully formed a New Year’s Day inauguration message that envisioned one Hamilton Twp. His verbal offering resonated with a SRO crowd inside Stone Terrace Restaurant.
“In the multitude of great and diverse neighborhoods that make up Hamilton Township, we are all one town,” Martin preached.
“We must look to the common goals we want and work together as neighbors. It is in that common mission, as fellow Hamiltonians, we can lift this town back to its rightful place. No neighborhood ignored, no neighborhood forgotten, one great hometown, Hamilton Proud.”
Mind you, Democrats gained control of Hamilton Twp. Council in November 2017 then claimed complete power with two council seat wins, plus, Martin’s victory and promise — No neighborhood ignored, no neighborhood forgotten.