Your vote can inspire change and support unity
On Election Day, Tuesday, November 8, Trentonians will head to the polls or vote by mail to choose a Mayor, City Council, and other leaders. This election cycle is vital! We need to end the current Council’s outrageous and toxic behavior—the naming-calling, vulgarity, strategically deployed misinformation, disrespect, and overall tone-deafness. There is no doubt that certain Council members have harmed our city, its luster, and its reputation.
We need to get back to shaping a productive municipal government dedicated to formulating and executing good ideas that advance the interests of our residents, especially in the North Ward. This type of commitment will help energize our city’s economy. We must build more affordable housing and attract and incentivize developers competitively to do so, like other cities. We need to make sure that the city budget reflects our priorities: reformed and better policing, more recreation for our children, performing public schools, enhanced services for seniors, modern information technology at City Hall, clean and safe drinking water from the city’s water-utility operation, and better customer service when visiting or phoning city departments. While the to-do list is long, it can realistically be tackled together.
My goal is to gain support to win the North Ward Council seat. I am the most qualified candidate to unify all North Ward residents because of my background in solving problems and capturing needed resources in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. As the Henry J. Health Center’s chief operating officer, I help lead the nonprofit organization to provide essential healthcare services in Trenton and other communities, including dental and mental health services. My multidimensional service has given me a unique perspective on connecting people with vital resources, often under challenging conditions.
My platform for building a strong North Ward and a better city includes working with residents to devise a community-centered approach to keep our North Ward neighborhoods safe. I want to help the administration capture state and
federal resources to hire more police and implement a real communitypolicing program.
I would like to see multifaceted economic development policies that attract and retain businesses to the city and North Ward to strengthen our economy and create more employment and buy-local opportunities; new housing and homeownership opportunities; and microloans for city businesses. I want to revisit the city’s master plan for development and economic prosperity to ensure that it meets our needs, guided by new input from city residents.
I am very passionate about keeping our city
clean and maintaining city parks, open spaces, and public spaces for our residents and visitors to enjoy year-round. Let’s improve garbage collection, go after neglectful landlords, target illegal dumping, tree trimming, street paving, and pothole remediation.
Trenton municipal government’s role in our lives is more than policing, garbage collection, and business licenses. We must use city resources and knowhow to help improve the conditions of people’s lives. That means more quality recreation for our young people, more services for seniors, more assistance to families struggling with food insecurity, and more help for the homeless and residents returning from incarceration or struggling with addiction.
A thriving city must
build a foundation of success by supporting its people. It is morally and ethically prudent to do so, and it says a lot about who we are and what we believe. So, let’s refocus and apply this philosophy by exercising our right to vote and to choose impactful people for public service.
Merkle Cherry is a candidate for Trenton’s North Ward City Council seat. He lives on Second Street with his wife, Juanita.
Editor’s note: Election Notebook is statements and press releases from candidates provided to The Trentonian and presented directly to our readers. Any candidate or campaign that would like to participate, please email our editor at jberry@trentonian.com.