Carrie Ford (Facebook, Twitter: Because it impacts everyone in Verona, public safety is the issue that is most pressing.
Tragically, two Verona residents have lost their lives after being struck by motor vehicles in the last 9 months. We must make our streets safer. It is the responsibility of our community—and specifically the Town Council—to do everything we can to ensure all Verona residents are safe on our streets and corners.
If elected, I will advocate for a holistic assessment of public safety in Verona and develop a comprehensive public safety plan. The plan will involve coordination between town and county agencies. For instance, as a Council member, I will work with the Verona Police Department to facilitate and enhance its efforts to address pervasive driving violations and monitor dangerous intersections. Additionally, the Council will work in cooperation with Essex County to assess, among other concerns, the timing of traffic lights and the placement of crosswalks and signs. I will advocate for renovation of neighborhood roads, as well as updating signage and crosswalks. I will urge the Council to make strategic investments in facilities and equipment needed by our volunteers of the Verona Fire Department and Verona Rescue Squad. I will also increase dialogue between the Council and our residents and businesses to ensure their concerns are considered and addressed.
It is critical that we broadly re-evaluate public safety in Verona and protect all residents so we feel comfortable walking down our streets and encouraging our children to walk to school and ride their bikes. We want residents to feel safe crossing Bloomfield and Lakeside avenues to access the Verona Park. Ensuring public safety will increase pedestrian traffic, which in turn will increase activity for local businesses. Ensuring public safety is the right decision for our residents and a powerfully beneficial decision for our community.
