Most of the people I talk to in Harrison are not. They talk about their taxes, and the value they receive for them. They talk about their water bills. They talk about a Town Council who seems to talk about a lot more than they actually do. A Council that is so burdened by the thought of choosing a Police Chief that they ask for a written test to make up their minds for them. Why show leadership and make a decision when a test can make your decisions for you?
Harrison is a changing town. These changes can be great for us and our town, if someone thinks long-term about the consequences of the changes. We need solutions that look forward ten or twenty years into the future of Harrison. Personally, I am very concerned about being able to raise children in the same town as my parents raised me. Growing up in Harrison was a good experience. It still is. What about tomorrow?
We are surrounded by change right now. Jersey City is being reborn thanks to their waterfront development, social festivals, and their Neighborhood Improvement District program. Newark is undergoing major changes throughout the city, but especially along the Passaic River. They are adding riverfront parks and a new baseball stadium. They also have the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. If we could get to our riverfront, we would see some amazing things going on over there. With the two largest cities in New Jersey redeveploing all around us, we need to reinvent Harrison to keep up. We need more parks. We need better schools. We need to make some decisions. Will Harrison be an oasis in the midst of all this urban growth, or will we be a forsaken valley between two shining peaks?