Full Notification

Mayor Bill Ziegler’s May 14, 2024 Update
 
Leonia Day was a huge success.  Thank you to all who made it possible including our amazing Rec Department that coordinated the entire event, our DPW who ensured the park and facilities were all in tip top shape, the Leonia Volunteer Fire Department who generously provided free hot dogs, our Police Department that gave tours of their new headquarters, the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Arts that put on a great art show on the second floor, the Library who hosted the book sale, and on and on. 
 
We are confident it was a record turnout.  While there is no official verifiable count there were several indicators suggesting we exceeded all attendance expectations. The Volunteer Fire Department distributed their full allotment of 800 free hot dogs in a little over an hour (that had never happened before) and the free ice cream courtesy of Kulite reached the maximum number a bit over two hours into our event.  I’ve never personally been to a Leonia Day with a bigger turnout.
 
It was great to simply get together and celebrate who we are as a community.  It reminded me why Leonia is truly special.  To view all the volunteer tables and the tremendous work which is being accomplished by so many of our volunteer organizations was uplifting. 
 
I’ve said it before and I will keep saying it.  The backbone of Leonia is its volunteers.  Please consider how you can apply your specific talents and interests to the betterment of our lovely borough.  I know many of you expressed interest in various organizations during Leonia Day, and I am grateful for everyone’s continued and potential service.  You can check out the volunteer options HERE. 
 
Revitalization/Redevelopment Town Hall
 
While many of your neighbors made it in person to the Town Hall meeting on Thursday, May 9th we need as many Leonians as possible to become familiar with what is happening.   I urge all Leonians to check out the 1 hour and ten minute Town Hall recording HERE.    Our collective future as a borough is at stake and there are substantial risks.  I believe this requires an “all hands on deck” response.  
 
It’s a good thing we had our new venue available in the recently opened Municipal Center for this Town Hall meeting because we would not have all fit inside the old venue at the Little House. I was gratified by the large turnout because Leonians are beginning to appreciate the importance of getting this right.  
 
I am committed to proceeding not only with our residents having a clear understanding of the challenges we face collectively but also with majority support to do what we need to do to best protect our interests and thrive as a community without sacrificing what makes us special.  And now, with the passage of the new affordable housing law, a very specific timeline exists to which we must adhere. 
 
At the Town Hall, we presented what we’ve been doing, our approach and next steps.  Since January we’ve taken some strategic proactive steps to best protect Leonia.  All of these steps are shared in the Town Hall and available to you on the recording.   The committee’s mission is straightforward and extremely challenging…to perfect the redevelopment plan in light of the new affordable housing law, gain support from a majority of Leonians and move forward with a phased approach to revitalization which increases ratables to better control our costs and protects Leonia’s Quality of Life, single family residential character and green landscape while fulfilling all our legal obligations.  It is a big task and this work will have huge implications for all of us. 
 
If you did not have the opportunity to attend, please watch the one hour and ten minute Town Hall recording HERE.  It is chock a block full of important content.  Check out what your friends and neighbors said, what they asked about, and learn about the context in which we are all operating.  There will also be more Town Hall discussions and other forums including regular Mayor and Council meetings where this important topic will continue to be presented and discussed.  Any questions, please direct them via email to [email protected]. 
 
A new Leonia business is coming soon
 
Where the photo studio used to be on the southwest corner of Broad and Fort Lee Road, a new bakery named Patisserie Fruits will be opened.   We will be able to enjoy fresh croissants, cakes and other delectable snacks made daily.   After speaking with the new owner, I’m told he hopes to open in July.
 
Your support of our merchant community is essential.  Please buy locally when you can.  We need more commercial and industrial ratables to offset the disproportionately large local tax burden currently placed on homeowners in Leonia.  One way to help attract more businesses is to make sure they are busy and profitable.  Remember their success is our success too. 
 
There are some exciting new developments occurring in our business community, not the least of which is the introduction of our new Leonia Chamber of Commerce.  Stay tuned…
 
Leonia’s New Food Composting program
 
Courtesy of the hard work of our volunteer neighbors on the Environmental Commission, Leonia households will shortly have the option to participate in a food composting program.  You can learn more about the opportunity to be a part of this by clicking HERE.  Some of the highlights include safe/secure drop off areas, tax savings associated with diverting this food waste from our regular garbage disposal channels, and the fact this waste will be redirected to use as feed for farm animals in New Jersey.
 
Every Leonia family that’s interested can sign up.  This is an opt in program.  If you don’t want to participate you don’t have to.  You can also learn more about the program by clicking HERE to see the presentation by the Environmental Commission to the Mayor and Council.
 
We are hoping 50 families sign up for a nominal fee to have their food waste picked up for composting.  .
  
Reverse Angle Parking Report Card
 
It is now (believe it or not) coming on 6 months since we introduced Rear Angle Parking on Broad Avenue. This is a good time to step back and objectively evaluate our experience in terms of what we hoped to accomplish.  First, we saved $1 million in grant monies to repave Broad Avenue by accepting Rear Angle Parking as part of the deal.  But we would not have done it just for the money if we also didn’t think Rear Angle Parking would be safer.  Don’t get me wrong, the tax dollars saved (approximately $300 per household) are still real. 
 
So the biggest question is now that we have six months experience with Rear Angle Parking (RAP), is it also safer?   The answer based on our own Leonia Police Department accident reports over the previous years and comparing this to the last six months is an unequivocal yes.  RAP is, in fact, also much safer. 
 
Prior to RAP we had more than one accident per month on Broad Avenue caused by backing out into traffic.  These accidents weren’t fender benders but required police reports for injuries and/or insurance claims.  According to our Police Chief, since RAP was introduced we had one accident every other month (.5 accidents/month)  and zero accidents since February 22nd. That’s very good news especially considering people are still getting used to the new way to park.
 
Like many of you, I did not like backing into a space.  I know some people are having a harder time adjusting than others.  As everyone becomes more familiar (and comfortable)  it’s possible the decline in accident rates might improve even more.
 
But I have no doubt that when I pull out, especially considering the higher volume of cycling traffic, I can do so much more safely.  Other advantages include the trunk being close to the curb for loading instead of standing out in traffic and when the passenger doors open they now face the curb and don’t direct children into the street. 
 
With this preliminary 6 month report card now in hand, we will be proceeding with the next phase of Broad Avenue repaving from Hillside Avenue to Lakeview this summer and, not surprisingly, be introducing Rear Angle Parking where front-in parking currently exists (not anywhere else) on that stretch.  I’m now confident this section of Broad will enjoy the same safety improvements and money saving benefits we had from the earlier work.  Many people I know feared this change and it has turned out pretty well.  
 
A big thank you to Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco and Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton
 
Leonia has been working to strengthen our relationship with Bergen County and its officials. In recent conversations with County Executive Jim Tedesco and Sheriff Anthony Cureton, they agreed to deploy County Sheriff’s officers on Fort Lee Road at Grand, Broad and Glenwood Avenues on Mother’s Day.  You’ll probably recall this is one of those days where Leonia has traditionally been slammed with traffic in the late afternoon.
 
You may have seen these County Sheriff’s officers in town.  They kept the intersections free of gridlock and minimized horn honking on Sunday.   Their assistance was a huge help to our Leonia Police, was appreciated by all Leonians who saw them at work (and they were very busy most of the time) and is good news for all of us as we do our best to effectively manage heavy traffic conditions. 
 
On behalf of all Leonians, I thank County Executive Jim Tedesco and Sheriff Anthony Cureton. 
 
In closing, I  hope all moms also had an enjoyable Mother’s Day (with minimal traffic to disrupt the festivities). 
 
Kind regards,
 
Bill Ziegler
Leonia Mayor