Full Notification

Leonia Mayor Bill Ziegler’s Monthly Update: June 2025
 
Honoring our Veterans: Memorial Day Parade and Wood Park Ceremonies
Memorial Day is both a solemn occasion and a celebration – a rare pairing which doesn’t often go together.  42 Leonians made the ultimate sacrifice during World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.  Leonians were at Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941, at Guadalcanal, on the Bataan Death March, at Iwo Jima, at the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, at the Tet Offensive and in the jungles of Vietnam, in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and other conflicts.  They were in the thick of battle, standing shoulder to shoulder with their countrymen.
 
We grieve their loss, we remember their courage, and we also celebrate the freedom they fought to preserve. 
 
I believe we have a sacred obligation to those who have served – and to those serving now – to protect what they fought for: our freedom, our Constitution, our democracy and the rule of law.  This means remaining vigilant.  It means paying attention.  And it means standing up for those values when they are under threat. 
 
There’s a quote I passed by every day as a student at Anna C. Scott School on the Highland Street side attributed to President Warren Harding.  It reads, “The strength and security of the nation rests in the intelligent body of its people.”  That quote has always stayed with me, even after all these years.  It reminds us that democracy requires engagement.   Democracy demands awareness.  Democracy demands that we think for ourselves and stay informed.
 
That’s why I encourage everyone – especially in this age of constant media bombardment – to seek out diverse perspectives.  If you have a favorite news source, occasionally turn to one you might not usually prefer, just to hear what others are saying.  Challenge yourself.  Think critically.  Don’t rely on a single outlet or platform to shape your worldview. 
 
We owe it to our veterans who fought hard for our rights, and to ourselves and to our children, to remain vigilant, informed and engaged.  Our freedoms depend on it. 
 
To all who have served and especially to those who never came home – we honor you.  We thank you.  And we must never forget.
 
Attached HERE is a link to the Prominent Leonian Interview Series and a discussion with Leonian Richard Palka about his experiences fighting in Vietnam.  I think it is important to include here as a firsthand account of what some of our Vietnam vets experienced both during the fight and when they returned home.  If you’re interested in other Prominent Leonian interviews you can find it HERE on the Leonia Library website. 
 
A link to my Mayoral Memorial Day message to Leonia at the Wood Park ceremony following the parade can be found HERE. 

Broad Avenue and Fort Lee Road resurfacing
The resurfacing of Broad Avenue is still on track to begin right after the school year ends, minimizing disruption for our students. This phase covers the stretch from Hillside Avenue north to Lakeview Avenue. And yes, we’ll also be introducing the ever-popular Rear Angle Parking (RAP) along this section—specifically, wherever front-end parking spaces currently exist.
 
I’ve talked about RAP in past updates, so I won’t rehash all the details. But I will remind you of two key facts:  First, the Leonia Police Department has confirmed that RAP has reduced accidents on Broad Avenue by 50%.  Second, our decision to implement RAP helped secure a $1 million federal grant—money we would have otherwise needed to raise through local taxes.
 
So while I know RAP isn’t everyone’s favorite, it’s been proven to make our streets safer and has saved taxpayers a significant sum. Public safety and fiscal responsibility are top priorities, and given the choice, I would make that same call again—every time.
 
Work on Fort Lee Road is also scheduled to begin in July, starting with curbing and sidewalk improvements. That said, I was informed just today that there may be a few weeks of delay due to engineering issues. I’ve made my displeasure about that delay known.
 
Once Leonia completes the curbing and sidewalks, Bergen County will move forward with resurfacing the road. The Borough specifically asked the County to hold off on paving until we finished the curbing—so if you’re frustrated with the current road conditions, blame me, not the County.
 
It simply didn’t make sense to repave the road only to tear parts of it up again for curbing. In times like these, when budgets are tight, we need to be smart and strategic about how—and in what order—we tackle these projects.
 
Electric Utility Costs–And What They Mean for All of Us
At this month’s Mayors’ meeting in Hackensack (open to all Bergen County Mayors), we received a sobering briefing from several utility executives.
 
Unfortunately, we should all brace for another 20%+ increase in electricity costs starting early this summer. That’s on top of last year’s 20% hike—meaning we’re now facing a 40% increase over just two years. As homeowners, you’ll feel it directly. As a Borough, we will too—and frankly, our municipal budget can’t absorb much more of this.
 
Why is this happening? I asked that very question. The answer: deregulation.
 
A few years ago, deregulation was supposed to spur competition and potentially lower prices. That clearly hasn’t worked. Before deregulation, utilities were required to invest in new power plants, which helped keep supply in line with demand. But deregulation removed that requirement—and now those capital investments just aren’t happening.
 
With no new plants coming online, supply isn’t keeping up with increasing demand. That’s a recipe for skyrocketing costs. Meanwhile, some are profiting handsomely from this shift while the rest of us—you, me, and the Borough of Leonia—are left footing the bill.
 
So what does that mean going forward? More double-digit utility increases in the years ahead seem very likely.
 
Just as you’re having to adapt to these higher costs at home, the Borough is also looking at every option to reduce consumption and save money where we can.  Please find a link HERE to the Mayor and Council discussion on this topic at our last meeting. I’ll keep you posted as we explore ways to mitigate the impact. I’ve also asked our incredibly capable Environmental Commission to weigh in with ideas and recommendations.
 
One more key point: this looming 20% utility hike comes on top of a 20+% increase in healthcare costs expected in 2026—something already confirmed by the State of New Jersey. These are massive pressures on our next municipal budget, and the most frustrating part is, your local government doesn’t control either of these costs.
 
That said, the parts of the budget we do control will once again come in at or below the rate of inflation. We’re committed to responsible fiscal stewardship. I anticipate we’ll hold another Town Hall meeting about the 2026 budget as more details become available—but I’ll be honest with you: it’s not looking good right now.
 
Department of Homeland Security Notification
The federal Department of Homeland Security released—and later removed—a list of approximately 500 U.S. cities and towns it alleged were “Sanctuary Cities” in violation of federal law, following strong backlash from law enforcement officials who disputed the designation of their jurisdictions as immigrant sanctuaries.
 
To my surprise, Leonia appeared on this now-retracted list—the only municipality in Bergen County to do so. Let me be clear: Leonia is not, and has never been, a “Sanctuary City.”  We are a Welcoming Community, and there is an important distinction.
 
Contrary to the statement issued by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem accompanying the list—which claimed that jurisdictions like ours are “endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens”—that description does not apply to Leonia in any way.
 
Leonia has always cooperated, and will continue to cooperate, with federal law enforcement when a crime has been committed or is under investigation, consistent with guidelines issued by the Attorney General.
 
At the same time, we remain committed to ensuring that all residents and visitors feel welcome, safe, and able to fully participate in and contribute to the social and economic life of our community.  These priorities are not mutually exclusive. Leonia will continue to uphold the values that define us as a diverse and inclusive community—all while remaining in full compliance with federal and state law.
 
Affordable Housing (AH) update
In March 2024, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) issued new rules and regulations governing the Fourth Round of Affordable Housing (AH) obligations, which all municipalities must follow. These requirements go well beyond those established in Rounds One, Two, and Three. Municipalities across the state were left scrambling to hire affordable housing attorneys and planners, assess their existing housing stock, adopt new digital platforms, and comply with an aggressive schedule that, in many ways, favors developers and penalizes municipalities that fall behind.
Since March 2024, the Borough of Leonia has been diligently meeting every milestone set forth by the DCA. We are now focused on the most critical deadline: June 30, 2025. By that date, all municipalities in New Jersey must submit a draft re-zoning and Fair Share Housing Plan to the DCA, outlining how they will meet their Fourth Round Affordable Housing obligations. For Leonia, this includes 99 prospective affordable housing units and 68 rehabilitation units.

To stay on track, we’ve developed a detailed project timeline and are working closely with our Affordable Housing Counsel, Planner, Planning Board, and Borough Council to meet all required benchmarks. 

By June 27, 2025, the DCA will receive the following from Leonia:

1. Updated Housing Element and Fair Share Plan
   This document will be slightly revised by our planner, Kendra Lelie, to reflect our Fourth Round obligations. It will be presented to the Planning Board for endorsement on June 25, 2025, and immediately thereafter, the Mayor and Council are expected to adopt it by resolution at a Special Meeting to meet the DCA deadline.
2. Finalized Spending Plan
   Already reviewed by the DCA with only minor corrections suggested, this plan is now finalized and on file in the Clerk’s Office.
3. Draft Ordinances for MX1 & MX2 Redevelopment Districts
   These ordinances will address both rezoning and design standards and serve as updates to the Redevelopment Plan originally adopted on September 13, 2023.
4. Updated Affordable Housing Ordinances (Chapter 72)
   As of June 4, 2025, all updates are complete:
   • Article I – Development Fee Ordinance (expected to be adopted at the June 4, 2025 Council Meeting)
   • Article II – Affordable Housing Agent and Housing Liaison
   • Articles III & IV – Affordable Housing provisions aligned with the Uniform Housing Affordability Controls (UHAC)
5. Revised Set-Aside Ordinance (Chapter 290-43.2)
   This ordinance, which ensures that a portion of new development is dedicated to affordable housing, was unanimously approved at last week’s Council meeting following review and endorsement by the Planning Board and a public hearing.