ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—On Oct. 28, the Woman’s Club of Englewood, located in the historic Carriage House on Brinckerhoff Court, hosted a presentation, “2019 Year in Review,” by Mayor Michael Wildes.
Members of the club and guests found the talk very informative and uplifting, as he spoke about the myriad programs, people and events that make Englewood a vibrant and happening place.
Wildes began by saying, “Before I took office, I met with 87 people, but there were only seven appointments that I could make formally. I was disheartened by not being able to put all this good energy to work, so I empaneled a Cultural Affairs Committee to give people reason and cause to roll up their sleeves and get involved.”
Wildes appreciates the value of having good partners, so within the Cultural Affairs Committee he appointed sub committees in clergy, arts and entertainment, commemoration, community engagement, economic development and wellness.
Although Wildes has developed relationships with leaders in other towns throughout New Jersey, he has concentrated his efforts on the challenges that Englewood is facing today.
“During my mayoral campaign, I had the unique opportunity to listen to the concerns and hope of the residents in all corners of our community,” he said.
Areas of concern that he addressed were: the challenge posed to retail stores in downtown Englewood by Amazon, the quality of Englewood’s water supply and challenges of water supply in relation to the city’s demographic growth, a growing deer population, and traffic, safety and crime concerns.
Wildes was proud that to date, he has done 26 ribbon cuttings of new businesses and restaurants.
“I welcomed many new businesses to the downtown business district and this was comforting in filling the vacant storefronts in our once vibrant downtown that have shuttered due to changing consumer behaviors and high costs,” Wildes said.
On an upbeat note, he also mentioned that in the face of Amazon, retail stores are starting to offer services and expand to include cafes.
Wildes then mentioned all the special events that he hosted and participated in this year:
• Proclamations for National Donate Life Month, Autism Awareness Day, Mental Health Month, Pride Month and Colombia’s bicentennial.
• Presented keys to the city to Margaret Josephs, keynote speaker at Pride Flag Ceremony, and Juwann Winfree, Dwight Morrow High School alum drafted by the Denver Broncos.
• Celebration of Chief Erik Enersen’s 35 years at the Englewood Fire Department and Gilbert Robinson’s 33 years at the Department of Public Works.
• Attending community-wide meetings for Englewood Housing, Stigma Free Task Force, and Public Safety.
• Visiting every public and private school in Englewood.
• Meeting with heads of numerous religious institutions including a Buddhist temple and a Muslim center.
Wildes was also a keynote speaker at numerous events.
On another positive note, Wildes applauded the $607,000 federal grant to the Englewood Fire Department applied via Millennium Strategies of which he was informed by U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell.
Current issues in Englewood were also discussed with emphasis on affordable housing, best use of free spaces in the city, the public school system, the importance of sensitivity regarding immigration, and hiring local residents versus non-residents as firefighters.
Throughout his speech, Wildes named, praised and thanked many community leaders as well as the directors and workers at City Hall.
“They are the nicest, most sincere people I have ever met,” he said.
A question and answer period followed in which people asked about the Liberty School and mental health and housing for people with disabilities who are functional. Wildes spoke to these issues extensively and his presentation ended with a hearty round of applause.