East Trenton Walking Tour with Mayor Gusciora
East Trenton residents with Mayor Gusciora and City of Trenton staff on the walking tour.
On Saturday, June 6th, 2020 TrentonMayor Reed Gusciora joined East Trenton residents for a walking tour of the neighborhood. Organized in response to issues discussed at ETC’s virtual Meet the Mayor forum on May 22nd, the aim of the walking tour was to create a direct dialogue between the residents and the Mayor about some specific issues in the community that the city can take action to address. Mayor Gusciora and East Trenton residents, along with Public Works Director Wally Onitiri, Sergeant Lamin from Community Affairs at the Trenton Police Department, and other city officials discussed various issues that the neighborhood is facing, including abandoned properties, illegal dumping, flooding, and traffic safety.
In response to conversations between residents and the Mayor during the walking tour, resident Kathy Bellamy said, “for the first time, I feel like something is going to get done in the neighborhood.”
Mayor Gusciora and Sergeant Lamin surveying abandoned properties
The Mayor, Mr. Onitiri, and Sergeant Lamin spent nearly two and a half hours touring the East Trenton neighborhood by foot with residents, who highlighted the sites in the neighborhood that are of most concern. They walked through numerous alleyways with rampant illegal dumping, saw firsthand the poor condition of several streets, and even went inside multiple dilapidated abandoned buildings. Block by block, East Trentonresidents came outside to talk with the City officials about their issues, and provide their own community-based knowledge on how to solve them. In response, the Mayor vowed to improve conditions in the neighborhood, starting by repaving the top 5 most distressed streets. He also asked residents to make a list of the vacant properties that are in most urgent need of being demolished or rehabbed.
Mayor Gusciora and East Trenton residents on the walking tour.
Resident FaithAnn Pierson said, “while walking beside the Mayor we spoke of the city, and I feel like the Mayor is working hard to get things done in the East Trenton neighborhood.”
Resident Kim Booker said, “In the midst of such civil unrest; it was refreshing to be with Mayor Reed Gusciora, his staff, East Trenton Collaborative, and the dedicated residents of East Trenton . The Mayor was literally “walking the talk”. He has faithfully taken the time to listen and discuss the concerns of our neighborhood. On Saturday, he walked the streets and alleys to see first hand what needs to be done. I appreciate everyone’s commitment to lifting East Trenton together and look forward to the next opportunity.”
We thank the Mayor, Mr. Onitiri, and Sergeant Lamin for taking the time to have these conversations with East Trenton residents and for their continued work to address issues in the community. The Trenton administration and City Council have also been helping to advance several other issues of major importance to East Trenton residents, including designating matching funds for the renovation of the East Trenton Library as part of the 2020 FY budget approved on June 4th, 2020. We look forward to continuing this relationship with city officials and to seeing the progress that is made.