It seemed to me that Osborne was the only candidate that was consistently focused on what a Councilperson and city government could do about these issues.

Crime is a good example. Candice talked about specifics for redeploying police officers, and restructuring how they relate to our neighborhoods.

Dan talked about setting up block watches, and "facilitating" the police doing security audits for residents. Sounded more like a job for a community activist, involved citizen - Dan's accustomed role.

On government funding, abatements, and consolidation of services, all were very similar, except that Osborne seemed to both have a better high-level strategy and to drill down deeper. While I appreciate Dan's suggestion that the City start 2-sided printing to save paper, we need professional, aggressive management.

On education: Dan seemed to argue that the schools are not in trouble and that people's concern about school performance is political. Candice seemed to be the only candidate to recognize that not all of JC's problems (esp. schools) have a local fix, and that city government ought to be pushing Trenton for changes which benefit our city. More visionary than the others.

I thought it was also interesting how much Dan had to stress that he is not Mayor Healy.

Quote:

For those of us who took a hit from Hurricane Sandy, Candice already has.

"Good Government Activist Dan Levin Signs On to Run as Ward E Candidate on Healy?s Ticket."

I've never heard the words "good government" and "Healy's ticket " used together in a sentence. Shame on you, Dan.

Nice story.

Too many hospitals!?!?

Guess you've never been in the ER for 36 hours waiting for a bed to open up.

@ecinjc, thanks for your answer. Those are good accomplishments for an involved parent working in her school, and I'm sure Vidya is rightly proud of them. They're exactly what you'd hope for from a parent getting involved at a local level, and sound like really good work.

I hope you or Vidya or someone will also be able to provide an answer about her budget analysis.

Thanks again.

@ecinjc, I guess you are making a habit out of being unresponsive. I at least have told you I've read the article and am unimpressed. If you're such a fan, don't tell me to read something that's full of generalities, please get specific about Vidya's accomplishments. If you know her so well, and if she will not answer for herself, tell us...

"She knows the most about what is going on on the ground floor and has already fought for change."

For someone who knows "the most," there's an amazing lack of detail.

For someone who's "already fought for change," I haven't heard exactly what she's fought for and what she's done.

Please just tell me and I'll stop bugging you! I don't understand how you can expect to earn peoples' votes by dodging simple questions!!!

@ecinjc, I did read the JCI article, and that's why I'm asking. Vidya's responses had the sound of generic answers from someone who cannot demonstrate that they've really done their homework. She talks about evaluating shared services - but is she aware of what services are already shared, or what budget lines have the potential for savings through sharing? A financial analyst should have already looked at these.

There are ample details to focus on in the district's audits (2007 KPMG audit plus annual fiscal audits) - but Vidya doesn't mention any of these.

Moreover, her answer didn't address the BUDGET at all except in the vaguest of terms. "The budget must support the goals and objectives of our school system." C'mon... a financial analyst should be able to say something about how THIS budget does or doesn't support the goals and objectives of our school system.

You can keep telling me how great she is, but all I'm really looking for is some specifics about her financial analysis of school operations and budget. You're the ones claiming this is her core strength and one of the major assets she brings to the board, so it seems reasonable to expect that this is a place where she can and should demonstrate her ability.

So my question should be a pretty easy one to deal with. Or at least explain why it's unreasonable to expect her to answer.

Whether she can or not, I'm interested in what she can do if she does.

In her reply to the Jersey City Independent, Vidya says "I would personally analyze it line-by-line to account for every dollar..."

Over a week ago I asked her or her supporters - who started this thread - to please say what's her financial analysis of the budget.

It's been out for several weeks and I haven't heard anything from her other than that it's too complicated, and we should not cut money to the classrooms. I'd expect more from someone who says she understands what's happening in the schools and is a skilled financial analyst.

Even though she's campaigning, I'd like to see a down payment on that campaign promise to analyze the budget. If that's a core skill, she could have brought some analysis of last year's budget to this campaign. That would have been good preparation for understanding whatever the administration put out this year.

I'd also expect her or her supporters to try to answer an honest question. At least the Fulop guys are responsive.

Every election you get to pick from the candidates that are running.

The Fulop folks make a good case that their candidates are a good fit with each other, and bring complementary skills to the Board. Nobody on the Board or running for it knows special ed like Sue Mack, and that's a huge chunk of the budget and very important to get right.

This election, though, you get three votes, so pick the three individuals you like best for the job.

Nobody can seriously argue that Marvin Adames and Carol Harrison-Arnold are not well-qualified, capable, and a breath of fresh air compared to what we've seen on the Board.

Hi. I'm brand new here but I have two questions.

First, an earlier poster said "Vidya Gangadin is a financial analyst. I've seen her look at BOE Budget and quickly point out areas of contention."

What are those? Her literature and web campaign don't include any specifics, and I haven't heard any reported from her forum answers. What areas or items of the BOE budget does Ms. Gangadin think need the most critical attention, and as a Board member, what would she do about those? What's her plan to bring about change in the budget?

Second, one of the primary qualifications she and her supporters have been citing is her role as VP of the PTA at Academy I Middle School and as member of the PTO at PS 38. How long has she been part of those organizations and what are her accomplishments as a parent-advocate?

Thanks!