Thank you

I just want to thank everyone who contributed to, encouraged, and helped with my write in campaign.

This exercise in democracy was an experience for all of us.  The goal is and always has been to make Trenton better.  Let us continue to work towards that end.

—-Jim Carlucci

The votes are in

With just under 28% of Trenton’s 39, 221 voters turning out, “Personal Choice” (the write-ins) received 448 votes or 2.18% of the ballots cast.

Thank you all for your encouragement and support.

Trenton Council Person at Large

51/51 100.00%

Under Votes	11705
Over Votes	0
	Vote Count	Percent
- Phyllis Holly-Ward	2,593	12.62%
- Algernon Ward, Jr.	1,842	8.96%
- Juan Martinez	2,044	9.95%
- T. ”Missy” Balmir	1,956	9.52%
- Donelle M. Presha	594	2.89%
- Christine Donahue	1,921	9.35%
- Ernest Perez, Jr.	957	4.66%
- Alex Bethea	2,879	14.01%
- Darren Green	1,934	9.41%
- Kathy McBride	3,382	16.46%
Personal Choice	448	2.18%
Total	20,550	100.00%

VOTE!

Today is the day we have been afforded to make real changes in our city government. 

Not only are we selecting those who will represent us for the next four years, we literally have in our hands the opportunity to shape Trenton’s future.

The orthodoxies of the past have led us to the brink of a complete and total failure of Trenton’s ability to function.

Do not be limited by the choices set before you on a printed ballot.

Do not choose based upon an individual’s rhetoric, but by his or her record.

 Do not be swayed by slick literature or noisy motorcades. 

When you step into the booth to cast your ballot today, do so with certainty that the ones you choose are the best for our city today and tomorrow.  

VOTE!

IRRESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS COST TAXPAYERS MORE

The following is the text of a press release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Our City Administration has spent over $175,000 in legal fees fighting your right to a referendum on the Trenton Water Works sale!  Amazing!

And this is not the first time this Administration has used your money to fight you!

According to documents obtained through an Open Public Records Act [OPRA] request, Council at Large write in candidate Jim Carlucci has calculated that the law firm of McManimon and Scotland has billed the City $177,354.13 to fight your right to a referendum on the Water Works sale.

“Mayor Palmer claims the City is financially strapped and needs the proceeds from the Trenton Water Works/New Jersey American Water deal to hold down taxes.  Then he spends $177,000 in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent citizens from having a say in the matter,” says Carlucci.  “All the while, he points fingers at the citizens behind the petition and claims they are the cause of dramatic tax increases, when in fact it is the irresponsible behavior of the Mayor and the lack of independent oversight by City Council that has consistently cost the City money it doesn’t have.”

Just last week, Palmer was quoted in the Trentonian as saying, “I believe it’s in the best interest of the taxpayers to have a referendum.  I’m asking that City Council waive their 20 days and since Mr. McGrath is here I’m making a request that he waive the 10 days.”

The next day the Times reported that, “Before the vote, Palmer asked them to waive the waiting period ‘so we can get this issue resolved and in front of the voters.’”

“Then why did he spend a year and all that money trying to stop a vote on the matter?,” Carlucci asks.

Incredibly, Palmer lost a similar case in October of 2006 when he tried to deny you your rights to a referendum on the elimination of the Deputy Chief positions in the City Police Department.  How much of your money did he waste that time?

“The mayor should have known better,” Carlucci asserts, “and so should have City Council!  This is what happens when we let ego and personal interest unduly influence the decisions of our elected officials. Think of all the money wasted by officials trying to circumvent the law: Residency cases, blocking referendums.  It’s irresponsible!”

Was your money also wasted on defending the Administration’s abuse of eminent domain?  Stay tuned!

Carlucci, in his third bid for a Council seat, is a strong proponent of a common sense approach to good government.

###

What is a write-in candidate and how do I cast my vote for one?

“What is a write-in candidate?”

A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person’s name.

Write-in candidates are a holdover from the time when ballot papers were blank, and had no names printed on them at all. Gradually, the ballots were arranged to have all the names of the candidates printed on them, with a “write-in” provision for latecomers.  

Every voter should learn how to do a write-in vote. While not used very often in comparison to regular voting, it’s a basic voting necessity. This year, make it a point to learn how to do one.

How do I cast a vote for a write-in candidate?

1. Look at the voting screen for the write-in column and the office for which you want to write in your vote. Push the write-in button for the Council at Large office. A lighted X will begin flashing inside this box.
2. Look to the bottom of the machine and find the test screen to your left and the keyboard to your right. Using the keyboard type in “JIM CARLUCCI.”
3. When you’re finished typing, check the text screen to make sure you spelled “JIM CARLUCCI” correctly and press the green “Enter” button. The lighted X will stop blinking and you have just written in your vote!
4. here’s a three minute video demonstrating voting procedures for the same machines we use in Mercer County (the video is from the Montgomery County, PA website).  If you go about 1:45 in, there is a demonstration of the process for writing in a vote.  I’ve also posted a link to the video in the column to the write so you can reference it more easily if you return to this site.

What others have said

Friday was a busy day.  Lot’s of “nuts and bolts” work on the campaign plus hitting the streets to spread the word that there is an option other than the names on the ballot.  It doesn’t leave a lot of time to write blog entries so I’m going to let some other people speak on my behalf today.

Last Sunday, May 2, the Times published this letter:

Write in a vote: Carlucci for council

As city voters make their decisions about the upcoming election for mayor and city council, it becomes apparent that the list of candidates is somewhat lacking in true leaders.

I suggest that those who agree with me cast a write-in vote for James Carlucci for an at-large city council seat. With Mr. Carlucci on city council, at least we’ll have one proven intelligent leader and activist to help us as we struggle to overcome very difficult times.

Marge Miccio,

Trenton

This letter appeared in the Times, Saturday, May 8:

Write in Carlucci for council at large

As someone who is concerned about Trenton and its future, I have been looking closely at our city council race this year. With so many candidates, it has been hard to decide who is ready to lead our city and make the changes necessary to improve Trenton.

After reviewing the at-large candidates on the ballot, I have decided to vote for a proven leader who knows our city, its neighborhoods and is already working hard for all of us. He is not on the ballot, but I hope he will be if there is a run-off in June. That candidate is James Carlucci Jr. and I will be typing his name into the voting machine as one of my at-large council choices.

Mr. Carlucci ran in 2006 against tough odds, but unfortunately for our city, he didn’t win. If he had, we probably wouldn’t be in such a fiscal mess, with all the unchecked overspending that was done by the administration over the last four years.

Trenton will need strong leadership during the next four years. Mr. Carlucci has proven himself a leader by leading the South Ward Community Police Advisory Committee, helping to bring the Trenton Water Works sale to a referendum and taking stands on crime, economic empowerment, fiscal mismanagement and residency.

I ask my fellow Trenton voters from all of our wards to write/type in “James Carlucci Jr.” to be one of our three at-large councilpeople. Four years from now, they will be proud that they did.

Tamara Stokes,

Trenton

I’ll be at Cafe Ole on S. Warren Street this morning from 9:00 until about 10:45.  Then I’ll be at a candidate’s Meet & Greet in Classics Bookstore, also on S. Warren Street. 

Come on out and let’s talk.

Who’s looking out for our money?

City Council carries the legal responsibility to pass a timely and responsible budget.  City Council carries the legal responsibility to decide whether or not to approve extra expenditures, be it for emergencies [such as disaster relief], for police overtime, or outside legal fees and consultants.

It is the legal responsibility of City Council to monitor the spending of the budget it has authorized.  Are the appropriated funds spent effectively, legally and wisely?  Can we say this about the City’s Public Libraries and schools?  Can we say this about the frivolous litigations our Administration has fostered?

Obviously our City Council has failed in its most basic legal responsibilities!

Beginning in 2003, and running through 2007, the Police overtime budget went through the roof, yet City Council never questioned it…at least not until the public became justifiably alarmed.

In 2006, the police department spent over $5 million dollars to construct two unneeded police stations in the East and West Wards. City Council blindly approved this expenditure without considering the ongoing costs of operating these stations.  Likewise, the City Council didn’t balk when those same stations were all but closed in 2008 due to the layoffs of the civilian police aids who manned them.

Late 2007, the contract for Barry Colicelli, the Mayor’s Special Aid in Gang matters, was up for renewal.  It was revealed that there were clear irregularities in the billing and payment of his prior contract.  Specifically, the contract for services signed by Mr. Colicelli on March 16, 2007 covered a one-year period from Dec. 15, 2006 through December 14, 2007.  Now, Mr. Colicelli was to be paid  $75 per hour for a maximum of $91,000.  Prior to being awarded the contract Barry Colicelli billed the City of Trenton exactly $7,583 each month for services provided in 2007 for a total of $90,996.  That is $91,000 max and $90,996 billed. I can’t speak of his gang knowledge but Mr. Colicelli certainly knew his billing!   And he billed for services before he even signed the contract! Legal experts indicate that without an approved contract, payments to Mr. Colicelli were improper and possibly unlawful.*  Once again, City Council failed to question this situation until citizens raised the alarm.

In the spring of 2008, City Council was being coerced by the administration to approve a contract to commit to buy $250,000 worth of services from E-Path communications.  E-Path had already been awarded the rights to build a “ free WiFi internet” network.  Fortunately, myself and other concerned citizens objected loudly enough to get the City Council to halt this frivolous contract.

In 2008 our City Council was also seriously considering the Administration’s demands to spend $200,000 for new guns for the police department.  Holy sputnik, Batman! [Editor’s note - hyperbole has no place in polite political discourse]  The maker of the guns then in use by our police force was offering to make a free, one-for-one swap for new guns.  Once again, public alarm stopped our City Council from authorizing another wasteful contract.

In September of 2008, we found out that the City Library System had not had a proper audit done for years.  How did we discover this?  When the funding was cut to the point that the branches were going to close.  Should City Council have known this?  You betcha!

Earlier this year, City Council passed an ordinance on the use of city owned, non-emergency vehicles.  The ordinance was brought to the Council by a petition from a group of citizens.  Part of the ordinance that was adopted required the Business Administrator to generate an inventory, assignment roster, etc.  You know, the basic controls necessary to prevent employees from using City vehicles for private use.  To the best of my knowledge, these reports have never been provided to the City Council…nor has City Council requested them.

I could go on, but you get the point. 

City Council members have the clear legal responsibility to ensure that the city’s business is carried out lawfully and sensibly.  If they are unable or unwilling to uphold that responsibility, the potential for fiscal shenanigans and the waste of your money is very great.

What don’t we know?  Yeah, that scares me as well.

When you pick up your checkbook to pay those tax bills that arrived in Saturday’s mail ask yourself – do I know where my money is going? 

Next question -Who I am voting for?

May I suggest writing in Jim Carlucci for Council At Large.  J-I-M C-A-R-L-U-C-C-I

*Reference on Colicelli stuff: http://www.trentonfacts.com/colicelli.htm

Beautiful Trenton questions answered

Following are the questions posed to all the certified At-Large Council Candidates by the Beautiful Trenton citizen’s group.  My answers are in red italics and give a pretty good overview of my thoughts on what the city needs from the people elected to a Council At-Large seat.

1. The City Council is a legislative body with investigative powers. What do you see as the role of the City Council in advancing the economic, educational and cultural success of Trenton? Council must help the Administration set goals for the city’s various departments and then act as watchdog/mentor/cheerleader to see that those goals are achieved. The members of Council must have a full knowledge and understanding of their rights and responsibilities as the legislative branch of the city government, including their power to initiate legislation on their own as well as override a Mayoral veto. Council must be ready and willing to use their powers appropriately as situations arise. Council needs to hold the Administration accountable just as the Council members themselves are accountable to the public that elects them.
2. Department heads are appointed by the Mayor “with the advice and consent of Council.” What do you see as the role of the City Council in evaluating and voting on department heads and other officials proposed by the Mayor? City Council must take an active role in not only providing the advice and consent to the Mayor, but needs to hold the department heads accountable.  Council has the power to remove a director for cause through a specified process and should be fully prepared to use that power if and when warranted.
3. Some City of Trenton departments and services are seen as effective, while others are viewed as creating obstacles to progress. What two current City of Trenton departments or services do you believe are working well, and what two departments or services most need to be improved? What specific actions will you push for the City Council taking to improve underperforming departments or services? Overall, I feel that our police and fire departments have done a remarkable job of preserving public safety in the city and are probably the best functioning departments.  Inspections and Economic Development seem to be lagging behind in effectiveness.  In both cases, I believe that a clear set of goals and policy set by the Mayor and City Council is needed for these departments to improve performance. Modernization and streamlining of processes as well as improved code enforcement and the introduction of zero based budgeting for all departments will help us focus our efforts and resources on programs and areas where we realize the most return for dollars spent.
4. A healthy city must be able to meet the needs of its citizens while balancing its budget. Trenton has many assets and a resilient population, but it still relies on the state for almost 75% of its operating budget revenue. What specific steps should the City Council take to increase revenues and to reduce expenditures? What will be the combined benefits of these actions? The city is currently responsible for an estimated 3000 vacant properties.  We must work harder to get these buildings and lots back on the tax rolls.  We also need to focus on enforcement of all housing, parking and other quality of life ordinances.  The fines collected from violators will increase revenue and the resulting improvements to the overall quality of life in the city will make further development and investment easier to come by. I would also urge that we maintain ownership of the complete Trenton Water Works system because with competent management it will provide a continuing source of revenue and affordable public water for all.
5.  Many successful cities use history, arts and cultural opportunities to capture the spirit of the community and create vibrant places to live. As a Council member, what three specific steps will you take to support and market Trenton’s history, arts and cultural diversity both in our neighborhoods and downtown? It has always struck me as odd that council members attend so few of the smaller civic and cultural events around the city. Councilpersons need to lead by example and attend and participate in the cultural events held in the city.  A Council member should be a model citizen who leads by example.  It is imperative that they participate in a reasonable percentage of the city’s cultural events.
6. Trenton is a remarkably diverse city, with many different neighborhoods, blocks and organizations. As a Council member, what will you do to foster and promote citizen action and efforts on the local and neighborhood level? What are examples of citizen-lead efforts you would support, and what would you do to support them?  To my way of thinking a councilperson’s responsibility extends beyond delivering proclamations at awards banquets.  As Councilman At Large I would regularly visit neighborhood events and attend community meetings to encourage and support a strong civic network.  I would be accessible to my constituents and work to help form civic groups where they don’t already exist. As Councilman At Large I would continue to be an advocate and supporter of a variety of civic and cultural groups, just as I have as a private citizen.  My track record of involvement, from my weekly civic calendar list, to my efforts to halt irresponsible development (Leewood in South Trenton) to my participation in the creation of the (albeit short-lived) foundation to support the Trenton Library are just a few examples of what can be done.
7. 9.      Civic engagement requires open and honest sharing of information between those elected to serve in government and those who elected them. What will you do to make the City Council more accessible, transparent and responsive to citizens?  I suggest that Council conference sessions automatically be moved from the conference room to the larger Council Chambers whenever it appears that there will be an overflow crowd.  Start times for council meetings could be set back an hour or so to enable people to get home from work in time to attend. City Council meetings should be televised just as school board meetings are.  At the individual level, I believe it is key for an elected representative to use all manner of interpersonal, mass and internet communications to maintain contact and communication with the public. And there is no substitute for good old fashioned “face time.”  Council members who actively participate in the city’s cultural and civic events cannot but help to engage their constituents.
8. How will your role as a Council Member-at-Large be reflected in your service on the Council? What do you see as the critical responsibilities and duties for Council Members-at-Large? Whereas Ward Council Members by definition serve the people of their respective wards, the At Large members represent the entire city.  An At Large Council member must be able and willing to deal with the concerns of a diverse constituency.  A Council Member At Large should possess excellent communication skills in order to properly understand and serve the needs of the entire city and be able to build and reinforce the bridges between all segments of the community. All members of City Council must be well versed in their powers and responsibilities, it is especially important for the At Large members to seek out best practices from around the region, state and country.
9. Many successful individuals have passed through the Trenton educational system, but we still have low student achievement levels, high dropout rates and a poor community image. What can the City Council do, and more importantly what should the City Council do, to improve our schools and increase the number of students that succeed? City Council has very little input on Trenton’s school district. With the exception of a council member being appointed to sit on the School Board of Estimate, Council merely approves the city’s annual contribution to the school budget.  That said, I feel Council is obliged to make sure that appropriation is spent as effectively as possible. Council should receive regular updates from the schools superintendent and demand accountability from the entire schools administration. Finally, let’s not forget that many of the problems within the schools are due to situations (such as home life) completely beyond the control of city government. About all City Council can do to combat that is to demonstrate a belief in the importance of providing the best possible education for Trenton’s students.

Fix Trenton’s budget scorecard results

Dan Dodson’s “Fix Trenton’s Budget” group has graded the candidates’ responses to the survey questions.  You can read the results here.

I took the survey on my own and scored 83%, the second highest overall and higher than any of the Mayoral Candidates!

Admittedly, I gave a couple of “no opinion” answers and that hurt my score.  Those responses were entered, not because Ididn’t have an opinion or care to give one but because I wanted clarification and or more information before answering.

I’ll take the “B” grade for the test and admit I prefer to be able to ask questions and gather information before I take an action.

How do your candidates measure up?

A quick look at my announcement

Kevin Williams was kind enough to videotape Friday morning’s announcement of my write-campaign.  You can view it on YouTube by clicking here.