Ezra J. Temko

At Newark Nite, I had an interactive survey for the Newark Community to see what people thought about some opportunities and challenges facing our community.

People could sticker up to three of their top priorities for our community.
Here are the numbers:
104 - Environmental Sustainability
           (e.g. recycling, carbon footprint, open space preservation)
85 - Transportation
           (e.g. traffic – speeding, congestion, parking, public transportation)
62 - Growth & Development
           (e.g. Density, Sprawl, Country Club Estates, Home Depot, Land Use Planning)
54 - Community Development
           (e.g. civic engagement, sense of place, events & connectivity)
54 - Crime and Safety
           (e.g. Graffiti, Robberies, Drugs)
50 - Economic Development
           (e.g. Downtown, Greater Newark, Chrysler Plant)
30 - Quality of Services
           (e.g. utility prices, water quality, financial sustainability)
14 - Town-Gown Relations
           (e.g. events & coordination, disorderly conduct, housing)

People also gave suggestions on how to address these issues.

Suggestions –
Environmental Sustainability

• Free Recycling to Newark residents

Transportation

• More Parking
• Full week trains to Philly – round trip (weekends) !!!! (ditto!!!, Yes! Yes!)
• Look into U-Pass in Chicago for model
• Earlier trains to Philly to get there by 6:45
• Pedestrian Crossing Regulation
• (Regional) Train from Newark to DC
• Better Bikeability
• Sustainable, efficient modes of transport: bikes, mini buses, etc. Thanks!
• Motorcycle racing on Elkton Road keeps me awake at night ☹
• More crosswalks

Community Development

• Control of University Development – puts tax burden on balance of residents
• Work on an alcohol-free entertainment business – attract one, work with UD
• Establish a community calendar
• Have a farmers market on Sat – like other cities our size – coffee/crafts/food/organize/cheese/bread
• (Comment response: Come to the co-op farmers market on Sundays from 10-1 – In front of the Newark Food Coop – Engagement between govt. & organizations that are working for sustainability (like the coop).
• Gay Pride Events

Crime & Safety

• I hate graffiti. Well worth removing. Helps deflect gang presence.

Economic Development

• Bring in Trader Joe’s (Yes!) (also written elsewhere)
• Look into the CREATIVE economy as a soloution – bring creative to Newark!
• Bring Target! (elsewhere: TARGET!!! <-SERIOUSLY!)
• Bring Whole Foods!
• Approach car makers – see if another maker will come – Tout our experienced workers

Growth & Development

• Newark Country Club should be preserved as open space; demographics in Newark won’t support a large single family development. That idea to make NCC into a large single family home development seems foolhardy
• Be careful about planning! Open space is important!
• Make Newark CC open space!!
• Newark has some of the ugliest new buildings! Save the old ones & save green spaces

Other

• Keep Planned Parenthood open
• Close Planned Parenthood
• Less Litter
• Get students out of residential area – CHANGE ZONING!