On Friday, November 22, 2002, Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage was elected President of the League of Municipalities. In his acceptance remarks, he set specific goals. So doing, he gave us a unique opportunity to look into the mind and to listen to the heart of the man who will lead us for the next 12 months. What we saw was a reflection of the hopes and concerns shared by local elected officials throughout our Garden State. And what we heard was a resounding echo of their determination to make New Jersey a better place.

First, Mayor Bollwage intends to focus his energies and our resources on the quest for property tax reform. Since its inception in 1917, this has been an ongoing issue for the League, its leaders and its member municipalities. We all know that we face a difficult year ahead. State revenues continue to lag and the prospects for inflation adjusted property tax relief funding are dim. With the help of all municipal officials, we will do our best to convince state budget makers to give priority attention to the plight of our beleaguered property taxpayers, in the short run. But Mayor Bollwage clearly stated his intention to convince state policy makers to devote themselves to long term reform of the system, as well. Toward that end, we will continue to push for a special convention committed to lasting reform.

Second, Mayor Bollwage wants both state and federal leaders to realize that Homeland Security needs to begin with a strong federal commitment. Local "first responders" were paid a lot of lip service in the aftermath of the September 2001 attacks. But lip service won't help our local public safety professionals perform the necessary threat and vulnerability assessments that must focus on water, energy and transportation systems. Nor will it help us to deal with those threats, while we continue to battle common street crime. Likewise, local health professionals need to prepare against bioterrorism, while they continue to deal with basic issues such as Lyme Disease and West Nile Virus. All local officials need to remind their state and, especially, their federal representatives of this.

Third, Mayor Bollwage wants the Legislature to address the issue of sustainable development. Local needs and concerns must be respected in the areas of brownfields redevelopment, economic opportunity and open space preservation. And local officials have, for too long, been denied crucial tools such as "impact fees" and "timed growth." Together, we need to press our colleagues in the State House to deliver these important reforms.

The League staff stands ready to work with Mayor Bollwage on these priorities. But our efforts will mean nothing without the determined support of local officials from all around our state. As Mayor Bollwage noted in his remarks, "The best way to predict the future is to invent it." Together, we can "create a better tomorrow

FROM 407 WEST STATE STREET..... Mayor Bollwage Sets the Tone On Friday, November 22, 2002, Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage was elected President of the League of Municipalities. In his acceptance remarks, he set specific goals. So doing, he gave us a unique opportunity to look into the mind and to listen to the heart of the man who will lead us for the next 12 months. What we saw was a reflection of the hopes and concerns shared by local elected officials throughout our Garden State. And what we heard was a resounding echo of their determination to make New Jersey a better place. First, Mayor Bollwage intends to focus his energies and our resources on the quest for property tax reform. Since its inception in 1917, this has been an ongoing issue for the League, its leaders and its member municipalities. We all know that we face a difficult year ahead. State revenues continue to lag and the prospects for inflation adjusted property tax relief funding are dim. With the help of all municipal officials, we will do our best to convince state budget makers to give priority attention to the plight of our beleaguered property taxpayers, in the short run. But Mayor Bollwage clearly stated his intention to convince state policy makers to devote themselves to long term reform of the system, as well. Toward that end, we will continue to push for a special convention committed to lasting reform. Second, Mayor Bollwage wants both state and federal leaders to realize that Homeland Security needs to begin with a strong federal commitment. Local "first responders" were paid a lot of lip service in the aftermath of the September 2001 attacks. But lip service won't help our local public safety professionals perform the necessary threat and vulnerability assessments that must focus on water, energy and transportation systems. Nor will it help us to deal with those threats, while we continue to battle common street crime. Likewise, local health professionals need to prepare against bioterrorism, while they continue to deal with basic issues such as Lyme Disease and West Nile Virus. All local officials need to remind their state and, especially, their federal representatives of this. Third, Mayor Bollwage wants the Legislature to address the issue of sustainable development. Local needs and concerns must be respected in the areas of brownfields redevelopment, economic opportunity and open space preservation. And local officials have, for too long, been denied crucial tools such as "impact fees" and "timed growth." Together, we need to press our colleagues in the State House to deliver these important reforms. The League staff stands ready to work with Mayor Bollwage on these priorities. But our efforts will mean nothing without the determined support of local officials from all around our state. As Mayor Bollwage noted in his remarks, "The best way to predict the future is to invent it." Together, we can "create a better tomorrow for all the people of our Garden State." Let us begin, today.