ARTICLE: Community Involvement and Public Safety are a Top Priority for Garwood
By Sean Keagan Foley | Published in The Union County Hawk, September 14, 2023
Community Involvement and Public Safety are a Top Priority for Garwood
Should I have the honor of being elected your Councilman, I will take my responsibility for the safety and well-being of our community very seriously. Over the past few months, I have been actively exploring ideas to promote and enhance public safety in our town. I am excited to share just some of these initiatives with you, as the input and support of the community are essential in making our town safer:
1. Community Policing: Strengthening the connection between our police department and residents is vital. I am committed to expanding community policing programs that encourage officers to engage with our community regularly. This will build trust and facilitate better communication.
2. ARRIVE Together Program: New Jersey’s new ARRIVE program teams a law enforcement officer with a certified mental health screener for 9-1-1 responses to behavioral health crises. Municipalities around Union County have been piloting this program with much success, and I know its use would be greatly beneficial in Garwood.
3. Youth Engagement: Keeping our young people engaged in positive activities is a key strategy for reducing youth involvement in delinquency. Partnering with our new Recreation Director, who has already hit the ground running, we will continue to work on expanding after-school programs, sports leagues, and the arts. Also, the Garwood Partnership for Arts and Culture (GPAC) opens up new opportunities for youth. We need to continue support for ventures like these, and explore ways to build upon them.
4. Emergency Preparedness: In times of crisis, preparedness can make all the difference. We will organize community workshops and distribute resources to help residents better prepare for emergencies. Organizing resident volunteer Certified Emergency Response Teams (CERT) to respond to flooding is one way to make our residents and property safer.
5. Traffic Safety: Improving road safety is crucial. We will evaluate and enhance traffic management measures to reduce speeding in our community. There are cost efficient ways to do this, such as with the new portable speed limit signs recently deployed by our police.
6. Social Media/Internet Safety: Collaboration with our police department and school system to educate families about online safety in our ever-growing technological world. A community partnership council, similar to those found in nearby municipalities, can help bridge topics like this in our schools.
I am eager to hear your thoughts and ideas on these proposals. Community involvement is at the heart of our team and campaign’s efforts to enhance public safety. Your suggestions, concerns, and support are invaluable in shaping the direction we take. Thank you for your continued support; I look forward to working hand in hand to create a safer future for our community.
Sean Keagan Foley
Garwood Council Candidate
