David Belasco An Independent Voice for South Orange

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Platform If elected I will be your advocate. Help me work for: Open and Orderly Government - A better way to make decisions. A Proactive Information Policy - An informed public. Greater Public Participation - More public participation in the decisions that affect us all. Strong Schools - Greater cooperation with the Board of Education to help make our schools and students the best. A Realistic Plan for Development - A new comprehensive plan consistent with the character of our town. Cost Effective Government - Cost effective delivery of services. As the campaign progresses, I will be discussing ways to reach these goals, and giving concrete examples of how reaching them will make South Orange an even better place to live. In addition to the general information below, more specific information about my platform can be found on the Events page. Please send me your comments and your ideas for an even better South Orange at votebelasco@aol.com, so that I can incorporate them into my platform. Open and Orderly Government The public must demand an open and thorough debate of major issues. More time has been spent at recent town meetings polishing and reviewing the dumpster ordinance, than debating whether our Village Administrator should have what may amount to a lifetime job. Voters must consistently hold all office holders in the Village to a higher standard of conduct. back to top A Proactive Information Policy Unless the public knows what is happening, open and orderly government is impossible. Until there is an adequate information plan, I will be an informal citizens' advocate, doing what I can to make sure the public knows when its input is needed, and I will fight for an innovative information plan. back to top Greater Public Participation There is an amazing pool of knowledge and skills here in South Orange. When important decisions are being made on issues that affect us all, we need to tap that pool and have a full exchange of views and ideas. back to top Strong Schools Our schools have long been the backbone of our community. Education is primarily the responsibility of the Board of Education, but the town must do all it can do to work with the Board, and to help our schools and students be the best. back to top A Realistic Plan for Development We need a public consensus on what we want South Orange to be like decades into the future. This consensus must then be embodied in a plan that ties together all existing projects and those in the planning stage. I will be an advocate for a plan that is realistic, respects the character and appearance of our village, and avoids over-sized, aesthetically challenged development. back to top Cost Effective Government We must seek the most cost effective delivery of services, work to share more services with surrounding communities, and work to control the spiraling costs of otherwise worthy projects like SOPAC. back to top