Brick Township Council Election 2023: Steve Feinman

BRICK, NJ — Election Day 2023 is near, and Brick Township voters will be going to the polls to cast their ballots for candidates at the local, county and state levels.

In Brick, there are eight candidates for the four available four-year terms on the Township Council.

Patch sent a questionnaire to all eight candidates seeking their responses. Here are the replies from Steve Feinman. They are unedited except for typographical errors and punctuation.

Your Name: Steve Feinman

Age (as of Election Day): 43

Party Affiliation: Democratic

Campaign Website: www.crateteam2023.com

Family: My wife, Caroline and I moved to Brick in 2013. We have a 9-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter. My mother-in-law also lives with us. It has been such a positive experience to have our children raised in a multi-generational household.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for. No.

Education: University of Maryland (College Park), bachelor's in sociology, 2002.

Occupation: Owner and operator of Visiting Angels Homecare of Wall. I started there as executive director in 2015 and I purchased the franchise in 2022. I still serve as the executive director. One of my accomplishments that I am proud of is that since my time at Visiting Angels, we have serviced over 700 clients. I currently oversee 5 per diem nurses, 40 caregivers and 2 office team members.

Previous or current elected or appointed office: None.

Why are you seeking elective office?

Through owning a successful small business, I have developed skills to create solutions, motivate and manage others, increase revenue and decrease expenses. While doing so, I also learned valuable lessons on the importance of keeping our senior citizens safe and healthy while they remain in the trusted warmth of their homes.

I was wrapping up my first season as volunteer coach for my daughter’s tee-ball team when I realized how much I enjoyed giving my time and energy back to others. Then, this opportunity came along. As a father of 2 children in our school system, I know the importance of a strong relationship between parents and teachers. I think it is vital to have an open line of communication between parents and teachers. With all my professional and personal experience, I am confident I will prove to be an asset to the already amazing council team.

Crime has been a concern for months across New Jersey. What do you think should be done at the local level in Brick Township to ease residents’ concerns?

As a team, we support our police 100 percent. I remember asking Mayor Crate about this topic. She told me very clearly that when the police ask for support, the answer is always yes. In the past years, the police presence has increased. There are also neighborhood watch committees in different areas in town. Additionally, I have saved the non-emergency police department number in my phone. The police cannot do it all on their own. They rely on us to say something when we see something. I encourage you all to save the Brick Township Police Department telephone number in your phone. Their number is 732-262-1100. Get to know your neighbors, look out for each other and if you see something, say something. Together, along with the Brick Township Police Department, we can maintain the safety of our neighborhoods.

The township has refurbished its parks and expanded recreation programs for all ages over the last 10 years. What programs or facilities would you like to see brought to Brick Township?

As a business owner who serves seniors, I am excited about the grand opening of Brick’s new Senior Center. I think it will greatly enhance the lives of seniors by offering activities and programs for them to enjoy. This includes exercise programs, arts and crafts, social gatherings, and the sharing of important information that affects seniors such as Medicare, medical transportation, home care and general town information including property tax, which Mayor Crate was able to keep the Municipal tax at a zero percent increase, which is great for everyone.

Owning and operating Visiting Angels Homecare, I also understand the struggles associated with running a business in a post-Covid environment. I feel that small businesses are the backbone of a community. With that in mind, Brick offers the waiving of fees associated with renovating vacant commercial property (with certain limitations). This will continue to be a great incentive to bring small businesses back to Brick. Additionally, the Buy in Brick program is a great way for our town to benefit in the support of local businesses. When you register and purchase from registered participating businesses, you earn credits towards your property tax.

Lastly, I was super excited to participate in the first annual “Longest Table” event held by Mayor Crate. This wonderful experience brought together the town to enjoy a meal together and encouraged everyone to meet different people to get to know one another. During my rounds, I met people from the Garden Club, long-term residents and someone who just moved to Brick earlier this year! It supports the strong sense of connection and community that is vital to Brick.

People persistently complain about property taxes. What do you believe Brick can do at the township level to mitigate the effects of state-mandated increases in the school district property tax levy? If you would make cuts, what township programs would you cut?

I’m proud to be a part of a team that put forward a zero percent municipal tax increase this year. I am always concerned about the effects of property taxes on seniors and all homeowners. One of the complaints I hear, particularly from seniors, is the cost of school taxes, which have risen because of cuts in state aid. Right after she took office, Mayor Crate went to Trenton to testify on the effects of state budget cuts on our residents and our schools and succeeded in having the State restore over $2 million in school aid to Brick schools. She’s been an effective leader, and I’m glad to be part of her team so we can work together on controlling property taxes and helping the schools through shared services.