Warren Committee Election 2021: Ilana Goldstein-Barsky

WARREN, NJ — Warren's general election on Nov. 2 has four candidates running for two open seats on the Township Committee.

Ilana Goldstein-Barsky is one of two Democratic candidates running.

The other candidates include:

• Nichelle Santos - Democrat
• Victor J. Sordillo - Republican (Incumbent)
• Gary P. DiNardo - Republican (Incumbent)

All of the candidates are running for the three, three-year seats on the Committee.

Are you running for office in Warren? Contact Alexis Tarrazi at alexis.tarrazi@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Warren Patch.

Ilana Goldstein-Barsky

Name: Ilana Goldstein-Barsky

Age: 43

Town of residence: Warren

Position sought: Warren Township Committee

Family: Married to Michael Barsky and 12-year-old son, Jared

Education: Studied Psychology at Montclair State University.

Occupation: Product Manager

Previous or current elected appointed office: Previously served on the Warren Township Board of Education.

Why are you seeking to run for township committee? I am seeking office because it is time for a change in leadership in Warren. I have lived in Warren for 14 years, and I am immensely proud of my community, not only the people I know as neighbors and friends but also the school community-students and staff. Unfortunately, for decades we have had the same people on the Town Committee doing things the same way. In the 21 st Century, the demographics in our town have changed. And with that, innovative ideas and approaches to issues that relate to our everyday life in Warren, as well as the world at large, need to be included in the conversation. It is time for all residents to be heard. I believe I can serve as a spokesperson for those whose voices are not represented on the present Town Committee.

The single most pressing issue facing our township is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Lack of transparency especially related to development.

Our committee members typically dismiss questions from the public about details related to plans for development in town. Whether it be residential development, Affordable Housing, or commercial business locations, they often tell residents they cannot discuss these issues only to find out at the next meeting that decisions have been made and it is too late to make changes. This is not transparency. As a committee member, I would seek input from all stakeholders before a crucial decision is made which will impact a particular neighborhood. Property owners need to be informed of development in their local community. This has not happened recently for those impacted by the request for a hotel at Stone House Restaurant or the storage facility bordering Crown Drive and Lauren Way.

Instead of being content to let residents hear second-hand misinformation, I would be available via first-hand conversations, Zoom meetings, and committees to explain potential changes and receive input. My priority would be to listen to the residents rather than minimize their contributions to decision making.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My opponents have been in their positions for so long, that they seem to have fallen into a routine approach to decision making. Their predictable responses and lackluster viewpoints reflect a lack of vision towards the future of our town. As a newcomer on the committee, I would offer a new and vibrant point of view. In addition, during public meetings where residents are listening for essential information, my opponents often digress with personal dialogue unrelated to township issues. Instead of talking about personal accomplishments, I would make better use of meeting time: make sure residents understand ordinances and resolutions that appear on the agenda, address questions from the public and offer to seek answers when not known.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current committee failed the community?

Two fundamental areas where the current committee has failed to properly serve Warren residents relates to taxes and excessive use of PILOT programs. This year’s budget included a 4% tax increase which could have been avoided if the town committee had managed a surplus of taxes last year differently to offset this year’s budget. When one of our candidates suggested holding on to the surplus last year (since the pandemic created an uncertain local economy), they dismissed the idea. This year without that surplus, we needed a tax increase. Not good decision making in my opinion.

Another area has to do with an over reliance of PILOT programs (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) for developers. PILOT programs give developers exemptions from traditional property taxes. To qualify, the town needs to designate the land as blighted or distressed. This state tax abatement was created to attract commercial, residential, and industrial development to areas most in need of redevelopment such as inner-city real estate; however, it has come to our community. As a result, taxpayers must absorb the loss of taxes for education. Many building projects have been done on land that has been designated as “blighted or distressed.” For example, The King George Inn property, and the redeveloper of the Flag Plaza shopping mall on Mt. Bethel Rd and Mountain Blvd have received PILOT programs. The town now has four PILOT agreements related to its third round of affordable housing. Each time a developer receives a PILOT program, we lose tax money for education.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Besides what I have already explained, I would also prioritize our infrastructure and quality of life for current residents when collaborating with developers to uphold our Affordable Housing mandates. Another critical issue is transitioning to sustainable energy sources. I would work with the County and the State to bring "green" vehicles and solar energy to our municipality. Based on recent decisions our present Town Committee has made, I also believe it is important to better protect our open spaces in town. We need to assure they won’t become the next choice for development in later years. Overall, we need to Build Smarter and Build Together. We can make Warren a town that represents all the people.

Best advice given to you.

Even though no one gave me specific advice, both of my grandmothers modeled life by example. My grandmother Rose grew up in Romania and was forced from her home as a teen. She walked from Romania to Russia with her husband and two toddler boys. They eventually ended up on a boat to America. Here in the US, she worked every day of her life until her company was forced to close when she was in her mid-80’s. My other grandmother, Sonya, often worked two or three jobs at a time and volunteered as a first responder. She has also been re-elected many times as fire commissioner in her town. No matter how much my grandmothers struggled daily, they always kept going to help their families as best as they could. That work ethic is ingrained in my DNA. It defines how I approach every task, and that is why I believe I can serve as a leader to our town with relentless motivation and perseverance. I promise to work hard — for everyone!