What Does 2017 Have In Store For Wayne?

WAYNE, N.J. — This year was a big one for Wayne.

News finally broke of the Wayne Hills Mall being redeveloped. It was announced that Dave & Buster's is coming to the township. Wayne Hills won another state group championship.

So what does 2017 have in store for Wayne?

Redevelopment

There are a number of redevelopment projects in the works, including the long-awaited Wayne Hills Mall. Town officials have been looking for ways to improve the aging mall, which was built in the 1970s. Attendance began declining in the 1990s and several retailers moved out one by one. Burlington Coat Factory is the only store still operating on the property’s main footprint.

Several sites in town, including the former Bayer building, The Ice Vault, the Wayne Towne Center, the former DMV building on Route 23 North, and others continue to be redesigned and redeveloped. Mayor Chris Vergano has long championed such work as a way of revitalization and increasing the town's ratable base.

Elections

Vergano is up for re-election, as are the three at-large councilmembers: James Jimenez, Lonni Miller Ryan and Joseph Schweighardt.

Republicans have long had a stranglehold on municipal offices, but Democrats continue to put forth candidates and some local races have been closer in recent years than others.

The council will reorganize Jan. 4 at 8 p.m.

War on Drugs

Wayne police and the Passaic County Sheriff's Office continue to crack down on opiate abuse and take heroin and prescription drugs off the streets. Police arrested people using and high on narcotics on school property and in a mall changing room in 2016.

Wayne police officers have said they are dedicated to helping drug and alcohol abusers.

The police department and the Wayne Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse often hold community meetings about the latest trends in drug and alcohol abuse, especially among teenagers and young adults.

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