To agonize or to organize, that is the question. - Newark Business Strategies | Examiner.com

To agonize or to organize, that is the question. - Newark Business Strategies | Examiner.com

Business Strategy 101 - Newark Business Strategies | Examiner.com

Business Strategy 101 - Newark Business Strategies | Examiner.com

Leadership In a Nutshell

After reading John P. Kotter's book, A Sense of Urgency, I've drawn some conclusions on the art of leadership. This book offers a useful approach to everyday problem solving. These findings (tips) may help you as well:

First thing first, I would like to clarify one commonly made assumption about leadership. Leadership is not something you find only at the highest levels of organizations and society, you can find leadership in all spheres of life.

Secondly, I think its critically important to determine how you as an individual tend to approach problems in everyday life. For example, is your response to life's day to day problems characterized by a sense of complacency (the thought or feeling that there is no need for a change in you or others behaviors)?

This complacent attitude says, 'if it aint broke, why fix it'. These individuals usually have a history of succeeding and hence have no need to look outward for possible opportunities or threats. They think and feel that nothing is wrong.

Or perhaps you are an individual that approaches life's challenges with what Kotter calls 'a false sense of urgency'. This method of problem solving is characterized by frenetic activity that essentially gets nothing done. A false sense of urgency is usually rooted in some sort of past failure.

These individuals tend to be frustrated or angry at life's failures and hence they walk around engaging in all sorts of activity to show that they are doing something, but in reality they are not actually doing anything that produces real results.

Lastly, there is the approach that Kotter's book recommends. In his text, the author suggests that people adopt what 'a true sense of urgency'. This true sense of urgency is a highly positive and a highly focused force that gets things on a day in, day out basis.

This method of problem solving rarely, if ever, leads to a race to "deal with the trivial, to pursue pet projects of minor significance to the larger organization". This approach is marked by a gut-level determination to get results today, not tomorrow.

A true sense of urgency is not concerned with whining or complaining about the past. People with a true sense of urgency actively look for opportunities to produce change and get results each and every day.

Kotter suggests four tactics for increasing true urgency:

1. Bring outside reality into groups that are too inwardly focused by creating stories and emotionally compelling experiences.
2. Behave with true urgency every single day by clearing your calendar to make time for your particular change initiative.
3. Look for the upside possibilities in crises, seeing a threat as a potential opportunity to destabilize an overly stable organization.
4. Confront the NoNos (i.e. those individuals that enjoy destroying true urgency). Don't put up with people who relentlessly kill urgency, whose reaction to any new idea is  "no, no you see..."

Kotter goes on to suggest that the most important enemy of true urgency is a crowded appointment calendar. "When you are going from one meeting to the next, all on different topics, all run inefficiently, attitudes and feelings about urgency drain out through sheer exhaustion. Clutter undermines true urgency. Fatigue undermines true urgency."

How do you as an individual behave with true urgency when it comes life's challenges? Kotter urges that you:

1. Purge and delegate- Remove low priority tasks from your calendar books or blackberry's. See if someone else can take care of these tasks for you. This can free up your time to take care of high priority affairs.
2. Move with speed and purpose- Know where you are going, stay disciplined. Maintain your focus.
3. Speak and act with passion- Articulate your vision and values in a compelling manner each and every day.
4. Match words and deeds (walking the talk)- Do what you say, model the way for others.

Thoughts on Recent Downtown Trenton Crime Wave

With recent news reports revealing that two young ladies were sexually assaulted within a 14 hour time frame in downtown Trenton, many people are understandably in an uproar.(Trentonian.Com) According to the police, just this past weekend an individual (black male) between the ages of 20 and 27 weighing around 170 to 180 pounds forced an 18 year old young lady to perform oral sex on him behind the PSE&G building near State and Warren Streets. It is reported that the perpetrator threatened her with a gun. Thankfully, a suspect has been apprehended today. Let us hope and pray that he is the culprit in question. Prior to this tragic incident, another woman was grabbed just a day earlier near the State Capitol building by an assailant with a similar description. Fortunately, in her case, she was able to fend him off with mace. And, on top of that, we should never forget the monstrous acts committed against that precious seven year old girl that was allegedly gang raped in Rowan Towers earlier this summer.

Indeed, these horror stories are enough to make anyone's soul cringe. So, I know I’m not alone in saying that my prayers are with all of these young ladies as they bounce back emotionally from these most dastardly acts perpetrated against them. Oddly enough, these heartbreaking events shed much needed light on a larger problem going on in the city of Trenton, namely the problem of safety and quality of life deterioration. With news reports indicating that significant cuts will be made to our police staff due to budget constraints, many residents are justifiably concerned about their safety and well-being. Obviously, the question becomes: Can the newly elected Mack administration honestly expect to soothe the fears and anxieties of its constituents by having less police on the streets? I think not. In a city like Trenton where opportunity seems scarce and crime is very real, you have to really wake up and smell the coffee. Trenton needs more police, not less. If the mayor is concerned about budget cuts, why not trim the fat elsewhere. As far as I see it, safety is priority number one. We as citizens cannot sit idly by and allow our elected officials to undermine our safety by downsizing our police department.

As a matter of fact, one Trenton resident commented on these recent attacks by saying, “Broad daylight for both attacks - makes you wonder where all the TPD are. How come there are no patrols, beat cops, etc". I believe this concerned citizen is truly on to something.

We must take bold action, contact the mayor’s office and let them know we need more patrols, beat cops, and surveillance cameras to protect Trentonians and tourists alike. (To reach the mayor’s office, please visit their website: http://www.trentonnj.org/Cit-e-Access/ContactInfo/?TID=55&TPID=5557) However, the buck doesn’t stop with the Mack administration. We, as citizens, should also do our part as well.

To prevent things of this nature from happening again I would suggest we as citizens do a few things. First of all, quite frankly I think we need to raise our children with a better understanding of respecting sexual boundaries or sex in general. If your children are more aware of boundaries, they are less likely to cross them, plain and simple. I know this may seem like common sense to some but trust me some children have not been taught properly. Secondly, if you have enough leisure time on your hands, I would advise taking a self-defense course. These courses are very helpful and show you all sorts of safety tips and increase your awareness of potential threats. Secondly, if you absolutely have to travel at night, by all means take some one along with you because assailants are for the most part cowards that look for easy targets that are usually by themselves in sequestered locations. By having someone with you, they will be discouraged from approaching you. In addition, I don’t think it hurts to carry around mace or pepper spray. These products are relatively cheap and can be highly effective when it comes to disarming assailants. For more information about self-defense and other tips, please visit http://www.self-defense-mind-body-spirit.com/travelsafety.html.

So, in closing, let us not allow a few bad apples to ruin the whole bunch. We as citizens deserve a safe place to live and will NOT, I repeat NOT, live in fear. We need to send a clear-cut message to terrorists like this that they do not have a blank check to do as they please. They will not have the last word here. I believe in my heart of hearts that good can come from evil, but only if men and women like you and I rise to the occasion and do the right thing. The choice is ours.

Thoughts on NY's Stop and Frisk Database

For those that don’t already know, New York governor David Paterson has recently signed a bill limiting stop and frisk data from being stored in a vast computerized database. Thankfully, the governor did the right thing. If he chose to do otherwise, then local police would have had the opportunity to tap into the database at will to to help them conduct their criminal investigations. This permanent database of stop and frisk encounters is one of the first places cops would have stopped to look when investigating actual crimes. Many people may wonder where the issue comes in at, well I'll tell you. The issue arises here because many of the people that have been stopped and frisked by New York's finest, have turned out to be not guilty of anything whatsoever. As a result, civil liberties groups and others have come out of the woodwork to passionately protest. Needless to say, this story has generated quite a bit of noise in the streets. Even the governor himself said that, "individuals wrongly accused of a crime should suffer neither stigma nor adverse consequences by virtue of an arrest or criminal accusation not resulting in conviction”. (NY Times Article).

So to break down the debate that has ensued, let's start with the advocates of expanding the database. These individuals earnestly support the policy because they adamantly believe that it will undoubtedly promote better criminal investigations and a safer climate within the city. Supporters suggest that attempts to veto the expansion of this database will only prove to hamstring or handicap police officers in their humble attempt to protect and serve the community (do their jobs). Opponents, on the other hand, contend that expansion of the list is a gross violation of civil rights. They vehemently object to adding names to the database because out of nearly three million street stops since 2004, only 6 percent of those stops led to an arrest, and an equal percentage led to summonses. And to add insult to injury, this policy has been reported to disproportionately affect African Americans and Latinos, which has caused some to think the database, in effect, promotes racial profiling. As a matter of fact, New York Times columnist Bob Herbert referred to the expansion of this database as a “racist policy” that needs to stop— and stop now. Moreover, it has been reported that nearly 490,000 blacks and Latinos were stopped by the police on the streets last year, compared with 53,000 whites according to the analysis of the 2009 raw data by the Center for Constitutional Rights. These numbers are staggering. However, the larger point is that expanding this database is unequivocally wrong in my opinion because many of the people that were locked in this database are innocent individuals that were stopped and frisked, but were at the end of the day, found not guilty of anything.

So, if the boys (and girls) in blue ended up being totally wrong about so many of their hunches about who to stop and frisk, then I don't see one good reason to keep their names in this database. They were found innocent of any, and all wrongdoing. And to top it off, many of the innocent people on this humongous list just so happen to be disproportionately African American or Latino. Hmmm, can anyone say ‘civil rights violation'??? I sincerely hope that New York’s finest realize that stopping and searching people without good reason or proable cause is unconstitutional. Thankfully, the people have come out to vehemently oppose such an egregious violation of an individuals civil liberties.

However, even as we celebrate the progress made in vetoing this bill, we must never forget that, failing to speak up and be heard on any issue of importance can truly lead to unjust policies like the expansion of this computerized database, to slip through the cracks, leaving our civil rights violated. So I admonish you, please do not sit idly by and become a spectator that just watches things go by without having your concerns addressed and acknowldged. Now is not the time to get comfortable, now is the time to reach out to our local officials and keep them accountable for their actions. We owe ourselves that much. What do you think???

PS To voice your concern about this matter and other New York City political issues, feel free to contact Governor David Patterson by visiting his web page: http://www.state.ny.us/governor/contact/index.html. There you will find a variety of ways to contact him and his office.

Thoughts on Graffiti Artist: WILL KASSO

TRENTON--Will Kasso Condry has news for those that think there is nothing going on in Trenton besides crime and gang violence. For those that don't know who Will Kasso, as he is known, allow me to introduce this talented graffiti artist that hails from our state capitol. His work has touched not only this own neighborhood, but has also branched out to people in, for example Philadelphia and Maryland.

It just so happens, that I first came across Kasso’s work by chance, just one year ago. On a typical walk home, I stumbled upon a mural that, quite frankly, took me by surprise because it seemed so out of place. On a very dark and desolate alleyway in Trenton, I came across a vivid image of Mahatma Ghandi. Beside this great man’s depiction, was an equally eye catching quote that still resonates with me to this day, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. (For those who want to take a peek at the mural, they can find it off of Montgomery Street, between East Hanover and State streets.)

This mural and its thought-provoking words truly inspired me. At that very moment, I declared to myself that I had to figure out who this artist was and meet him face to face. It turned out he is one of Trenton’s own. Subsequently, I linked up with this gifted artist through Facebook and he then was gracious enough to have a casual sit-down interview with me at the Artworks studio in Trenton.

After conversing with Kasso, I realized that the Ghandi mural was neither his first nor his last masterpiece. He and his crew, SAGE Collective, started doing murals many years ago. The vision behind all of their artwork has always remained the same: to revitalize and rebuild the city. As anyone can readily attest, Kasso and his crews' murals have done exactly that by demonstrating a range and versatility. From Bob Marley and Barack Obama to everyday citizens, Kasso and his team creatively blended vibrant images with poetic wordplay. Nowadays, you can find Kasso and the SAGE Collective working together diligently on a large scale 12 mural project called the City of Angels that will be on display in various parts of the city very soon.

Heaven knows that Kasso's work is desperately needed in a community like Trenton where poverty is real, opportunity seems scarce and despair looms large. But instead of looking at these stark realities afflicting the Trenton community as insurmountable problems or challenges, this graffiti artist had the audacity to see hope and opportunities to rebuild the city. Instead of taking the easy way out by just complaining or cursing the darkness, Kasso and his crew had the courage to light a candle in a place that many people had written off altogether.

After speaking with this inspirational artist, I began to ask myself one fundamental question: How many people, like Kasso and other towering artists before him, actually have what it takes to look at the world they live in a new or altogether different manner? Indeed, we as a community can learn a lot from Kasso’s example. Quite frankly, I believe all too many of waste a lot of energy by complaining and pointing fingers and then become cynical about positive change.
The good news is that since we are part of the problem, we can definitely be part of the solution. How you might ask? Well, first I think we ought to put an end to all that finger pointing and start looking at Trenton in a much different way. If we insist on viewing the city in the same manner we have been accustomed to, we will only continue to see the same issues plague our community and in the end, nothing will change. Instead, we must renew our vision of what Trenton could be as Will Kasso and other artists have already done. We must see the city as a place where at-risk young men and women are embraced and acknowledged by supportive networks such as local churches, mosques, and other concerned civic groups, not gangs.

We must envision Trenton as a place with better schools, safer streets, and more jobs. We must imagine a community where our parks are clean and the citizens take pride where they live. Having a clear vision is an essential first step on any journey because without it, as the bible says, we as a people perish.

However, having a vision alone is not enough, that vision must be reinforced by concrete action on the part of everyday citizens like you and me. The burning question becomes: are you ready to put your hand to the plow and take bold action. And for those that think that taking action is all about grand political gestures, I’ve got news for you, taking action can mean a whole assortment of things on a more everyday level such as volunteering, gathering your neighbors together to do a trash pick up on your block, mentoring a child, and what have you. However, please don’t get me wrong, this journey won’t be easy and results aren’t promised overnight, but if we work together and stay committed, progress is indeed possible. The choice is ours.

A copy of this article can also be found in the July 2nd, 2010 edition of the Trenton Times newspaper:

Thoughts on Senate Vote/ Unemployment Extensions

Is it just me or doesn’t it seem like the US Senate has quite frankly lost its marbles recently. For those that don’t already know, since June 1st, an estimated 325,000 jobless workers have lost their unemployment benefits. As this is happening, members of the US Senate have decided to sit idly by and filibuster the issue. Ultimately, the problem here is getting 60 votes to overcome the obstacles imposed by the Republican minority. So anyway, while the Senate is getting its act together, many Americans are still suffering. The Great Recession is real ladies and gentleman, make no mistake about it. If it hasn’t already touched your life in some significant way (whether it be a friend or family member), then you must be living an airtight bubble. Nevertheless, for many people this economic downturn has meant foreclosed homes, lost jobs, and countless unpaid bills. According to the New York Times, an estimated 1.2 million Americans will be left without their unemployment benefits by the end of June if the Senate or Congress does not approve the extensions. What this means in much more concrete terms is that many individuals and their families will be without the necessary resources to put food on their tables and keep their lights on. This state of affairs begs the question: where is the sense of urgency or moral outrage when you really need it? Quite frankly, too many people are sleeping on this issue. Sadly, we have been lulled to sleep by consumerism and other distractions. However, now is not the time to get comfortable and start sleepwalking. Now is the time to stand up and state unequivocally how deplorable it is for the Senate to be stalling and stonewalling while a significant number of Americans are in dire need of assistance. Indeed, the Senate's refusal to act on this matter ought to be openly condemned not simply on economic grounds, but more importantly because it's just the wrong thing to do, plain and simple. We must courageously lift our voices, so that moral pressure is put on our elected officials to do the right thing and approve the extensions.

You might ask, how do we lift our voices, well I am glad you asked, the first thing you should do is reach out to your state senator. For your convenience, I have added the United States Senate link to this blog so that you might be able to reach your representative more easily: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm. This is a great place to start, there are online methods for contacting your senators, but there are also phone numbers too. If you want, you can also send a letter via snail mail. Why stop there, maybe you can initiate a protest. The options are out there. But the larger point is to give these things a try. In life, persistence is the key. As the old political saying goes, 'the squeaky wheel gets the old'. This adage applies equally to this issue confronting our families today. And for those out there that suggest that unemployment is not their problem because they have a job, I suggest that you open your eyes and realize that we are all tied together in an inescapable garment of destiny, meaning that whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly as Dr. Martin Luther King is often quoted saying. Indeed, we all live in an interconnected world. Just because this issue is not at your front door step at the present moment doesn't mean it wont be a few months from now. As a result, we must act now to help those in need. Speak up and be heard. Believe it or not, but the world needs your voice too.

Thoughts on Trenton's Runoff Election

Change, transition, and even more change has truly been in the air recently. With Trenton's runoff election taking place just this past week, change has definitely been the hallmark. As the cliche goes, out with the old, in with the new. But even as we bask in the possibility of new beginnings and anxiously await what the newly elected Mack Administration will do once its sworn in, we must never forget the love and service Doug Palmer gave during his 20 year tenure as mayor. Despite what his critics might say, Doug Palmer did in fact develop parts of this city. The Marriott Hotel and Sun Bank Arena are but two examples where he has added value to the state's capitol. However, now is not the time to rest on those laurels. Now is the time to build upon that vision and fill in those gaps in between the arena and hotel. Even as we celebrate the progress made there, we must never lose sight of all those streets and sections in between that are still catching hell unnecessarily. Indeed, it doesn't take a genius to see that the city of Trenton has seen better days. At this critical juncture, Trenton finds itself saddled with a budget deficit, high unemployment, and unacceptable levels of crime. The question becomes: what will we as a people do to address these ongoing issues? This is truly a difficult question that quite frankly resists any easy answers. As a result, tough decisions must be made by a bold and visionary leader. The people have chosen Tony Mack and others to represent their interests in this city. Let us hope and pray that they are courageous enough to be attentive to the humble cries of everyday people instead of cowering to the rich and well-to-do. The new administration must keep their eyes open and their ears close to the street to avoid becoming out of touch with the people. Nevertheless, we as concerned citizens also have a responsibility to do everything in our power to keep these elected officials honest and accountable. If we don't put pressure on them and hold them accountable for their campaign promises, the people will become disempowered and suddenly the quality of life in the city becomes seriously threatened. We must not sit idly by and allow this to occur. We must straighten our backs up and fight for a better Trenton where people have genuine hope and opportunity. This is no time to take the easy way out where one succumbs to political indifference and civic disengagement. Now is the time to take bold and vigorous action.


What you might ask can I do as an everyday citizen to hold members of the new administration accountable: Well, the first thing we should do as concerned citizens is identify and define the issues plaguing our community. This shouldn't be hard as we are all well acquainted with rising property taxes, budget cuts, and the like. Once we identify these issues, we should then reach out to our respective council representatives to find out when and where community meetings are held. At these meetings residents are given updates on their individual ward, and also afforded the opportunity to express any concerns they may have. This is a great venue to speak up and truly be heard. Try to consistently attend these meetings. If you cannot make it to the meetings, by all means follow up by phone or if you're technologically inclined, follow up by email. (Here is the city's website: http://www.trentonnj.org/Cit-e-Access/contactinfo/?TID=55&TPID=5557) As the old saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the oil, meaning that your grievances will only get addressed if you are persistent and determined to have things changed around you. If you are lax, things remain the same. If we're really sick and tired of the issues afflicting our city, then we must stop drinking from the enticing cup of sour cynicism that insists on not voting or contacting our elected representatives. No more lame excuses. Hillary Clinton is often quoted saying that 'it takes a village to raise a child' I would venture to say that a city, much like a child, needs a whole host of characters (both elected officials and everyday citizens alike) to bring about the sort of changes we wish to see in the world. To put it simply, everybody has a responsibility. Now please don't get me wrong, taking this route will be far from easy, however the work must be done nonetheless. I challenge each and everyone of us to take this journey. Let's get to work.

Thoughts on Arizona's New Law

Is it just me or does Arizona's new immigration law appear to be completely at odds with what America truly stands for. For those that don't already know, this new legislation essentially gives law enforcement officers the authority to arrest people if it is believed they’re in the country illegally. So if you're strolling down the highway and just happen to bear the resemblance of someone that might have recently hopped the fence and is not in possession of proper ID, then you might have some 'splaining to do' as the great Desi Arnaz used to say on I Love Lucy. All jokes aside, many people have not been shy in voicing their concerns about this new measure. On one end of the spectrum, there are those that wholeheartedly reject it saying that the measure is patently racist and will lead to blatant profiling. On the other hand, there are those that staunchly advocate the law because they believe its desperately needed to prevent undocumented workers from taking all the jobs and other resources away from people who are here legally. However, both sides of this debate have truly missed the mark because they both oversimplify the matter. Quite frankly, we can't just label an individual a garden-variety bigot simply because he or she thinks stricter immigration laws are needed, in much the same way we shouldn't stigmatize a person for speaking out against profiling by calling them some run-of-the-mill liberal tree-hugger.

We must remember that with any explosive issue like immigration reform, there is going to be heated debate. No one is naive enough to honestly expect all of the parties involved to forge a consensus overnight and start singing in unison Kumbaya My Lord. In the real world, the democratic process does not work like this. In fact, the process can be quite messy and takes considerable time. However, in this case the new law in Ariziona does not strike me as the product of tough, thoughtful choices but rather the result of rash decisions and hasty thinking. Indeed, this law has brought to light the hard-to-swallow truth that no one wants to acknowledge, namely that the era of rational discussion and vigorous debate has degenerated into a thoroughly nasty shouting match. It seems as though the debate has gotten so thoroughly polarized that no one is willing to listen to each other any more. The voice and viewpoints of zealots and extremists alike are gaining leverage all the while portraying themselves as rational voices of the mainstream (Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh being two glaring examples). Nevertheless, our country has not always been this way. We have a long and rich history of healthy and robust dialogue. Why, you might ask, have so many people embraced these divisive and hyper-partisan visions and perspectives? Sadly, in my humble opinion, it is because the media inundates us with this stuff 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The media knows all-too-well that the sentimental and sensational sells and keeps people tuned in. Fair and balanced discussion aren't as trendy or exciting as they used to be and hence their disappearance from mainstream journalism. Alas, what the media will do for a buck. However, we must not become so easily influenced by what the media has to offer. We must have the courage to think for ourselves and state without reservation the unpleasant reality that the Arizona law will not, in the end, solve or alleviate the severity of this illegal immigration problem. Now don't get me wrong, something is desperately needed to reform immigration law in this country. Maybe greater governmental enforcement. Or perhaps what we need is private industry becoming more thoughtful about abiding by federal regulations instead of trying to reduce their costs by hiring undocumented workers under the table. Both these things, among many others, should be put on the table and rationally discussed. However, Arizona's new law doesn't seem to weigh the costs and benefits of taking the steps it has. To me, this law will only flare up even greater division in a already fragmented country. Just a thought....

Real Leadership

With the city of Trenton holding its recent election, many are wondering if the tide has truly changed and a new day has begun or are we simply making way for more of the same old political dealings. I, for one, hope and pray that things will truly be different this time around. Indeed, it doesn't take a genius to see that there is something deeply rotten in the city of Trenton and it’s not those well-known Pork Roll sandwiches everyone talks about. All jokes aside, the city is and has been, truly in dire need of fundamental transformation, not simply on an economic or political level, but also morally and spiritually. Saddled with an unmistakable budget crisis, failing schools, and unacceptable levels of crime, there's no doubting that the new mayor (whoever that might be) has a lot on their hands. However, we must never overlook the job left undone by everyday people like you and I. We have to stop playing the blame game by pointing fingers at everyone but ourselves. We must take more responsibility for our community’s ills. True leaders whether you find them in an executive office at Merrill Lynch or making Double Whoppers with cheese at a local Burger King understand that real leadership involves taking ownership of an issue and asking the fundamental question: where do we go from here?....

So, instead of constantly cursing the darkness, why not have the audacity to light a candle? Now of course I’m being rhetorical, but the larger point I’m making is rather straightforward. We have to be frank and state unequivocally that people are far too concerned about complaining about gang violence but are lax in nurturing their own children and making sure their homes are in order. If we tend to our families and homes with love and care, they will be less susceptible to the whims of gangs and other fringe groups. We need to stop railing against the local police department for what they are not doing and instead have the guts to speak out and tell the truth about the wrongdoing we witness everyday in our community. This ‘no snitching’ philosophy is cowardly and sends a message to gangs in the area that they somehow have a blank check to do as they please. This must be abruptly curtailed. Moreover, why in the world do so many moan and groan about the streets being cluttered with debris and other rubbish when no one has thought of taking one Saturday afternoon to ask your neighbors if they want to get together and help clean their respective blocks. Where is the courage, the moral outrage??? It seems as though it’s nowhere to be found. However, don’t get me wrong, the onus should not rest merely on one particular sector of the city. Improving Trenton involves a collective effort on the part of all of us. You don’t have to be a mayor, councilperson, or what have you to make a difference. All of us can make a difference in our own unique way. Stop making those tired excuses and start redirecting that energy into planting those precious seeds of righteousness so that the dark cloud of moral and spiritual malnutrition may be overcome. Now is not the time for political apathy and civic disengagement, now is the time for bold action. Will you join me on this difficult yet exhilarating journey to improve our broken yet repairable world? The choice is ours.