Duncan Harrison Enters Trenton Mayoral Election

TRENTON-- As the city of Trenton ushers in a new mayoral election, more and more candidates are entering the race. On Saturday morning, Councilman Duncan Harrison, announced his candidacy for mayor of the Garden State's capitol city, at the city's Free Public Library Trentoniana Room. 

The race to the mayor's office is gearing up to be a crowded space much like previous mayoral elections. In 2014, there were 6 mayoral candidates on the ballot. Currently, there are 10 individuals that have announced their candidacy. Those candidates include Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, Paul Perez, a 2014 runoff loser to the current mayor (Eric Jackson), Councilman Alex Bethea, community activist Darren “Freedom” Green,  Mercer County Deputy Clerk Walker Worthy, Elissa Horan, Michael Silvestri, Annette Lartigue and Jason Arnold. 

Harrison, 32, has been on city council for the past 4 years and has been vocal on gun crime, litter, and the water crisis in Trenton. In his announcement speech, Harrison laid out his vision for Trenton and noted that he wants to see a revolution and renaissance in the city where there is an efficient, effective, and compassionate government that is business oriented. 

Trenton Homeboy Throws Hat In Council Race

TRENTON-- Trenton native son Duncan Harrison officially put his hat in the Council At Large race Thursday evening at the Conservatory Mansion on East State Street. Harrison, an executive director at UIH Partners, a non-profit organization that focuses on fatherhood, said during the announcement that his roots started in Trenton, but then branched out when he decided to pursue a college education at Delaware State University, an historically black college.

At Delaware State, Harrison majored in Sociology with a particular focus on Criminal Justice. After graduating from college, he went on to become a family assessment worker with Mercer Street Friends, a non-profit organization that provides "compassionate and practical solutions to the problems of poverty and health within Trenton, NJ" according to the candidate's LinkedIn profile.

During his brief speech at the Conservatory, Harrison laid out his vision along with his plan to improve Trenton to a standing room only crowd of around 50 people, despite the inclement weather that evening. In the speech, the Trenton native cited the homicide rate (41 murders in Trenton in 2013 alone) and Trenton Public Schools dismal 48.6% graduation rate and said that he had plans to put 'more boots on the street' to address the violent crime issue. Harrison said that creating an auxiliary police force with more boots on the ground would not unduly burden Trenton's taxpayers. Harrison also went on to advocate community policing where police officers would work with different wards in the city to better serve the community.

Later in his speech, the Trenton native said that he would also tackle issues affecting education by calling on the Trenton School District Superintendent to attend each and every city council meeting and provide the council with updates on each school's present condition so that each school would be up to par and not in deplorable condition as is the case now at Trenton Central High School.

Harrison also said that Trenton should get out of the home ownership business as soon as possible as the city currently owns too many vacant or abandoned properties that do not collect property taxes. Lastly, the Trenton native went on to say that if elected to office he would not raise property taxes on Trentonians even though property taxes for the last twenty years have risen under the Doug Palmer and Tony Mack mayoral administrations.

In his speech, Harrison also made that he loved the city of Trenton so much that he decided to move he and his family next to an abandoned building despite the blight surrounding his property. Before Harrison took the stage, one of his colleagues and longtime Trenton activist Darren Freedom Green stepped to the lectern to offer his remarks. Green said that as a council person, its important to bridge relationships with others, not critique the mayor. Green says that Harrison is willing to bridge those necessary relationships if elected council person at large. Green lastly went on to say that Trenton desperately needs programs and positive tangible examples like Harrison that others may be inspired by or strive to emulate.

 Indeed, Harrison's candidacy begs a lot of questions for me. The first question is: is the city of Trenton ready for some new blood or is too soon? Truth be told, Harrison has never held public office, but that is not necessarily a disadvantage. Two, how satisfied or dissatisfied are Trenton voters with the incumbents that currently hold office? Is Trenton hungry for a newcomer with fresh new ideas or are Trentonians in the market for someone that has been around the block and already knows the ropes? I don't know the answers to these questions, but I sincerely hope that the populace in Trenton will give them serious thought as Election Day approaches this May.

As things stand now, Harrison is potentially up against Alex Bethea, Kathy McBride, and Phyllis Holly-Ward. I hope we as Trentonians become engaged in the electoral process and hold whoever runs accountable. Anwar's Reflections will be sure to keep you posted as new developments arise...

For more on Harrison's candidacy, click here.

Local Activist Demands Accountability on Crime in Trenton

TRENTON-- Anwar's Reflections-- a Trentonian affiliate-- sat down with community activist Dion Clark, Saturday morning at a local Dunkin Donuts, to discuss a variety of issues, including but not limited to, his recent stance against ATV riding on city streets, his desire to have certain city council members excuse themselves from landlord ordinance votes, and his view on what Trenton should do about its recent spate of violent crime.

During the interview, Clark, a former candidate for Mercer County Freeholder, voiced concerns about four members of city council voting on landlord ordinances because they, too, are landlords. Clark argues that these individuals should not vote on matters that they could potentially benefit from as landlords in the city. To him, this presents a conflict of interest. Members of council can vote on landlord matters that include inspections, fines, rules and regulations, etc.

Others have made the case that city council members that own property and rent it out have every right to vote on landlord matters because they bring a unique insider perspective that others may not have.

Later during the interview, the East Trenton native spoke on the issue of ATV riding in the city. While speaking on this ongoing problem, Clark gave an account of a recent incident involving an individual riding an ATV near his Wilbur Section home. He said that he witnessed a young man revving his engine outside his home. When looking out his window, Clark reports that from looking at the young man it was almost as though he was looking for the police to spot him. According to Clark, this is a regular event in his community. ATV riding is illegal to do on city streets.

With regard to the recent series of violent crime in the city, Clark said city officials have not responded adequately to address the problem. He said the best way to respond to the city's crime is by adopting a 'zero tolerance' approach where both police and residents alike take action and do their part.

Clark went on to say that one does not have to visit Saudi Arabia to know what a terrorist is. He said there are communities all over America that are coping with what he calls 'urban terrorists' in the same way Trenton is currently.

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