MAYOR'S UPDATE:
DECEMBER 10

This week has brought our community sadness and outrage with the news of additional swastikas and a racial slur discovered at Westfield High School. Simply put, this is not who we are, and these acts of hate must end. While words are not nearly enough, I want to reiterate once again that this administration stands in solidarity with our Jewish and minority communities, and we must all take a more active role in being more vocal allies to our friends and neighbors who have been targeted by these acts. Yesterday, I, along with our Town Council members, released a joint statement with Dr. Gonzalez and the Board of Education, the Human Relations Advisory Commission, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Westfield, the Westfield Area Chinese American Association, and the Westfield Clergy Association. You can read it in full here.

Please be assured that the Westfield Police Department is using all tools at its disposal to identify the perpetrators responsible, and we have no reservations whatsoever about prosecuting those who commit bias and hate crimes to the fullest extent of the law. There is no room for these heinous acts in Westfield.

As the HRAC and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association finalize their plans for a Community Discussion on Accountability and Action Against Hate in the coming weeks, we also welcome all of your suggestions for additional resources and educational tools, as well as your personal experiences, by emailing hrac@westfieldnj.gov. 

With the holiday season upon us, there is no better time to stand up for our neighbors and be part of the solution. This starts with conversations at home about what it means to be a community of inclusion and recommitting to making Westfield a place where hate truly has no home. 

COVID-19 UPDATE

POLICE UPDATE

This morning, in the Town Council Chambers, the Westfield Police Department accepted a very special gift -- an Honor Chair -- in memory of their fallen brother, Patrolman Edgar B. “Doc” Wright.

Patrolman Wright is the Westfield Police Department’s only line of duty death. He died on Tuesday, February 22, 1938 as a result of injuries sustained when his police motorcycle was involved in a collision with an automobile at the intersection of North Avenue and Dudley Avenue. As a result of the crash, Patrolman Wright sustained a concussion and broke both of his legs. He died following surgery at nearby Muhlenberg Hospital in an attempt to save one of those shattered legs.

The Honor Chair is a custom, laser-engraved wooden memorial chair to be displayed in a prominent location at the Westfield Police Department. It signifies that, although no longer here, Patrolman Wright will always have a very special place in this department. It was presented by Saving A Hero’s Place, a non-profit organization based in Texas, which is on a mission to honor fallen American heroes in a unique way. We are very grateful for this gesture to ensure that Patrolman Wright’s legacy of bravery and honor will live on. 

Police activity this week included cases of fraud/identity theft, as well as an attempted car burglary on Topping Hill Road, DWIs, and bicycle thefts. You can read more details in the weekly Police Blotter, which is posted every Tuesday on the Westfield Police Department’s website, as well as on the Westfield Police Department’s Facebook and Instagram pages. 

PROSPECT/FERRIS REDEVELOPMENT

Thanks to the many residents, business owners, and property owners who took the time to attend a very lengthy and productive Town Council meeting on Tuesday to offer their comments in support of and opposition to the 64 unit apartment project that is being proposed at the corner of Ferris and Prospect Street. 

Many of the resident concerns were related to traffic and congestion on that busy corner where traffic backs up regularly on Prospect Street into the Trader Joe’s parking lot. Many have also experienced the challenges of the intersection at Prospect and East Broad, which must be addressed. 

Supporters reinforced the need to provide regular foot traffic to our downtown businesses, a goal of the Master Plan Reexamination that was adopted in 2019.   

Ultimately, the Town Council voted on a unanimous, bipartisan basis to adopt the Prospect/Ferris redevelopment plan (with two recusals), conditional upon the completion of a comprehensive traffic study and implementation plan before entering into a redevelopment agreement with the developer. 

For additional details, I encourage you to read my opening remarks from the meeting. You can also find a comprehensive Q&A about the project and process on our website.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at mayorbrindle@westfieldnj.gov, or to your ward Councilperson if you have questions or concerns.

WHS GIRLS SOCCER TEAM HONORED

Also at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, I had the privilege of honoring the Westfield High School Girls Soccer team for their incredible season that culminated in the NJSIAA Group 4 State Championship -- the team’s first since 1989! These athletes were ranked first in New Jersey by NJ.com, as well as 11th and 12th in the country by national polls, and it was fantastic to have the opportunity to publicly congratulate them on behalf of the entire community. 

ROAD PAVING

This week, paving was completed by Elizabethtown Gas on Hort Street, Cumberland Street, Palsted Avenue, Drake Place, and Downer Street. With the ongoing cooperation of the weather, they were able to proceed to the next grid, where work is currently underway on the following streets:

• Columbus Avenue (Elizabeth east to dead end)
• Grandview Avenue (East Grove to dead end)
• Irving Avenue (Elizabeth to dead end)
• Ripley Avenue (Elizabeth to dead end)
• Pine Street (Ripley to Columbus)
• Sycamore Street (Columbus to Town line)
• Elizabeth Street (Boynton to Columbus)

Following the completion of these streets, milling and paving work will begin on Hillside Avenue early next week.

As a reminder, you can receive information about all pre-planned (non-emergency) road work through text and email by subscribing to our Road & Utility Town Updates. A number of other topics are also available to keep you informed. 

For a full list of anticipated road improvements through 2024, visit our website.

DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY EVENTS

Don’t miss the Fourth Annual Westfield Gingerbread Display and Competition! Registration has been extended through December 17, and we are looking forward to seeing this year's creative entries. This year’s categories are Kids Only Effort (ages 12 and younger), Westfield Spirit, and Traditional. For full details and registration, visit westfieldnj.gov/gingerbread.

The DWC’s Elf on the Shelf Selfie Contest is underway! Find the Elf on the Shelf in Downtown Westfield businesses, take a selfie, and share it to Instagram using the hashtag #WestfieldElfieSelfie. A random drawing will be made from photos posted, and winners will receive four tickets each to the December 19 screening of Elf on the Shelf: An Elf’s Story at the Rialto!

The DWC is also giving away six $50 gift cards each week this holiday season, as part of their 2021 Miracle on Elm Street Shopping Spree Contest. Register to win while visiting your favorite downtown businesses this week, or enter online at bit.ly/MiracleonElm.

While you’re out and about in Downtown Westfield, don’t forget about the free gift wrapping available at the Holiday Welcome Center in the North Avenue train station. For full details on all of the DWC’s holiday events, visit their website.

G.L.E.A.M.

I was thrilled to meet with high school juniors Sofia Keri and Kyra Gallagher about their non-profit organization, G.L.E.A.M. (Girls Learning, Empowering, Aspiring with Mentors), which they created to give girls in underserved communities the opportunity to be mentored by high school senior or college girls to help advise, encourage and advocate for them. They have many young girls who would like to be part of this program but they need more mentors! Please consider giving your time to girls in grades 3-8 who can benefit from this experience. For more information, visit gleaminc.org. 

JAMMIN BRACELETZ

I would also like to showcase a group of Westfield 4th grade girls who started their own business called JamminBraceletz. They are making personalized bracelets and will donate a portion of their proceeds to the Ronald McDonald House and other charities. These girls came together to support a charity during the holiday season while also learning how to run a business. You can follow them on Instagram @JamminBraceletz or check out their Etsy shop.