To the Editor,
I am writing to express my support for Jack McEvoy and his re-election to the Verona Town Council.
I first met Jack several years ago at a Council meeting and I was immediately impressed with Jack’s sincere ability to connect with people. I got the sense Jack truly cared about the reason I was attending and had a willingness to listen. As with many Verona residents, I started attending Council meetings because of the affordable housing issue, which at the time seemed like an impossible task to navigate.
Fast forward and after many Council meetings and countless hours put in by Jack and the rest of the Council, including another of this year’s Council candidates, Michael Nochimson (who served on the previous Council), a much better agreement regarding affordable housing has been put in place. When I write the affordable housing agreement has improved, let me be specific. The original proposals by the builders could have resulted in the construction of 716 housing units, which also would have included high-density housing to be developed on 26 acres of open space.
With the leadership of Jack McEvoy, the township negotiated and fought for a much better result. The 716 housing units proposed by the builders has been reduced to 295, and 26 acres of open space have been purchased by the township with the understanding that 23 of these acres will remain protected and can never be built upon in the future. If the initial proposals by the builders had been accepted, it would have had a devastating effect on Verona. It would have impacted the schools, green space, traffic, services and many other things in Verona we care about.
The work, however, is not over. The township will face another round of affordable housing requirements in 2025 and that is why we must re-elect Jack McEvoy. We need his leadership and commitment to Verona more than ever. I support Jack McEvoy because I see a candidate who cares about Verona and will work hard to protect it.
Jesse Lilley
Verona, NJ
