Mayor Kelly Yaede addressed the heroin epidemic, economic growth, a proposal for an entertainment district and lowering property taxes at the state of town Thursday. Watch video
HAMILTON - The heroin epidemic, economic growth, a proposal for an entertainment district and lowering property taxes were the main topics of Mayor Kelly Yaede's State of Hamilton address Thursday at the Stone Terrace banquet hall.
Yaede also called former NBA star and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson from the podium - and put it on speaker for all 250 attendees to hear - to ask for help in getting a Lucky Strike bowling alley to Hamilton.
"It would be my honor to call the CEO of Lucky Strike," Johnson said. "Anyway I can help."
Lucky Strike is a common bowling alley on the West Coast.
"The entertainment district is a vision I have," Yaede said. "Now it's time to get to some serious stuff."
One issue Yaede said is top priority for the town to overcome is the heroin epidemic.
"It's not strictly a Hamilton issue, it's across the nation," Yaede said. "Prevention is the number one key. Your Hamilton government cannot dictate or prevent someone from making a choice whether they're sitting at home or out with their friends. What we can do is make sure they are steered toward not making that decision."
She said prevention programs are starting at a fourth grade level in Hamilton schools through resources like the police department's Law Enforcement Against Drugs - L.E.A.D.
Yaede also spoke about the issue of offsetting the high property taxes in Hamilton.
"There is one way we can directly offset your property taxes and that's from getting our gross energy receipts back," she said.
Yaede said she fought for revenue from the state in 2014, demanding the return of gross energy tax receipts -- which she said had cost the township $5 million since 2010.
"I've heard, OK, that the governor is not going to approve giving any money back," Yaede said. "So what I've asked for is a constitutional amendment and I will be calling Wayne (D'Angelo, the Assembly Democrat from Hamilton) right after this. You deserve to walk into that voting booth to say 'I want those property taxes back because they belong to me.'"
She said business is "booming" with revitalization projects such as the Independence Plaza - where Ollie's Bargain Outlet recently opened and Regal Cinemas is opening soon - and the Suburban Plaza shopping center - where a Super Walmart is set to move in.
"Everyone wants shiny and new," Yaede said. "Businesses want to open their doors here in Hamilton."
She said Commercial Development Company, Inc., - the North American commercial real estate and brownfield redevelopment company who bought the 1 million-square-foot former Congoleum factory in January - is adamant about planning around residential needs.
"It's amazing," Yaede said. "They want to work with the community. This will create a magnet around the train station."
Residents have hoped the Sloan Avenue industrial site - closed in 2014 laying off 65 employees - would become a center for culture.
Other main issue Yaede took note of were the town's decision to put all restaurant inspection ratings online after a Hepatitis A health scare hit Rosa's Restaurant and Catering in 2014 and the ongoing fire district's consolidation.
She said if there is a way that the township can consolidate the nine fire districts into one while saving taxpayers money and still keeping residents safe, she is on board.
"Business is absolutely booming, (Hamilton) is a great place to live, it's a great place to raise a family, it's a great place to find a job," Yaede concluded.
Lindsay Rittenhouse may be reached at lrittenhouse@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.