Meet the candidates: What they have to say about township issues

By Howard Prosnitz, Staff Writer

Teaneck Suburbanite, April 23, 2008, p. 8

Teaneck Suburbanite conducted telephone interviews with all eight candidates running for Teaneck Council.

Candidates were asked the same questions about their background and about five issues. All responses were extemporaneous: no e-mails or written replies were permitted. Every attempt has been made to keep all interviews uniform in length; however, some candidates responded more fully than others. Some editing has been done to candidates' comments mainly to reduce the length of some of the interviews. But no changes have been made to the substance of any candidates' response.

The questions:

1. If elected what would you do to stabilize taxes?
2. What is your opinion about three development projects that have been proposed for Teaneck: commercial development along the riverfront, the Holuba/soap factory site and the American Legion Drive area.
3. What is your view about the labeling of certain candidates as anti-Orthodox and published statements that those candidates would eliminate amenities that the Orthodox Jews enjoy if they are elected?
4. Would you make a statement about the illegal campaign literature and robo calls during the council campaign in 2006?
5. How can Teaneck build bridges among its various and diverse populations.

(Only the relevant candidate is shown here)

Monica Honis

Residence: Perry Lane

Age: in her 30s

Lifelong Teaneck resident

Occupations: Middle school ESL teacher

Education: BA political science and Spanish, Lincoln University. Completing work for master's degree in multi-cultural education and second language acquistion at New Jersey City University.

Family: Single

Community service: Running for second council term. Third time running for council. Currently a member of the parish council of St. Anastasia Church. Member of Holy Name Hospital community relations board. Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Bergen County chapter. Member of National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Bergen County Chapter. Member Latino American Democratic Association. Member of the Bergen County Women's Democratic Association. Serves on executive board of New Jersey Federation of Democratic Women. Former member of board of trustees for Court Appointed Special Advocate of Bergen County. Member of Foreign Language Educations of New Jersey.

1. We need to take a hard look at where we are spending our money, and we need to condense our spending and do more to seek grants. We need to be sure that we are spending our menoy pro-actively, for example, as we are now doing with the fire department, by buying interchangeable parts. More shared services are also necessary. I have propsed to the maganer sharing our pistol range.

2. I am not anti-development but we need to know that all development we do is appropriate to the area of the site and adequately reflects the recommendation in master plan and that we retain our low-density suburban character.

3. I object to the idea that some of our residents are receiving amenities that others are not enjoying. All this goes to the belief that we are not treating each other equally, which is a huge concern in every area of the township. It is reprehensible that people running for a position to govern our town or residents promoting them would stoop to race and religion bating, which is extremely divisive. If we are talking about stabilizing taxes, the town does not have the menpower, time and financial resources to send people out on phone poles to remove the eruv. To spread such rumors only harms the residents of Teaneck and all who wish to call Teaneck their home.

4. We know that there was wrongdoing in 2006. Something needs to be done, but I am not in the habit of mudslinging, and therefore, will refrain from commenting on the past election. However, I would encourage those people who did wrong to admit to it and stand and face their results.

5. We need to stop some of the divisive things that are going on in this compaign. Most of these things do not emanate from the candidates themselves. The only way for people to be included is to be part of the process. This does not necessarily mean running for office, but becoming involved in the many opportunities for children and through senior citizens in the township.