Heading into Election Day 2017, Englewood City Council hopeful Cheryl Rosenberg spoke to The Jewish Link about her plans for November 8 and beyond, should she be elected. A 10-year resident of Englewood and former board president of Ben Porat Yosef in Paramus, Rosenberg easily won the June Democratic primary and is running unopposed in next week’s election.
According to Rosenberg, the first thing on her agenda post-November 7 is “making sure there is a long-term financial plan in place to help control taxes.” The city council “works backwards,” she said. “It votes on a budget in March when the year begins in January. We need to think about how that vote will impact that year as well as future years.” Rosenberg understands that there may not be a five-year plan in place by the time of the first budget on which she would vote, “but definitely by the second.”
Rosenberg’s politics and plans have been influenced by her personal experiences, she said, and she has very specific reasons for making financial planning a priority. As president of the BPY board, her decisions needed to be made from year to year and didn’t necessarily look at their potential long-term impact. She always felt strongly that a different focus was needed and that it was vital to consider a decision’s possible impact beyond the immediate future. Applying that reasoning to the city of Englewood, she noted that the city increased spending without raising taxes for four consecutive years. However, this year saw a tax increase of more than six percent on the city side. She believes residents would have benefited from knowing in advance that this increase was coming so they could plan for it.
Regarding Englewood’s Jewish community, Rosenberg feels they do have a “pretty powerful voice in the town because they are committed and involved, and give back to the community.” However, she said she plans to address any specific needs, such as increased police protection.
Rosenberg believes that, like in most towns, financial issues are the greatest concern facing the Jewish community of Englewood. She feels that, for them, knowing that someone from their own community is in office and eager to listen to their concerns will be extremely comforting and beneficial. However, she emphasized that she always picks up the phone to assist any of her constituents and is available to hear all concerns.
The most important thing that Rosenberg wants voters to know is that it is vital to not take the electoral process for granted. She says that people do not realize how much their voice counts on Election Day. “Get out and vote—for me—but also for the good of the broader community,” she advised. “If politicians are of the mindset that Jews don’t get out and vote, then they—and the government in general—won’t listen to us. We all need to get out and vote,” she concluded.
By Jill Kirsch
