“I’m not interested in politics; I’m interested in Teaneck,” Deputy Mayor Elie Katz shared. After serving nearly 25 years on
Teaneck Council, Katz is running for reelection—and it’s clear that he will not slow down. The lifelong Teaneck resident has manifested his passion for his hometown well beyond the multiple ongoing projects he has on the Council, and serves in several different volunteering positions on top of his already busy schedule as a local merchant and business owner. In his campaign to continue serving Teaneck, Katz knows one thing: As much as he’s accomplished thus far, there is still more that can be accomplished.
Katz first began his career on the Council in 1998, and was elected
Teaneck’s mayor in 2006, setting the record for youngest person in that position. Since 2008, he has dutifully served as deputy mayor—with one brief stint as acting mayor in 2016—and is looking forward to keeping up the momentum. “I wasn’t going to run again,” he told The Jewish Link. “I wanted to make this my swan song … but there are so many successes we’ve seen in the past several years, and I’d like to continue.”
Among those successes, Katz is proud that in the last eight years, there has been a 0% increase in municipal taxes, as well as the creation of millions of dollars in new ratables to help the community. He explained that these accomplishments are part of his vision that “taxes should not be rampant or out of control,” and similarly, that “Teaneck residents should have the quality of life that they deserve and that they pay taxes for.” On the latter, Katz has also authorized the paving of a record number of roads, overseen the building of a new sportsplex, and supported municipal complex improvements and other various infrastructure projects.
Katz said that his other vision for Teaneck is to make sure that “merchant services are strong,” which he explained is a large part of his choice to run for reelection. “There are some open projects right now which still need to be worked on, [specifically] the redevelopment of Alfred Avenue, as well as the area around Stop & Shop on Cedar Lane, which will enhance the neighborhood as a business district.” Although “there will always be unfinished business,” as Katz described, these projects are the ones that he is working tirelessly to complete—and so, he’s entered the bid for another term.
With decades of experience in serving Teaneck in multiple capacities, including on the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Teaneck Fire Department Box 54, there’s no doubt that Katz loves the town with his heart and soul. But what is it that makes Teaneck so special? According to the deputy mayor, it’s not only the dozens of parks or the convenient proximity to the George Washington Bridge; it’s also the “hidden gems throughout the town,” such as beautiful nature walks and handicap-accessible playgrounds. “We really have something for everyone,” he said. “If you like recreation, we have the busiest recreation department. If you like the library, ours is so great. If you like sports, we have so many sports organizations and a golf course—and now we even have pickleball!”
Something that Katz has observed throughout his time on Teaneck Council is how the various communities around town have grown—and how the diversity has positively impacted Teaneck. “We are really a mix …Teaneck has become more diverse in a bunch of different ways, and we [on the Council] try our best to accommodate everyone and be sensitive to the different pockets all over town.” Katz continued that the increase in diversity has also had a positive personal impact, and along with learning from people of all cultures and backgrounds, mentioned how much he has learned from former Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin, a practicing Muslim and one of Katz’s closest friends.
As for the residents of Teaneck, Katz hopes to see more people getting involved in the political arena. “We should be involved in helping the community,” he said. “I understand that everyone is so busy, and of course, that everyone also has personal causes that are important to them … but my goal is to get more of Teaneck active and engaged in the future of our town.”
Katz explained that his own engagement with the Teaneck political arena is akin to “a synagogue member who serves on the board,” or a “parent who likes their kids’ school and serves on the PTA,” in the sense that it’s the affinity for the community as a whole that inspires him to keep going after 25 years. “I really like Teaneck, so I work hard. I like helping the residents of this town.”
More information on Katz’s campaign can be found at https://www.katz07666.com/.
By Channa Fischer
