Mayor Choi has brought fresh air to Edison
I find that Mayor Jun Choi has brought some needed fresh air to the town of Edison, while enduring heavy criticism from those entrenched interests that support the existing and regressive political structure. Since Mayor Choi was elected, millions of dollars were saved in salary and health-care costs through the downsizing of 60 employees. Beyond the downsizing, other cost savings included the purchase of hybrid vehicles, which will reduce our dependence on fuel while at the same time replacing inefficient vehicles that in many cases were more than 20 years old. He employed a grant writer, realizing some $720,000 to Edison, more than 10 times the investment in his salary. This grant money resulted in a renewed focus on the Amboy Avenue neighborhoods, the establishment of the Jersey Fresh Edison Farmer's Market, park improvements and the future use of solar panels on the animal shelter.

He continues to use technology to drive efficiency and create new sources of revenue. He orchestrated the redesign of the Edison Web site, which offers forms and reports that in the past could only be picked up at the municipal complex. Now, residents can access this information 24 hours a day. For residents who can't make it to town hall with their questions, he initiated a Citizens Service Request form on the Web site, again allowing the 24-hour access to our government. On the management side, tracking requests and discovery of departments that are effective or ineffective in answering the public are now readily apparent. In the past month, he started using GovDeals, an eBay-like online auction for surplus township property. In the past, Edison would hold one auction a year and be stuck with bids from those who were present. This Internet site provides a wide array of bidders and fair market value for the property the township no longer uses. In the first postings, more than $4,000 in revenue was achieved.

As far as the water fountain park Mr. Russomanno mentions in a letter to you that was from the previous administration. But to be fair, it was built with developers' fees and not any money that was raised from taxpayers. The current administration has to work with existing facilities and this park is one of those. Currently the job is to make improvements and create a really useable and beautiful park. Adding the tree is part of that effort and, like the building of the park, the cost of the trees is to be paid from through developers' fees.
Michael A. Miller
Edison