Kevin A. Wilson for a Stronger 4th Ward Voice

Hello 4th Ward Neighbors,

I am a proud Native Resident of the 4th Ward. I have pride in my place. I was born, raised, and worked in the 4th Ward. I graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, New Jersey. I played football and was part of the team that won the 1979 Championship. I am a dedicated father of one daughter, Cortney and two young men, Kaelen and Kai. My fiancé, Monica Strickland is a lovely woman and supports me wholeheartedly.

After college, I worked with my father's construction company, "Wilson & Wilsons".  During our decades in business, we built many homes throughout the city of Englewood and Bergen County. We employed hundreds of our neighbors. Working in this field taught me hard work, the importance of entrepreneurship, and the value of homeownership in a community.

Later, I joined the Englewood Fire Department, where I served my community for 29 years until I retired in May 2020. Being a firefighter was one of my life's highlights as I selfishly dedicated my life to serving others. 

My Political life began when my stepfather, the late Jack Drakeford introduced me to caring Residents and Local Officials who were making a difference in our community. I wanted to be part of this as well. Therefore, I began the work as:

• Founding President of Englewood's Chapter of the Jabari Society- part of an International organization that helps young Black men become firefighters
• Co-founder of Urban League's program "From The Ground Up" where youth were employed to build our existing fire house, that bears my stepfather's name.
• Counselor for Bergen County Juvenile Firesetter Program - The goal of the program is to reduce the overall problem of firesetting by working with juvenile firesetters to identify underlying issues and provide intervention to minimize firesetting behaviors.
• Former VP of Relief Association - provided monetary support to fallen fire Fighter's widows
• Served on Englewood Board of Adjustment in 2016

4th Ward Neighbors, elect me as your councilman, and I will work to make sure that the 4th Ward has an effective communicator that will speak directly on your behalf regarding numerous issues.

• Future Development in the 4th Ward
• Trash
• Flooding
• Safety
• Programs for kids
• Education, Health and Recreation for all ages

If elected, I plan to work hard to preserve our beautiful city bringing positive results to the Residents of the 4th Ward.

If you have any questions or concerns, I am happy to personally meet with you. Please send me an email - Kwilson4thward@gmail.com or stop by 328 W. Palisade Ave.

June 7th - Elect Kevin A. Wilson Column #2 

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELECTION 

JUNE 7, 2022 

Polls Open 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM

PRIMARY – EARLY VOTING DATES
FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2022
SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2022
SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2022

Is the Englewood Democratic Committee Dying?

 Where is the LINE?

Will the Committee survive without the line?

In the November Election, a Candidate who had previously benefitted from the LINE controlled by the Democratic big wigs at the County complained about something that folks like me have been complaining about for years.

Now it seems that LINE has disappeared.

Where is the LINE?

Is it gone, because an unknown is seeking our support for 4th Ward Council?

I know Peter Jansen, Lisa Wisotsky and Kevin Wilson

BUT

Who is Maryelena Vargas?

Wearing The Mask?

 Mask Mandates and Food Service Workers

No More Mask Mandate for the students.

Question: Should there be a mask Mandate for the School Cafeteria Worker? Should the lunch lady wear a mask and a hairnet?

I was having a bad day. I craved comfort food. For me that is a munchkin. A Dunkin' Donut Hole treat with Jelly inside. The Server was not wearing a mask. I asked him why, and he said that he did not need one because he was vaccinated. I told him that I was also vaccinated, but that I was following the advice of the sign on the entrance door where customers are required to wear a mask. I walked out without ordering. 2 months later, I tried to buy my munchkins again. This time, only 1 worker behind the counter was wearing a mask. I left again without ordering.

My granddaughter likes the lunches I make her. At least once a week, she gets a Black Bear Honey Glazed ham sandwich with Jarlsberg cheese and lettuce on Pepperidge Farm 15 grain whole wheat bread. She loves it. Twice now, I have gone to the Deli at our only Shoprite and the Deli Workers were not wearing masks. I walked out without my cold cuts. It is my right, and I will continue to do the same. A friend told me I was being silly because there is no way for me to know what is going on behind the scenes. Thing is, yeah, maybe, but I do have something to say about what I see with my own eyes. Food Service Workers should mask up. 

The Lunch Lady needs to wear her mask.

Food Service Workers need to wear masks.

"I Want Dwight Morrow High School to Gleam Academically"

 

Friends, Raiders, and Englewoodians, please lend me your ears!

As many of you know by now, the Englewood elected BOE has selected Joseph Armental as principal of our flagship, my Alma Mater, Dwight Morrow High School. This measure did not pass on the first vote, but it has passed. 

Now we, as the beloved community who want our schools to live up to our real legacy of academic greatness, must be team players, with all oars rowing in the same direction.

The BOE has spoken. Joseph Armental and all of the administrators in our District need our support. It is unfair to expect that the normalization of mediocrity and failure that has pervaded, persisted, and plagued us for years is going to dissipate in an instant—and we need to be forthright in our admission we have developed a culture of mediocrity and failure. Instead, we need a change of ethos that is the result of a shared desire for revolutionary change in our District.

For this, we must create strategic, mission-centered, data-driven plans, with benchmarks and dates, because we have very serious issues before us. We urgently need strong academic leadership on all levels.

We must find a way to infuse Mathematics and Language Arts throughout our curricula with all deliberate speed. In this effort, we should note the immense connectivity between the Fine and Performing Arts and Mathematics, as well as all other disciplines.

The data that are before us beg our attention and concerted efforts. We need to question very seriously the veracity of labeling a program as “Gifted” when 90% and more of the students are in need of remediation. Instead of fancy labels and slick talk, we need to emphasize the basics. Sports is a great metaphor for this. No team wins without a firm mastery of the fundamentals.


The same is true with any subject matter. Acquisition of the foundational behaviors is critical to sustained success. Continuing with the metaphor, teams succeed when the members practice and perfect their crafts to the utmost of their abilities and work together for a common goal (pun intended).


In order for us as a school district to reroute from this unwelcome path, we need everyone to take ownership of tasks before us. We must admit readily that no one person has all the answers or abilities, and we must never be hesitant to seek the expertise of those who are knowledgeable and have proven track records.


Additionally, we must cease our uncritical acceptance of premises that are current falsehoods. The data show that some of our notions about the promise of the extant choice programs to elevate academic performance at the high school are, at best, inconclusive. This is not to suggest the elimination of choice programs, but to suggest a continuous review of their viability and purposes for our District and to develop data-driven benchmarks for them.


More than I can express here, I want THE Dwight Morrow High School to gleam academically. Together, we can make this happen. “Once A Raider, Always A Raider!”


Submitted With Much LOVE—Lynette Adrian Bickham