"Connecting Our Community" Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams

Below are my remarks, given in January of this year after I was elected to serve as Chair of the Union County Board of County Commissioners. 

“Connecting Our Community”

Remarks - Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams

Thursday, January 6, 2022 – 6:30 p.m.

 

Guided by the spirit of Harriet Tubman

Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining me at this year’s 2022 Re-Organization Meeting. And while you see that this is not our traditional Reorganization meeting, due to the surge in positive Covid cases, I am still very happy to be here, in person at the first meeting of the New Year. Public safety is one of our top priorities and we will continue to make the necessary decisions to keep us all as healthy as possible.

Before I begin, I would like to take a moment of silence in remembrance of our longtime County Surrogate, Jim LaCorte. (Pause) Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.

 

I want to congratulate Commissioners Mirabella and Palmieri-Mouded on their successful reelection, and offer a special welcome to our newest elected Commissioner, James Baker, as well as those who won their elections in Legislative Districts 20, 21 and 22, those across Union County, and especially to Governor Murphy and Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver on winning their reelection.

I would also like to recognize Senator Nicholas Scutari as the new Senate President Designee. Senator, your previous work demonstrates what a strong advocate you have been for all in New Jersey and this designation will bring so much to Union County. I am looking forward to seeing what’s to come.

So, it is with great honor that I stand before you for the first time as your Chair for 2022. Last year, our theme was Union County Rising, and despite the circumstances, we did rise, thanks to former Chairman Al Mirabella. It takes a great leader to guide us during a time of uncertainty, and it was his ability to adapt and change direction as needed that took us to new heights. Al’s management and dedication over the past two years is why we were able face this difficult and tragic time and rise through some very, very dark days. I would also be remiss if I did not thank the rest of the Board of Commissioners, as well as all of the staff, partners, and volunteers for their unconditional support.

The unparalleled magnitude of the horrors wrought by this pandemic caused many of us to pause and reflect on how we measure the important aspects of our lives. And even as we continue to work to build back our economy from the devastating effects of the pandemic, I would like to recognize that while it was not easy to get there, our Board of Commissioners was able to provide all the services, programs, and help our residents needed, and at a zero percent tax increase for the last two years.

We stayed connected as a county, a state, and a nation, and as we continue to come to terms with all of the changes in our lives, it is important for us to remember how we came together. And while we cannot foresee how long the pandemic will last and the final impact it will have on us all, it was through the prompt actions of County personnel, and our connections and partnerships, that we were able get through it. Public meetings were held virtually, government services were accessible to residents online or via the phone, and communications were increased through our website and our social media accounts, to maintain a high level of information-flow to our residents.

In addition, we worked with Public Safety, Human Services, and several other departments to make sure the County had the necessary resources to directly reach our residents, and we took action. I don’t know anyone who has not suffered tremendous loss throughout the past two years—who hasn’t had to bury a loved one, or mourn from a distance via Zoom or standing six feet away from those they love, but that has been dictated by this pandemic to keep us safe. To that end, we mobilized the first county-run COVID testing site in the state of New Jersey at Kean University. We secured vaccine sites for our residents at several locations throughout the county, including our Mobile Unit. We made sure that those experiencing an overwhelming loss of jobs, family members, friends, or just general hardships–had food on their table from our food distribution programs. We expanded job fairs and job training programs, and we helped provide social services to all those who needed that extra help.

When the vaccine rolled out, my colleagues on the Board were overwhelmed with phone calls, emails, and texts from residents who wanted assistance immediately. And, through the unflagging efforts of our County Manager Ed Oatman and his team, we were able to meet those needs. With our County team at the forefront, we made sure that the proper safety protocols were in place to protect our employees and residents, while still providing the services they deserve.

There is no more important responsibility to us as commissioners—as a county government—than to keep our residents safe, and to provide ways for them to live, thrive, and succeed. So, as we continue to move forward – my Chair initiatives for 2022 are titled “Connecting Our Community.” As an educator who had to teach by way of Zoom for three long semesters, I know firsthand the struggles my students and their families had trying to access WIFI. I have a goal of ensuring that we remain connected as we expand our ways of communicating with residents, and provide them with ways to better connect to us.

My first initiative will be called “Technology & Infrastructure: “Being Connected Matters.” We normally think of infrastructure as electricity, or water systems, or transit. But in recent years and a generational shift, we are seeing that a communication infrastructure matters. So, one of the most important initiatives we will be undertaking this year is getting our County more connected – we are currently in the process of developing an all-inclusive countywide fiber ring. Funded through dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act, this fiber ring will be completed in three phases. Phases 1 & 2 are set to begin early in this year. Connectivity between County buildings and our parks system will be addressed in these first two phases. Phase 3 will add municipal buildings and police departments to the network. Once complete, the life expectancy of this fiber network is 20 years, and will it bridge the digital divide to better ensure public safety and overall network reliability throughout our county.

One of the biggest concerns that was highlighted even more during the pandemic was the social isolation that many residents faced as they quarantined. So, my next initiative is called “Making Connections for Mental Health and Wellbeing.” Many experienced stress, anxiety, and grief after not being able to report to work, to visit their loved ones, their friends, their neighbors, or to even see friendly faces in public. The mental and emotional wellbeing of our residents is of utmost importance as we move forward into the new year, and I am going to focus on exploring additions to the mental health services that we already offer in Union County. From providing community education and a connection to our programs, to developing new strategies and ways to reach our residents, I will work with the Department of Human Services to continue to ensure that our constituents know that they are not alone.

Further, strong connections to the arts, culture, education, and recreation are essential characteristics of a community that values everyone’s quality of life. My next two initiatives: “Connections through Cultural Enrichment and Recreation” and “Connecting & Engaging Residents,” introduce a series of programs that will not only help define and express who Union County is as a community, but will also help significantly contribute to and enrich our everchanging environment. I will develop an Arts and Cultural Drama Development program, which would be specifically open for emerging playwrights to develop their work, in funding staged readings, hiring actors, renting facilities such as UCPAC, and more. Infusing more arts, culture, and recreation within our community’s fabric will continue to underscore and highlight our prominence as a county of distinction.

From the creation of the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, to flag raisings, and monthly empowerment conversations, Union County has made great strides in making sure everyone, no matter who they love, or how they identify, feels included. And this year, we will cut the ribbon on the new inclusive park at Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield, which was designed with the idea to make all residents feel accepted and embraced. It will feature a playground with intergenerational attractions, traditional playground equipment, and auditory and musical expression, as well as the first meditation maze in Union County.

Continuing with the theme of everyone feeling connected and involved, I am creating an Intergenerational Community Engagement program, in which young people can work with senior citizens on a variety of projects. Social connectedness for those who are especially shut in, is extremely important for the health of our senior population. And as I mentioned earlier, throughout the pandemic, I recognized the importance of maintaining relationships and not being and feeling so isolated. The simplest things, such as phone calls, writing cards, virtual hospital or home visits, could improve the mental and emotional health of someone, and this project would be vital to our most vulnerable population.

So, again, the challenges we faced were countless. And they were not always easy to resolve. But we had the opportunity and the resources to face them head-on, and we did. Our Union County team was available and prepared to work together during a year of hardship and loss, and we owe it to those who elected us to build a county that is truly heathier, connected, and stronger.

I am so honored and committed to serve all of you as Chair in 2022. and I am certain that if we stay connected, if we work together, as one Union County - our future will be bright. May you know that I am here for you, we are here for you, and we will get through anything together. Thank you.

Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams

Union County Board of County Commissioners