At our City Council meeting on September 1, the Governing Body awarded contracts to Kyle Conti Construction LLC., CMS Construction, and Earle Construction for Ida related construction projects to Swan and Ely creeks as well as to roadways throughout the City. As soon as I have the timeline for these projects, I will share that information.
Overseeing this work and communicating with affected residents will be my priority this fall. In the next week or two, I will hand-deliver letters to residents along Swan Creek with preliminary information, as well as a way to register for updates and status meetings. I expect to be on the construction sites daily, checking in with foremen and residents to ensure clear, continuous communication. At times, this work will seem invasive and confusing to property owners but rest assured, I will be there to listen to your concerns and answer your questions.
After the council meeting, I rode my bike down N. Union and hung out with residents at the far end of the street for an Ida anniversary gathering. Someone poured me a glass of wine and I settled into a lovely visit with my neighbors under a canopy of September stars. The conversations were at turns serious and light-hearted. These neighbors live a variety of post Ida realities. Some have completed work in their houses; others have not. A few have moved away; the majority have stayed. As many of you know from your own blocks, there is immutable bond to these neighborly relations. Whether you’ve simply said hello every morning to your neighbor on his way to work, or whether you survived the horrors of a flood together, these relationships are part and parcel of your life.
On Sunday evening, I rode my bike to the Coryell Street Block Party and hung out with residents. Someone poured me a glass of wine and then, later, a shot of tequila, and I settled into some serious dancing. The bands were amazing. And so were my fellow dancers, whose high average age made me wonder whether it was good idea for a few of them to be dancing so enthusiastically. I wasn’t the last one to leave, but I stayed a long time. Thank you to everyone who made this evening so much fun.
At my first Meet-and-Greet as a candidate, I asked the attendees what they thought were the most pressing issues in Lambertville. I got what you might expect from the group, but one resident responded that we don’t have enough fun anymore. I have thought of this from time to time and while I don’t know what specific fun he was referring to, I do think we should embrace the value of block parties, concerts, volunteer park clean-ups, etc. I, for one, would like to see more block parties. With all the hard work we do in our lives, we should have fun with our neighbors, cut loose a little.
Be well and be kind,
Andrew
