Trentonians, the City of Trenton taxpayer’s dollars must employ Trentonians. I will vote NO to Mayor Reed Gusciora’s proposed Resolution executing a Memorandum of Agreement with the Mercer County Building and Construction Trades Council for the temporary hiring of qualified tradesmen for Public Works projects, and will encourage my council colleagues to do the same.

Mayor Reed Gusciora proposed Resolution is illegal and down right negligent. It shows a lack of regard for Trenton and our fiscal blight and distress. How can you claim to care about Trenton and preside over Trenton, then turn around and give our jobs to non-Trentonians? And worse, this is supported by our other elected leaders US Congresswoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman and 15th District State Legislature representatives. Ask yourselves – what have they done for Trenton lately? The only thing they are supporting is outsourcing our municipal jobs to their constituents in other districts, at the expense of Trentonians!

Trenton has a residency law that requires city employees to reside in Trenton. Hamilton and Ewing have those same laws. Our elected officials are NOT going into those cities and advocating for the employment of non-Hamiltonians or non-Ewing residents. Yet they are coming into Trenton advocating for the employment of non-Trentonians. Their actions are not only unlawful, and irresponsible, they are anti-Trenton and anti-Trentonian.

Residency laws were created for a reason – employees who are residents are more committed to the community, they pay taxes in the community, own homes, use the schools and participate in the civic life. Trentonians, if you want to reduce crimes – give people jobs! It is a fair obligation to be required to be a resident of Trenton in exchange for employment in Trenton. This is not just Councilwoman Robin Vaughn or Councilman Santiago Rodriguez talking, the Supreme Court of the United States has upheld residency laws. Want more? The State of New Jersey has implemented residency laws since 2011.

Would you think it’s ok for Governor Murphy to disregard NJ’s residency law and hire Pennsylvanians over NJ residents who are unemployed, and able to do the job?  Shameful!
I will vote NO!