Blog - Stronger Clark

Nov 2024 Council Meeting – Special Counsel and Rewriting Land Use Ordinance

November 19, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark / Home

The November 18, 2024, Clark Township Council meeting covered several important items that residents should be aware of. Here’s a recap of the key developments: Comprehensive Update to the Land Use and Development Ordinance The Council is in the process of updating the entire Land Use and Development Ordinance, a document that governs zoning, construction, […]

Fixing Problems Is Not Radical: It’s Necessary

November 2, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark / Home

But instead of addressing our real challenges, our current leadership resorts to fear tactics, labeling practical solutions as “radical.” We, the Stronger Clark team, believe fixing our town isn’t extreme—it’s simply responsible. We’re here to prioritize our schools, restore local control, and bring transparency back to government. This election, vote for facts and common sense, not fear.

Is Clark’s Leadership Really Protecting Our Town Services?

October 29, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark / Home

Mayor Sal Bonaccorso talks about Clark’s town services like leaf and branch pickup as if they’re exceptional, but aren’t these basics every town should provide? Quiet cuts to the Department of Public Works (DPW) have reduced staff from 21 in 2022 to 14 today. Meanwhile, taxes went up by 9% last year.

Is Mayor Sal Bonaccorso Setting Clark Up for Another Scandal?

October 25, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark / Home

Mayor Sal Bonaccorso, is set to appear in court for what the online calendar labeled as a “PLEA BARGAIN.” If convicted, Bonaccorso could be forced out of office, leaving Clark in turmoil.The costs to Clark would be high, both in dollars and morale.

It’s Not a Mistake, It’s a Pattern: Payoffs to Destroy Recordings

October 18, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark

Before the $400,000 payout to Antonio Manata—which required the destruction of sensitive recordings involving the mayor—there was another significant payout where the town paid $375,000 to three officers, that also involved the destruction of recordings.

Clark’s Leaders Can Improve Schools

October 15, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark

Many people think school improvements are solely the responsibility of the Board of Education, but in Clark, our mayor and town council can play a critical role in making a real difference. From negotiating better deals with developers to securing funds for school facilities, local leadership has the power to enhance our schools

Clark School District Rankings: An Unfortunate Downtrend

October 12, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark

The Clark, NJ School District, which includes Arthur L. Johnson High School, Carl H. Kumpf Middle School, and the elementary schools in the area, has seen a lot of changes in its overall performance over the years. By examining the district’s rankings from 2004 to 2023, we can identify trends, understand what led to improvements or declines, and discuss what can be done to keep the district moving in the right direction.

Stronger Clark Town Hall October 22, 2024 7pm-9pm At Clark Holiday Inn

October 11, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark

Join us on October 22, 2024, from 7-9 pm at The Holiday Inn on Walnut Ave and Valley Road for a town hall meeting. This is your chance to ask questions and hear how we will make Clark stronger for the future.

Affordable Housing in New Jersey: The Truth Behind Who’s Responsible

October 7, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark

The 2017 affordable housing decision is a continuation of court rulings that started decades ago. It’s not the result of new laws or political agendas, but of judges interpreting the New Jersey constitution

Illegal Benefits: Another Way Clark’s Mayor and Council Mismanage Our Taxes

October 5, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark / Home

Clark Township spent $522,000 paying for health insurance benefits paid to its elected officials, even though they were ineligible under state law. This misconduct, detailed in a news report by NJ.com, is part of a troubling pattern in Clark.

Carl H. Kumpf Middle School Rankings

October 1, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark

In 2003 Kumpf’s rank was 247 and last year’s rank in 2023 was 176.

Clark Council Member Admits They Do No Research – Is This Leadership?

September 29, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark / Home

The role of our Town Council is to make the best decisions for Clark, NJ. But how can they do that if they don’t bother to do their own research? Recently, Angel Albanese, a member of the Clark Town Council, admitted they don’t do research.

Clark Scandal Continues: Wasting More Taxpayer Money to Hide the Truth

September 27, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark / Home

Our mayor and the town council have spent millions of taxpayer dollars fighting to keep misconduct under wraps. And now, NJ.com reports they’re doubling down, wasting even more money to go after the very whistleblower who exposed the corruption in the first place!

Frank A. Hehnly Elementary: 20 Years of Rankings – Success, Challenges, and the Road Ahead

September 26, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark

In 2003 Hehnly was ranked 121 in the state and in the 90th percentile. In 2023 it was ranked 432 and is in the 67th percentile. Trend lines show a downward trend over the last 20 years.

Valley Road Elementary Schools Rankings

September 25, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark

In 2003 Valley Road’s rank was 448 and in 2023 it was 421. It has dropped as low as 686th in rank during that time, but things have trended upward since then. However, recent years have shown a steep decline from a rank of 182 down to 421.

Arthur L. Johnson High School Rankings: What’s Happened Over the Last 20 Years?

September 24, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark

In 2003, Arthur L. Johnson High School was ranked 91st out of 343 high schools in New Jersey, placing it in the top 25% of schools. By 2017, the ranking had dropped to 271st out of 411 schools, placing it in the bottom third. things have improved somewhat since then, with a ranking of 221st in 2023,

Misunderstanding Laws: Clark Mayor’s Rants and Council’s Silence

September 21, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark / Home

It’s not just misconduct from our leadership that hurts us. It’s also incompetence. Our mayor and town council completely misunderstood a law about storm water management. They not only refused to discuss it seriously but misled residents about what the law actually is and wasted town resources passing a pointless resolution against it.

Clark’s Abandoned A&P: A Failure of Leadership

September 13, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark / Home

In 2019, Mayor Sal Bonaccorso assured the people of Clark that this eyesore would be developed, yet here we are in 2024, and absolutely nothing has happened.

Unanimous: Clark Police Voted No Confidence in Mayor Sal Bonaccorso

September 11, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark / Home

The Clark Police Benevolent Association (PBA) issued a vote of no confidence in Mayor Bonaccorso, which means they no longer believe he is fit to lead our town.

Mayor Bonaccorso’s Broken Promises Hurt Clark’s Future

September 8, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark / Home

Mayor Sal Bonaccorso made a promise—“as long as I’m mayor there are no tax abatements to builders. I’m not going to be doing them a favor in plain English.” In 2020, the mayor and the town council approved a 30-year tax deal for 178 new apartment units, and in 2023 they did it again with the CubeSmart deal on Raritan Road.

Union County Tax Levy on Clark: Trending Downward Since 2018

September 4, 2024 by strongerclark in taxes

The Union County tax levy has increased by $1,571,374 or 12% since 2014 and has trended downward recently decreasing by about 3% since 2018.

The Clark School Tax Levy 2014-2024: A Decade of Data

September 3, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark / taxes

Since 2014 the Clark Schools tax levy has increased by $6,599,895 or about 22.4% which is in line with expected increases of about 2% per year.

Clark Legal Services Budget: Up 224% Since 2014

August 30, 2024 by strongerclark in Home / taxes

Appropriations for legal services in Clark’s Municipal Budget have increased from $138,828 in 2014 to $450,000 in 2024. This is an increase of $311,172 or a 224% increase. The largest increase of 75.6% occurred in 2022.

Clark, NJ’s Government Budget: A 77% Increase Since 2014

August 20, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark / Home / taxes

The General Government Budget is the money used to run Clark’s government. This includes salaries, legal costs, etc. This cost has increased by $1,018,761 since 2014, a 77.42% increase. The largest increase of 19.53% occurred in 2020.

Clark’s Library Tax: How It Works and Why It Matters

August 20, 2024 by strongerclark in Clark / taxes

What Is the Library Tax? The library tax is a portion of the municipal budget specifically allocated to fund the town’s public library. In 1985, the New Jersey Legislature enacted a law that required municipalities with established public libraries to allocate a minimum amount of funding for library services. By establishing a separate, dedicated tax […]

Why Township Councils Must Communicate

August 12, 2024 by Bill Grzyb in Clark / Home

A township council makes key decisions on running a town, including building parks, fixing roads, and managing finances. It’s essential for townspeople to stay informed and have the chance to ask questions. Here’s why a responsive and accessible council matters.