Cliffside Park Rides a Wave of Prosperity ahead of 2019 Elections

Mayor Tom Calabrese

Cliffside Park, a town of some 25,150 residents, situated atop of the storied Palisades, just across the Hudson from Manhattan, is riding a wave of prosperity ahead of the 2019 elections thanks to the diligence and hard work of Mayor Tom Calabrese and the Borough officials.

Cliffside Park officials’ efforts, which are capped by the motto of “Working Around the Clock,” have resulted in the expansion and improvement of its municipal services to residents perhaps more than any other community in Bergen County. This amazing feat was accomplished without additional costs to taxpayers. The borough’s noteworthy strides as the community to consider for your residence and business also caught the attention of The New York Times in its favorable article this past summer.

According to officials, with a total of some $19 million spent since 2016, they have revitalized the borough with a multi-faceted beautification program for its two major avenues – Palisade and Anderson – and shopping hub. It has overhauled all of its parks, including purchasing new recreational equipment for children and attractive benches and sitting areas for older residents, and has an ongoing multi-year plan to replace the surfaces of sidewalks and roadways and its antiquated sewers.

To further serve the needs of the residents, the Borough purchased new public safety and public works vehicles. Additionally, at a cost of more than $700,000 it is installing a video surveillance system to aid police by providing it “eyes” at all of the municipality’s major intersections. Residents were introduced to the new Cliffside Park “Neighbors” surveillance app at a recent Neighborhood Block Watch meeting with the police.

In addition to $11 million in capital outlays, the borough has been fortunate to obtain $8 million in grants since 2012, including more than $1.3 million in 2018 to partly fund these revitalization programs at no extra cost to taxpayers.

According to the credit rating agency Standard and Poors, this year Cliffside Park maintained an AA+ rating because of its “very strong economy” and “budgetary performance.”

The borough’s favorable economic situation was abetted by its recent unanticipated collection of $3.3 million in additional tax revenue and its PILOT program with the new Towne Center high-rise and retail venues on Anderson Avenue that generate from $700,000 to $1 million annually under a ground lease agreement. The borough has also received some $4 million under its developer’s agreement with the Towne Center.

According to borough officials, in addition to its financial insight in saving its taxpayers money, there is no tax rise for municipal purposes in 2019 – Cliffside Park is unique in other ways.

A rather enviable position for Mayor Tom Calabrese as he campaigns for reelection on Tuesday, November 5.

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