Highland Park Borough Council Addresses Anti-Semitism, Community Services, and Infrastructure Improvements

The Highland Park Borough Council recently convened to address a range of issues, including the rise of anti-Semitism, community center services, and infrastructure improvements. The council also acknowledged local achievements and discussed cultural celebrations in connection with Black History Month and the Lunar New Year.

One of the key points of discussion was the report presented by Councilmember Hill on the concerning rise of anti-Semitism and the importance of community members reporting bias incidents. The report sparked a broader conversation about the need for continued vigilance and awareness within the community to combat such incidents. Councilmember Postelnik reinforced this message by drawing attention to the resources available on the borough’s website that facilitate the reporting of bias-related incidents.

In addition to safety concerns, the meeting also focused on services offered at the community center. Councilmember Canavera provided updates on the variety of services available, including assistance with grocery transportation for residents in need and upcoming programming designed to enrich the community. She also noted the availability of free COVID-19 tests at the community center.

Council President Hersh delved into issues regarding the environment and public health by discussing recent environmental commission and Board of Health meetings. A recent garbage truck issue was brought to light, alongside Hersh’s involvement with the rent control board, where collaborative efforts are being made to address housing concerns within the borough.

Mayor Foster added to the community-focused dialogue by discussing her attendance at the Lunar New Year Festival and inviting the community to participate in a related event at Highland Park High School. She also emphasized the significance of Black History Month, celebrating the contributions of Dr. Ivan Van Sertima, an influential African-American intellectual with connections to Highland Park.

The council addressed infrastructure concerns during a public hearing on an ordinance providing for improvements to North 4th Avenue, Denison Street, and Harper Street. Resident Lois Leing expressed that the condition of these streets required urgent attention, a sentiment that was echoed by the council.

During the first public discussion session, Lois Leing raised several issues, including concerns about the Professional Services Redevelopment for 810 North 2nd Avenue and the use of rock salt for snow removal. She also voiced frustrations with the audio quality during the meeting. The council acknowledged these concerns and committed to investigating and resolving them. In the second public discussion session, Leing brought up additional concerns regarding missing price tags in borough stores and the removal of snow from residential sidewalks. Council President Hersh stressed the importance of maintaining clear sidewalks for safety and accessibility and urged residents to report any uncleared sidewalks to the Department of Public Works.

Lastly, the council confirmed new appointments to the Boards, including Jennifer P-B and Brian Fitzgerald from the Highland Park Police Department.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Mayor:
Elsie Foster
City Council Officials:
Matthew Hersh, Tara Canavera, Philip George, Matthew Hale, Stephany Kim Chohan, Jason Postelnik

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parent Advisory Board
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Port Authority
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
MN
Anoka County
Becker County
Beltrami County
Benton County
Blue Earth County
Brown County
Carver County
Cass County
Chippewa County
Chisago County
Clay County
Cook County
Crow Wing County
Dakota County
Freeborn County
Goodhue County
Grant County
Hennepin County
Isanti County
Itasca County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Koochiching County
Lac Qui Parle County
Lyon County
Mcleod County
Morrison County
Mower County
Nicollet County
Olmsted County
Pipestone County
Polk County
Ramsey County
Rice County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Sibley County
St Louis County
Stearns County
Steele County
Waseca County
Washington County
Wright County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
NY
Bronx County
Kings County
New York County
Queens County
Richmond County
TN
Shelby County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording