Letter From Township Committee Candidate Moshe Raitzik

[COMMUNICATED] Dear fellow Lakewood residents,

Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 3rd, we have the chance to make our voices heard, and high voter turnout is how Lakewood gets respect in Trenton and in Washington.

I’m Moshe Raitzik, and I’m running for Lakewood Township Committee.

For the last two decades I have volunteered for our town — on the Board of Education, the Planning Board, Shade Tree Commission, Municipal Alliance, Lakewood Utility Advisory Committee, and Rent Control Board, and currently as your Fire Commissioner. That service has taught me how to stretch every tax dollar, how to keep people safe, and how seconds matter when our roads are gridlocked.

I’m not running to make speeches. I’m running to fix the problems we all deal with every day:

Whether it’s antisemitism, vandalism, or hate aimed at any community, no family in Lakewood should live in fear. I will fight for a stronger police presence where we need it most, tougher enforcement against hate crimes, and practical programs in our schools that bring our diverse communities together with mutual understanding and respect.

2. Fixing Traffic & Managing Growth Sensibly

Our growth is a blessing, but our infrastructure hasn’t kept up. We need to expand the L bus so it actually serves the whole town, finish our sidewalks and add lighting so our kids can walk safely, and expand hazardous-route busing so no child has to walk on a road with no sidewalk to get to school. We need to stop giving away paper streets, and stop approving developments until the roads and utilities can actually handle them. That starts with a full update of the Master Plan in 2027.

We also need to be relentless with Trenton — Route 9 has been a parking lot for years, while the gas tax which is supposed to be earmarked for fixing our roads keeps going up. It’s time Lakewood got its fair share back with a wider 9.

3. More Transparency and Public Engagement

Township government should work for the people who live here. I will push to restore in-person Township Committee meetings, make agendas and applications easier to understand, and ensure residents have a real chance to be heard by and engage with their elected officials before votes are taken.

I have never been beholden to any special interest – I just answer to the voters I represent. After 20 years of service, I would be deeply honored to earn your vote.

Please take the time to vote for me tomorrow, Tuesday, November 3rd. Polls are open from 6 AM to 8 PM. Every vote matters… especially yours.