Meet Hackensack Unites

CASEEN GAINES

  • Lifelong Hackensack resident
  • 18-year teacher in Hackensack Public Schools
  • President of Hackensack Education Association labor union
  • Hackensack Library Board liaison, former member of Hackensack Cultural Arts Board
  • Award-winning author of seven nonfiction books on film, television, and theater

AGATHA TOOMEY

  • 58-year Hackensack resident
  • Served as City Human Services Department Director for 38 years
  • Local business owner and entrepreneur
  • President of the Bergen/Hudson Municipal Welfare Directors Association of New Jersey
  • Member of UNICO Italian-American Organization

ROBERTO DIAZ

  • 5-year Hackensack resident
  • Adjunct professor and former Associate Director at Fairleigh Dickinson University
  • Former middle school bilingual education teacher
  • Professional and educational experience in financial administration

  • Certified in Global Leadership, Administration & Diplomacy

PHILIP CARROLL

  • 48-year Hackensack Resident
  • Retired, 27-year policer officer in Hackensack and former President of PBA Local 9
  • Former Board of Education Trustee
  • 45-year Parishioner of Holy Trinity Church
  • Member of Hackensack Elks, Knights of Columbus, and Moose Lodge

SONYA CLARK-COLLINS

  • Lifelong Hackensack resident
  • Administrative and Information Technology Professional at New Jersey Media Group
  • Member of The WorkGroup and Hackensack Rent Stabilization Board
  • Parishioner of St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, Treasurer and Member
  • Former member of The James Street Block Association

OUR VISION

Stabilize Taxes and Rents by Ending the 30-Year Giveaways to Developers

  • End multi-decade handouts to developers
  • Force new buildings to contribute towards our schools and services
  • Make developers pay their fair share

Improve Our Schools, Roads, and Services

  • Support our police, fire, and DPW with revenue from forcing developers to contribute to our community
  • End the lack of oversight that has allowed private corporations to determine how much they owe
  • Force any new project to adequately fund school enhancements and road improvements

Focus on Serving Residents - Not Corporate Developers

  • No more back room deals for developers and special interests
  • Govern transparently, offering everyone the chance to engage and get involved
  • Listen to your concerns, allowing everyone a fair opportunity to be heard

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HACKENSACK’S CHALLENGE

Hackensack has become overdeveloped and too expensive for families

For over a decade, City Hall has given away giant tax breaks to corporate developers. These handouts mean that these buildings:

  • Don’t pay anything towards our schools
  • Increase the demand on City services
  • Force homeowners to make up the difference

In the past 12 years, residents have seen their property taxes nearly double.

These properties pay $0 in tax.

VOTE
TUESDAY,
MAY 13

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PAID FOR BY HACKENSACK UNITES 2025 | PO BOX 41, HACKENSACK, NJ 07602