Former Councilman Voices Worries About Garwood's Future

Former Councilman Anthony Sytko is fired up.

Since taking a job in Trenton, Sykto (who completed his term on council this time last year), has decided he needs to move closer to the state's capital so as to not have such an arduous commute.

But Sytko couldn't leave the borough without getting a few things off his chest.

"I wonder whether or not there's going to be a Garwood in 15 to 20 years and what shape is that town going to be in and is it going to be worth defending?," said Sytko.

He pointed to the merger of the Princetons, shared services and consolidation as signs that Garwood could be on the chopping block.

"If Garwood wants to remain a separate political entity," said Sytko, "and you want to keep Garwood 07027 and not 07090 [Westfield] or 07016 [Cranford] then there’s a couple things that have to happen. This town and its people need to come together and need to unite together behind the idea of the survival of Garwood."

Sykto's remedy is two-fold: less gossip and silliness and more leaders.

"Step one is this town needs to stop immediately with this mindless, petty, nonsensical bickering, invective hurling mud-slinging rhetoric and gossiping that I see on the internet in this building and around town," said Sykto. "We need leaders. More than the seven people sitting on that dias....Leaders don’t talk about their accomplishments. Leaders don’t have time to brag about what they’ve done, they’re too busy doing."

Sytko said his love for the borough is what inspired him to speak up, but wouldn't point to any particular incidents or persons that had riled him.

"If it's not about anyone in particular, than everyone thinks it's about them," said Sykto. "And that's the point."