*Unrelated to radio but please do not get mad*

I am running for mayor for my town of Haddon Heights, NJ. 

My platform. 

   ANTHONY A-TRAIN MESSINA

What he stands for

1. Cultural and economic growth
2. The constant evolution of ideas and thought
3. The importance of art, music and education
4. Senior citizens first*
5. Providing 3HS students with well-paying and meaningful jobs
6. Making Haddon Heights as energy efficient as possible

 7.     Forming a community radio station

 *- One of his main objectives is to allow for 3HS students to apply for work at the town public works, and be paid ten dollars an hour shoveling the snow at senior citizens homes throughout the town, so that the senior citizens do not have to risk getting hurt shoveling snow. In the fall months, they would rake leaves throughout the town and especially at senior citizens’ homes.

Through these programs, we feel that it will 1) keep our town looking beautiful, 2) teach 3HS the importance of money and budgeting and 3) generate more spending money for our local businesses. Besides those three main points, it would also help our current public works employees in doing their jobs and splitting up the work load, thus showing that we do seriously appreciate our public works employees.

Point number two states that I stand for “The constant evolution of ideas and thought”. I feel that this point is important for a number of reasons. Haddon Heights has a lot of potential to be a haven for South Jersey and Philadelphia thinkers, artists, musicians and educators. Growing our towns’ economy is important, but allowing for our town to be a haven for ideas and cultural growth, it would attract not just new visitors, but more business, more conversation, and more human interaction. A-Train has always felt that the most uninhibited freedom of speech is the sign of a truly democratic and free society, and this is why it is unbelievably important that Haddon Heights have its doors wide open for thinkers, writers and artists of all kinds.  

In point number three, our supporters learn of how much A-Train stresses the importance of art, music and education. Not only for the growth of our citizens, but in Haddon Heights High School especially. Art and music both grow the minds of our youth and help with class grades. Not just, though, with class grades, but in stressing the importance of art and music, the students become less prone to violence, and are given a way to express all their feelings in a peaceful and safe way (either by painting or writing songs etc..). Also, by developing art galleries and utilizing the Dell in the Haddon Heights Park for outdoor open mics and concerts year-round, the town can consistently show its support for its artists, musicians and educators.

In the sixth point, it is shown that renewable energy is also quite important to A-Train and for the town. Haddon Heights can beat the system by a long shot by utilizing solar panels on all of our business and the high school. This would lighten the load on the electric companies and also the taxes on our citizens and the businesses’ bills and the school. When severe storms hit, or blizzards and hurricanes, the homes that have solar power or businesses would not lose power if the electrical companies did. Locally, we have explained the benefits, but also globally, by having our town become energy efficient, we can (hopefully) start a revolution of towns becoming more efficient, and then maybe globally, cities would learn the benefits of energy efficacy and we can show our respect for our only planet, and slow down the climate change that is occurring.

    Why did I start this campaign?  

Bernie Sanders touched a nerve with me. Through his campaign, I have never been this politically aware and interested in Democratic Socialism. It has been going on for a while that I would rant with my friends about the sorry state of our country and Haddon Heights itself, and after I took part in the Alex Law campaign, walking for miles with my extremely intelligent friend Nick Brago, I felt I had no choice but to start this campaign. I love talking about my feelings and opinions with others, and this is one of the best ways to have my words not just be words, but true action.

Democratic Socialism is not a radical idea, but simply puts the well-being of the citizens first. Instead of crooked Capitalism being the name of the game, the government utilizes its money wisely, by fixing potholes, funding local businesses, implementing solar power throughout the town and being a haven for thinkers, writers and musicians. I want to inspire the youth of this town to be politically aware, and understand that we can all leave an impact on our world, whether by running for mayor, or by making some amazing art, or getting your dream job. Haddon Heights does not have a problem with poor or homeless people, but our youth can go into poorer towns and start trying to implement Democratic Socialism to create change, so that the government starts to truly put its citizens first, by funding its schools not by property tax, but by understanding that those kids are our country’s future, and if you think that property tax is a fair way to fund your future, you better be ready for a shaky future.

Every single person has a future, and through Democratic Socialism evenly and fairly funding our citizens and businesses, the future will be bright! Are you ready?

THEN GET ON THE A-TRAIN!