BLOOMFIELD, N.J - May 7, 2025 - Mayor Jenny Mundell delivered her first State of the Township Address Tuesday evening in the Bloomfield Council Chambers, marking a historic milestone as the first woman elected Mayor of Bloomfield. This inaugural address also launched what is expected to become a new civic tradition for the township. 

The event was emceed by Councilwoman Sarah Cruz and opened with remarks from Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. It drew an enthusiastic audience of residents, community leaders and public officials. Due to limited seating, the address was livestreamed on the Township’s Facebook page and WBMA-TV to ensure broader community access. 

Themed “Building a Better Bloomfield Together: Green, Clean, and Strong,” Mayor Mundell’s address reflected on the administration’s achievements during her first six months in office, outlined a bold vision for the future, and addressed the challenges facing the township amid economic uncertainty and federal budget cuts. 

“I am here tonight because I made a commitment to transparency, and this State of the Township is part of honoring that pledge,” said Mayor Mundell. “This is the first time in recent memory that Bloomfield has held a State of the Township, and I am enormously proud to be restoring this important platform for communicating with you about what is happening in our town today and our plans for the future.”

A key announcement of the evening was the relaunch of the Clean & Strong Bloomfield citizen complaint system through the upgraded Spatial Data Logic (SDL) Portal. This initiative is making it easier than ever for residents to report concerns and track resolutions across Bloomfield. The enhanced system streamlines service requests by automatically directing them to the appropriate Township department, simplifying the process and significantly improving efficiency. 

Residents now have the option to create an account to monitor the status of their submissions or submit anonymously—offering flexibility and accessibility to all. Notably, this impactful upgrade comes at no additional cost to the Township.

“Further, it gives us a comprehensive view of where problems arise frequently,” Mayor Mundell added, “so we can be proactive in our planning and distribution of resources, addressing matters before they become issues.”

Additional highlights from the address included:

• Finalization of a new, community-driven Master Plan, centering sustainability, smart growth, and neighborhood revitalization.  
• Demolition of the long-abandoned Grove Street DPW site and acquisition of the Royal Garage to boost downtown mobility.  
• Infrastructure upgrades such as stormwater drainage, bike-friendly improvements, and the planting of over 40 new trees, with plans for 100 more.  
• Progress in lead service line replacements, enhanced roadway improvements, and the launch of an AI-powered infrastructure assessment tool.  
• National recognition for the Township’s Engineering and Fire Departments for excellence and community engagement.

Mayor Mundell also stressed the importance of civic engagement, noting the appointment of 90 new advisory committee members and the Township’s expanding efforts around inclusion, accessibility, and multilingual communication.

Addressing budgetary challenges, Mayor Mundell was candid about the economic headwinds facing Bloomfield. She highlighted that 93% of the Township’s municipal budget is tied to fixed costs, leaving limited flexibility amid rising expenses and decreased federal funding. 

“In today’s economic climate, with rising costs and shifting funding at the federal and state levels, we know residents are counting on us to be responsible stewards of their tax dollars,” she said.

Despite these fiscal constraints, Mayor Mundell emphasized that strategic partnerships and smart, collaborative governance remain key tools for addressing critical issues without placing additional burdens on taxpayers.

One such collaboration is formation of the Regional Flood Mitigation Committee, established in partnership with neighboring municipalities and Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, to develop long-term, cross-border solutions to climate-related flooding. 

Mayor Mundell closed with a message of optimism and unity: 

“Although we have some difficult decisions and times ahead of us, I am confident that Bloomfield will come out stronger because that is what we do, that is who we are. We are a compassionate community of doers and fighters. And we will succeed because we will work together and accept nothing less.”

The full address can be viewed at tinyurl.com/StateOfBloomfield2025.