Special Townwide Edition Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, May 14, 2020 OUR 130th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 20-2020 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] ONE DOLLAR Police Chief Praises Officers, Urges Social Distancing By FRED T. ROSSI clean as possible.” He said a local lice. Between March 19 and last Specially Written for The Westfield Leader cleaning service has provided, at no Wednesday, the police department WESTFIELD — “Our officers are cost, disinfectant materials as well conducted 1,794 self-initiated com- at their very best when things are at as professional laundry services for pliance checks of parks, schools, their absolute worst,” Westfield Po- cleaning towels while the public businesses, restaurants and houses lice chief Christopher Battiloro says, schools maintenance staff decon- of worship — and while some viola- speaking of his 61-officer staff and taminates common rooms and hold- tions have been found, no person or their efforts over the past two months ing cells on a weekly basis. The business have been formally cited. since the coronavirus shut schools Public Works Department has built Instead, “we’ve been able to educate and businesses, forced people to an enclosed outdoor hot-water people and achieve voluntary com- quarantine at home and upended the shower for decontaminating officers pliance in almost all situations.” Un- daily routines of the town’s 30,000 and the chief said all two-officer fortunately, “crime does not stop, residents. “This is true right now.” patrols have been eliminated. not even during a public health crisis And keeping his officers safe and The police department, he said, like a pandemic,” the police chief healthy has been his biggest chal- has refocused its attention and ef- told The Leader, noting that a car lenge. forts since March. “Traditional po- was stolen last week, so “the crimi- Speaking to The Westfield Leader, lice work has obviously taken a nec- nals are still preying on us and the Chief Battiloro said that early in the essary back seat,” and with few cars show still goes on for us.” He said pandemic, “we had four officers al- on the roads, “there have been far police continue to patrol as part of an most immediately test positive. We fewer accidents and far fewer traffic effort “to create a high visibility po- thought it was going to sweep through stops” for speeding and other viola- lice presence in the community.” here and knock us completely out, tions. He provided some statistics show- but we’ve been lucky since.” Instead, Chief Battiloro said the ing how the shutdown has lowered He credited “very conscious and department has focused more on en- the number of tickets issued and ar- concerted efforts to keep our work- forcing the dozens of executive and rests made. Last year, there were 70 place, in particular our patrol cars administrative orders issued by Gov- CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 that are shared among officers, as ernor Phil Murphy and the State Po- Brian Trusdell for The Westfield Leader WHAT WILL THE FUTURE HOLD?...In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, many are wondering what the future for the COVID-19 Totals Lord & Taylor department store in Westfield holds after news reports that the 38-store chain was liquidating its stores. Westfield Council Finds SID COVID-19 Totals Union County - 14,203 cases, 899 deaths ‘In Need of Rehabilitation’ Cranford - 417 cases, 81 deaths Lord & Taylor Decisions May be Fanwood - 86 cases, 11 deaths By BRIAN TRUSDELL property owners to upgrade or im- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Garwood - 41 cases, 1 death prove their property. If a property Mountainside - 67 cases, 12 deaths Accelerating Due to Coronavirus WESTFIELD — The town coun- owner chooses to renovate his or her Scotch Plains - 246 cases, 2 deaths cil voted unanimously to declare the property, he or she is not obligated to Westfield - 253 cases, 33 deaths municipality’s Special Improvement pay the higher taxes on the increased By BRIAN TRUSDELL spread of the flu-like coronavirus dis- Lord & Taylor site and eight munici- District (SID) an “area in need of value of the property resulting from Overlook Hospital Specially Written for The Westfield Leader ease-2019, or COVID-19, are lifted, pal parking lots, as non-condemna- rehabilitation” at its meeting held the improvement for five years. Covid-19 Patients WESTFIELD — The COVID-19 the parent company of Lord & Taylor tion areas “in need of redevelopment.” via video conference Tuesday night, A separate study has been com- April 10: 311; May 11: 77 outbreak that has stifled business ac- plans to liquidate the inventory of its A redevelopment designation gives giving it the authority to offer short- missioned by the planning board to tivity across the state, nation and world remaining 38 mid-market retail stores. a municipality greater authority, in- term tax abatements to property determine if several properties, in- Call (908) 373-5105 to report appears to be accelerating the demise The Reuters story quoted anony- cluding long-term tax abatements such owners. cluding the nearly seven-acre Lord symptoms and schedule testing. of the Lord & Taylor department store mous sources, and a spokeswoman as a PILOT, or payment in lieu of The action has been in the works & Taylor site, the eight municipal along North Avenue and hastening its from Lord & Taylor parent company, taxes, that fixes a property owner’s for more than two months and comes downtown parking lots and the Rialto ** Numbers Current as of replacement. San Francisco-based Le Tote, would costs over periods of 20 years or a week after a Reuters report indi- Theatre, should be deemed non-con- Wednesday Morning** Reuters reported on May 5 that neither confirm nor deny the report. more. cated that the operator of the Lord & demnation “in need of redevelop- once restrictions imposed to slow the “The team is declining to comment The Reuters report comes two years Taylor retail chain is planning to ment” areas. That designation would at this time,” Le Tote spokeswoman after Mayor Shelley Brindle initiated liquidate the inventory from its 38 allow the town to offer more and Taylor Moss told The Westfield contact with then-Lord & Taylor par- stores, including the one on North longer-term tax abatements to prop- Cranford DMC Proposes Leader via email. ent Hudson Bay Company to discuss Avenue in Westfield, once the re- erty owners. The revelation comes as the the future of the property, which online strictions to limit the spread of the In a relatively short 45-minute Westfield Town Council approved records indicate is assessed at flu-like coronavirus disease-2019, meeting, Mayor Shelley Brindle an- Expanded Outdoor Seating during its April 28 meeting the spe- $22,138,500. Hudson Bay pays or COVID-19, are lifted. nounced that Westfield will take the cial improvement district as an area $499,444 in taxes annually. The SID, administered by the next step in the partial easing of By MICHAEL BONACCORSO and average temperature. Mr. “in need of rehabilitation,” which al- Although Hudson Bay sold Lord & Downtown Westfield Corporation, COVID-19 restrictions by opening Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Maisonneuve said he was not against lows the municipality to incentivize Taylor’s operations and brand to Le stretches roughly from properties on the municipal tennis courts and the CRANFORD – The township com- the idea, but not considering how hot businesses with short-term tax abate- Tote in November, it remained the both sides of Elmer Street in the parking lots to the municipal parks mittee, at Monday’s workshop meet- the tables could get while set in direct ments. owner of the Westfield property. northeast section of town from North this weekend. ing, discussed preliminary framework sunlight may misdirect the project’s The nearly seven acres occupied Hudson Bay’s public relations de- Avenue to Broad Street, both sides “We are looking at the next phase and considerations for allowing intended purpose. by the Lord & Taylor store and two partment did not respond to an email of Elm Street from Walnut Street in of re-opening of our parks, which is Cranford businesses to expand out- DMC’s mission statement is “to parking lots sit on the southwestern seeking comment. the north, to both sides of North and going to be the tennis courts for door seating throughout the summer. make it possible for business and edge of the SID. “You didn’t have to be a genius to South Avenues from the western edge limited play and with USTA (U.S. Cranford’s Downtown Manage- property owners to achieve their fi- It also coincides with the planning figure out that in the day of the change of the Lord & Taylor property to Tennis Association) as well as the ment Corporation (DMC) Director nancial goals and to enhance the com- board’s ongoing study that could de- in retail, there is no way that a 150,000- Elmer Street on the north side of the parks’ parking lots,” Mayor Brindle Gabe Bailer proposed the public plaza munity financially and aesthetically.” clare several properties, including the CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 NJ Transit train tracks and Central said. “So, we’re going to be working concept for implementation on The township committee has be- Avenue on the south side. with the (police) chief and others to Eastman Street and Alden Street. In gun reviewing temporary public plaza The resolution passed without any have our protocols finalized in the adhering to the restrictions for the costs including setup and mainte- discussion but came with approval next day or two, which we’ll run by COVID-19 coronavirus, the concept nance, stated Mayor Patrick Giblin.