I, Dr. Ludmilla Mecaj, am a Candidate for Newton Town Council running as a team with Margaret Baldini.

I first settled in Newton in 1995, became a naturalized citizen 20 years ago…  With an MD, ENT and Cancer Researcher degree, obtained in Europe, I now teach Anatomy and Physiology at a NJ university.  I am now deeply embedded in Newton, where I own several properties.  I am a proud parent, a responsible landlady, a guiding/advisor professor and a community servant: for 4 years I was Vice Chair of the Newton Recreation Committee and Chair of the Little Miss and Mr Newton contest, where I was able to make all participants feel like winners.  I participated in college-level government as an Adjunct Faculty Representative in the College Senate and served on the College Planning and Utilization Committee.

Why should I be on the Council?

Pragmatic à  I accomplish what I set out to do.

Two years ago, my successful drive to consolidate the municipal and general elections resulted in increasing voter participation (thus giving a more realistic voting result) and in saving taxpayers $20,000 every two years.

Economical à  I will control expenses through a thorough analysis of the pros and cons of all proposals.

Creative à  Practical strategies to invigorate Newton, bringing Spring Street to life with innovative tax and leasing arrangements.

Police Support Rally at Newton Green

Good morning all:

I am Dr. Ludmilla Mecaj.  Thank you for the opportunity to say a few words at this rally.  I left an ex-communist Eastern European country in 1995 and settled in Newton for a better and safer life. I was lucky to bring my immediate family at the right time, as my extended family was still in Albania when a civil war was knocking on the door.

A few years later, my little nephew, 4 years old, together with his two parents joined us here in Newton for a safer life.   It was the 4^th of July and I wanted to give him a very special night by taking him to Swartswood State Park to watch the fireworks…

As soon as we arrived, still in the car, the first sound of fire works filled the sky… At that moment my little nephew put his head in is arms, rolled between the two car seats on the floor, crying and asking his mother: please let’s go home and hide under the table quick, please… Shocked, I turned the car to return home; I understood that some kind of trauma had happened to him.  His mother explained to me that after I had left the country things got worse…the two main parties were in a constant fight with each other during the transition from a communist regime. This gave an excuse to the dark forces, anarchists and looters; riots sprouted in all the cities.  The hooligans were firing Kalishnikov AK47’s on the streets; they were breaking stores’ and sometimes residents’ windows.  The residents were notified to stay home, away from the windows, and to hide under sturdy surfaces that could blunt the force of the bullets, like a dinner table.  In some cases stray bullets went through the windows and killed people inside their home. By the time police arrived on the scene the hooligans had moved to another location.  So my poor little nephew experienced this kind of trauma at a very early age.  It took several years for him to overcome this fear and understand that he is in a new and better country where his life is safe.

A few months later, here in America, one morning, I was driving on the highway to get to my new job early. I heard a strong sound and my car ended in the dirt’s side of the road.  When I got out, my brand new car had a flat tire because a big nail popped it. I called road assistance. Road assistance would come in two to three hours, so they said to get a cup of coffee while I wait. All of a sudden, in the opposite direction, I saw a police car approaching my car. He asked me if I am okay and had I called the road assistance? I told him yes but they told me to get a cup of coffee in the mean time. He saw me trying to hold back my tears and asked me why I was tearing up. I told him that I just got a new job and it is very important for me to get there on time. He asked me if I knew where my spare tire was. Of course the car dealer told me where it is but my brain blanked at the moment. That’s when this nice policeman went above and beyond and found my spare tire. I was not yet naturalized (as takes 5 years residence in order to apply for it), my English was not good at that time either, but he did not even ask me what country I came from despite my thick accent, nor asked me for legal documents,  In his eyes I was just one of you, a normal resident. In twenty minutes he changed my tire for me, and luckily I made it to work on time.  When I returned home I right away prepared a thank you card for chief of police regarding this wonderful officer in his department.

These two experiences are so different, but they both had the same message, of the importance of the police. No matter what type of regime, the police department is and should stay nonpartisan.  They are trained to help and protect us, the people. How many times have we experienced a situation which was resolved with the help of an officer, whether it is minor or serious? Of course, in all professions you find good and bad employees.  As there are good and bad doctors, when there is a medical malpractice, those cases will be placed in front of the judge. Similarly there are good and bad police too, and those who commit wrongdoings will be placed in front of the law and the judge.

We are the best country in the world, where the laws may not be perfect but I guarantee you that here they are much more sophisticated then everywhere else around the world.

A state without strong protective institutions leave fissure for chaos and anarchy and we do not want this in our beautiful America.

So lets demonstrate our wisdom leaving aside our differences and support our protectors.

God bless our police! God bless you all for coming here and may God bless our country.