Mayor Singh Urges Civility, Truth, and Community Engagement
Nicholas Mistretta
In an emotional and pointed moment during last night’s Montgomery Township Committee meeting, Mayor Neena Singh took a brief but powerful pause before opening the floor to public comment, delivering a heartfelt appeal for civility, truthfulness, and constructive dialogue.
Addressing weeks of mounting pressure, misinformation, and public scrutiny—particularly surrounding the township’s affordable housing obligations—Mayor Singh spoke candidly about the toll it has taken on her, the Township Committee, and the municipal staff.
“This is really hard for me to say, but I will say it anyway. Just because a few politically motivated individuals are spreading rumors and falsehoods online does not make them true. We teach our children that trolling and cyberbullying on social media is wrong, and we should lead by example. Please do not rely on Facebook or other social media platforms for information that may be hearsay or misinformation.
Montgomery has a local newspaper and now online news choices. Always check your sources and ensure you’re sharing facts. You can also reach out to the township information officer, Tammy Garaffa. The members of the Township Committee encourage residents to reach out directly with your questions and concerns. You can make an appointment with the township administrator, the planning department, or any of the TC members here.
Community engagement is essential for effective local government, and we understand that. Promoting lies without facts—especially in a close-knit town like ours—is harmful and counterproductive. We on the TC share your frustrations. Trenton has left us facing rigid timelines, inflexible state requirements, and the constant threat of builders remedy lawsuits. These are real challenges we are all working through together.
We are grateful for your presence here today. Thank you so much for taking the time to attend in person and voice your concerns. We hope your voices reach our legislators as well in Trenton. Thank you so much.”
Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com