FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — DRAFT FOR REVIEW
CLIFTON, N.J. — September 24, 2026 — Clifton City Council candidate Tafari K. Anderson is calling for a publicly accountable flood-mitigation and drainage plan after another severe-rain event disrupted travel and threatened homes and businesses.
On September 13, the National Weather Service issued a flash-flood warning covering Clifton and other parts of eastern Passaic County. The warning reported that between three and five inches of rain had fallen across the affected area, with additional rainfall possible.
NJDOT information reported that flooding closed westbound Route 46 east of Piaget Avenue in Clifton and also closed an eastbound lane.
One storm does not establish the condition of every drainage system or identify responsibility for every flooded location. It does, however, reinforce the need for Clifton to identify recurring problem areas, coordinate with state and county agencies and publicly track corrective work.
Anderson’s Conservative Position
Infrastructure is a core function of municipal government. Taxpayers should expect basic systems—roads, drainage, sewers and emergency communications—to work reliably before government expands into unnecessary programs.
Anderson is calling for a practical flood-resilience program that includes:
- A public map of recurring street, neighborhood and facility flooding.
- Inspection and maintenance schedules for municipal drains and culverts.
- A prioritized list of capital projects with estimated costs and completion dates.
- Coordination with NJDOT, Passaic County and neighboring municipalities.
- Aggressive pursuit of state and federal infrastructure funding.
- Public reporting showing whether completed projects reduce flooding.
- Enforcement against unlawful dumping or construction practices that obstruct drainage.
Investment should be guided by documented risk and measurable results—not political favoritism or last-minute emergency spending. Every proposed project should identify the responsible agency, funding source, anticipated benefit and future maintenance cost.
Responsible development must also account for drainage, traffic, public safety and infrastructure capacity before approvals are granted. New projects should not transfer avoidable stormwater costs onto existing homeowners and businesses.
The city should publish annual progress reports identifying completed maintenance, capital work under construction, grant applications, remaining high-risk locations and any schedule or budget changes. Residents should be able to see whether promised projects are actually producing results.
Clifton cannot control the weather, but it can prepare more effectively. Preventive maintenance and targeted capital investment are generally less expensive than repeated emergency response, property damage and business disruption.
A conservative government protects taxpayers by maintaining essential infrastructure, planning ahead and demanding results from every public expenditure.
Residents and businesses should also have a simple way to report blocked drains and recurring flooding, receive a tracking number and see whether the issue was inspected or referred to another agency. Transparent service tracking would help the city identify repeated complaints, direct maintenance crews efficiently and hold the appropriate public entity accountable.
About Tafari Anderson
Tafari K. Anderson is a technologist, entrepreneur, education leader and candidate for Clifton City Council. His campaign focuses on fiscal responsibility, property-tax relief, responsible development, flood mitigation, strong infrastructure and accountable government.
Campaign Contact
Friends for Tafari Anderson
(201) 888-4846
AndersonforClifton@gmail.com
www.AndersonforClifton.com
P.O. Box 2887, Clifton, NJ 07015