Edison Democratic Organization praises Mayoral candidate Mahesh Bhagia for coming to aid of seniors

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The Edison Democratic Organization sent out a press release praising candidate for Mayor Mahesh Bhagia, who it said swings into action in any crisis.

Noting how in early 2020, Bhagia became a ‘huge supporter’ of Edison’s homebound seniors as the pandemic hit New Jersey, the EDO said “he was on high alert to the urgent needs of all of Edison’s seniors and other vulnerable residents when the pandemic hit last year.”

Among the actions he took were setting up a telephone hotline dedicated to seniors and helping get the message out that they should call in to the number for general assistance and to get free masks, gloves and food delivered straight to their homes.

Bhagia also formed a separate group page for volunteers and donors to be able get in touch and coordinate their contributions to Edison’s senior citizens.

For hungry Seniors, too scared to go out, he organized a very large mobile food pantry where local residents could obtain a week’s worth of groceries – no questions asked, the EDO press release said.

He also had volunteers deliver free leaf bags in the fall to home-bound seniors unable pick them up at the township Municipal Complex from where they’re normally distributed.

During his interactions with seniors, Bhagia noticed that affordable housing was an issue and had been an issue for a long time.

“Our administration is committed to the seniors of Edison. In addition to property tax fairness, one of our main priorities is to promote affordable housing for our seniors,” Bhagia is quoted saying.

Bhagia accused those in power of mismanaging the city’s finances for nearly a decade and in addition leaving the city with a broken water/sewer system and overcrowded schools, the press release said.

“Edison’s finances have been mis-managed for nearly a decade. In addition, big developers are given sweetheart deals at your expense, and out of town political cronies are given huge contracts that you pay for. … . What’s worse, our leaders just give these contracts to their friends, without a fair and open bidding process,” Bhagia is quoted saying in the press release.

Edison and its residents can’t afford to do that anymore because the township now has the 7^th highest tax rate out of 25 townships in Middlesex county and that’s in a state with some of the highest property taxes in the country, the EDO said in the press release.

According to EDO, Bhagia has taken a stance on what he sees as “out of control tax increases,” and has stated, “My team and I will aggressively push to resolve these issues. We are prepared with a plan that will give residents a much-needed tax break – 0% property tax increase in 2022.”

Ankur Vaidya, who currently serves as chairman of the Federation of Indian Associations of NY/NJ/CT, as well as Dipak Shah, chair of the Federation of Indo-American Seniors Associations of North America, on March 11 2021 endorsed Bhagia for mayor of Edison, New Jersey.

“Mahesh is the best choice for mayor. I have known Mahesh for many, many years and in addition to his qualifications, Mahesh has a demonstrated record of getting things done for residents,” Vaidya is quoted saying in the press release.  “I am proud to wholeheartedly endorse Mahesh Bhagia for Mayor and my request to the community is that they support him.”

“I am proud to wholeheartedly endorse Mahesh Bhagia as the candidate for Mayor of Edison Township,” said Shah, who described Bhagia as “a leader who will put Edison and its residents first.”