Councilman Mike Dardia

12/07/2025

My Pearl Harbor reminder for all.

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I am thankful for the friends and community my family and I have found in Westfield.

11/10/2025

With gratitude...

10/30/2025

Early voting has started. This is a great slate!

Letter to the editor supporting Reshma Adwar for town council.

10/08/2025

Public Safety: Setting the Record Straight

In early January 2024, the Westfield Police Department released updated statistics showing that motor vehicle thefts rose in 2023 to 24, up from 15 in 2022, returning to the trend that began in 2017 under the previous Republican administration. Later that month, Councilman Michal Domogala and his Republican colleagues were sworn in and immediately claimed they were tackling crime by drafting a state-level “crime bill,” instead of focusing on proven local strategies endorsed by our police department that actually keep our community safe.

The bill in question, Assembly Bill A3806, was introduced in February 2024 by Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis and co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz. It received no support, never advanced out of committee, and delivered zero results for Westfield. It was political theater, not public safety policy. The legislature ultimately passed a comprehensive bipartisan crime bill later that year, without sponsorship from either Matsikoudis or Munoz, and presumably without input from Councilman Domogala.

Meanwhile, real progress was being made right here at home. In 2022, the Town Council approved the purchase of 15 license plate reader devices, which were installed in 2023 and quickly showed promising results in deterring theft. As a result, in January 2024, on the same night Mr. Domogala was sworn in, we announced the purchase of 10 more devices and later approved unanimously as part of the 2024 capital budget. Police also increased traffic enforcement, expanded visible patrols, and continued the “9:00 p.m. routine” awareness campaign, while residents did their part by securing cars and homes. These combined efforts worked: auto thefts dropped to just seven in 2024, and only three have been reported so far in 2025.

By contrast, Mr. Domogala has offered no meaningful or innovative ideas to strengthen public safety, despite serving on the Public Safety Committee. Simply voting for budgets that fund existing initiatives is not leadership. Yet his campaign materials and social media posts tell a different story, warning of rising crime one month and then taking credit for its decline the next. You can’t have it both ways.

The facts are clear: Westfield is now safer than ever. Crime is at historic lows, police staffing and funding are at record highs, and our department, one of the few in New Jersey with professional state accreditation, continues to set the standard for excellence. Westfield was even recognized nationally this year as the 13th safest and richest city in the country.

Public safety, however, is more than crime prevention. It’s about safely crossing a street, riding a bike, or making a left turn without fear of being struck by oncoming traffic. Our roadways are currently Westfield’s biggest public safety concern. Whether it’s e-bikes, speeding, or distracted driving, I have seen no proposals or leadership from Councilman Domogala, now the Republican mayoral candidate, on how to address these urgent dangers. Despite his ties to the same Republican assemblywomen he shares campaign strategists with, he has shown no effort to advance meaningful local or state legislation on these issues.

Westfield residents deserve leadership that prioritizes practical solutions over political posturing and personal ambition. It wasn’t a failed bill in Trenton that reduced car thefts, it was local action. Councilman Domogala should set the record straight and give credit where credit is due.

Councilman Mike Dardia

Chair, Public Safety Committee

09/04/2025

Dear Neighbors,

As summer winds down and the familiar back-to-school rush begins, I want to take a moment to share a friendly reminder. Westfield is an incredible community of roughly 30,000 residents, and part of what makes our town so special is the way we look out for one another. While our schedules get busier this season, we are never too busy to keep safety in mind, whether we’re driving to work, biking to school, jogging, or simply enjoying a late summer stroll.

A few important reminders:
Driving – Please obey Westfield’s default 25 mph speed limit. I know on wider roads like Lawrence Avenue, East Broad Street, and Boulevard, it may feel easy to go 35 mph, but it is not safe. Slowing down protects us all, especially near our schools. For new and veteran drivers alike: phones down, heads up. Your text message, Instagram notification, and Tik Tok video can all wait until you’re out of the car. And don’t forget it’s New Jersey law to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Driving 25 mph gives you the time and space to stop safely for your neighbors crossing the street.

Biking – I encourage everyone to bike more; it’s healthy, fun, and helps reduce traffic congestion around schools. Please obey the rules of the road, wear a helmet, and stay off the phone. Parents, allowing your kids to bike to school can ease the morning and afternoon crunch. But please remember, our ordinance prohibits biking, skateboarding, rollerblading, e-bikes, hover boards, and scooters on downtown sidewalks.

A special note on e-bikes: parents, please talk with your kids about riding responsibly. Reckless riding like popping wheelies, weaving through cars, or speeding downtown is dangerous for everyone. Recently, the town council passed an ordinance preventing bikes, e-bikes, and scooters from using our park trails and paths. This was necessary to keep them safe for parents with strollers, folks in wheelchairs, and anyone else enjoying our parks.

Walking – Pedestrians play a role in safety, too. Please don’t text while entering a crosswalk. Look both ways, step in only when safe, and make eye contact with drivers—sometimes a raised hand helps signal your intent. To further support safe crossings, the town has already installed beacon pedestrian crossing signals in several locations, and two more are on the way: one at Kimball and Mountain, and another at East Broad and Stanley Oval, near the Memorial Library.

By following these simple but important tips, we can keep Westfield a safe and welcoming community for everyone - drivers, bikers, and walkers alike.

It has been an honor to serve as your Town Councilman and as Chair of the Public Safety, Transportation, and Parking Committee. As my term comes to a close in the coming months, I remain deeply grateful for the way our community comes together to care for one another. Let’s carry that spirit into this school year and beyond.

Sincerely,
Mike Dardia
Westfield Town Councilman
Chair, Public Safety, Transportation & Parking Committee

08/01/2025

This is always a great time!

08/01/2025

We have a lot of lawn signs to distribute and we need your help. We'll be distributing signs on Sunday, Aug. 10 at 5:30 p.m. Please sign up to help: westfielddems.org/lawn_sign_volunteers_2025
Berman for Mayor Adwar for Council Vik Venkataraman for Council Jenn Gilman for Council Pe**er For Council

07/31/2025

Attention! The Westfield Police Department just issued the following message:

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch and Hazardous Weather Outlook for our area, beginning at 2:00 PM. The current forecast anticipates widespread 1.5 to 3 inches of rain, with localized amounts of up to 5 inches. Rainfall rates could exceed 2+ inches per hour. A State of Emergency goes into effect throughout New Jersey at 2:00, which means that all unnecessary travel should be avoided. As a result, Town offices will close at 2:00, with the exception of emergency personnel.

The Department of Public Works is monitoring known problem areas and continuing to clear stormwater drains throughout the day. Residents who are able to assist by clearing any remaining debris are asked to consider doing so, in order to mitigate overcharged systems among the Town's 3,000+ stormwater drains. Public Works will be staffed through the evening hours to provide any necessary resources.

The Westfield Police and Fire Departments will also be monitoring road conditions, and will advise the community if any detours become necessary. The Rapid Storm Response Team, which is comprised of police officers, firefighters, and DPW employees who have been trained, certified, and equipped as water rescue technicians, will be prepared to respond.

In the event of severe rain and flooding, residents are asked to remain indoors. Do not drive around barricades and traffic devices, and call 911 in the event of an emergency. Residents requiring non-emergency assistance should call 908-789-4000.

06/21/2025

Spectacular day for the Westfield Fire Department’s 150th anniversary celebration. Thank you to the entire community for coming out to support the WFD and their firefighters. The celebration is not over…bring the whole family to the Westfield Armory this afternoon for fun, food, drinks, and a live band!

06/12/2025

Thank you Councilman Mike Dardia for your support and friendship, means a great deal.

Please check out Mike's endorsement in TAPinto Westfield

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/westfield/sections/elections/articles/letter-dardia-endorses-vik-venkataraman-for-ward-2-town-council

06/12/2025

VOTE VIK!

When I ran for town council eight years ago, I challenged myself to push through my natural
reticence in meeting new people and striking up conversations. I felt strongly about wanting to
serve Ward 2 and was confident in my convictions, commitment and my ability to do the job
well, but I knew that I wasn’t a natural conversationalist.

However, after meeting Vik, I immediately realized he would need no such learning curve. Vik is
dynamic, articulate and has an easy way of communicating. He is warm and engaging. While
he is clearly comfortable speaking and explaining, he also listens in such a way that you know
you are heard. He is curious and makes sure he has done his own research. When he takes a
position, he does so on the basis of data and facts. He is resourceful and wants to learn about
different perspectives on nuanced issues. In leading Provident Bank’s middle market healthcare
services platform, Vik is masterful at navigating competing interests, managing risk, guiding
strategic growth decisions, and most importantly, building consensus, all of which is exactly
what good local government requires.

Personally, Vik is “good people.” To me, that means someone loyal, personable, and down-to-
earth. He is your friend from the neighborhood who’s always there to share a laugh or lend a
hand. Vik is also an integral leader for the Washington School Show - he has demonstrated his
commitment to the community in his years of participation in this annual fundraising event. This
past week, he even agreed to be slimed with the principal, just so they could raise more money
for the school!

He and his wife Palak live in the heart of Ward 2 with their children. Their daughter is a 7th
grader at Roosevelt and their son is finishing his first year at Washington. Like their dad, they
are immersed in activities. Vik’s daughter is involved in the performing arts, and his son plays
basketball, soccer and chess. Vik even helped at Washington’s chess club this year.

Professionally, Vik has been and continues to be a champion for small businesses like the ones
that populate our downtown. He understands the challenges faced by small business owners,
not the least of which because he has been one himself. His skill set includes executive
leadership, entrepreneurship, finance, and business strategy.

In addition to being business-friendly and fiscally responsible, Vik is deeply committed to public
safety. He understands what makes our first responders so effective and is dedicated to
ensuring they have the resources they need to remain proactive and prepared for
emergencies.

It is easy to support a guy like Vik. He is smart, affable, deliberate in his decisions and
dedicated to serving Westfield. If you haven’t met him yet, reach out and get to know him. I
know that he will do his best to serve the interests of this dynamic community and he will be a
terrific asset as the Ward 2 Town Councilman.