Councilman Vik Venkataraman

04/07/2026

he Westfield Green Team is planning several activities to honor Earth Month this April, including a free market, a native plant sale and park cleanups.

03/25/2026

We’re excited to sponsor the upcoming Tasting Tour, hosted by WestfieldMama, on April 26! 🍽️ This event will feature tastings from some of your favorite downtown spots, including Akai Lounge, Spice Bazaar, Isola Trattoria, Geamos Cafe, and Dr. Falafel.

Tickets are first-come, first-served for the following tour times:
⏰ 1:00 PM - SOLD OUT
⏰ 2:30 PM

For more details, visit WestfieldMama on Instagram. We hope to see you there!

03/25/2026

Last night we introduced the 2026 Westfield budget after months of rigorous review and consultations with our town administration, department heads, audit firm, CFO, and others.

As Chair of Finance Policy Committee, I’m proud to share our municipal budget built on fiscal prudence, delivering the strong services residents rely on while protecting ourselves from rising costs. Please review and feel free to reach out should you have questions.

03/18/2026

This is the kind of investment that quietly changes a town.

Westfield Memorial Library has built something really special — a makerspace where creativity meets technology. From 3D printing and design tools to hands-on learning, giving residents the ability to build, explore, and create.

I’m especially excited about what this can mean for our kids. The Makerspace is where they experiment, develop skills, and turn ideas into something real.

Spaces like this don’t just support learning, they spark it.

Can’t wait to see it come to life. 🚀

Follow the library for more information on upcoming workshops and ways to utilize the space.

Lastly, a huge kudos to the library’s director, Allen McGinley, and his entire team! 👏🏽👏🏽

03/11/2026

Roosevelt Intermediate School Presents: The Addams Family Musical young@part March 12-14th. Order tickets at: https://wpsvpa.booktix.com/dept/RIST

03/07/2026

Last night my wife and I had the opportunity to see the WHS spring musical, The Prom.

It’s a must see. Go tonight. The talent is unbelievable. https://wpsvpa.booktix.com/dept/WHST/e/Prom

Also, they’re raising money for a great case, read all about it here —> https://give.thetrevorproject.org/fundraiser/6998063

03/06/2026

Should be a great show!

Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield will perform The Addams Family musical.

02/26/2026

Please see the town information on today’s collapse of the Westfield Rink roof. Fortunately no one was hurt.

𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐃 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐄, 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄, 𝐄𝐌𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐏𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐊
𝐀𝐓 𝐆𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊

𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗙𝗜𝗘𝗟𝗗, 𝗡𝗝 – 𝗙𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝟮𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 – On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at approximately 3:46 PM, the Westfield Police Department’s 9-1-1 Police-Fire-EMS Communications Center received two 9-1-1 calls reporting a partial collapse of the tent structure at The Westfield Rink at Gumbert Park on South Chestnut Street.

Upon arrival, the Westfield Police and Fire Departments confirmed the facility was closed. Nobody was on-site other than the rink’s owner/operator, who was one of the 9-1-1 callers and was not injured as a result of the collapse.

The Union County Hazardous Materials Response Team was requested to respond due to the presence of propylene glycol on-site, which is a heat transfer fluid that circulates through pipes under the rink to maintain ice temperature. It was determined there is no public health threat.

The rink’s utilities have been secured, and the rink will remain closed. It was due to close for the season on March 8, 2026.

The Westfield Police Department will remain on-site to ensure public safety until the rink’s owner/operator is able to have its contractor disassemble the structure and render the scene safe.

The Westfield Rescue Squad responded to assist, but its services were not needed.

The cause of the collapse is under investigation, although recent heavy snowfall is likely a factor.

02/23/2026

𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐌 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄

A Blizzard Warning and State of Emergency remain in effect, and Governor Sherrill has extended the statewide travel ban through 12:00 PM. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝗻𝗼𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀. The Westfield Police Department has been issuing citations for cars parked on the street and will continue to do so.

Public Works has been plowing throughout the night and will continue working all day. Please be patient, as the volume and heavy/wet composition of the snow have created challenging conditions for the plows. Crews will make multiple passes, but residents should anticipate that fully clearing the roads will take significant time.

Residents and commercial property owners are reminded that all sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours after the snow has stopped falling. In addition, shoveling or blowing snow into a plowed street is banned.

The Police Department, Fire Department, and Department of Public Works continue to monitor conditions and public safety throughout the storm. Further updates will be shared on the Town’s website (www.westfieldnj.gov), social media channels (), and via Nixle.

02/22/2026

🚨 Blizzard Warning (Sun 1 PM – Mon 6 PM)
We’re expecting 12–18 inches of snow, strong winds, and possible outages. A State of Emergency has been declared.Town crews (Police, Fire & DPW) will be working throughout the storm.

👉 Please read the full message below for important details, parking locations, and safety info.

Stay safe and check town channels for updates!

The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for our area from 1:00 PM Sunday through 6:00 PM Monday, with 12-18 inches of snow anticipated, as well as wind gusts of up to 50 MPH, poor visibility, and the potential for power outages. Governor Sherrill has declared a State of Emergency for all 21 counties, beginning at 12:00 PM Sunday.

𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒
The entire Department of Public Works will be brought in Sunday to complete all necessary plowing.

Public Ordinance 2070 prohibits parking on any street in Westfield when three or more inches of snow have fallen until snowfall stops and the entire width of the road has been plowed. The Westfield Police Department will issue tickets for violations of this ordinance.

Residents are asked to stay off the roads during the storm for all non-essential travel, which allows our plowing crews to operate more efficiently during anticipated hazardous conditions.

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆
Downtown residents without driveways may park in Lot 4 behind Baron's. Residents in other areas without driveways or the ability to park off-street may park in the Memorial Pool lot, on the tennis court side.

In addition, the following locations are subject to alternate side of the street parking after three inches of snow have fallen, and vehicles need to park on the side of the street with even house numbers (except for Ross Place).

🔹400 & 500 block of Downer Street
🔹400 block of First Street
🔹Livingston Street
🔹Cacciola Place
🔹Cowperthwaite Place between Elm and Clark Streets
🔹300 & 400 block of Lenox Avenue
🔹200 block of St. Paul Street
🔹Entire length of Ross Place (park on the side with odd numbers only)

𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄
Sidewalks are the responsibility of the abutting property owner and must be cleared within 24 hours after the snow has stopped falling. The Police Department will be issuing tickets for violations.

The shoveling or blowing of snow into a plowed street is also banned.

𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐁𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐘𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆
We have been advised by Interstate Waste Management that curbside recycling for Zone 1 has been moved from Monday to Tuesday, and all remaining zones will be delayed by one day this week.

𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐀 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄
🔹Use the PSEG mobile app
🔹Text OUT to 4PSEG
🔹Visit pseg.com/OutageCenter
🔹Call 1-800-436-7734
🔹Please do not call WPD for outage information.

𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒
🔹Call 9-1-1 for emergencies only.
🔹The non-emergency telephone number is 908-789-4000.
🔹Treat all downed wires as live and do not approach or touch them. Any downed wires that are arching or sparking should be reported to 9-1-1.

The Police Department, Fire Department, and Department of Public Works will be monitoring conditions and public safety throughout the storm.

Updates will be shared about plowing operations, public safety information, and any schedule changes to Town Hall hours on the Town’s website (www.westfieldnj.gov), social media channels (), and via Nixle.

11/05/2025

We did it, Ward 2.
Thank you for believing.
This isn’t my win. It’s ours.
Excited to serve.