Who Am I?
-
I am your friend and neighbor.
-
I am an educator.
-
I am, like many of you, a busy spouse and parent of two school aged children.
-
I want to work on pragmatic solutions without creating divisiveness.
-
I am a proud, first generation citizen who is grateful every day for the opportunity and freedom of this country and the special character of Garden City.
-
I am fiscally prudent.
-
I will fight to keep local control over zoning laws.
-
I will work with various departments... parks, sanitation, recreation... to create synergy and cost efficiencies.
Priorities
1
Respecting the views of ALL residents. Carefully considering the input of residents before making decisions.
2
Fighting against the Sands Casino and overdevelopment. Keeping the “Garden” in Garden City and preserving green space.
3
Getting Back to Basics: ensuring safe water, improving traffic safety, cleaning and rejuvenating downtown, and upgrading road maintenance.
My Journey
​
Growing up, I had the opportunity to travel with my father, a PE teacher, during summer breaks. While we marveled at China’s ancient history and landscapes, I regretted the loss of historic sites due to the toll of past wars, the Cultural Revolution, and rapid modern development. When we lose history, we lose part of who we are.
​
Leaving home, I embarked on a journey to the land of opportunity and freedom. Pursuing my master's degree in Utah, in one of the best language-teaching programs, I found not only academic enrichment but also a life partner, Warren, to whom I've been happily married for almost 20 years. Serendipity struck when we found out we have the same birthday - on the day we met! During our three years of studying, we enjoyed the majestic snow-capped mountains and the vastness of the west.
​
Upon completing our education, Warren and I set our sights on New York. The pursuit of jobs, the rental of our cozy apartment, the purchase of our first home in North Bellmore, and the arrival of our children, marked the beginning of our family life. As we explored the tree-lined streets and admired the stately homes of Garden City, we felt a deep connection to its historic charm and sense of community. Our decision to move here was transformative, and we quickly became part of the fabric of Garden City.
​
Joining associations, being part of social clubs, and participating in a variety of local activities brought us closer to the community. The annual turkey trot in front of historic St. Paul’s became our Thanksgiving tradition. Being Christians, we loved caroling in the festive Christmas lights with neighbors and friends. We are invested in the village's future, embracing its traditional values and historical character.
​
This, to me, is the essence of the American Dream.
​
The decision to run for the Board of Trustees was not taken lightly. Acknowledging the time commitment and the challenges of a political landscape, I questioned whether it was worth it. The resounding answer is Yes!
​
My love for this village and the desire to preserve its traditional values and character, while making positive enhancements, led me to take this step. I aim to represent busy working parents, who may be working at home to raise their families or working outside the home, keeping them informed about happenings in town and enabling their voices to be heard. I aspire to foster inclusivity, ensuring that all residents and groups are part of village discussions and there is no alienation of residents. I am committed to working collabrotively with different departments and groups, i.e. the Chamber of Commerce, Department of the Recreation and Parks, the Friends of the Garden City Public Library, sports groups, the PTA and SEPTA, etc, to identify unmet needs and provide communal support to our families. I will work to make sure our seniors are listened to and their needs are met. They maintained the beauty of Garden City over the years and took care of their families and children tirelessly. I am also dedicated to making our streets safer through targeted law enforcement and road maintenance.
​
This is not just my dream—it's a collective vision. I look forward to sharing more of our action plan and I welcome your feedback. Please feel free to email me at tai.jessica@yahoo.com.
​
All of you. All of us. Working together.
​
Best,
​
Jessica Tai