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Meet the incoming first Black female mayor of Pennsauken
Pennsauken Committeewoman Nicole Roberts will become the first Black woman to take the oath of office as mayor in the town Tuesday.
PENNSAUKEN, NJ - The South Jersey community of Pennsauken is expected to see a first Tuesday night as the first Black woman will take the oath of office as mayor.
Pennsauken Committeewoman Nicole Roberts worked in the township’s Municipal Building Monday afternoon before the 61-year-old becomes the first African American female to lead this community.
The mother of four thinks of her granddaughters.
"it’s important to me that they see that there aren’t limitations. We can do anything, and I hope they will be inspired," said Pennsauken Committeewoman Roberts.
Serving on the elected Township Committee for four years, Roberts will be sworn in as mayor as this community of 37 thousand opens a new municipal building and library in the summer and a groundbreaking for a community center in the spring.
After nine years of no new taxes, the last two years have seen a tax hike of 120 dollars on a home assessed at 140 grand.
FOX 29’s Jeff Cole asked Roberts to, "speak to that challenge of raising taxes in trying to raise revenue in this community of late?"
"It’s something we had to do but we’re responsible as we can be with our taxes we receive from our residents," she responded.
Roberts said at just under 13 square miles, Pennsauken is "built out" so the plan is to continue to enhance its playgrounds and public spaces and focus on improving what green space it does have. Housing and public safety are also priorities for incoming Mayor Roberts as she makes history in this township Tuesday evening.
"My vision is that we can continue to increase quality of life for our residents here in Pennsauken and we are well on our way to doing that," said Roberts.