Message from Mayor Josh Losardo | February 27, 2026

I honestly didn't imagine I’d be writing more than one message this winter about heavy snow storms, but then we were hit with this record blizzard. So here we are. 

As we are all tired of snow, let’s not rehash the particulars. 

Rather, I would like to use this space to highlight the remarkable number of people who stepped up in so many ways.

First and foremost, I want to recognize our Department of Public Works crew. These men and women were out before the first flake fell last Sunday and didn't stop. They worked through the night, for more than 24 consecutive hours, through brutal wind chills, and through conditions that made every pass of a plow blade harder than the last. 

A blizzard of snow doesn't move itself, and they moved an enormous amount of it. I am grateful for every single one of them.

I also want to thank our police and fire departments, EMS, rescue squad and all of our first responders who never once stopped serving this community despite the challenging conditions. When the rest of us were being asked to stay home, and maybe enjoy some chili, these dedicated public servants were heading out the door, bracing for the unknown.

That kind of dedication deserves more than a thank you. But a thank you is where we start.

To the neighbors who checked on elderly residents, shoveled out a driveway next door without being asked or simply called to make sure someone was okay - you are the best of this community. Heavy storms have a way of reminding us of that.

I also want to acknowledge the school district staff, utility workers, and municipal employees across every department who kept critical services running and worked to restore normalcy as quickly as possible. Their behind-the-scenes work is too often invisible, and I want to make sure it isn't this time. 

Thank you to our Planning Board volunteers and professionals who held public hearings and voted on township business on Monday evening as well!

It is important to note: We did not get everything right in the hours after the storm. On Monday and Tuesday, I heard from residents about plowing that fell short of what you deserved. 

Those concerns are valid, and my colleagues and I take them seriously. A storm of this magnitude is not an excuse for inadequate results. Although DPW worked all week to address areas that were not initially cleared, these winter storms are exposing a need to continue building upon the DPW workforce, as well as seek new shared service agreements with our neighbors, so that normal services are always restored as quickly as possible.

We will review what worked and what didn't, so that we do better next time. Our goal is to always improve, no matter the obstacle.

Scotch Plains has shown, once again, that when things get difficult, people here show up for each other. I am proud to serve a town full of neighbors like you.