Residents deserve open communication and direct access to their elected officials. I support establishing regular town hall meetings where community members can ask questions, share concerns, and stay informed about the decisions impacting Surf City.

Residents deserve transparent leadership and increased accountability and better communications from those entrusted to make decisions that impact our community, finances, and future. I have a proven track record of those accomplishments.

My focus is on smart investments, responsible growth, and achieving measurable results that improve quality of life while protecting the character of Surf City.

Being impactful means more than words — it means taking action, planning responsibly, and producing positive results that benefit our residents and future generations

I will advocate for and insist that our community members and local needs come first — not outside developers. That does not mean I am against development. I support smart, responsible growth that benefits our residents and allows our community to prosper alongside new investment.

Our residents and local investors deserve to be at the front of the line. Their voices, concerns, and quality of life must be prioritized in every decision made. Growth should strengthen our community, protect taxpayers, and create opportunities for the people who call this town home — not come at their expense.

Here is my opinion: I believe the MUP is a positive investment for our community when it is planned and implemented responsibly.

As our community continues to grow, we have many active residents who enjoy daily walks, bike rides, jogging, spending time outdoors with their children, or simply enjoying a beautiful day. A well-designed multi-use path would provide a safe and convenient way for residents to connect to many of the great destinations along the corridor, including the Surf City Bridge.

With increasing traffic congestion and limited sidewalks or walking paths in many areas, this project could greatly improve safety, accessibility, and quality of life for residents and visitors alike. It could also help reduce vehicle traffic by giving people the option to bike, walk, or jog to local destinations instead of driving everywhere, especially for residents on the mainland along the 210 corridor.

The benefits would extend far beyond recreation — promoting healthier lifestyles, improving connectivity, supporting local businesses, and enhancing our community’s overall appeal. Most importantly, this does not have to become a financial burden on taxpayers. Through smart planning, strategic investments, grants, and public-private partnerships, opportunities exist to responsibly fund these improvements while also creating new enterprise and economic opportunities that can benefit the town in the long term.

I have a few ideas that I have seen work in a positive way for towns with similar projects that can be implemented here, as long as you think outside of the box, it will lead to a positive return on our investment.

Supporting our First Responders and ensuring the needs of our community are met must remain a top priority. However, every major investment should be approached with responsibility and accountability. Each project or purchase must not only be justifiable but clearly identified as a true “need” rather than simply a “want.”. Ensuring that our front-line men and women are well cared for and recognized while offering them a great place to serve our community.

Taxpayer dollars should be spent wisely, with a focus on essential services, long-term value, and investments that directly benefit the safety, infrastructure, and quality of life of our residents. As a former 1st responder and Emergency Manager, I understand these priorities and needs.

After listening to people in the community, and Reading comments, both pro and a few negatives.

Here is my position on the proposed 2.7 million dollar fire apparatus.

It sounds like a lot of money; in fact, it is a lot of money. However, is SCFD reaching out to Manufactures and saying, “build me a 2.7-million-dollar truck” Well, I hope not, because a dealer will make sure that the truck is exactly 2.7 mil, if not slightly more.

In my previous career, I served on a committee that designed and procured large, specialized emergency vehicles. We began by identifying and prioritizing essential needs, then matched those needs to the available budget before issuing a request for proposals (RFP).

It would not always cost us what we had budgeted for, many times we would come in under budget, because we did the right thing by prioritizing the needs of the department and the community.

*Make sure that the equipment is beneficial to the community.

*Make sure that it is logistically justifiable.

*Make sure that it is quality equipment that will not break shortly after a few uses and that it will remain in service, not become a useless tool, or apparatus.

*Most important, make sure it is not just a “parade truck”, but a quality working truck that will benefit the communities’ needs for years.

What is a “parade truck”? in the Emergency Services field, a Parade truck is a piece of equipment/apparatus loaded with useless bells and whistles, full of chrome, nice bright lights, multiple sirens with various tunes that is usually used during parades for the WOW factor. But it costs THOUSANDS FOR ALL OF THAT additional BLING. Bling does not save lives.

Inquire if EV vendors have “demo trucks” that fit our needs, many times they do and will sell the apparatus at a deeply discounted price. These are options we need to explore

Cost Perspective
Yes, $2.7 million is a significant amount of money. However, in 2026, the price is not surprising given how sharply costs have increased—especially for specialized equipment.

That is exactly why every expense must be carefully justified. The apparatus should be purchased because it is operationally necessary and logistically sound, not simply because it is desirable.
We must continue to support all first responders—not only the Fire Department, but also EMS personnel and police officers—and ensure they have the right tools and equipment to do their jobs safely and effectively. Does that mean replacing a police car simply because it is five years old? Not necessarily. If it is still functioning properly, mechanically sound, and has low mileage, replacement may not be needed yet. Instead, a thoughtful replacement plan should be studied and implemented to benefit everyone in Surf City, both residents and visitors.

In an area where the next mutual aid apparatus may be 20 minutes away, the equipment on hand can significantly affect how an incident unfolds. Without the proper tools, a situation can quickly become a serious disaster. At the same time, we should focus on true needs rather than adding unnecessary wants.

The goal should be a durable, hard-working, multi-purpose truck that will serve the community for years—not one designed simply to look impressive on the road. I trust this will be the case, hopefully with the correct and knowledgeable oversight

Respectfully,
Albert Almeida