No, those aren’t his League awards: Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca shows off gifts from the Tibetan Buddhist monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery after the Maplewood Mandala project in August.
When Vic DeLuca dreamed as a boy of being inducted into a Hall of Fame, he probably was aiming for Cooperstown, NY.
But he’ll take Atlantic City.
DeLuca is being inducted into the NJ State League of Municipalities Mayors’ Hall of Fame at the Silver Level for his ten years of service as Mayor of Maplewood. The award is being bestowed at the League’s annual meeting in Atlantic City this week.
The League isn’t the only organization to recognize DeLuca’s achievements this week: He is also being named the NJ Municipal Management Association 2015 Elected Official of the Year. DeLuca explained via email: “This is a professional association of municipal managers and administrators. The award is for an elected official who supports and advances professional management in the state’s cities and towns.”
But wait, there’s more: As usual, DeLuca’s expertise is being put to good use at the League meeting: On Tuesday, DeLuca led the session, “How to Encourage and Enhance Investment in Your Downtown: From Infrastructure to Management and Marketing.”
The Press of Atlantic City reported that DeLuca explained the secret to downtown success in one word: “management.”
“Everybody understands malls need to be managed,” said DeLuca. “It’s the same thing with a downtown.” Maplewood benefits from the management of the Maplewood Village Alliance, while Springfield Avenue is served by the Springfield Avenue Partnership.
The Press of Atlantic City also cited Maplewood’s win in NJMonthly.com’s Downtown Showdown, making it the “Most Favorite Downtown in New Jersey” according to the magazine’s readers.
Read the Press of Atlantic City’s coverage of DeLuca’s session here.
Read Fred Smith’s interview with DeLuca on TAPintoSOMA.net.
