Mancuso on Biden Visit: 'Once in a Lifetime' Event

The mayor of Morris Township is planning for his township to be as accommodating as possible to Vice President Joe Biden when he visits on Monday to show his support at a fundraiser for Sen. Bob Menendez, even on such short notice.

“I only found out about it a couple of days ago, and it’s a hardship, but it’s like one of those once in a lifetime things, I believe,” said Mayor Peter Mancuso. “If the people hosting the event are comfortable with it, who’s to say?”

Mancuso said that all parties involved have done a good job in the coordination of security for the event, and he expects that proper security precautions will continue to be taken for the vice president’s visit.

“I think all the security, all the precautions that can be taken to prevent, God forbid, anything happening with a person such as this are being taken,” Mancuso said. “I think secret service, security, county police and township police will do what needs to be done to make sure there are no difficulties.”

Some potential difficulties include traffic impacts. Heavy volumes and delays are expected around Morristown and Morris Township throughout the afternoon as the area prepares for Biden’s arrival.

“I think that the major traffic impact is going to be in our worst traffic area right now, (around) Columbia Road and Park Avenue, as people are coming through there making way up to Old Glen (for the fundraising event),” Mancuso said.

Regardless, Mancuso believes that the one-day impact on the town should not stop residents and officials from embracing the opportunity to host such an important political figure.

“It is what it is. By Tuesday or Wednesday (the issues) will be forgotten about. It’s one day out of our lives,” Mancuso said. “It’s one of those things. You just have to grin and bear it.”