Comedian Groucho Marx had a memorable one-liner saturated in self-deprecation. “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member,” Marx offered. In an alternative observation, right of refusal and decline exists here for any City of Trenton mayoral candidate. I refuse to vote for any per son vying to lead this capital city, whether it’s the devil we know or the next potential villain wanting to sit on the hot seat at 319 East State Street. Nobody in his/her right mind could ever have a desire for holding reign/rein of this nightmarish municipal monster named after a slave owner and human trafficker. Any tossed hat into the capital city political ring suggests a detachment from reality, a misunderstanding of the severe generational problems embedded in Trenton, a contamination even worse than the lead found in water or soil here. We do next to nothing about illiteracy which condemns students to years of ineffective learning. We do next to nothing about the aforementioned lead problem, the chips and dust that chokes the potential out of children. One would imagine that if illiteracy and lead contamination exist as part of the gravitational pull of young people toward incarceration, then extermination of those life cancers deserves top lines on to-do lists. An alleged 70 percent of prisoners read below fourth-grade levels. Lead contamination links to incarceration through its effects on childhood brain development. A flip of student population to 65 percent Hispanic caught school officials off guard, unprepared for a litany of challenges and changes. Situations identify as critical when leaders rarely mention education as a way out of this urban mess. Our students reside in peril (But they got what it takes to rock the mic right, yeah). The list of most dangerous cities in New Jersey consistently includes Camden, Newark, Asbury Park, and Trenton. Property crime and aggravated assaults continue to plague the capital city. Our students need street chaperones to assure safe passage to schools, walk through metal detectors and wands before entering, then require bullish observance from guards upon entering. Afternoon exits of school see the return of those street security details. In all of this, many parents remain out of the picture, especially being engaged in the early stages of education, not to mention the lack of social skills necessary in maintaining order in classrooms. Corruption remains entrenched in Trenton with scandals discovered in the health department and police department. A federal probe identified a pattern or practice of bad police behaviors unleashed on residents, although the Department of Justice ended the investigation after Donald Trump began his second presidency. A litany of other issues including addiction, rehabilitation, animal rescue, homelessness,   immigration, landlords, health care, and trash reduce opportunities for revitalization. Trenton trends toward another decade of demise without purposeful leadership. Head examinations should be a prerequisite for the slate of mayoral candidates that could number 6/7 contenders or more for the 2026 election. Names of mayoral contenders surfaced months ago, entered political consciousness like Christmas creep as Ed “Weedman” Forchion and Darren “Freedom” Green voiced mayoral declarations. City Councilwoman Jasi Mikae Edwards announced her candidacy a week before an official launch Monday evening. Incumbent Reed Gusciora avoided commitment for a third term. Stay tuned. A Gusciora walk-off may open the door for a candidacy by current City Council President Yazminelly Gonzalez and a mayoral campaign by At-large incumbent Crystal Feliciano who announced her city council campaign last week. An alleged phone pitch (beware scams) involves an inquiry that if Reed drops out would you be willing to support Yazminelly Gonzalez for mayor? Hmmm. Let me sleep on it.Update: Feliciano apparently rescinded her — if Reed don’t run for mayor, I will. Corey McNair, a Trenton police detective, joins the mayoral race that could include retired city police Lt. Rolando Ramos. Perhaps Austin Edwards. That’s 7/8 candidates all vying to serve as overseers of Plantation Trenton under control of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Mind you, the next or current mayor faces a poverty rate of 27 percent, several thousand vacant buildings, 1500 empty lots, city-wide blight, potential criminal investigations regarding pay-to-play violations, and a no-hotel downtown on life support. Plus, a memorandum of understanding requires the mayor of Trenton to receive approval before doing almost anything — except break the law. So, come one, come all to Trenton Mayoral Race 2026. All candidates should expect to answer one question. Tell all Trenton residents exactly what makes you want to be the mayor of Trenton? L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at [email protected]. ...read more read less