Crisol-Iris Lantz

---

Crisol-Iris Lantz was raised in the Bronx, NY and Plainfield, NJ. She initially didn’t envision ending up in a small town, but priorities changed upon having children, and Dunellen was the right place to raise her family. 

Over the seven years that Crisol and her family have lived in Dunellen, Crisol’s involvement and appreciation of the town grew. Initial involvement was limited to recreational sports, but as her kids got older, Crisol took a greater interest in helping make Dunellen a safer, more inviting town.

Growing Interests and Community Involvement 

Crisol has been an educator in both the public and private sectors for the last 15 years. Serving as an assistant, lead teacher, educational leader, and director of programs, her passion lies in equipping others to reach their fullest potentials. This translates to her growing commitment to see Dunellen revitalized and reach greater economic and communal growth.

• As part of the Mayor’s Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Task Force (MTAPS), Crisol has advised Mayor Jason Cilento and the Borough Council on improvement plans to increase pedestrian safety—especially in and around school zones

• Together with MTAPS, outlined recommendations on prioritizing improvements and resolutions to make commuting safer along busy streets and school zones in conjunction with input from the town's planning survey and NJTransit’s Active Transportation Planning Study

• As a member of Dunellen's Complete Streets Technical Assistance (CSTA) project, Crisol has been involved in guiding Dunellen—with the New Jersey Department of Transportation—to adopt a “Complete and Green Streets for All” model and policy that would potentially reduce emissions by increasing pedestrian and bicyclist safety 

• Contributed recommendations as per the “Complete and Green Streets for All” model, for green stormwater infrastructures to reduce flooding—an essential contribution to the vision of Dunellen’s next 10 years

• Active participant in the Master Plan Re-Examination Steering Committee to revitalize Dunellen through beautifying our downtown area, and creating additional initiatives that will continue to make Dunellen a thriving community

Vision for the Future

As a council member, Crisol hopes to offer fresh perspective, representation, and support for residents in Dunellen’s growing community. She understands that leaders need to be responsive to concerns while also increasing Dunellen’ capacity for growth. Crisol believes that it’s imperative that benchmarks are set that the town remains fiscally responsible. Crisol’s desire is to continue to make Dunellen a thriving destination where people want to visit and are proud to call home.

“As an educator, I’ve always had a personal commitment to being a problem-solver and having a mindset to foster growth in individuals and as a community; Dunellen is a town that embraces both growth and community. 

Through my family’s involvement in Dunellen’s recreational teams over the past seven years, I’ve seen parents volunteer and commit to offering these great opportunities for their children, and families come together to support, encourage, and cheer for one another. It is a reflection of who we are as a town, which I’ve grown to admire and embrace. 

I also understand that growth doesn’t happen without the commitment to serve in some capacity. Over the years I’ve heard our community's concerns and have been committed to finding ways to do something about it. My commitment is inspired by my children and their friends, wanting the best for their future here in Dunellen.”