Belleville needs to create a future for young people if it expects to be successful says local religious leader

The Sons of Jacob Synagogue is located on Victoria Street in Belleville.

By Bevan Hamilton

BELLEVILLE – Mary Cohen says she wouldn’t stay in Belleville if it weren’t for her business.

Cohen owns La Belle Visage Esthetics, a beauty salon on Dundas Street East. But Cohen is also president of Sons of Jacob Synagogue, and QNetNews spoke to her in that regard as part of our Municipal Election Project.

Cohen says the biggest problem in Belleville is the lack of future for young people.

Cohen doesn’t have any answers, but suggests one solution is for the city to have more resources to bring in new businesses that would keeper the younger generation here.

As for religion, Cohen says Belleville is very accommodating and the synagogue has had full support of the city.

Cohen also cited better business regulation, drugs, and crime as important issues future council and mayor should address.