Letters
Resident impressed with Republicans at county fair

Each year, my family and I enjoy several nights of fun at the Middlesex County Fair, namely its great food and celebratory atmosphere. Other amenities include many service-oriented business people providing an abundance of useful information. By being on hand to answer questions shows they obviously want our business. Not much unlike shopping for products when it comes to politics, the undeclared voter like myself seeks to be informed. Therefore, we need to ask and receive straight answers from both parties to questions regarding things like taxes and services.

It was a breath of fresh air at last week’s fair to meet Republican candidates for county freeholder, Andrew Tidd, Jay Boxwell, and county clerk candidate Joseph Sinagra. These gentlemen answered all of our questions and also explained to us why no-bid contracts and the pay-to-play scheming which currently goes on in Middlesex County government hurts every taxpayer. Their literature was also quite clear and concise. These guys worked for our vote.

On the other hand, the Democrats’ county freeholder booth was for the most unattended. No candidates were there to answer questions, although one night I did run into two young volunteers; however, they were not equipped to answer questions. I suppose the Democratic candidates feel they don’t have to work so hard. Their overconfidence is really quite disturbing. As for the Republican county candidates, they certainly deserve this voter’s business Nov. 8.

Jo Ann Francis

Old Bridge

‘Progress whittles away natural defenses — trees’

A sense of loss came over me as I drove to work this morning — “progress” can be a shock. The infamous Route 18 “needed” widening. How might the fallen trees see this prospect if they had voices?

I wondered how the next generation would see this state as day by day another nature disaster took place.

There seems to be more flooding and more difficulty breathing in the air as progress whittles away our natural defenses — the trees. I wanted to be that one person who spoke up for those without a voice.

Developers can do good things, but looking at this nature disaster I was deeply saddened.

Can’t politicians and developers find a way to save more of the natural beauty of our state to prevent flooding and to “heal” the air we breathe for the sake of their children and grandchildren as well as for the rest of us? Hopefully, the candidates for governor can address the true issues of quality of life as well as property tax reform, rather than wasting the people’s time and diverting attention away from these important topics for another term.

Martha Bennett

East Brunswick

H.S. service clubs collecting DVDs, CDs for troops

Due to an appeal from Sgt. Kevin Johnson, Iraqi Freedom veteran and founder of the Veterans of Foreign Wars DVDs4Troops program, the Spotswood High School History Club and Octagon Club community service organizations will conduct another drive to collect DVD films and music CDs for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This program has done a great deal to provide our troops with moments of peace and relaxation. Due to the success of the program, more Gulf-area bases have requested film and music libraries to be established in their areas.

All items may be dropped of at Spotswood High School, Summerhill Road, care of Frank Yusko.

For further information, call (732) 723-2201 or visit the Web site at www.DVDs4Troops.org. The drive will be conducted through October.

Feel free to include notes of encouragement, addressed to “Any U.S. Service Person.” We will send those along as well.

Frank Yusko

adviser

Spotswood High School History Club and Octagon Club

New Jersey needs cap on crippling taxes

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and speaker of the City Council, Gifford Miller, recently reached a compromised budget for New York City, which includes a 2 percent cap on property taxes a city homeowner would have to pay when their property value increases.

It seems that the residents of New Jersey, the state with the highest property taxes in the nation (the average citizen of New Jersey paid $1,872 in property taxes in 2003, almost double the national average of $971 per person), would benefit from a similar property tax cap, especially given the dramatic increase in property values in the last several years.

Such a cap would give security and stability to families who could be crippled by property tax increases brought on by a revaluation.

Richard E. Weber Jr.

Metuchen

Letters Policy

Letters to the editor may be mailed to the Sentinel, P.O. Box 5001, Freehold, NJ 07728. They also may be sent via e-mail to ebsent@gmnews.com.

Letters should be limited to 250 words; Your Turn guest columns to 750 words. All submissions may be edited for length, libel, content and grammar, and are subject to rejection. Anonymous letters will not be printed.

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