Letters
Setting record straight on Golden Triangle

Recently, I read a letter to the editor from perennial Republican candidate Frank Coury (“Contract Should Be Rebid to Avoid Appearance of Play-to-Play,” Sentinel, Jan. 12) regarding the redevelopment plans of the Golden Triangle project in my hometown of East Brunswick.

The letter has an interesting progression, starting with misinformation, moving to distortion, and ending with fabrication, all this in three short paragraphs.

The fact is that East Brunswick never went out for bid on this property. The unanimous, bipartisan support of the entire Township Council requested proposals from any company interested in redeveloping the underutilized 30-acre site, at that time owned by the township. There were hundreds of inquiries, and 15 companies submitted detailed proposals. A volunteer, nonpartisan committee reviewed all the viable proposals and made a recommendation, not based on money, but based on the best proposal for the site. The committee voted on the best proposal without knowing what developer submitted what proposal.

After a complete review, the council and our planning staff agreed with the citizen committee and chose Toll Brothers. When the developers sought some changes to the original proposal, the mayor and council managed to get an additional $5 million. That money will be used to fund our long-anticipated and much-needed community center.

With regard to Mr. Coury’s fabrication, the East Brunswick Democratic Party and the candidates for mayor and council never received any contribution from Toll Brothers, ever. Mr. Coury cleverly says the contribution was reported in a newspaper — he uses that as the source for this false accusation. In reality, your newspaper quoted a fellow Republican making this statement at a council meeting. This is a case of somebody saying a falsehood, getting quoted in a newspaper, then Mr. Coury using the printed falsehood in order to give his outlandish statement credibility.

The Golden Triangle project, when finished, will be a tremendous asset to our community. It is providing a great revenue source and will create a beautiful downtown area and modern commuter parking deck and pay for a community center on the Heavenly Farms site. It has already begun to pay dividends to our town and will continue to do so for many years.

Shawn P. Taylor

chairman

East Brunswick Democratic Organization

Proposed law would eliminate unfair casino exemption

This letter is in response to your article titled “Ban a Drag to Some, But a Hit to Others” that appeared on the front page of the Jan. 19 issue of the Sentinel.

Hats off to former Gov. Richard Codey and the state Legislature for enacting the Smoke-Free Air Act. This legislation has been a long time coming to protect nonsmokers from second-hand smoke.

Some critics of the law complained that the casinos in Atlantic City received special consideration with the exemption of the law on casino floors. In order to get the legislation passed, this exemption was required.

Lawmakers are now quickly moving to correct this unfair exemption. Bill S-1089, which would eliminate the casino and simulcasting-facility exemption from the Smoke-Free Air Act, is sponsored by John D. Adler (D-6), Shirley K. Turner (D-15) and Joseph F. Vitale (D-19), pending intro and referral.

The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee will meet on Jan. 26. Bill S-1089 failed to make the agenda for that meeting.

Casino workers are exposed to second-hand smoke eight hours a day during their work shift. This legislation will afford them the same consideration that other workers who are subject to the new law will receive.

Smokers will feel that they are unjustly being targeted and being denied their freedom of choice to smoke. Smoking for adults above age 19 (the new legal age limit) is OK if they choose to do so. It becomes a problem when their smoking affects others around them who don’t smoke. Many smokers choose not to light up in the home in consideration of their spouse and children. Now, that consideration will be extended to the public.

Hopefully, this legislation will cause smokers to pause and rethink whether they themselves should now quit.

Nonsmokers need to be sensitive and helpful to support the sudden change to which smokers will be subjected on April 15 when the law takes effect. Reach out to your smoking friends and relatives to encourage them in a simple way and help them in making this adjustment.

Louis F. Valentino

founder

Old Bridge Watch

Plans for Heavenly Farms not so heavenly

It never ceases to amaze me the way the East Brunswick Township Council can squander tax dollars. The latest fiasco is the soccer fields at Heavenly Farms.

You remember Heavenly Farms — green grass, trees, wildflowers, birds, rabbits, a place to go to relax. Not so fast. It’s going to be the home of Playhouse 22, Mayor Bill Neary’s son’s private domain, parking lots, and now to top off the insanity, thousands of square yards covered in plastic. Sure ain’t my vision of open space.

This gets even better. The taxpayers will be responsible for $1 million to cover the costs of this artificial surface, and no one can say how long it will last or what replacement costs will be.

Only Republican Councilwoman Christie Calvano has the backbone to ask pertinent questions while the Democratic members of the council nod in unison to any idea the mayor has. Taxpayers be damned. Hey, Christie, now you know how Gen. George Armstrong Custer felt when the Democratic scouts said, “What Indians?”

I have two suggestions which I’m sure will bring endless mirth and laughter to the band of outlaws we pass off as a council (Christie excluded). How about whoever uses these facilities pays for these upgrades? A second thought would be if it took the soccer club 25 years to raise $300,000 ($12,000 per year), I presume the taxpayers will pay off the rest of the extorted monies at the same rate — the $1 million will be paid in only 141.66 years.

Walter Goldeski

East Brunswick