Board of Ed members' silence after vandalism was deafening
Six weeks ago the vehicles of a Monroe Township school board member and that of a community activist were vandalized. The most egregious act was the drawing of a swastika on the vehicle of board member Rita Ostrager.

The fact is that board member Rita Ostrager and I were targeted because we are outspoken township citizens. We were the targets of those who wish to silence us from speaking up and making residents aware of the mismanagement and folly of some public officials and organizations.

In this instance, what is even more disgraceful is that not one individual board member, nor the board as a whole, condemned the hate symbol on Ms. Ostrager's car or the vandalism as a whole. Where is the outcry from the other Jewish board members, as well as the board and the community, when an honest and hardworking public official is the target of such acts? The one insignificant comment from Board President Kathy Kolupanowich that the police were investigating the incident was unacceptable. Hearing nothing from the Board of Education is unacceptable. It is a simple concept: If you do not condemn this act, you condone it. The silence of the board is deafening.

As a recent graduate of Monroe Township schools, I am even more shocked that those same public officials who professed to support the students and to instill in them a sense of public responsibility have been completely silent, when I, a recent graduate, am subjected to these acts.

After six weeks, it is far too late for any public official to condemn this vandalism now. The silence of board members and other public officials is absolutely disgraceful and a total abdication of their civic responsibility. This should serve as a wakeup call to everyone, that we must pay attention to and be involved with government on all levels in order to keep it accountable to the people.

Brian R. Hackett

Monroe