Mayor responds to criticism
Iwas not surprised to see that perennial Republican candidate Frank Coury has endorsed the Republican ticket in East Brunswick again this year. After 12 years of his criticisms of programs and policies of the Democrats, I feel compelled to once and for all set the record straight. His intentional and clever distortations are unnecessary when the residents of East Brunswick deserve an honest discussion about the future of our community.

1. The police training facility has been a success. The revenue it has produced from neighboring police jurisdictions has met its debt service and is almost debt free. In measuring only money, he has also failed to appreciate the value of having a modern state-of-the-art training facility for our Department of Public Safety during these worrisome and dangerous times.

2. The lawsuits regarding the bus contracts have not cost our residents a nickel in property taxes. The parking utility is entirely funded by the parking fees and bus provider rental payments. East Brunswick commuters have an excellent facility and the lowest 10- trip ticket prices to New York in our region.

3. The Golden Triangle redevelopment agreement was awarded to Toll Brothers because they made the absolute highest and best use proposal. The Canadian company he mentions failed to present a complete proposal and they proposed 1,000 homes and 200,000 square feet of retail.

4. The Heavenly Farms purchase for $12 million was paid for with $6 million in New Jersey green acres funds, $4 million in Middlesex County funds and $2 million in East Brunswick open space funds. The purchase did not increase property taxes at all, but has preserved the largest contiguous undeveloped property in East Brunswick from being developed. The concept of open space preservation is far larger than just dollars and cents. Mr. Coury's constant fight with the town over a commercial use of the parcel of property near his own home shows that tax revenue is not the only criteria in making quality-of-life decisions. Added to these facts, his numbers have a slew of ridiculous assumptions.

As for his endorsement, he still has failed to explain what should be done in the future. He just explains what he would not have done in the past.

In conclusion, I believe the residents of East Brunswick have done well under Democratic control.

William P. Neary

Mayor East Brunswick