bergsteiger
Full Member
War is simple, direct, and ruthless
Posts: 1,189
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Post by bergsteiger on Nov 27, 2007 9:10:54 GMT -5
"I figured it was good to jump back into this topic today because the News Transcript will be delivered tonight and we will get to see if there is any further reaction to Rich's letter."
And just in time, I have to clean the bird cage tonight. ;D
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Post by richardkelsey on Nov 28, 2007 7:23:40 GMT -5
It looks like lifelong democrat Sue Sweetman is not supporting me! LOL She is obviously a troll on the site - if one notices the key phrase in her editorial, "silly season." Anyway -- the debate continues -- and not surprisingly the machine and its supporters and old friends want to make it about me. The best thing about this letter is it attacks me for being an outsider -- and comes from an outsider who voted with her feet. Downsizing is common, so I don't fault her for that. But she could have done that in the Borough -- but instead chose to stay in the area, but not in Freehold. Interesting. The letter and its quality speak for itself. The only thing I would further point out, of course, is that I lost an election in 1986 in Freehold. (I finished 3rd out of 4 candidates running for 2 seats) I was 19. I did not leave town after being rejected! What a scream. I stayed and served in that town for 10 years before pursuing a law degree. To intimate that I left town after losing a council election is just -- silly. newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2007/1128/Letters/018.htmlHurtful words from outsider have wounded Freehold Borough I thought "silly season" ended, but perhaps I was wrong. Why has the News Transcript allowed a "guest columnist" from Virginia to use its editorial page for an unwarranted personal attack on Mayor Mike Wilson ("Mayor's Missteps Over Years Have Hurt Freehold Borough," Your Turn, Nov. 7)? Mike has devoted his time and energy to serving the residents of Freehold for 22 years. As a former council member myself, I understand the commitment it requires and the price your family pays for this service to others. Richard Kelsey, as a family member of a former elected official, should also remember the costs of such service. Mr. Kelsey's venomous rant appears to be personally and politically motivated. Mike Wilson has more integrity and class than to stoop to the type of nasty and shameful tactics employed by Mr. Kelsey. Devoting your life to serving your community should not open you to this type of vicious and unwarranted attack, especially from one who pulled up stakes and left town many years ago after being rejected at the polls by the residents of that town. I no longer reside in Freehold Borough. As we have gotten older, my husband and I decided to downsize and sold our family home to our daughter. Other members of my family also still reside in the borough and our interest in the betterment of the town is still very strong. You may not always agree with his politics or his decisions, but Mike Wilson has always done what he thought was best for the people of Freehold. Unlike Mr. Kelsey, Mike still lives here and works every day for our community. Mr. Kelsey, from his home in Virginia, has no right to impugn the character and integrity of a man whose commitment to Freehold has been demonstrated through his long years of service. Bullying is not acceptable, especially in a small town like Freehold where we not only know one another, but our extended families. Your malicious words, Mr. Kelsey, have wounded our entire community. Shame on Mr. Kelsey and shame on the News Transcript. Susan Sweetman Howell
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Post by fiberisgoodforyou on Nov 28, 2007 7:56:32 GMT -5
She moved out of freehold, yet there she is medaling in Borough Business. The Nerv!
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bergsteiger
Full Member
War is simple, direct, and ruthless
Posts: 1,189
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Post by bergsteiger on Nov 28, 2007 8:02:55 GMT -5
I think it's time for Mrs. Sweetman to stay out of politics and concentrate on making cookies for her grandchildren.
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Post by admin on Nov 28, 2007 8:05:34 GMT -5
"I figured it was good to jump back into this topic today because the News Transcript will be delivered tonight and we will get to see if there is any further reaction to Rich's letter." And just in time, I have to clean the bird cage tonight. ;D I like the News Transcript. They do the best job of reporting on Freehold. Clair Celeno does a very good job for us.
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Post by casualreader on Nov 28, 2007 8:15:24 GMT -5
The machine has declared hunting season on Kelso dude. Every time he gets up they hit him with another crowbar. Know what shocks me? No one has come to his defense. I thought Kelso dude said there were letters in his defense waiting to be printed? Sadly, Kelso dude has been abandoned by all those around him. He has been left naked (figuratively, of course) and vulnerable to public scorn. PEOPLE are willing to let Kelso dude be flogged publicly. It is like a slow public execution. Every week someone sticks the knife a little deeper and they let him lay there rotting in his own juices for another week when they stick him again. One letter accuses him of being a greedy lawyer. Another says he was a political Gofer for the Republican Party. (An accusation I have asked Kelso dude to address). Still another attacks him for being an outside agitator and a sore loser. They have discredited our message board -- Now they attack the Socrates of the Virginia Foothills mercilessly. We cannot wait for the dreaded LLA to come to his defense. Arise Freehold Voice -- Go after the machine. Let us defend our favorite son. Oh the inhumanity... Casually Looking on in Horror
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Post by admin on Nov 28, 2007 8:19:37 GMT -5
CR wrote
We cannot wait for the dreaded LLA to come to his defense.
Ironically, I am half expecting the LLA and Tom Baldwin to come to the defense of the Mayor.
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bergsteiger
Full Member
War is simple, direct, and ruthless
Posts: 1,189
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Post by bergsteiger on Nov 28, 2007 8:28:13 GMT -5
"I figured it was good to jump back into this topic today because the News Transcript will be delivered tonight and we will get to see if there is any further reaction to Rich's letter." And just in time, I have to clean the bird cage tonight. ;D I like the News Transcript. They do the best job of reporting on Freehold. Clair Celeno does a very good job for us. My bird likes it too!
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Post by admin on Nov 28, 2007 8:30:08 GMT -5
Rich Wrote
She is obviously a troll on the site - if one notices the key phrase in her editorial, "silly season."
If Sue Sweetman is a reader of the site I would like to see her and her family participate here on the site. It would not be the first time that former residents chimed in and kept an interest in the town. There is nothing wrong with that and she would be very welcome.
I am surprised that there was only one letter in the NT this week. It is ironic that it is from someone who doesn't live here rebutting someone else who doesn't live here. All is fair.
Where are the residents from our town? Have none of them written?
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Post by Libyan Sibyl on Nov 28, 2007 9:04:14 GMT -5
p.s. Sweetman left in July 2004...
Let's me see... OCTOBER 2003... Mayor announces closing of muster zone.
NOVEMBER 2003... MaGuire and 6-12 announce their own muster zones on private property.
DECEMBER 2003... Lawsuit filed against the town and the mayor. Mayor vows a fight.
JANUARY 2004... The Muster Zone closed on January 1, 2004. Organizational meeting, Mayor cries, "Bring it on!" In the time of a few weeks, the anti-loitering/officer discretion charge was dropped from the books.
FEBRUARY 2004... By mid-February, an agreement is reached in court that the day laborers (aka illegal aliens) will be allowed to muster at the muster zone...
MARCH 2004... The council also gets rid of an ordinance that boro taxi cab drivers must read and write english. The town issues a release to the public and to immigrants regarding the muster zone. - The federal judge "chided the borough for issuing a "misleading" notice, and directed the borough to create one that states it will not interfere with day labor activity." - "Thompson ruled ... that the public portion of the muster zone must be reopened. She later reprimanded the borough for issuing a "misleading" notice that warned contractors who pause on the shoulder that they could be ticketed for impeding traffic. A second notice issued March 29 stated the court had directed the borough not to interfere with the lawful use of the property, including day labor activity."
APRIL 2004... The already open muster zone was "officially" reopened April 1, 2004. Cops "swarm muster zone" despite judge's stern warning. The parties are ordered to mediation.
MAY 2004... The state Department of Human Services awarded a $44,000 grant to the Hispanic Directors Association of New Jersey to fund the newly created Freehold job bank. Mayor Wilson endorses the idea.
JUNE 2004 ... workers are not congregating at the muster zone. They are at the 6-12 and slowly spreading to neighboring streets and waiting outside their houses to get picked up.
JULY 2004 ... immigrants march and protest in Freehold on national immigration issues... we are no longer a local item, but a national rallying point... In other news, there are no small houses in the boro. Sweetman sells her house to downsize to another town.
AUGUST 2004... the questions needs to be asked... what did we gain by closing the muster zone? What foresight was there by closing it? What did the mayor think would happen? Not only have the day laborers created far worse quality of life issues by mustering throughout the town, but the town has had to rescind several ordinance. Whether those ordinances were proper or not, the boro has suffered defeat after defeat in just a few short months. By the end of the year, the way housing inspections are down are changed (well, changed for spanish speaking people at least)...
Fast forward to today... illegals are appointed to boro committees and citizens against illegal immigration are considered "radicals."
Susan Sweetman definitely had foresight and left at the right time.
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Post by richardkelsey on Nov 28, 2007 10:03:01 GMT -5
BTW CR -- every person I spoke with in Freehold this past weekend said the same thing; "That CR guy makes me laugh out loud."
Anyway -- I am not going to pick on poor Sue Sweetman.
I am a bit disappointed in the Transcript because I know -- for fact -- they have letters from people in Freehold Borough showing support. Why they don' print them, I know not.
They certainly have my letter -- which as I stated previously -- I would not be surprised if they did not print. (Papers usually try to avoid the back and forth from letter writers -- because then they must make the call as to when to cut it off. That is why it will usually be one for one.) Here of course, they have let the Machine be heard 5 times.
I will tell you - that the predictable responses are really a fabulous set-up for the letter I wrote -- and a remarkable set-up for one of the letters submitted by a Freehold resident. My optimistic side likes to think the Transcript is going to drop the hammer at one time, given the set-up.
But -- remember -- the Transcript needs to have access in Freehold, and I am sure they are wary about looking bias.
I have faith they will print the other letters and responses.
The more they write -- the better my response letter gets. If they don't print in the next 2 weeks -- I will print my response here -- just so that it is part of the public record, given the demonstrably false allegations made.
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Post by richardkelsey on Nov 28, 2007 11:50:23 GMT -5
Rich Wrote
She is obviously a troll on the site - if one notices the key phrase in her editorial, "silly season."If Sue Sweetman is a reader of the site I would like to see her and her family participate here on the site. It would not be the first time that former residents chimed in and kept an interest in the town. There is nothing wrong with that and she would be very welcome. I am surprised that there was only one letter in the NT this week. It is ironic that it is from someone who doesn't live here rebutting someone else who doesn't live here. All is fair. Where are the residents from our town? Have none of them written? BTW -- I totally agree that she is welcome to stop merely visiting and reading the site -- and instead heavily encouraged to participate on the site. Like we said -- the site is what people make of it. We can't force participation. If Ms. Sweetman is still interested in the Borough of Freehold, her thoughts and reasoned opinions are more than welcomed here. (Even unreasoned opinions are welcomed, as long as they follow posting guidelines. Heck, look at Ali and Carlos) Judging by the deeply partisan attack made in her demonstrably false letter -- I doubt she is interested in actual, substantive, debate. But -- she is welcome to prove me wrong.
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Post by richardkelsey on Dec 1, 2007 8:28:46 GMT -5
I have received word that at least two letters have been confirmed as going to print.
One was over my objection -- but my father insisted on writing to repudiate the egregious mis-representation of one letter writer. He is an 82 year old proud dad and former WWII vet -- so who can blame him.
The other letter nails the political cronies right between the eyes --- particularly as their predictable responses set the letter up nicely.
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Post by borolifer on Dec 4, 2007 20:07:01 GMT -5
Ya know what i like about Mrs. Sweetmans letter the most? The fact that she lives in Howell and admits it. She doesn't live in the northern part of Howell with the Freehold ZIP code and say she lives in Freehold.
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Post by richardkelsey on Dec 5, 2007 7:51:36 GMT -5
This one was sent over my objection. I think it great -- but hearing a letter from my dad is no more convincing than hearing letters from the Mayor's cronies and appointees. Though -- Dad actaully gets the facts correct and stays on issue. He was incensed by the outright misrepresentation of Mrs. Sweetman that I lost and election and then left town. newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2007/1205/Letters/026.htmlWriter has ties to town, knowledge of issue Iam writing in response to the letter to the editor in the Nov. 28 News Transcript, "Hurtful Words From Outsider Have Wounded Freehold Borough." Let's set the record straight. Richard Kelsey is my son. At the age of 20 he ran for councilman in Freehold Borough; quite an achievement for a 20-year-old. He moved to Arlington, Va., 10 years later, 1996, after graduating Rutgers University, to attend George Mason School of Law. He did not leave because he lost the election as the writer would have you believe. Since he spent most of his life in Freehold and has many relatives in the area, he is certainly not an outsider. I no longer live in the borough but three of our seven children still reside there. Over the period of 42 years in the borough, I had the opportunity to serve our community as councilman. I also operated two successful Main Street businesses. Richard is an attorney and is president of a computer forensic and incident response company in Reston, Va. He is a professor of law, writer, commentator and activist on issues of illegal immigration. His credentials regarding illegal immigration include being an adviser to towns and states on the issue. He has appeared on radio, TV and in print on illegal immigration. He has helped to forge new legislative initiatives on enforcement efforts in counties and states willing to stand up for their citizens. Never in his 13-year battle against illegal immigration has he profited one dime. Never has he sold out legal residents. "Hurtful words?" How about hurtful inaction by the governing body of Freehold Borough to terminate this invasion by a foreign country into the Monmouth County seat of government, and Freehold, my hometown. W.J. Eugene Kelsey Howell
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Post by casualreader on Dec 5, 2007 8:03:07 GMT -5
Wow I guess this is what passes for a good news day for the Kelso Dude -- a letter from dad and only one insulting letter in the News Transcript. Where is the groundswell of support? Arise Freehold Voice and defend your native (note I did not say nativist) son. The other letter is from the Great Baldwin -- No one can insult more people in a few short paragraphs like him. He does not even want to be mentioned in the same letter as Kelso dude, which is what Councilman Levine dude did a few weeks ago in disparaging both. Maybe Mr. Baldwin is positioning himself for the council seat? Now all we need is the Freydude and the Laz. Here is the link to Baldwin's letter -- newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2007/1205/Letters/025.htmlFreehold resident not linked with Kelsey It seems to me that Freehold Borough Councilman Marc Le Vine has the unique ability of putting his foot in his mouth when he makes public statements. I object strenuously to his linking me in any way with Richard Kelsey ("Mayor Is Taking Action to Aid Freehold Borough Residents," News Transcript, Letters to the Editor, Nov. 20, 2007). I think (Kelsey's) meddling in the affairs of Freehold is reprehensible. He has gone out of his way by his words and deeds to divide our city, as if it needs any help in that matter. From the beginning I tried to find a way to conciliate and compromise the unfortunate situation (in which) Mr. Le Vine and the (PEOPLE) group he founded, the mayor as well as the Borough Council put the city. The business manager and the mayor canceled a meeting that at first they agreed to at the last minute. They refused to talk to us to try to find a way out of the terrible situation they were responsible for. In short, the PEOPLE group, the council and the mayor tried to starve out, fine, jail and destroy the families of the undocumented individuals in our city. Fortunately the federal court would not allow this. Since the lawsuit has been settled, my wife and I have tried in our own way to help both the immigrants and several departments of the city. I am also a frequent visitor at sessions between the Latino Leadership Alliance and the city attorney and one of the councilmen. I have had no affiliation with Casa Freehold for the past two years. I am still a proud member of the MCRIR. I do not receive any compensation at all from any organization. I use my personal resources to attend conferences not only locally, but all over the United States on fostering better relations between the day laborers, their families and the communities they reside in. Mr. Kelsey has his own agenda and I have mine. I have no desire to meet Mr. Kelsey. I do not agree with him and I resent the fact that Mr. Le Vine tried to tie both of us together. I can't wait until the next election. I will do all in my power to see that Mr. Le Vine does not retain his seat on the council. He shows his true colors every time he opens his mouth. Tom Baldwin Freehold Borough
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Post by richardkelsey on Dec 5, 2007 8:09:46 GMT -5
Wow I guess this is what passes for a good news day for the Kelso Dude -- a letter from dad and only one insulting letter in the News Transcript. Where is the groundswell of support? Arise Freehold Voice and defend your native (note I did not say nativist) son. The other letter is from the Great Baldwin -- No one can insult more people in a few short paragraphs like him. He does not even wanted to be mentioned in the same letter as Kelso dude, which is what Councilman Levine dude did a few weeks ago in disparaging both. Maybe Mr. Baldwin is positioning himself for the council seat? Now all we need is the Freydude and the Laz. Here is the link to Baldwin's letter -- newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2007/1205/Letters/025.htmlFreehold resident not linked with Kelsey It seems to me that Freehold Borough Councilman Marc Le Vine has the unique ability of putting his foot in his mouth when he makes public statements. I object strenuously to his linking me in any way with Richard Kelsey ("Mayor Is Taking Action to Aid Freehold Borough Residents," News Transcript, Letters to the Editor, Nov. 20, 2007). I think (Kelsey's) meddling in the affairs of Freehold is reprehensible. He has gone out of his way by his words and deeds to divide our city, as if it needs any help in that matter. From the beginning I tried to find a way to conciliate and compromise the unfortunate situation (in which) Mr. Le Vine and the (PEOPLE) group he founded, the mayor as well as the Borough Council put the city. The business manager and the mayor canceled a meeting that at first they agreed to at the last minute. They refused to talk to us to try to find a way out of the terrible situation they were responsible for. In short, the PEOPLE group, the council and the mayor tried to starve out, fine, jail and destroy the families of the undocumented individuals in our city. Fortunately the federal court would not allow this. Since the lawsuit has been settled, my wife and I have tried in our own way to help both the immigrants and several departments of the city. I am also a frequent visitor at sessions between the Latino Leadership Alliance and the city attorney and one of the councilmen. I have had no affiliation with Casa Freehold for the past two years. I am still a proud member of the MCRIR. I do not receive any compensation at all from any organization. I use my personal resources to attend conferences not only locally, but all over the United States on fostering better relations between the day laborers, their families and the communities they reside in. Mr. Kelsey has his own agenda and I have mine. I have no desire to meet Mr. Kelsey. I do not agree with him and I resent the fact that Mr. Le Vine tried to tie both of us together. I can't wait until the next election. I will do all in my power to see that Mr. Le Vine does not retain his seat on the council. He shows his true colors every time he opens his mouth. Tom Baldwin Freehold Borough Casual -- you beat me to the punch -- or paste -- by seconds. I did accurately predict that the Borough would find itself in the unsettling position of now being on the side of Tom Baldwin against me! BTW -- the Transcript has confirmed publication of at least one more letter that was not printed this week, and I must say it will be the perfect letter given what we have seen so far. If the Transcript does not run my rebuttal piece next week -- I will publish it on this site. It will correct the lies and misrepresentations made about me by the Council and Mayor cronies in their letters. It will reveal some other FACTS that shed further light on what really transpired before the Council decided to join the cause of illegal aliens.
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Post by casualreader on Dec 5, 2007 8:22:27 GMT -5
Kelso Dude:
I find it curious that the Asbury Park Press has completely stayed out of this brawl.
Do you have any idea why?
Casually Wondering
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Post by fiberisgoodforyou on Dec 5, 2007 8:38:24 GMT -5
"There are no Jewish members, there are no white members."
OK, I am officially throwing my hat into the ring...I AM OFFERING TO FILL THE VOID SO ARTICULATELY STATED BY THE COMMITTEE CHAIR.
THE FACT IS.... BASED UPON THIS CRITERIA, THERE IS NOT OTHER PERSON/RESIDENT BETTER QUALIFIED THE ME!!!! After all, IF THIS COMMITTEE HONEST ABOUT RESOLVING THE IMBALANCE, THROUGH ME, YOU get a POOR White Jew Republican!
HOW UNREPRESENTED IS THAT?
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Post by richardkelsey on Dec 5, 2007 9:13:15 GMT -5
Kelso Dude: I find it curious that the Asbury Park Press has completely stayed out of this brawl. Do you have any idea why? Casually Wondering Who knows -- maybe they are in the brawl but doing some real investigation and reporting on the issues? Hmmm, wouldn't that be interesting. Who knows, maybe they have been getting good, hard, facts and are working on the story. Gee --- I really hope so.
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Post by richardkelsey on Dec 5, 2007 9:18:15 GMT -5
By the way -- Tom Baldwin probably does not want my praise or care what I think -- but at least he is honest about what he is doing, and how hard he works to make sure illegal immigrants are able to thwart our laws and leave legal immigrants waiting in line.
The man is a true believer -- and according to his letter -- he stays true to those beliefs. So, whether he likes it or not -- that does link him with me.
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Post by richardkelsey on Dec 11, 2007 20:00:44 GMT -5
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2007/1212/Editorials/021.htmlNothing bloodies the nose more than a fist full of the truth. Guest Column Mayor, council have let problem overwhelm town ANDREW DE FONZO Ihave reached my wits' end. I can't continue to sit back and read the utter nonsense that is being spewed from the political machine here in Freehold Borough. When one guest column by someone ("Mayor's Missteps Over Years Have Hurt Freehold Borough," News Transcript, Nov. 7) prompts two town councilmen (Jaye Sims and Marc Le Vine), one town councilwoman (Sharon Shutzer), a former town councilwoman (Susan Sweetman) and the mayor himself (Mike Wilson) to write letters and articles trying to defend the mayor and shed a nasty light on the person who wrote the article, I can't help but wonder what's got them all so defensive? I mean, as Marc Le Vine just said in his letter, the mayor had just won re-election, he should be celebrating. Why the need to "release the hounds" over one man's article? Perhaps it's because they are trying to divert attention away from the truth? Let's look at an example of Mayor Wilson's ability to twist the truth to suit his own needs. In an article printed in this newspaper on April 11, he said about his battle with illegal immigration, "And when we tried to take some action ourselves by closing a muster zone that had made us the center of an illegal labor market by stepping up enforcement of dangerous and overcrowded dwellings, where did we end up? In federal court." What Mayor Wilson fails to mention, but luckily for us, Ms. Shutzer points out in her letter, is that it was "the Borough Council which decided to create the infamous muster zone. In our ever-present quest to maintain, protect and improve the quality of life for our residents, we did exactly that." You see, Mayor Wilson forgot to mention it was he and his fellow town officials who initially set up the muster zone that made us this "center of an illegal labor market." Mayor Wilson then said "bring it on" when lawsuits were threatened after they did close the muster zone, but in the end, the town decided it was in their best interest to settle rather than fight. The mayor and council then tried to convince us this was not a loss. Well, let's see, the illegal immigrants are still allowed to muster anywhere they want to look for work, and the town had to set aside money to pay back fines that were issued for violations that apparently were not legal. Doesn't sound like much of a win to me. The fact of the matter is this - while Mayor Wilson and his council stand up and say they are doing all they can to deal with the illegal immigrants in our town, they continually fail to mention it was them who allowed us to get to this point. Mayor Wilson has been mayor for 22 years. The illegal immigration issue is not one that suddenly popped up one day when the council and mayor decided to close the muster zone; it is a problem that has been building in this town for over a decade - all under Mayor Wilson's "leadership." Years ago, concerned citizens brought the growing illegal population to the attention of the council and mayor, and their response was essentially, "Well, where else are these people going to go?" Their lack of forward thinking back then has put us in our current predicament, so to try and make it sound like you have been "fighting the good fight all along" just doesn't cut it. Let's not beat around the bush - the illegal immigrant issue in Freehold Borough is destroying our town. It's not a minor burden, it's not a nuisance, it is destroying our town. Proponents of illegal immigrants, and now even members of the council and the mayor himself, speak of the "wonderful culture" that a large Hispanic community brings to the borough. Are they referring to the fine restaurants that they have now found twice operating illegally out of one of the many rental homes here in town? Perhaps they are referring to the record stores/travel agencies, or mini-grocery stores that have popped up with all of their signs written in Spanish, and all of which have Western Union available so money can be sent back home. Hispanics do have a rich and historical culture, but that's not what the illegal immigrants are bringing to our town. What they do bring is overcrowded and unsafe rental units; an overburdened medical system; overcrowded (which has led to underfunded) schools; and even the signs of a gang presence thanks to graffiti that is now popping up throughout town. To further that last point, at the last council meeting the chief of police apparently mentioned that the council should look into adopting an ordinance against graffiti. These are not signs of the rich culture a Hispanic community could bring to our town, these are signs of a town being overwhelmed by an illegal population that doesn't care about where they live. There are a number of things Mayor Wilson and the council can do in order to deal with these issues, but they continue to take a "let's wait and see what happens to other towns" approach. This is not a sign of leadership, this is a sign of "follow the leader." While the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says it would not be a violation of the Fair Housing Act to require potential renters to provide proof of citizenship during the screening process, this town waits to see what happens with other towns. While more and more cities and towns across this country take advantage of the now infamous 287g statute, Freehold Borough's leaders sit back, wait and complain that it's not something we could realistically take on (though we continue to "take on" the burden placed on our town by the illegal immigrants). How about we start simple? Since the mayor and council continue to tell us about the "lines of communication" they are opening with advocacy groups, why not team up with these groups, find some lawyers and start getting some of these illegal immigrants on the road to becoming legal, taxpaying citizens of the United States? These are just a few things we could do here in town, but our "leaders" choose not to. Mayor Mike Wilson, as all of his defenders have said, has been serving Freehold Borough for 22 years. For those of us who have lived in the borough for his entire time in office, ask yourselves a simple question. Are things better or worse today than they were 22 years ago? Just because people come out of the woodwork to defend a man doesn't make his actions right. Andrew DeFonzo is a resident of Freehold Borough.
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bergsteiger
Full Member
War is simple, direct, and ruthless
Posts: 1,189
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Post by bergsteiger on Dec 12, 2007 7:46:35 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Ouch![/glow]
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Post by petedefonzo on Dec 12, 2007 9:17:18 GMT -5
While admitting to being somewhat prejudice,since Andy is my son, there is nothing in his letter that is not true. Mayor Wilson has been in office way too long, and the town has gone downhill under his leadership. Shame on the Republicans for not offering viable candidates to oppose Wilson, and shame on the citizens of Freehold for continuing to elect the same incompetent "leaders".
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Post by fiberisgoodforyou on Dec 12, 2007 9:24:41 GMT -5
Andrew The natives are getting restless. Those who have chosen to move away from the problems are gone, and there are those who would like to move away from all this are stuck here due to the slow housing market. The sad fact is, real estate professionals are only interested in Freehold Borough for the "Quick-Sale" distressed/estate sale property.
Back to the point, we are all in this together and to date, only the "Advocates" have been organized enough to sent a consensus to our municipal government. NOW we see when the mainstream - revenue stream of concerned homeowners issue a consensus, we get tagged as being malcontents, radicals and not illegitimate.
Some of us have proven that we are not sheep. Slowly there will be many more to more folks turning up the heat in defense of our homes.
When community leaders "chalk" up this situation as simply water under the bridge, inferring that we accept and "settle", that we need to move on to other "more manageable" issues of the day, it is time to look to new leadership if there is a majority with the conviction to make it so.
Frankly, people with a passion and conviction for what they believe do not simply "Settle" for appeasement, they fight for what they know in their harts and minds as WHAT IS RIGHT"
IMO
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Post by admin on Dec 12, 2007 15:16:41 GMT -5
Andrew,
That letter is one hell of a stinger, especially as a follow through to Rich's letter. It will be interesting to see what type of responses come out of it. We have two, soon to be three, council members who did not write the last time. Let's see if they do, this time and do a better job of rebutting your points, as opposed to making a feeble attempt at discrediting you.
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Post by richardkelsey on Dec 12, 2007 15:44:16 GMT -5
Andrew's letter, and the excellent post by the new poster and member continue this discussion very nicely.
I did promise that if the NT did not publish my rebuttal to the letters of Mayor Wilson, Sharon Shutzer, and Jaye Sims that I would post here. (The letter was written on 11-15, so it does not address letters by other Wilson cronies -- each I addressed separately here anyway)
I am waiting for confirmation from the NT that the letter will not be printed -- which is my only delay. My preference would be that they print it so that I have an opportunity to correct the false record created -- and add critical facts omitted, in the very forum where those letters were generated. As soon as I confirm the status of the letter, I will either publish here or wait until it is published in the paper.
For now -- and always -- the more important issue are those raised substantively -- and it is great to see the matter still being addressed, particularly by people inside the Borough of Freehold.
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Post by admin on Dec 12, 2007 15:49:23 GMT -5
Wilson's comments about malcontents and republicans has directed me to this site last week. Andrew Defonso's comments in the New Transcripts has inspired me to post here. I am neither a malcontent nor a republican. I have been studying on this site and many posts reflecting declining conditions are right on the money. The fashion by which the Borough of Freehold has handled the influx of illegal immigrants is a disgrace. I do not blame the illegal immigrants. This local government is continually saying one thing, while the outcome is CONSISTENTLY 180 degrees from whats been said. . The resulting growth of inner city problems, the Graffiti, Drug trafficking and Gangs, as Mr. Defonso points out today, has not been problem until these last 4-5 years. Inconstant, flip flopping governing direction must no longer be sustained here. Brian Sullivan too, has set the bar high for municipal committee members with integrity. Kudos to you Sullivan. I encourage all other committee members and current council members to show their integrity too, by resigning from their posts as a signal of protest. Councilman LaVine, you have been a frequent poster here. You claim to be a person of high integrity and esteem. I call on YOU, resign as a sign of protest, like Sullivan. Show us your a man of courage, a good conscientious citizen first not willing to have your convictions silenced and not a party game player. Time to hear your true voice. I call on Councilwoman Shutzer too. Please step down and become a community activist and not a Wilson machine flunky. Wilson's hand pick appointees, and Council sidekicks are unwittingly driving the Borough of Freehold into the sewer. Sullivan's resignation from his committee post needs to be duplicated fast! Like Nero Fiddling as Rome burned Wilson's botched management of illegal immigration degenerates this municipality deeper into tragedy. A most wonderful Place on earth is the Borough of Freehold, sadly lost to miserable politician who think of Party and votes before people! Mr Wilson might be fine with Taxes going up while services are being lost, no other person I know here agrees that this situation is OK. Wilson and Council, it is you who are driving residents away from the Party. Mr. Wilson, exemplify your resolve for Borough of Freehold, dismiss your affiliation with the democratic party, testify to your Independence, pledge your honest allegiance to the faithful residents you abandoned. Mr. Wilson show us your less concerned about your Turnpike pension, declare that your are not a faithful servant to the states democratic machine, prove you are a faithful servant to the lawful citizens of the Borough of Freehold. Substantiate your commitment to Borough of Freehold, forsake the current path to exponentially decaying approval. This is truly your last term, these next four years will define your 26 year legacy. DO NOT turn out to be double dipping Pension Wh'ore? Pension versus Backroom Party Politics versus the people we serve, the Wilson years have convinced me that term limits are needed. The nerve to call disapproval, malcontent's. Hello Jeff, and welcome to the site. I hope you find it informative and feel free to contribute. If you have not done so, please familiarize yourself with the site guidelines. AS far as my leaving the Human Relations Committee, that is not something I am proud of. I did so for a number of reasons, though. But, thank you for the compliments. I do want to restate what I have written before. I have no ill will or feelings toward most of that committee. Most of them are good people who care about the town and want to help in a positive way. For me it was a pleasure to get to meet many of them. I do not consider myself a malcontent of a republican either. Like many others I am just a person with real concerns about this town and the direction things are going in. For the most part, I have always wanted to put faith in our governing body, but that has waned for a number of reasons. I too believe this town has gotten worse in a number of ways. I want to have hope and faith that it will change. I also believe there have been a number of mistakes made along the way and what makes me worry is that we do not see that changing. I do not consider myself a harsh critic of the Mayor. AS I have written before, there is no manual telling anyone how to deal with such a massive influx of illegal immigrants into a municipality. He was bound to make mistakes along the way. One conclusion I have come to, and I hate to say this, is that the people who sued this town now own our governing body. There has been too much inexcusable behavior to think otherwise. Anyway, Jeff, welcome to the site. Keep it Freehold and keep it sane. Brian
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Post by admin on Dec 12, 2007 15:53:25 GMT -5
Rich Wrote,
For now -- and always -- the more important issue are those raised substantively -- and it is great to see the matter still being addressed, particularly by people inside the Borough of Freehold.
Rich,
If your initial letter, although quite a harsh one, lights a fire under some rear ends, then it will have been well worth it. Marc asked what good could come from your letter. If more people pay attention and try to effect change, then that is the best thing that could happen. It would be well worth your time.
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Post by richardkelsey on Dec 12, 2007 16:27:16 GMT -5
My goal in that letter was to point out the irreconcilable inconsistencies between words and actions. Ben Franklin said, "well-done is better than well-said."
Many people have taken issue with the tone of that letter -- focusing again on the irrelevant. If people living in the town are not angry and frustrated over the circumstance, then they should be. If the letter was written any other way -- it would not have drawn attention to the issues, plain and simple. For that, I cannot apologize.
The issues I raise are legitimate -- irrespective of where I live. if this is happening in your town, and you don't know about it and I do, living in Virginia, does that say more about me or you?
Irrespective of that reality -- change can only come from inside the Borough. The people of Freehold need to stand and demand action and accountability -- I have no ability to do that.
Contrary to the misinformation, I have no personal benefit for fighting this fight. My only benefit is trying to defend my hometown and knowing that I stand for its lawful citizens. I am not running businesses there, running for office there, seeking appointments there, or profiting in any way there. So -- as i have written on these pages previously, if the Borough sinks I will be least affected -- but I will know that I did my very best to help her.
This is not a personality conflict -- or political conflict as people allege. That's just dumb. I didn't wake up after leaving freehold 11 years ago and decide to try to un-elect Mike Wilson in a year he is running unopposed. I merely addressed his shifting and incomprehensible position re: illegal aliens. This was not the fist time I wrote a tough letter about the issue and the Mayor, and I have also written letters praising the mayor and Council.
What stuck in their respective crawls, was that I called them out on an issue in which the Mayor has been trying to fly under the radar, claiming to be a tough opponent of illegals but actually reaching out, cooperating, and conceding to them in his actions.
Anyway -- the debate Freehold never got -- finally is in full tilt. How open, public debate is bad, I don't know. It would be better if one side addressed the actual issues. The closest person to addressing the issue was Marc, in his letter, and flagrantly, wrongly, misrepresented that the Borough was doing everything it legally can do when he knows, or should know, that the Borough is not even doing the one thing it indisputably can do -- enact 287(g).
So -- the discussion continues, and at some point rather than calling people partisans, malcontents, outsiders, and profiteers, maybe the issues will get addressed.
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