State of the Union? State of the Borough

[Marc LeVine]

Flash! Freehold Borough is also a victim of the Iraq War.

President Bush's personal folly seems to have dropped one of last year's most burning American issues, Illegal Immigration, to the status of "other issues the President touched on, " status.

Funny, isn't it. We send 20,000 MORE American soldiers into a foreign country to control the streets of one out of control city and another lawless province, but send no one to ACTUALLY secure our own borders (the soldiers at our borders only make coffee and take out the garbage for our undersized enforcement staff) or to support our internal efforts to corral illegal immigration within the "homeland."

We MUST get illegal immigration back on the front page, where it belongs. The President is only half right. We DO have to win in Iraq and make it safer. Because, if we don't get immigration reform in 2007, we may all have to move there.

Marc

[admin]

Sorry marc, but illegal immigration reform is DOA. The only hope WAS within the house under Republican rule. That has changed. With Bush and the Dems, towns like Freehold Borough had better figure out what to do with the next five thousand that will be coming when amnesty is granted.

[Pete D]

I have not been communicating lately, as I felt my son Andrew has been very capable of stating the issues relating to the schools. However, I feel I need to comment on several recent topics that have been discussed in this forum.

First, the turnout for the Board meeting on Monday, 1/22, once again illustrated the apathy of the citizens of the Borough. The room should have been overflowing with parents and concerned citizens. Instead, about 14 or 15 residents/parents took the time to go to the meeting. I am tired of hearing the excuses. I heard them while running for Council, and I heard them while serving on the Board. If you care enough, MAKE THE TIME!!! The need for babysitters, I was not aware of the meeting, I work, or any other excuse does not cut it. Board members Jim, Annette,and Vicki work, have children, and find the time to serve. Andy and Adam work and are SINGLE,yet they care enough to serve. Ron and Stella have no children in the system,yet they continue to serve. I am not sure of the status of the two other members, but I'll bet they work and have children, but still manage to serve. I understand that many people who communicate here are involved, but where is everyone else? Until the citizens take it upon themselves to get involved NOTHING will change. Why should it? Politicans respond to pressure. The citizens of Freehold have demonstrated over and over that they really don't care. Until they change their ways, the politicans will continue to ignore the problems affecting the Borough. It should be noted that people found the time to pack the Board of Ed room when we were talking about redistricting, and when there was the issue of tenure for Principal Jackson.

Second - I read the Cal Thomas article and found it disgraceful what NJ is doing regarding teaching about veterans in our schools. I am prejudiced in this area, being a veteran, not of WW2, but having many members of my family being veterans of every war from WW2 up to the current war. However, the absurd statement that the state should not mandate everything is nothing but an attempt to cover this attack on veterans and their service to our country. The state is mandating everything from the size of a container of whole milk that can be sold in the schools to the way schools operate. Eliminate some of the "feel-good" mandates, and continue to teach the subjects that will help everyone appreciate this great country we live in.

Last but not least, I find it interesting that Mr. Baldwin is a big supporter of the illegal immigrants in town; however, when it comes to paying for the students of these illegal immigrants, he sings a different song. He spoke out against the referendum, and felt that the school district was wasting money...never stating how we should pay for all these children of the illegal immigrants.

[fiberisgoodforyou]

Pete D...Glad to see that you care enough to take time and make an honest post.

So the number one take back from the Survey, made evident by the lack of turn out (again) is apathy.

The "EXCUSES" you point out are all VALID, but lets analyze the apathy beyond the simple explanation of people don't care.

One reason people don’t care is be because they feel their voice will not matter!

The BOE will see meeting rooms and halls filled by boro residents speaking load and clear when people see that their voice matters!

The BOE NEEDS TO step it up and provide evidence that resident’s voices matter, that MY presents in front of the BOE works, has meaning, that going to a BOE meeting is not a waist of time listening to lip service.

Give them the proof of the pudding.

The last Question on this survey was...What prevents you from attending BOE Meetings? I believe the truthful answer NOT given is…. “my views are not considered, are insignificant, and will never be put into action, so I will not waist my time”. THUS….the APPETHY.

Boro Voters, are MOSTLY Home Owners. They (we) do not accept the fact that they, the home owners, need to be paying for the overcrowding. Homeowners have not caused the over crowding, it is not being addressed where and how it needs to be addressed, and the school board can never offer a resolution that will satisfy the voters, because their hands are tied!.

We all need to start seeing how and why the School Board has it's hands tied by state and federal regulations. The unfortunate effect is, the School board has become a LAIM Duck Governing body that is stuck with the unpleasant position of putting the pinch on the homeowner, because the State and Fed. Edu. Regulations have put the pinch on the BOE!

These current dynamics are REPELLING, not compelling residents

This is not a pleasant situation. Those residents, who would consider spending (investing) time to attend School Board meeting are not MOVED to do so.

Compel and incent residents and they WILL make a strong presents known! But how?

The next referendum Mantra will be (AGAIN) “WE need more money for more class rooms, and NO ONE CAN HELP US, so we’re going to dive deeper into your pockets, like it or not Mr and Mrs. Home Owner!” sure the words will be different but the truth is as stated

This is what any referendum will ask for more money for a situation that has no resolution.

I have a copy of the survey, and I can post it here is any one is interested....

Other opinions are welcomed!

[Marc LeVine]

Responding to Fiber - the citizens of Freehold don't attend Board meetings, don't attend Council meetings and after the first few meetings, were not attending the People meetings. If you want to heard, know the facts and participate.

Pete -

You are right on target. A more valuable survey may have been asking our residents what it would take to engage them in the community. Alas, the response might have even been less than 8% with people treating the survey as junk mail.

We didn't create the apathy in Freehold Borough. We must understand that people like Richard Nixon, George W. Bush, Jim McGreevey, Harry Larrison, Matt Scanapeico, Ken Lay and others caused people to drop out of the world and Cocoon a home. People really believe that they can trust no one, anymore. Just read the daily news coming out of Marlboro, alone, every day.

In addition to the political bull do-do we read about, the pressures of business and family life further wear people down. Laptops, Blackberry's and cell phones keep us connected to work all day. Karate, Gymnastics and music lessons round out our evenings. Sick and aging parents occupy the weekends of many of us. The rest of our lot work part time to help pay for our high cost of living. Any additional available time is used up surfing the Internet and IMing and emailing friends...or shopping for goods. That's our day - EVERY DAY.

I truly believe that the long range answer lies in the virtual world - we're just not completely there yet. Interactive video will eventually bring residents to more council and board of education meetings from the comforts at home. If we can attract more residents to this forum, where the council and board of ed can communicate with them, we may have a better chance for virtual interaction, which might lead to more face-to-face involvement as people become more comfortable with the issues and more familiar with the people, who they have elected to represent them.

As a local elected officials, who really gives a darn, I'll be darned if I accept being lumped in with the creeps that I mentioned above. In any endeavor there are always a few rotten apples that sour the pot. People like you, Andrew, Jim Keelen, Mike Wilson and the people I serve with on council deserve better than what these other lecherous posers have brought upon themselves.

I'd like to believe that there are still good people in the world and give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I've been fooled and hurt a few times, but I have also been pleasantly surprised - more than a few times. At my dad's funeral on Sunday, people he hadn't seen for 20 years read his obituary and showed up. Some from very far away. They put themselves out and were very unselfish in doing so. Real friends - good people.

Marc