Letters
Roosevelt Public School isn’t closing

Three recent Examiner articles concerning the proposed yeshiva in Roosevelt, published on July 7, 14 and 21, included inaccurate information regarding the status of the Roosevelt Public School.

To clarify, Roosevelt Public School is challenged by limitations posed by S1701, state legislation passed last year, which is negatively impacting most school districts in the state. The particular portion of S1701 of most concern to Roosevelt is the limitation the legislation places on administrative costs per pupil. When enrollment is down, as it periodically is, our administrative cost per pupil has the potential to exceed the state-mandated threshold. This is not new. What is new is stricter enforcement embodied within regulations adopted by the Department of Education, with implications that include county takeover of our district’s budget and loss of control by our local school board.

Roosevelt’s Board of Education is always working to provide the best educational program possible for our students at the least cost for our taxpayers. The board has taken specific steps to reduce our administrative costs in order to meet the requirements of the law and preserve our school.

Fortunately, the New Jersey Assembly recently passed A3680, a bill amending S1701, which would provide some measure of relief. The board is closely monitoring the progress of the Senate companion bill, S2329, and is hopeful that this will pass as well. These amendments to S1701 allow the commissioner of the Department of Education to make exceptions to the administrative costs-per-pupil limit for districts that are making every possible effort to curtail administrative costs. The commissioner of the Department of Education has stated that he would not penalize districts that have shown fiscal responsibility.

The Roosevelt School District epitomizes the type of efficient school administration that scrutinizes every expenditure. The Local Government Review Board, a state agency formed to examine the efficiencies of municipal government and school boards, recently completed a thorough review of all aspects of the Roosevelt School District’s operations and found that our school district operates efficiently and without waste. Additionally, the Roosevelt Board of Education has been successful in keeping the school tax flat for the past five years. The board is hopeful that, should the amendment pass, Roosevelt will be eligible for an exemption.

The Roosevelt Public School meets all state standards. Allegations that the school is closing due to low enrollment are unfounded.

Linda Grayson

president

Roosevelt Board

of Education

Residents urged to undertake EMT training

The quick, well-publicized actions of New Jersey volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT) Sean Baran during the July 7 terrorist bombings in London are a terrific illustration of the value of our state’s volunteer emergency medical services (EMS).

The fact that Sean obtained those skills in New Jersey speaks volumes about the quality of our state’s volunteer EMS corps. The nonprofit New Jersey State First Aid Council, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, represents more than 20,000 EMS volunteers affiliated with hundreds of first aid and rescue squads throughout the state. Each year, New Jersey’s established, reliable volunteer EMS base responds to hundreds of thousands of calls for assistance all over the state, saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. That same corps of volunteers demonstrated its critical importance during and following Sept. 11, 2001. Sean is representative of the thousands of EMS volunteers in New Jersey who step in and help whenever, wherever they are needed. With volunteer rolls ever shrinking, the council regularly steps up recruitment and retention efforts to expand that base. On the council’s behalf, I ask New Jersey’s residents to consider undertaking EMT training.The skills they’ll acquire, as well as the rewarding feeling that accompanies helping someone in need, are just two of the many guaranteed lifetime benefits.

Frederick L. Steinkopf

president

New Jersey State

First Aid Council

Roosevelt’s cohesiveness is the issue, resident says

I am writing in response to recent allegations, which have appeared in this paper and elsewhere, of prejudice on the part of Roosevelt residents who oppose the establishment of an orthodox yeshiva in a residential area of this community. Our objections are not based on issues of religious practice or anyone’s right to believe in or practice whatever they will. The recorded minutes of recent meetings, and in particular, the public portions, will support this.

What is salient is that Mayor [Neil] Marko, by acting to the benefit of a small and select group, has apparently not acted to benefit the vast majority of those he represents in his elected office — most would argue he has acted to their detriment.

Roosevelt recently opposed U.S. Home in its bid to construct a senior housing development, and won. The opposition was based primarily on the effects that a separate and self-segregating second community within Roosevelt would have on this small town, whose town design and history have bred cohesiveness and inclusion since its inception. The potential effects on the school, the jewel in the crown of this National Registry of Historic Places town, were a major consideration during that fight. Yet, never was any bias against older adults or what they believe in an issue, nor would it be in this community of acceptance and tolerance which has a large senior population as well. The issue, as stated, was the wish to keep this one community, not to have one town divided along chronological, geographic, political, financial or ideological lines.

That the supporters of the yeshiva plan should cry bigotry is in itself shameful, for they are playing a false card for its volatile impact rather than addressing the truth. The truth is that when members of the yeshiva advance group came to Roosevelt, they visited the home of an original resident now in her 80s, to see an original dwelling, but would not shake her hand as she, although Jewish and an important community figure, was not good enough as a Jew, a woman, or apparently a future neighbor to be considered anything but “dirty” according to their ideology. Similarly, the Telshe will not allow their children to play with any children from outside their ranks — and will shun them. Religious practice perhaps, but that is not the issue, and it is not at issue.

The real issue remains, as it has in the past, the wish of the majority of Roosevelt residents to preserve the cohesiveness of the community they have lived in. Seniors, Telshe, green men with red ears, it makes no difference. Roosevelt would welcome all with open arms who would integrate into this community and become part of the ongoing social experiment that is Roosevelt. The addition of segregationists and separatists is not what the residents support.

Finally, Mayor Marko has overstepped the bounds of his appointed duties on numerous occasions. This last conflict of interest and his unwillingness to be responsive to the public’s — his public’s — concerns have caused this latest development. Mayor Marko would do well to resign at this point to save himself and his family embarrassment, but since he was recently quoted as saying, “I never fold,” I doubt he will have the good sense to throw his cards in now.

Lois Hunt

Roosevelt

Neighbor says homeowner needs guidance, not flak

After reading Jane Meggitt’s article in your July 21 edition on “Upkeep of U.F. home called into question,” I wondered who died and left Joe Mauer king?

The intent of the article seemed to address the issues of “stacking,” a problem multi-family dwellings might pose to the school district. It quickly deteriorated into a public bashing of resident Rajendra Patel, who was accused of everything from being a slumlord to a bigamist. From hanging clothes on a line outdoors (horrors) to letting his grass grow too tall. From allowing chickens to run around his property to, oh my gosh, having dandelions in his yard. It became clear that this article was used as a public forum for self-serving individuals to express their opinions on how one should properly live in the country.

I happen to live across the street from the Patels — on the poorer side, that is. And we folks on this side don’t mind chickens running around or clothes hanging on the line or dandelions in the yard. Heck, we had all that going on long before the million-dollar homes came in and stole away our beautiful views and open spaces. We actually like it when the guinea hens make a morning pass through our backyards. And we like to hang our clothes on the line — makes ’em smell good. Over here, we mow our own yards and plant our own trees and we occasionally have a dandelion or two. We also are hard-working people.

Raj Patel is a good neighbor. He, too, is a hard worker and a good father. He always offers a smile and a wave. He has worked hard for the right to let his children play in the yard and tend his garden, to put up a swimming pool and have his chickens. He pays his taxes like all of us and is not violating any codes. Perhaps he has chosen his family over his landscaping. Sure, he has dandelions in his yard — not the end of the world.

Mauer and his followers may have some valid points amidst their finger-pointing. “Stacking” may be an issue that needs to be addressed. Perhaps the Patels’ backyard is more messy than normal and could be cleaned up. A neighborhood credence does have its virtues. But your article was no way to handle the problem. Unfortunately, the best way to resolve the problem is now buried under insinuations and accusations. As neighbor Robin Patterson said, “Perhaps the Patels need guidance.”

I can tell you one thing: I wouldn’t want to play cards in Stone Tavern. Mauer denies playing the “racial” card but then goes on to suggest that the Patels are playing the “medical” card. Sounds to me that this game is “stacked” against the Patels.

Linda Goss

Upper Freehold

‘Nothing is hidden here,’ committeeman says

In reading last week’s Examiner and in particular the article “Officials plan to ban cemeteries from Route 33,” I felt compelled to comment. When I read the paragraph “Abilheira alleged that Nurko voted against introducing 05-35 because he funded his campaign for election to the township in 2002 with money from Schoor DePalma Inc., of Manalapan,” my first thought was, here we go again. [Mayor Elias] Abilheira claims to know all the answers, and now he says he knows the reasons for my votes. Perhaps this could be a point of efficiency for me. I do not even have to attend the Township Committee meetings. Mr. Abilheira could vote twice, once for himself and once for me.

My second thought was, it is that time of year again with elections coming up in November and this is when every opportunity is taken to throw out the cannon fodder and cast the seeds of doubt. The fact of the matter is that campaign contributions are a matter of public record, and such information was reported in this article; nothing is hidden here.

During the March 16, 2005, Township Committee meeting, under “New Business” was the topic of “Campaign Expenditures.” Mayor Abilheira wanted to set the record straight regarding recent letters to the editor in local papers. He read from a prepared script of notes regarding campaign contribution pertaining to both incumbent and former committee persons. During his dissertation he stated, “To my knowledge all of these contributions are obviously legal and permitted.” This is fact; all you have to do is listen to the tape recording of the meeting and hear his words. Here we go again, playing the pay-to-play card one more time. I do know one more fact, however: When you beat on an empty can, all you get is a lot of noise.

William M. Nurko

Millstone

Support sought for local animal shelters

Aug. 20 is Homeless Animals’ Day. The International Society for Animal Rights began this day to publicize companion animal overpopulation, increase public awareness of the millions of animals killed in shelters annually due to a lack of homes, and to emphasize the importance of spaying and neutering.

The total number of animals killed in shelters has been debated. Some estimate there are about 4 million to 5 million animals killed per year in shelters, while others think the number is much higher (10 million-12 million). These estimates are only for shelter animals; they do not include street animals who die before ever making it to a shelter.

Whatever the true estimate is, millions of animals die because there are not enough homes.

On Homeless Animals’ Day, make a commitment to support rescue efforts. Support your local shelter, your local rescue group and your local independent rescuers. You can do this by having your own animals spayed or neutered, adopting your next companion animal, and educating others about the importance of spaying or neutering and adoption.

We can end the tragic cycle of killing.

Michelle Sullivan

Vice President, Homeless Animal Lifeline

Plainfield

www.teamhart.org