A united fight led to a new Union Hill Road traffic light

It was only with the help of the taxpayers in Manalapan that we will have a traffic and pedestrian light on Union Hill Road and Wild Turkey Way. The shopkeepers, Union Hill Synagogue, doctors and others, including the retirement (Covered Bridge) area, all tried for almost 20 years to obtain a light. My action included all of you.

The only one who was successful at that time was Lillian Schaffer, representing the synagogue. She had Manalapan’s then-deputy mayor, Richard Frenkiel, accompany her to the area where he advised her that plastic bumper strips would be installed. As you all can see, they didn’t help.

When I decided I wanted to change my action into a "taxpayers" action, Lillian, representing the synagogue, joined with me. The congregants took the letters I had prepared and collected more than 400 signed letters.

In September 1998, Lillian and I, together with many congregants, went to the township to lobby for a light. You just don’t go to the Township Committee or Department of Transportation and say, "We need a light." You must lobby and raise the money to pay for it. State Sen. John Bennett raised the money.

In 1998, then-Mayor Jim Gray welcomed us to the Township Committee and was impressed with our presentation. At one meeting, we were advised that we might be considered for the 1999 budget.

In 1999, Mr. Frenkiel was the new mayor and he, too, was impressed with our presentation and told us our request would be a part of the budget, but it had to be OK’d.

We attended the 1999 budget hearing, but now two Democrats were a part of the committee and (Committeeman) Stuart Moskovitz stated time and time again that he was against giving us the traffic light and pedestrian light.

Finally, the bond counsel stated that (in spite of Mr. Moskovitz’s objection to giving us anything), we, the taxpayers, would be included in the budget.

After Lillian and I both received letters of commendation from Mayor Frenkiel, we kept going back to ascertain the type of light we were getting.

Thereafter, at one of these meetings, Lillian asked if they would put a timer on the pedestrian light and when the township engineer said yes, Mr. Moskovitz said, "Not so fast. They (Orthodox Jews) are hypocrites. They turn their lights and ovens on when they get home from temple. I remember in my temple we could turn the lights on. There is no need for a timer." This is all part of the public record and you can listen to the tapes.

It’s ironic and very sad that residents of Covered Bridge chose a person like Mr. Moskovitz, who voted against the light, to cut the ribbon — or any Democrat for that matter. They both voted not to give you safe passage on Union Hill Road.

Lillian and I both received letters of commendation from the mayor who voted in favor of giving the taxpayers the light, Richard Frenkiel. It took me four months to raise the money and be in the 1999 budget — an unheard-of accomplishment.

Gert Feldman

Manalapan