Great summer
of fun in city
To the editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank Barbara Fordyce of the Lambertville Summer Recreation Program for another great summer of fun.
Camp Director Chris Colt as well as his entire staff made for a most enjoyable six weeks. Once again, however, the campers had several weeks cut short due to Mother Nature’s wet weather. And while every Mom knows a little mud never hurt anybody, one can’t help but think how wonderful it would be if a pavilion or some form of shelter from inclement weather were available at Ely Field for our children.
Perhaps next year local residents can work in conjunction with the Recreation Committee to join forces and come up with a solution?
In any event, our town is most fortunate to have such an affordable and local program exist. Thank you once again for a job well done!
Set aside
differences
To the editor:
Unfortunately, Senator Joe Lieberman will not escape the cancer of prejudice that still exists in our society.
Whether that fact will become obvious in the Gore-Lieberman ticket remains to be seen since it will most certainly be a contest between Al Gore and George W. Bush and not the vice presidential nominees.
The fact that John Kennedy overcame the cynicism of those who feared influence by the Vatican does not assure Lieberman a free pass. The evidence of strong prejudice in our country was seen at the Republican National Convention when delegates from Texas bowed their heads in disapproval while Senator Jim Kolbe addressed the convention on trade issues, and it is evident in our own community against many members of the gay community who admit that they still cannot enjoy total freedom of their identities because of employment risks.
Governor Bush did what he could to send a message to the Republican community that it was time to set differences aside and move towards a policy of inclusion, and he should be applauded for his sincere effort and honorable intentions. He cannot be responsible for the entire Republican constituency.
Most members of the New Hope-Lambertville community can also be proud that they practice a policy of inclusion among gays, people of color and those reflecting a melange of religious beliefs and ethnic backgrounds.
Nevertheless, there are those in the gay community who admit that they can only enjoy security in the workplace by working for the state or national government. They are not certain that they could enjoy job security if they were to enter the private sector. Their past experiences or those of close friends have sent them a signal that approval of their lifestyle is not to be assumed.
The recent controversy regarding the decision of exclusion from the Boy Scouts confirms this prejudice. And the near acceptance, rather than complete acceptance of gays in the military, also points to a deep-rooted prejudice.
Is this lifestyle contagious? Of course not. Is Senator Lieberman’s conviction of faith in any way a hindrance to his ability to serve his country? Most certainly not.
Will it be feared that Joe Lieberman may advance the cause of Jews abroad? And don’t forget that being vice president always opens the possibility of having a Jewish president – a yarmulke worn in the Oval Office!
Bill Clinton’s behavior in that infamous place of official government business is supposed to be forgotten, but those who carry bigotry within the walls of their narrow minds could not tolerate the idea of the yarmulke worn there.
Until our society is cleansed of all bigotry, Joe Lieberman and those who follow will not be spared the cancer that lingers within. It is sad to realize that most of these prejudices are fed underneath a cloak of false pretense in the name of religious beliefs. After all, it is quotes from the Bible that validate the bigotry against the gay lifestyle.
It was a warped interpretation from that "good book," once voiced by a judge in the South, that legitimized a decision of separation of blacks from whites in restaurants and public lodgings. And when it is not a misuse or misinterpretation of a religious publication, prejudice is often fed through jealousy or resentment.
Since the first drafts of this writing, we have heard on our news channels that derogatory remarks have been made concerning Jews and money. The Jewish people are often associated with financial success. But even if the gift of intellect has been bestowed on a nation of people, haven’t we seen evidence of gifts on all people from their Creator?
Although abilities can be strengthened and learned by all, can’t we acknowledge that there are certain gifts or talents that may be inherited in a nation of people. Yes, the majority of famous opera singers have been Italian. The majority of students who have excelled in mathematics in our colleges in the past several decades have originated from Oriental nations. The pool of athletes who have gained fame and fortune in the past 20 years have been African-American. And it is true that many homosexuals enjoy a talent of excellence in music and the fine arts.
Some of the very churches where the Religious Right worship contains the beautiful paintings of gay artists from past centuries. None of these discoveries should be used to denigrate an individual; rather it is something to celebrate.
The realization that these talents could be brought together so that we may learn from each other rather than destroy is a policy of inclusion. Unfortunately, we are not there yet, and Senator Lieberman will have to deal with the prejudice that exists. He cannot even take refuge in the policy of "don’t ask, don’t tell" since he is now very much a public person.
Who said "Life is not fair?" Perhaps it was one who too readily accepts the cancer of prejudice.
Trucks threaten
tiny school
To the editor:
I guess it’s the weather, but we have some problems in Stockton, and it threatens our little town.
The trucks go through starting at about 4:30 a.m., and I am not just talking trucks from the quarry that are "local" and have the right to go through our town. These are out-of-state trucks that blast through and should be using the major highways.
We are only one bad brake from what happened to Lambertville Video, only now the elementary school could be involved. We need stop signs at the intersection of Bridge Street and Route 29. We need a painted road that says school crossing, and we need a police presence that can issue a lot of tickets.
Let’s contract with Delaware Township, which has been mentioned several times to Borough Council with no results. Speaking of council, we are not looking at increased police, road crew, school size, water and sewer for the My Ben project. Aug. 22 is the final meeting, and, of course, the My Ben attorney has assured us this is just a final OK! This is the same attorney who has done nothing about the dead trees (on My Ben property) threatening Joe Marty’s property in Brookville.
Have they done an environmental impact study? Are we assessing them for the increase on our weak sewer system?
I do not have a warm feeling towards this project and the burden it puts on our community. Our only hope is the entrance onto 523 will be blocked and sour the whole project, at least until some questions are answered.
Let’s wake up and keep what makes Stockton great. Did I mention tax sales? Maybe later.
Mr. McDaniel is president of the Stockton Board of Education.
Compromise
to benefit public
To the editor:
Being a public servant is sometimes difficult enough.
Compound this service by a lengthy legal confrontation, and one can’t help but ask why they continue to contribute their time and energy.
I think that the general answer to that question was put forward in the editorial column; which appeared in last week’s Beacon.
I believe that all would agree that a landowner has certain legal rights to obtain the fullest and best use from their property so long as the impact of that use does not adversely affect the public as a whole. The redevelopment of the city’s Master Plan was thoughtfully developed, over a number of years, to predict the impact and trend of development in all areas throughout the city. Defending both the process and the decisions implemented as a result was a must.
With a "tentative settlement" on the table, I encourage each of you to be open-minded about the possibility of moving to review an application without variances. While I’d prefer to see no homes constructed on either Gigliotti or Wilson parcels, there are a number of homes, which makes it palatable.
Your task is to weigh the quality of life and economic impact issues presented by the 129 homes now proposed and the potential compromise. Sometimes in public service one has to look beyond their personal convictions and move certain resolutions forward, which will benefit the public at large. This truly is a delicate balance.
I’ll borrow a quote from Mae Rhine: "Residents should be grateful for the intelligence, wisdom and foresight of its officials."
Business owners
help New Hope
To the editor:
As a resident, I am appreciative when New Hope business owners take an active interest in the borough’s government.
Especially business owners like Leslie Jones of Burch & Jones, whose recent letter to the editor amplified her support for Bert Johnson and Bob Gerenser.
Although Leslie is not a resident nor owns property in New Hope, she continues to participate in the politics of the borough. I, too, applaud the efforts of all involved in what Ms. Jones termed the "tedious and complicated seminar presented to New Hope Borough Council and the public regarding one phase of development of Union Square." And especially the hard work demonstrated by our solicitor, borough engineer, planning and zoning committees, George Michael and council members Jake Fell and Sharyn Keiser.
As a result of their efforts, New Hope is assured the responsible development of Union Camp, a back door and an immediate cash flow from the rental of borough property during the construction years – without success. And who knew until this year, that there was income to be had back there on borough property!
Yes, all council members had to deal with what Ms. Jones called a "complicated 45-page document during the council meeting." And for those that read their mail over the past several months, they were prepared for the meeting.
Group will serve
a purpose in election
To the editor:
As I watched the televised proceedings of the "Buchanan" Reform Party National Convention, I asked myself, "Don’t these people get it?"
Surely they must be able to do the math and know that there is no way that Pat Buchanan is going to occupy the White House in the near future unless he is an invited guest or perhaps dropping off the daily newspaper!
And Ezola Foster has as much chance of becoming the next vice president as my grandson has of becoming our next ambassador of China (my grandson is 8 years old and a student at Lambertville Public School).
It would have been cavalier and a possibility if she were Gore or Bush’s pick for veep, but being a nominee on Buchanan’s Reform Party ticket just doesn’t cut it. In fact, the delegates must reluctantly get the message by evidence of not having any pre-printed posters at that convention that bear the names of her and Buchanan together.
I thought I was watching grown kids operating a Kool-aid stand while the real business was being conducted at the nearby supermarket and neighboring produce store: the RNC and DNC. But as I listened to this Mr. Rogers mentality of politics, I realized that some good would be realized from this group of scout leaders. There was reference to Gore’s resistance to the fund-raiser at the Playboy mansion while he had already accepted large contributions from the occupant of that tinker toy residence, and the question of how the Playboy fund-raising event was so different from the Buddhist Temple debauchery.
There was also reference to the "fat cats" who had paddled the canoes of extravagance at the recent receptions at the Republican Convention. That reference was most directly related to the issue of finance reform.
I began to realize just how this current assembling of the scouts at the Kool-aid stand was going to serve as a means to an end for the major political parties. It was certainly calling attention to the shortcomings of those parties. It would champion the cause of John McCain in his search for finance reform, and it would continue to remind the American voters of Al Gore’s own shame – perhaps not as exciting as the "stained dress" episode and what "is" is, but the loose interpretation of fund-raising in the White House and the difference between a tea party with Dorothy and her friends and the soliciting for "loot" in the presence of the great Buddha.
The winner of the political "tae party" is bound to be the Republican Party. Those liberals who see too much of a waltz to the "right" with the selection of Joe Lieberman will undoubtedly swing the direction of the ultra-liberal and well organized Green Party.
Those who wanted the fund-raising scandal to go away will be nagged to remembering it through the jabs of the ultra-conservative Buchanan Reform Party and may likely decide that one major scandal per administration is more that enough!
The "other reform party" will go unnoticed. They will be too busy fighting off the distractions of Buchanan’s body scouts at the Kool-aid stand. Nader’s Raiders really don’t have a major gripe with George W. Ralph Nader is obviously after the inventor of the Internet; he was too unkind to the real liberal of that party: Bill Bradley.
And you know what has happened to the techs lately. Wall Street will offer no shelter for Albert and Tipper during the fiscal quarter. So the disconnected Americans who are playing house at the political level will indeed serve a purpose in the upcoming election.
Owner unhappy
with city inspector
To the editor:
I went to the Aug. 10 City Council meeting for Lambertville.
I brought up the subject of the house that is attached to mine, and, to my surprise, I was encouraged by the way the City Council agreed that something should be done.
They were going to arrange for Bill White, the building inspector, to come and check the house out the next day.
The outcome of the visit was not anywhere near as encouraging as the response I got from the City Council. Mr. White came out and told my mother and myself that he could find no major problems with the house; nothing that would warrant any citations.
On top of that, where the church was forced to take down the back porch, he told me that we should just repair the insulation and put up a new wall. I told him that we didn’t have the money for that, and he replied with "Call the city and see about a grant." We told him that we already received one that put a lien against our home, and that we couldn’t afford a new one but he just told us to see about it anyway.
I pointed out holes in the brick to him where animals could get in, not to mention there are holes in the side of house as it is. He said he was going to call the county Board of Health, because it is a place where animals could get in.
That is fine, well and good, but is also a hole in the house itself. But that is not a serious problem.
He was informed of where a balcony collapsed and is being shored with two 2 by 4s. He didn’t blink an eyelid at it. He had even seen the picture of it that I supplied to the City Council the night before.
One thing Mr. White kept referencing was the fact that 50 years ago, neighbors lived in harmony and didn’t care about building things a foot over boundary lines, but today it becomes a war as to who is responsible.
I can understand that, but this has nothing to do with that. We are talking about the overall structural integrity of the house.
As we were standing at the back of the house, you could hear something inside fall. He asked what that was, and I told him something inside falling. A pigeon came out of an eave shortly after, and he said it was just the pigeon. There is no way it was just a pigeon, and if it was the pigeon, you can tell there is something wrong inside if a pigeon lands on it, and it falls.
It is very clear that Mr. White is just like his predecessor, Gene Venettone. He doesn’t care either. Why should he? He doesn’t have to live next to it.