Lois Prestridge, in her letter to the editor ("Make Informed Choice; Support School Proposal") in the July 31 issue of the Sentinel, blames the NIMBY (not in my back yard) syndrome for opposition to Monroe’s misguided school-in-the-county-park proposal. She is close, but not entirely correct. A more correct reason is the "NIMCP" ("not in my county park") people.
Township officials and people like Ms. Prestridge forget one important detail. Thompson Park is a county park — it is not their "back yard." It is not Monroe’s park to do with as it pleases.
As a county resident who visits the park several times a week, I say shame on Monroe for even thinking it should be able to develop in my county park. Monroe has about as much undeveloped land as any town in the county. Shame on it for claiming there is no other good site for the school. Monroe has more than its share of new homes going for half a million dollars and up. Shame on Monroe for insisting it build in my county park to save money.
I have also read of people questioning the Park Savers motives and claiming the town has done everything it could to please the Park Savers. The group’s motive is to stop a school being built in a county park. What’s to question? Want to please the Park Savers and other concerned county residents? Don’t build a school in my county park. To question their motives and cry "What is it they want?" only goes to show how much township officials "don’t get it."
Ms. Prestridge claims the new referendum is 30 percent less than last year’s. Last year’s referendum also included renovations to other schools; this new referendum does not. The cost of those renovations will be on future referendums. This is a classic case of comparing apples and oranges.
What will Monroe officials do in the future when they need more room for township facilities? Should they again be allowed to rearrange my county park to fit their budget?
I urge Monroe voters to do the right thing and vote no in December. And I strongly urge all county residents to watch this issue closely. Let’s not let Monroe build in our county park.
Costa Moustakis
Jamesburg