Letters to the Editor, Jan. 13, 2005

Beazer session tonight
To the editor:
   
Southern Neighborhoods will meet tonight, Jan.13, at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building’s courtroom.
   We will be grouping the goals listed at the last meeting into categories, so that we can get an accurate picture of our priorities. This will be so that we and Beazer can get an accurate understanding of what we want to do. For instance, sewers appeared a very few times, but received many scores each, whereas open space issues appeared many times with each getting a few scores.
   Beazer will have the opportunity to make tentative responses following our tabulation of results. Beazer will schedule the next meeting to give us more solid and concrete options in response to what we provide on Thursday.
   Hope to see you there.
Bill Piper, Hopewell Township
Loper’s response disappointing
To the editor:
   
Pennington Mayor James Loper’s rejection of my suggestion that Pennington, Hopewell Borough, and Hopewell Township investigate opportunities for sharing public works services is disappointing on three grounds.
   First, Mayor Loper incorrectly asserts that my suggestion is a "smokescreen" for bailing the township out of financial difficulties. In fact, Hopewell Township has put its financial house in order, controlling spending and increasing its surplus position in the last year.
   If Mayor Loper has doubts about that, he could check with Moody’s Investors Service, which recently increased the township’s bond rating, citing the 2004 budget decisions of the Township Committee. I have no doubt that the 2005 Township Committee will maintain this high rating, sustaining the balance between short term needs and long term consequences established last year.
   Second, Mayor Loper complains that I should have checked my suggestion with other elected officials before I took my "case to the press." He must be aware that increased sharing of municipal services has been a central topic of public discussion in recent months, and especially close to home.
   Recent examples include the major forum on the subject The College of New Jersey in December, ongoing review of the interlocal services agreements he describes in his letter, and active participation by members of his own council on discussions relating to finding a site for the Hopewell Valley Community Center YMCA.
   Citizens participating in the TCNJ forum ranked achieving "greater municipal efficiency through shared services" as their top priority. There is growing awareness that there is a correlation between increasing property taxes and the fact that New Jersey has more local governments per square mile than any other state.
   When I was asked by a reporter about shared services, I did not actually say that Pennington should "scrap" it plans for a new garage. Instead, I said that it made sense to see if our three towns could work more closely together before additional funds were committed to that project, or for that matter, to the proposed construction of two road salt storage barns, one in Pennington, and another a short distance away in Hopewell Township.
   To my knowledge, no one has taken a detailed look at possible overlaps between the public works services, equipment, and facilities of Pennington, Hopewell Borough, and Hopewell Township since a Local Government Budget Review was conducted by the state in 1998, identifying more than half a dozen opportunities for shared services.
   Which makes Mayor Loper’s rejection of any possibility that our three towns should even take a current look at joining forces on public works the most disappointing response of all. Mayor Loper asserts that there are lots of reasons that Pennington’s services are unique, but it seems to me there must be some things the three departments do that are quite similar, using similar equipment and similar facilities. If together we might provide the citizens of Hopewell Valley with equal or better services at less cost, why not take a look?
   Many residents of Hopewell Valley are hoping to see expanded services and facilities for seniors, a centrally located Community Center YMCA, and expanded connections between our three towns via the Lawrence Hopewell Trail and other walking and biking paths.
   By cooperating on public works and other municipal services, Pennington, Hopewell Borough and Hopewell Township could free up resources for these new services and accelerate progress on the privately funded community center YMCA. Or, we could each go it alone, helping ensure that our citizens will get fewer services than they deserve at a higher cost than they should bear.
   I hope Mayor Loper will reconsider his position, and join Mayors Kemp and Nettles at a summit meeting on shared services in Hopewell Valley soon.
David Sandahl, Hopewell Township
Open space, too
To the editor:
   
I’d like to correct the impression given in the article about the Beazer Homes neighborhood meeting on Jan 4. While sewers and public water are high priorities, a majority of residents also expressed a desire for open space — awarding a total of 38 "red dots" (for top priorities) to such issues as saving existing trees, greenbelt, natural landscape, country/rural, wildlife issues, as well as sidewalks and trails. Our southern neighborhoods are being asked to give up the last bit of undeveloped land in our area for development. We want to make sure that all HVN readers understand our desire to maintain at least some of the rural character the rest of Hopewell Township values and enjoys.
Gloria Rohmann, Hopewell Township
Secure Social Security
To the editor:
   
The Social Security with its Trust Fund (money that U.S. government has borrowed giving IOUs is equivalent to bonds sold to China, Japan, Germany) is as solid as gold. President George W. Bush is on campaign to scare U.S. citizens, just as he did for the WMD and by tweaking with SS system endangering retirements of millions of Americans. He must not be allowed to dismantle Social Security.
   If he wants to, first reduce the deficit spending and try to pay back those IOUs. And yes, to begin with stop borrowing billions from the Social Security fund right now.
   The White House sources revealed plan cuts promised benefits to retirees by nearly a third. And these cuts are guaranteed — whether you opt in to the Bush plan or not. And you know when WH says cut by 5 percent, in reality it would be 15 percent. Remember the retirement of president, senators etc. is guaranteed … it is us common folks who has to worry.
   Do not stand by and let George W. Bush and the Republican-controlled Senate and House cut our promised guaranteed retirement benefits. Let them know we want Social Security secured, not dismantled.
CB Patel, Hopewell Township
Trees and weeds, too
To the editor:
   
John Tredrea’s article last week about the Jan. 4 Southern Neighbors’ planning meeting with Beazer created the mistaken impression that preserving woodlands and open space are not high priorities for participating residents.
   Mr. Tredrea’s article emphasized sewers as a high priority for a majority of participants, but it completely failed to mention that participants identified open space and woodland preservation as equally important. Priorities such as open space, woodland preservation, and habitat preservation received a combined total of 38 red dots (highest priority) — the same number as sewers. We Southern Tier residents, who are participating in these discussions, highly value open space preservation and the conservation of our woodlands and rural way of life, and we speak up about it at the meetings.
   Please don’t neglect to report on this important, widely-shared goal — not mentioning it misrepresents us and what the meetings are about. As I said at the Jan. 4 meeting, we could have a buffer zone surrounding the development that may include a walk-bike path, along with evergreens and grass or trees and weeds. I would prefer trees and weeds and natural undergrowth.
Harry Guyer, Hopewell Township
Veteran concerns
To the editor:
   
Veterans have just witnessed two examples of our government’s disrespect for the contribution and sacrifices of veterans to the survival and wealth of this nation.
   First: The replacement of Anthony Principi as secretary of Veterans Affairs by R. James Nicholson interrupts Mr. Principi’s initiatives and programs for the delivery of care to veterans. Col. Nicholson may prove an able administrator. However, he will need time to understand and focus on the multitude of unmet needs of the gigantic VA system and the thousands of veterans presently denied access. The problems that afflict the system from years of constant underfunding of vital VA programs blocks many deserving veterans from needed care. I fear that Mr. Principi was replaced because the administration wanted a less effective or more pliable leader to address the VA problems.
   Second: The dumping of Representative Chris Smith from the chairmanship of the House Veterans Affairs Committee for Rep. Buyer. Mr. Smith has been a strong and effective veteran’s advocate. Apparently, he embarrassed a Congress that continues to fund the VA with the scraps from the bottom of their Pork Barrel appropriations. Both the Administration and Congress should recognize that veterans vote and this year they voted 54 to 46 for the victors. They should listen.
John E. Hein, Hopewell Township