Give back
Lynch money
To the editor:
I keep wondering why the South Brunswick Democrats do not feel compelled to do something about the campaign funds from John Lynch’s county Democratic machine.
Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein decided to get rid of the money she was given. For some reason it made her feel uncomfortable.
Why doesn’t that sense of discomfort reach down to the local level? Were I running for office, I’d want to run as far away as possible from even the hint of corrupt money. Guilt by association is a disturbing thought, especially in this day and age when political reputations are falling all around us.
The Middlesex County Democratic Organization funded plenty of negative publicity against former Mayor Debra Johnson in the primary. That certainly left a bad taste in the mouths of many voters who prefer to make choices based on issues rather than personal attacks.
Is there more poison left in the dollars remaining in the campaign war chest?
We may never quite know what Sen. Lynch’s legacy is in South Brunswick. We know he tried to help the Dallenbach Sand Company mine state park lands in our town. What else might he have done?
Why would anyone want to hold on to money connected to efforts to sell out our Green Acres lands for private business profits?
I just don’t understand.
Jean E. Dvorak
South Brunswick
Critical of critic
of school funding
To the editor:
I am a little puzzled by Fred Stein’s comments concerning school funding and taxes.
He believes that, because households that do not have children (seniors, single adults, and couples with a childfree lifestyle) out number those households with children, the minority is forcing their lifestyle on the pockets of the majority through taxation.
Yes, a majority of our taxes goes toward our education system, and it shows. South Brunswick is one of the best school districts in the state. Our children are offered many opportunities with in school programs and after-school programs. Our schools aim for a well-rounded student: reading, writing and arithmetic are just the tip of the iceberg, and then you have sports, music, art, and other programs such as Odyssey of the Mind. But if you don’t have children, it is difficult to understand the difference it really makes.
Our children are everyone’s future.
Who will be your doctor 20 years from now? Your police officer? Your lawyer? Your politicians? Our children. It is every taxpayer’s responsibility to do what is best for the children.
Using Mr. Stein’s analogy, my taxes should not be put toward road I don’t use (don’t use my tax money to fix that pothole in front of your driveway), or Medicaid/Medicare services I don’t use. I didn’t need to call the police last year, should I not pay for those services? I will probably never see any of the Social Security I have paid over the years. What should be done about that?
We just bought that bigger home you referred to from the Dayton area to the Kingston area. Because of the school system we stayed in South Brunswick, and our taxes doubled. So I feel your angst. I am as frustrated as the next NJ homeowner over my property taxes, but overburdening the families with children is not the route to take.
Taxpayer’s responsibilities include the convicts in jails and the single moms on welfare. Hopefully, by investing in your community’s childrens’ education, less will have to go to the jails and to welfare.
Dana Balsamo
Princeton, NJ
Question
for Democrats
To the editor:
Why won’t the Democratic regime in this township, including Mayor Frank Gambatese, give back the tainted money given to it by John Lynch and the Middlesex County Democratic Committee? Most of the money was used to fund the vicious smear campaign against former Mayor Debra Johnson.
Could it be that they believe that the people in our township do not know or care about the corruption in Middlesex County and the ties of the Middlesex County Democratic Committee to the South Brunswick regime? As evidenced by the Board of Elections of Middlesex County commissioner who was Mayor Gambatese’s campaign chairman in the primary, even as he oversaw the primary as a Commissioner.
Well, someone should tell them that’s not true. We do know, and we do have a choice.
Evelyn M. Catoe
Kendall Park
Answering criticism
of open space
To the editor:
Criticism of open space made by Lynda Woods Cleary and Nanette Craig needs to be answered.
Ms. Cleary says we should be "more selective" in our "shopping spree." We are selective. Recommendations are brought to the committee and each parcel is evaluated on whether it harbors state or federal E&T species, is a headwater area for watershed, has unique vegetation, is adjacent to or is connected to open space by existing or proposed trails, has water and sewer, has acceptable soil quality, is close to populated areas or has cultural resources, water quality or other significant benefits.
Each parcel is scored and recommendations are made to the council. The size of the property is not part of this evaluation and priorities are fluid. The council acts based on whether the owner is a willing seller, the propertyies’ assessments and whether non-local funding has to be pursued.
Ms. Cleary also says properties "should be income-producing to some extent." She needs to read the ordinance. The operative word is "preserve."
Ms. Cleary wants "to take a look at where parks are already located and what services they are providing," information found in the Recreation Department brochure sent to all households several months ago.
Ms. Craig needs to read the Management and Use Agreement between the state Department of Environmental Protection and the township on Mapleton Preserve. This property is not to be "developed," but was acquired to "protect, preserve and enhance the natural, man-made and historical features of the site." A commission was appointed and a management plan is near completion. A natural and cultural resources inventory needs to be completed before serious maintenance can begin. She falsely asserts that "some of the buildings there are being used to house Princeton University equipment." Princeton’s request to rent storage space was denied. The possibility of preserving the long-abandoned buildings will be evaluated.
Ms. Cleary’s and Ms. Craig’s depiction of open space acquisition is an insult to the dedicated, hard-working members of the Open Space Advisory Committee, township management and our Council.
Jane Snyder
Kendall Park
Ms. Snyder is the chairwoman of the Open Space Advisory Committee.
Lynch money
should be returned
To the editor:
The local Democrats can’t seem to figure why they should give away the $1,500 influence peddling dollars they got from John Lynch.
Frank Gambatese, the mayor, is definitely in a quandary. At first he says, no, that the Republicans should first give back money from Jack Abramhoff, the Washington lobbyist. Then he says, well, maybe giving it away would "reduce voter cynicism" felt toward elected officials.
We’ll agree with both parts. Republicans in South Brunswick, however, have already done their part of the bargain: They never got a dime from Abramhoff. Now I think it’s Frank’s turn to give back the money and try to restore badly damaged voter confidence.
After all, these were the dollars aimed at influencing zoning decisions in South Brunswick that was the injury done to this town for which Lynch was convicted.
Bernie Hvozdovic, party chairman, doesn’t want to give it charity because the Democrats have given enough already. I guess Bernie thinks cancer has been cured and homelessness is no more.
Chris Kilmurray, Democrat Council candidate, for his part, is not jumping up and down saying, "Give back the money!" Very unlike Assemblywoman Greenstein, who has already given her share of the dollars back.
I think the voters in South Brunswick want something better. If they think so too, they need to vote for Lynda Woods Cleary for mayor and Nanette Craig for council. Vote to bring a clear voice for clean government to South Brunswick.
Harry Moss
Kendall Park

