Letters to the Editor, March 30

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, March 30

A texting ban isn’t necessary
To the editor:
   
Texting-while-driving (Editorial, March 27) just might be the epitome of careless driving. It is, as you write, a no-brainer to rid the roads of it. But law enforcement already has authority to ticket texting drivers under New Jersey’s long-standing careless driving law. A new law is superfluous.
   Statute 39: 4-97, in 34 words, says it all: "A person who drives a vehicle carelessly, or without due caution or circumspection, in a manner so as to endanger, or likely to endanger, a person or property, shall be guilty of careless driving."
   Sound like a texting driver to you? Or one tying his shoes, for that matter? You bet.
   Police also already have authority to ticket drivers who read newspapers — and those applying makeup or shaving or any number of distractions that define carelessness. Drivers who steer with their knees while eating Chinese food with chopsticks as they careen through the Trenton tunnel also come to mind.
   What’s problematic with any new driver distraction law that specifies one distraction, such as texting, without listing other distractions, such as knitting, is the implicit legitimization of unlisted distractions even though they, too, impact driver safety. I could name two dozen more. They are all careless, distracted driving. AAA is against texting-while-driving because AAA wants safer roads.
   Is legislating piecemeal the way to make roads safer? Not in our view. In our view, a good start is enforcing laws already on the books.
David Weinstein
Manager, Public & Gov’t Affairs
AAA Mid-Atlantic
For Chang, Ciccone, Gambetese in WW
To the editor:
   
Which council candidates will be more effective to make West Windsor a better place to live? Right now this town is in an envious stage, and we have all the right ingredients to become the best and unique in the tri-state area. Our elected officials today can make a real difference.
   There are about 1,000 acres of land ready to be developed, 350 around the train station, and 650 acres of Wyeth property. How these properties are developed will define our future for many generations to come. Let us not squander this opportunity. There are people who are afraid of any change. Status quo seems to be a safer road for them.
   We have a wonderful open process happening now with the transit village. If we fail this, like in all other cities, the developers and a handful of elected officials will decide in closed rooms what is good for them and build for their benefit. We have seen that before. Decide based on facts and not on the baseless rumors people are spreading.
   I have no doubt Franc Gambatese, Hsing-Chi "Chuck" Chang, and Diane Ciccone, with their experience, dedication, and business background, are our only choice to help us realize the town’s full potential with a long term vision. Franc and Team have never been shy to fight for the right causes. Hanging on to the status quo has serious implications for our future generations.
   I have lived in West Windsor for more than 50 years and I want my grandchildren to be more proud of my town. We need to elect Gambatese, Chang, and Ciccone as council members who will work for the sole benefit of the residents. The party politics have no place in this small town. Status quo no, progress yes!
   On May 8, let us elect Gambatese, Chang, and Ciccone, whom we can trust to keep this open process a reality. This is a critical election. Our future depends on it.
John Rosko
Pinflower Lane
West Windsor
For Borek, Morgan, Anklowitz in WW
To the editor:
   
I am writing in reference to the upcoming council election in West Windsor. There is a need for independent voices on township council. We need people that will vote for the interests of the taxpayers and not be swayed by political pressures.
   The transit village is such a major step for the community that we need an honest and balanced evaluation of the overall feasibility of the project. Questions need to be asked and answered. It is for these reasons that I am supporting Charlie Morgan, Will Anklowitz and George Borek for town council. These men will bring experience and enthusiasm to the job of council person, and they will treat the taxpayers and other council members with respect.
   Join me in voting for Charlie, Will and George in the May election.
Carol Awbrey
Village Road West
West Windsor
Funeral planning story appreciated
To the editor:
   
Many thanks to Kristin Boyd for her excellent reporting on funeral planning in her March 13, 2007 story (Lifestyle), and to The Packet for publishing it. You opened up many eyes to this important, but often neglected, family planning topic.
   When I visited Princeton recently to speak at the meeting Ms. Boyd referred to in the article, many people said newspaper coverage of the meeting spurred them to attend and learn more.
   Thank you for "doing journalism" in the public’s interest.
Joshua Slocum
Executive Director
Funeral Consumers Alliance National
A psychic responds to Packet article
To the editor:
   
Apparently you honestly do not know much about true Psychic Mediums. I’m very offended by your article (Lifestyle, March 27) and cannot believe you would write such things. I have worked with the police on several cases and have been working as a psychic all my life. I see the spirits and do hold conversations with them. I get complete details and absolutely do not do "cold reading", as you call it.
   That evening at the Nassua Inn I communicated with a young high school kid who was killed. The details all the way down to the jersey he was buried in with the number 86 on it. This is not something I could make up or feed from. I’m very big on telling people not to give me any information when I’m reading them.
   I appeared in a three-hour documentary film based on my life as a psychic medium and also have a book coming out soon. Before you write negative things about a psychic, make sure you talk to me first. I read police officers, mayors, judges, doctors and I could keep going on. I would love to sit, one on one, with Mr. Nickels, or with the writer and I can guarantee you will change your mind.
Joseph Tittel
Mill Creek Road
Levittown Pa.
Route 206 change a happy ending
To the editor:
   
I would like to congratulate The Montgomery Township Committee, the Township Traffic Committee and particularly Deputy Mayor Louise Wilson on what appears to be a very successful resolution to the Rt. 206 Bypass issue. Wilson’s thoughtful, reasoned and, rational stewardship of this difficult issue should be commended. Her calm guidance and real understanding of the best course to resolve the issue with DOT led to this favorable outcome. The new plan for the 206 Bypass addresses the concerns and goals of Montgomery and Hillsborough.
   The very positive resolution for the Bypass and the manner in which it was guided can give the residents of Montgomery Township confidence that our leadership will exercise the same good judgment in the issues that have been raised with regard to NPDC. Our Township Committee is taking a caring and reasoned approach to understanding the opportunities NPDC presents for redevelopment and the risks related to the site’s remediation.
   Each one of us has to assess the level and type of risk we can live with. It is, of course, incumbent upon us to question the Township Committee, department heads and contractors but we also need to be aware of the daily risks we ourselves impose on one another and our environment. The NPDC site needs to be cleaned up. Surely it is better to have the NPDC work done under controlled, protective and scientifically sound circumstances than to have the years of deterioration continue.
   What precautions do we individually take if we make the choice to fertilize our lawns and use pesticides to control weeds, which emit chemical particles into the air, soil and water? Do we consider the effects when smoking around other people? Our children? In these and many other ways we take risks greater than any risks associated with cleaning up the NPDC site.
   Although not scientifically necessary and costly to all the taxpayers of Montgomery, it was appropriate to agree to restrict the demolition to times when The Village School is not in session. Excellent precautions are in place, there is no need to balloon the budget any more.
Irene Stein
Jamestown Road
Montgomery
Thanking Target for a good deed
To the editor:
   
While shopping at Target on Route 1 in West Windsor last Thursday evening, I lost my diamond engagement ring in the cosmetics aisle while trying on hand lotion, where I left it on the shelf to try on the lotion, right before closing.
   Upon returning home at 11 p.m. when my husband and I realized what I had done, he jumped in the car and drove back to Target. We live in Skillman, which is not exactly around the corner. The store was, naturally, closed by then; he banged on the door, and a security guard opened the door. My husband told him that he believed I may have left my ring on the lotion shelf, and the security guard informed him that yes, I did, and that one of the clerks had found it an hour before he arrived and anonymously dropped it into the store vault, where I could collect it when the vault was to be opened in the morning.
   This is incredible story about human nature. When I went to collect my ring the next day, nobody had stepped up to say they had been the one to find it; someone just did the right thing simply because it was the right thing to do.
   This is a credit to that individual, whom we are still trying to track down to thank, and also to Target Corporation, who must be taking very good care of its employees to have created a company culture that promotes such good will and ethics.
   I am astonished, delighted, and have a reaffirmation about humanity! Thank you, Target, and thank you to some good soul for being so good!
Margie Aretz
Rolling Hill Road
Montgomery
Sen. Inverso will be missed
To the editor:
   
I want to thank Senator Inverso on 15 years of outstanding public service. He has served with integrity and principled leadership. If you stop to think about all that he has done, it is pretty impressive: Megan’s Law, ethics reforms, property tax relief and more.
   Senator Inverso will be missed, but I think his ideas will live on with Bill Baroni. Baroni has vowed to continue Inverso’s legacy in office and work for the same ideals that Inverso supported during his years in public office. It’s hard to think of many issues that Baroni was not standing with Inverso on. Both Inverso and Baroni have impressive track records of keeping the people’s best interests at the forefront of their decisions.
   The fact is that we need public officials in office with character like that of Inverso if we ever hope to end the Culture of Corruption in Trenton. Let’s support Inverso-like people such as Baroni and make sure we have honest, upright people representing us where it matters.
Jody Pearce
Bodine Drive
Cranbury