Mayor is taking action to aid Freehold Borough residents

Iwas very disappointed to read the Nov. 7 Your Turn guest column, “Mayor’s Missteps Over Years Have Hurt Freehold Borough” by Virginia resident Richard Kelsey. This is a cold slap in the face of the voters of Freehold Borough, who only one day before reelected Mayor Michael Wilson and councilmen Kevin Kane and Jaye Sims to brand new terms.

The meddling piece comes from someone who regularly complains about our town and its mayor from several hundred miles away via Internet blogs and the local news media. Rich Kelsey may have roots here, but this is no longer his town and he cannot effectively address its concerns. His angry words can do more damage than good, though, and they are more often than not misdirected and undeserved.

People like Rich Kelsey and another frequent contributor, Freehold resident Tom Baldwin, represent completely opposite sides of the illegal immigration issue, but they share the common bond of dividing our town and disrespecting our residents and governing body.

When Councilman Kane was recently quoted as saying “the governing body is caught in the middle,” he was absolutely right. What he neglected to mention is that the “middle” advocates a common sense approach to this issue.

The governing body of Freehold Borough is doing everything it can legally do to address illegal immigration and is doing even more to address its devastating effects through new and enhanced borough ordinances and increased enforcement.

Our ongoing efforts may seem a bit too lax for Mr. Kelsey and too extreme for Mr. Baldwin, but they are right for Freehold Borough and its residents.

Fortunately, Mayor Wilson presides over common sense and responsibility. We should expect no less from a municipal leader.

I question the personal and political agendas of those who would hurt a town they claim to love by publicly branding it as lawless or hate-filled, depending on whose view you agree with. With respect to my point, nether Mr. Kelsey nor

Mr. Baldwin really “get it.”

The real issue for Freehold Borough is not about open borders or police states. Locally, it’s all about respect for our laws and a better quality of life for our residents. How is a mayor that advocates such virtues so often criticized and deemed a scoundrel – by either side?

Marc Le Vine

Councilman Freehold Borough