LETTER: Let’s be sensitive about post-referendum fanfare

From: Angelo Scialfa, Robbinsville
To the editor:
   In the Jan. 3 edition of The Messenger-Press there was an article about the Robbinsville Board of Education “celebrating” the approval of nearly $19 million for school expansion and repairs. In addition, they were thanking volunteers who worked hard to help gain voter approval.
   There is no doubt that many worked hard and the approval of $19 million referendum was a huge win for the BOE, however, celebrating the victory in a public forum and then having it published in the paper may have been a bit too much. The same week of the article I learned of two more people from town that lost their jobs! Unemployment in New Jersey is still 9 percent.
   For this and other reasons I opposed the $19 million and was more in favor of $10 million to $12 million bond. However, the $19 million was approved and we move forward. But please be sensitive to the people in town that may not be in the mood to celebrate. After all, we are going to be hit with three tax increases in 12 months, last July, the bond that just passed and this coming July.
   Having said all this, I do appreciate all the hard work of the BOE. I encourage all to participate and stay in touch with board members to see how they are doing and what we can do to help.

Angelo Scialfa

Robbinsville