During the 1930s, the German propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels implemented the theory of the “Big Lie.” Essentially, if you tell the people something long enough even if it is not true in order to further your own cause, they will eventually believe it and accept it as being true.
Today in Howell, we are witnessing this same tactic being used by our current mayor, Joseph DiBella. Let me say up front that in no way am I calling our mayor a supporter of Joseph Goebbels or the regime which he was a part of. However, I do believe the current mayor is using the “Big Lie” theory to purposely promote his administration to the detriment of past administrations without merit.
The fact of the matter is that during the past several months, the mayor has written numerous statements attacking my previous administration for purposely neglecting the roads and Department of Public Works vehicles while increasing taxes using Hudson County-style politics.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
From 1997 to 2002 while my administration had majority control, we were very focused on improving the vital infrastructure of Howell. During those six years, we invested over $18 million on a capital improvements program to enhance our roads, municipal buildings, vehicles, equipment, recreational facilities, sewers, etc. In my book, that is not neglecting the needs of our community.
Furthermore, the mayor twists and distorts the figures of taxes. In his statements he fails to mention that in my first two years in office we lowered the municipal tax rate from 23.4 cents down to 17.7 cents, a 24.3 percent decrease. However, due to a need for infrastructure improvements, the rate was raised eventually the next four years to a municipal tax rate of 34.5 cents per $100 of valuation.
By contrast, today’s tax rate is approaching 53.2 cents, a 54 percent tax increase since 2002. During my time we were very fiscally conservative and invested the people’s money wisely on much needed services and infrastructure improvements to increase and better the quality of life of Howell’s residents.
Lastly, he is way off base to even suggest or compare my years in office to Hudson County-style politics. I am very proud of the hard work that I and the countless number of individuals associated with my administration made in the lives of the citizens of Howell.
Together, we saw great improvement in many areas such as recreation, open space preservation, controlling housing growth, business investment, sound fiscal management and infrastructure improve-ment.
Additionally, we set aside a comfortable surplus in the general fund, had a small debt service and left our sewer department in a very sound fiscal condition.
Unfortunately, the same can not be stated with the current administration. The town’s sewer department has serious financial issues, the town’s debt has skyrocketed with out-of-control borrowing and our once healthy surpluses are now approaching dangerously low levels.
I hold my head high for giving the people an effective, dedicated and productive government; making the lives of its residents a better one. It is unfortunate that our current mayor has decided to take the low road and purposely and maliciously distort my record just to promote himself in the eyes of an unsuspecting public.
In closing, I stick to my proud achievements and back my record up with the facts. All of my administration’s accomplishments are clearly documented in town hall for everyone to see. The current mayor can spew his misinformation as much as he likes, but cannot escape the truth as reflected in the record. President Harry S. Truman used the phrase “The Buck Stops Here,” meaning that he took responsibility for his actions and never blamed others for his shortcomings; something our current mayor should certainly think about.
Timothy J. Konopka
former mayor
1997-2004
Howell