Well, today I went knocking on doors for the campaign. At first, I had some trepidation, but as I went to each house, I was amazed at the nice reception I got. People seem to be fed up with what is happening now, and they are willing to go for a change.
I realize name recognition is very important, and that's why campaigners go door to door to begin with. But I didn't count on getting such a welcome from the young homeowners. I guess they are feeling the pinch of a 32% increase in taxes. Most of them were aware of all the issues of the campaign. When I mentioned gypsy moths, or the illegal road or the mayor's salary increase, they all reacted the same way. They were not happy, and they wanted change. Luckily it was a beautiful day, and many homeowners were outside doing the lawn or chatting with neighbors.
Yesterday, I went to a fashion show to benefit the Jackson Educational Foundation. Mike Kafton looked great in the tux he modeled. It was a fun afternoon, and I won a few things in the raffle. I really had a wonderful time. It was all done for the Jackson Schools, and my School Board background came shining through.
There is an amazingly busy six weeks ahead. Coffees, meetings, and campaign "stuff" will fill almost all my days. But I plod onward with the goal of changing this township by getting the "A Team" elected. Row A all the way!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
I Saw the Easter Bunny Today
Today I attended the Jackson Gives Back Easter egg hunt held at the White Butterfly. There were hundreds of people there, and the event was a smashing success. I worked hard, but I had a great time, just as I did at the Valentines Dance they sponsored.
The kids were so excited as they hunted for eggs. Nobody came up empty handed. There were 2000 eggs provided for the event. Once again, they held a free raffle with Webkinz as the prize. The kids loved it, even if they didn't win. The screaming each time one of the little Webkinz was held up reached more decibels than my poor ears could stand, but I couldn't help smiling.
This is such a great organization. I will be supporting their events in the future whether I am elected to Council or not. I find that giving back to Jackson is fun as well as rewarding. Oh, and I got to buy an adorable little purse in the store. Now that's what I call a great day.
The kids were so excited as they hunted for eggs. Nobody came up empty handed. There were 2000 eggs provided for the event. Once again, they held a free raffle with Webkinz as the prize. The kids loved it, even if they didn't win. The screaming each time one of the little Webkinz was held up reached more decibels than my poor ears could stand, but I couldn't help smiling.
This is such a great organization. I will be supporting their events in the future whether I am elected to Council or not. I find that giving back to Jackson is fun as well as rewarding. Oh, and I got to buy an adorable little purse in the store. Now that's what I call a great day.
Friday, March 21, 2008
The Battle Lines Are Drawn
Well, the deadline for petitions has come and gone. The battle lines are clear. It is the Seda supporters against the Independents. And away we go!!!!!
We have been unbelievably busy. Coffees, meetings, events and hard work. I'm loving it...mostly. Sometimes I get a bit tired, but I NEVER get tired of meeting new people.
The issues are now crystal clear. Gypsy moths, basketball court on a land fill, 32% tax increase, wetland disaster, EMS, etc. I can't promise to straighten out the mess. Even thinking about undoing all the disasters would be a waste of everyone's time. So where do we go from here?
High on our list of priorities is the environment. We need to preserve open space. The Township in the past has bought up open spaces and thus prevented development. Trees were planted, not killed. Parks were formed, not destroyed by gypsy moths.
We MUST slow down the building in Jackson. If every new home brings an average of three children, our schools cannot keep up. We will need new schools, and the builders are not responsible to help in any way. Impact tax is illegal in New Jersey. The homeowner will be forced to foot the bill, since property taxes fund education for the most part. We are currently educating some of our kids in trailers. Imagine a major influx of new students.
There are no easy answers here. But, if we are thinking independently and not voting one way because the Party tells us to, we will be able to get a lot more accomplished. Emily Ingram has stated that she feels diversity on the Council will cause arguing. According to Ms. Igram, the Council is, and should remain, one party, one mind. I guess that's fine if you go along with that "mind." I don't, and I happen to like some differing opinions on the Council. Surely, not everyone in Jackson thinks the same way. And that's what I'm all about.
We have been unbelievably busy. Coffees, meetings, events and hard work. I'm loving it...mostly. Sometimes I get a bit tired, but I NEVER get tired of meeting new people.
The issues are now crystal clear. Gypsy moths, basketball court on a land fill, 32% tax increase, wetland disaster, EMS, etc. I can't promise to straighten out the mess. Even thinking about undoing all the disasters would be a waste of everyone's time. So where do we go from here?
High on our list of priorities is the environment. We need to preserve open space. The Township in the past has bought up open spaces and thus prevented development. Trees were planted, not killed. Parks were formed, not destroyed by gypsy moths.
We MUST slow down the building in Jackson. If every new home brings an average of three children, our schools cannot keep up. We will need new schools, and the builders are not responsible to help in any way. Impact tax is illegal in New Jersey. The homeowner will be forced to foot the bill, since property taxes fund education for the most part. We are currently educating some of our kids in trailers. Imagine a major influx of new students.
There are no easy answers here. But, if we are thinking independently and not voting one way because the Party tells us to, we will be able to get a lot more accomplished. Emily Ingram has stated that she feels diversity on the Council will cause arguing. According to Ms. Igram, the Council is, and should remain, one party, one mind. I guess that's fine if you go along with that "mind." I don't, and I happen to like some differing opinions on the Council. Surely, not everyone in Jackson thinks the same way. And that's what I'm all about.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Where's the Principal?
I just returned from the Town Council meeting. In all the years I have been on a public board, I have rarely seen anything like tonight (and I was the President of a BOE that held a public forum to discuss closing two neighborhood schools). The screaming back and forth between the Council and the speakers at the microphone was not only juvenile, but also a downright disgrace. I felt as if I wanted to call the Principal to discipline the class. Is this the group of officials who are running our town?
It is my opinion, and my experience, that elected officials assume the mantle of decorum, even when an audience member is making inflammatory remarks aimed at them. It is the job of the President of the Council to keep order, not to jump into the fray with the other Council members. What we had tonight was a free for all. If, in the judgement of the Council President, a question is inappropriate or out of order, he or she must rule on that before everyone on both sides starts screaming at each other and calling each other names. Save that for elementary kids who will then be disciplined by their teacher.
In spite of all this, there were some issues addressed. The spraying for gypsy moths is a dead issue. The Council, in its infinite wisdom, once again sited lack of money for failure to act on this serious problem. Apparently, the state is cutting our aid, and there is not enough money in the budget for anything more than the one state aerial pass the Council voted for. I am sure I heard a note of defensiveness on the part of the Council members. So, if I get it right, township residents can cry over their dead trees while they play basketball on the new half-million dollar lighted courts in Johnson Park.
Cablevision is the lucky recipient of a 15 year contract. According to Mr. Martin, there is an escape clause somewhere in there, but why in the world tie our hands to one company for 15 years? And, why blame the "previous administration" for not signing a contract they thought was inadequate?
You will NEVER hear me address the public the way our Council addressed them tonight. Actually, as an audience member, I will never address the Council that way either. A former BOE member who served before my time was known to say, "You can disagree without being disagreeable." I hope I remember that if I am elected to the Council.
It is my opinion, and my experience, that elected officials assume the mantle of decorum, even when an audience member is making inflammatory remarks aimed at them. It is the job of the President of the Council to keep order, not to jump into the fray with the other Council members. What we had tonight was a free for all. If, in the judgement of the Council President, a question is inappropriate or out of order, he or she must rule on that before everyone on both sides starts screaming at each other and calling each other names. Save that for elementary kids who will then be disciplined by their teacher.
In spite of all this, there were some issues addressed. The spraying for gypsy moths is a dead issue. The Council, in its infinite wisdom, once again sited lack of money for failure to act on this serious problem. Apparently, the state is cutting our aid, and there is not enough money in the budget for anything more than the one state aerial pass the Council voted for. I am sure I heard a note of defensiveness on the part of the Council members. So, if I get it right, township residents can cry over their dead trees while they play basketball on the new half-million dollar lighted courts in Johnson Park.
Cablevision is the lucky recipient of a 15 year contract. According to Mr. Martin, there is an escape clause somewhere in there, but why in the world tie our hands to one company for 15 years? And, why blame the "previous administration" for not signing a contract they thought was inadequate?
You will NEVER hear me address the public the way our Council addressed them tonight. Actually, as an audience member, I will never address the Council that way either. A former BOE member who served before my time was known to say, "You can disagree without being disagreeable." I hope I remember that if I am elected to the Council.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
What's Next
Well, Election Day is only two months away, and the road ahead is busy. There are many, many coffees at people's homes. All three of us, "Mike, Mike and the Mad Dog," have arranged for coffees. Therefore, we are being graciously hosted by a variety of people. We have several coffees scheduled here in my own community, and even here, I am meeting new people at each one.
Tonight we were hosted at a mobile home park. We had a chance to introduce ourselves and answer questions from the residents. Because it was a small business meeting with a small group in attendance, they have invited us back for another evening to address residents from several other parks as well. I eagerly look forward to having the opportunity to discuss issues with another segment of our community.
I would love to meet the parents of school children. Having served on a Board of Education for so many years, I would like to hear about their concerns here in Jackson. I think that parents everywhere have the same issues at heart. They want the best possible education for their kids. That's just plain mother and apple pie stuff. But I want to hear what they have to say regarding what they want from the Town Council, what issues they would like to see addressed, and how best I can meet their expectations.
And of course I will continue to attend the Council meetings. I wish they would discuss issues before voting. A list of ordinances on an agenda does not offer any insight into their votes. I never hear any dissenting votes except on the hot ticket items such as gypsy moths. I have learned more about caterpillars than I ever wanted to know. It was only through the anger of the residents that the issue was addressed at all. At this point, all their "give them what they want" posturing cannot erase the pain of the residents who lost their trees. All I can do is promise to be very careful before I vote "yes" on any issue that has such huge ramifications as not spraying for gypsy moths, or building a half million dollar basketball court in the middle of three senior communities.
And so we move on. Soon we will be knocking on doors and giving out literature. By the time this campaign is over, the residents of this town will know my name...win, lose, or draw.
Tonight we were hosted at a mobile home park. We had a chance to introduce ourselves and answer questions from the residents. Because it was a small business meeting with a small group in attendance, they have invited us back for another evening to address residents from several other parks as well. I eagerly look forward to having the opportunity to discuss issues with another segment of our community.
I would love to meet the parents of school children. Having served on a Board of Education for so many years, I would like to hear about their concerns here in Jackson. I think that parents everywhere have the same issues at heart. They want the best possible education for their kids. That's just plain mother and apple pie stuff. But I want to hear what they have to say regarding what they want from the Town Council, what issues they would like to see addressed, and how best I can meet their expectations.
And of course I will continue to attend the Council meetings. I wish they would discuss issues before voting. A list of ordinances on an agenda does not offer any insight into their votes. I never hear any dissenting votes except on the hot ticket items such as gypsy moths. I have learned more about caterpillars than I ever wanted to know. It was only through the anger of the residents that the issue was addressed at all. At this point, all their "give them what they want" posturing cannot erase the pain of the residents who lost their trees. All I can do is promise to be very careful before I vote "yes" on any issue that has such huge ramifications as not spraying for gypsy moths, or building a half million dollar basketball court in the middle of three senior communities.
And so we move on. Soon we will be knocking on doors and giving out literature. By the time this campaign is over, the residents of this town will know my name...win, lose, or draw.
A Visit to a Mobile Home Park
Tonight we had the pleasure of being invited to visit a mobile home park to address the residents. They were having their monthly meeting, and we had the opportunity to introduce ourselves.
In some ways their problems are different, and in many ways their problems are the same. The people are struggling to make ends meet, and they are running against a brick wall when they try to speak to our elected officials. They have several problems, including some related to safety that they were trying to get resolved without result.
There are people from all walks of life who are part of this town, and everyone must be given the opportunity to be heard. I will listen and do what I can to represent everyone, not just those of my particular beliefs.
In some ways their problems are different, and in many ways their problems are the same. The people are struggling to make ends meet, and they are running against a brick wall when they try to speak to our elected officials. They have several problems, including some related to safety that they were trying to get resolved without result.
There are people from all walks of life who are part of this town, and everyone must be given the opportunity to be heard. I will listen and do what I can to represent everyone, not just those of my particular beliefs.
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