The governments of Aberdeen and Matawan have at long last absconded with the widow's mite. The trustees of our jointly-sponsored regional free library have reluctantly agreed to comply with requests to help cover our municipal budget shortfalls with monies meant for the library's capital improvement plan. The Independent quotes Susan Pike, director of the library, as saying that the loss of $275,000 "has stopped us from moving forward." Oh, and did I mention that Aberdeen wants more? They want more. Or, should I say, we want more. After all, it is our taxes that are being kept low by tapping the library's capital fund. Just how desperate are we to keep our taxes low? I'm frankly appalled.- Wally Tunison, of Monmouth Heritage Trails, Inc, recommends in an Asbury Park Press editorial that the Henry Hudson Trail be taken away from the railroad once and for all to become part of the county's preserved lands. I agree with him. He is more definitive about the Hudson Trail's current reprieve than is warranted, in my opinion, as the Red Bank deal may yet come unhinged, so the conservation of those lands is more important than ever.
- The Staten Island Advance says a grand jury found the evidence insufficient to indict a 30-year old Matawan man in connection with the death last year of Joseph Cesario at a bus stop in New Springfield, NY.
Pages
▼
I wish I could say that I'm surprised that the govt. would take money from the library, but I can't.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that they are taking money from one of the few places that both adults and children can enjoy in our community.
Tapping into quick money, such as the library reserves, as onerous as it sounds is reminiscent of the idea our municipal officials tend to be mere reflections of the 'average' citizens' views. Thomas Jefferson saw the need for the republican form of government at the national level, but understood and favored the democratizing appeal of the state, county, and especially town government. However, the trade off is easy to see. The blessings of closeness to the people, is offset by the tendency toward government by mediocrity. Instead of visionary leaders, we have reflections of ourselves. Not better or worse, but not terribly attractive when we look in the mirror at times.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I'm not so sure what concerns me more: the possibility that my council members lack foresight in municipal planning, lack understanding of fund accounting, or if, in full knowledge of such, lack the will to reflect the best parts of our characters that we would want to be, if we possessed the courage for it.