Letters
Mayor says recent rumor of prison is not true

It has come to my attention that an anonymous letter is circulating within the community and being left in residents’ mail boxes related to a large tract of land on Fairfield Road in Howell. This unsigned letter suggests that the township and Monmouth County are planning to open a prison or corrections facility on a now vacant parcel of land adjacent to the Brickyard Road exit ramp on Fairfield Road.

The origins of the letter and its author are unknown. More importantly its contents are absolutely false.

Neither the township nor the county has any plans to develop the property, let alone open a corrections facility. The property is privately owned and zoned as a commercial tract of land. At no time has the township been involved in any discussions at any level regarding this land being anything other than a viable commercial property that will hopefully bring in valuable tax revenue to the municipality.

The property was recently sold by an area religious organization to a private owner. The private owner has stated their intentions to commercially develop or sell the land for private business use.

Unsigned letters are often not worthy of anyone’s time or attention.

However, in this case, the author has caused concern among area residents fearful of what a correctional facility would do to the area. The author’s real intentions are unknown.

However, to put residents’ minds at ease, I felt it was important to end this hurtful rumor.

It is also illegal to leave materials in mail boxes that are not officially distributed through the postal service. Residents should report any materials being left in their mail box to the appropriate authorities for investigation.

In the event residents have any questions on any issue, please contact my office anytime. You may also send e-mail to me directly at MayorDiBella

@twp.howell.nj.us.

I am always pleased to speak to residents and assist in providing factual information about issues of the day.

Mayor Joseph DiBella

Howell

Eminent domain shows gov’t owns homes

Stunned, appalled, outrage — a few of the reactions to the recent Supreme Court ruling in the New London, Conn., eminent domain case. Five justices concluded that the state has the right to take one’s property and give it to another for other than public use. That this kind of decision could possibly be reached seems unimaginable to reasonable people. But there is another hot-button issue which shows that such a conclusion is the logical extension of another government policy that affects the right to private property. That issue? The property tax. The assumption that the state has absolute rights over all property is the principle connecting these two abusive practices.

As with eminent domain, the government makes its demands upon you based on the assumption that it has the right to an income from your property. Just as in feudal times, the local lord demands you pay him for the privilege of living on his land. Fail to pay, and you are evicted. Or, if he wants to reward a friend with your property, you are kicked off and it is given to them. In both cases, the state will do what is necessary to maintain or increase the revenue stream they think is their right because it really is their land to do with as they wish. Reaction to this mind-set inspired the Fifth Amendment. Its intention was to end the idea that government can do with your land as they please. Public use was the only exception. The Supreme Court cannot seem to fathom such plain words.

These two injustices — eminent domain and the property tax — are interconnected because both assume something most people in this nation find abhorrent — the government actually owns your home and you have no defense, no rights to it, if they decide to exercise their “rights.”

John C. Hendrickson

Red Bank

New Jersey emergency medical training pays off in London

The quick, well-publicized actions of New Jersey volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT) Sean Baran during the July 7 terrorist bombings in London are a terrific illustration of the value of our state’s volunteer emergency medical services (EMS).

Although Sean’s training and experience as a member of a volunteer EMS organization have served his New Jersey community well, they also prepared him to respond effectively during emergency situations anywhere. His skills, invaluable to the victims he assisted in London, will prove useful to him and those around him throughout his life. The fact that Sean obtained those skills in New Jersey speaks volumes about the quality of our state’s volunteer EMS corps.

The nonprofit New Jersey State First Aid Council, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, represents more than 20,000 EMS volunteers affiliated with hundreds of first aid and rescue squads throughout the state.

Each year, New Jersey’s established, reliable volunteer EMS base responds to hundreds of thousands of calls for assistance all over the state, saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. That same corps of volunteers demonstrated its critical importance during and following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in New York City.

Sean is representative of the thousands of EMS volunteers in New Jersey who step in and help whenever, wherever they are needed. With volunteer rolls ever shrinking, the council regularly steps up recruitment and retention efforts to expand that base.

On the council’s behalf, I ask New Jersey’s residents to consider undertaking EMT training and then volunteering their services in their communities. The skills they’ll acquire, as well as the rewarding feeling that accompanies helping someone in need, are just two of the many guaranteed lifetime benefits.

Frederick L. Steinkopf

President

New Jersey State

First Aid Council

Asbury Park