Letters
Resident waits for answers from fire district

I will explain and provide answers to Kelli Kalapos’ letter to the editor (“Jackson Fire District No. 3 Only Wants What is Best For the Residents,” Tri-Town News, Feb. 2). The concern is over Jackson Fire District No. 3’s two proposals.

Answer to the first question “asked to build for tomorrow what they do not need today.” I was told by an official of Fire District No. 3 that the size of the facility was larger than the need today so they would not have to expand the building in 12 to 15 years.

That means that in 12 to 15 years, Jackson will have the extra area. In the meantime, Jackson residences will be paying year after year to heat, air condition, illuminate, clean, maintain, paint and other maintenance issues for space that is not needed.

In addition, 12 to 15 years out the roof has lost about half its life, the additional toilet fixtures may have to be replaced or refurbished. In 12 to 15 years things will require repair or replacement.

So in the total picture residents will be paying for things we do not need today. In fact, the cost over the 12 to 15 years will be much more than to do the expansion when needed, even considering inflation in 12 to 15 years.

Answer to “I think this town wants its toys to be bigger than other towns.” The concern is the 100-foot ladder truck. Two former New York City deputy chiefs, both receiving fire degrees from John Jay College for urban and suburban fire fighting, indicate that the ladder truck will not efficiently serve Jackson. One of the deputy chiefs served on the committee that wrote the national fire code.

In addition, there are alternatives that are much more cost efficient and better serve facilities that need ladder truck evacuation. Not to mention the cost and maintenance cost for the 100-foot ladder truck. I still maintain that everyone wants what is needed to protect the citizens of Jackson.

Next question, no one is questioning a quick response time. All we want to know is, was an emergency response plan performed indicating time and distance analysis? Was a plan verified? They are just questions that the citizens of Jackson should be given the answers to.

The taxpayers of Jackson should be provided with the answers to the questions I asked the mayor in my letter to him dated Jan. 16, 2006. Once the answers are provided, as you say, perhaps the fire district and the Jackson citizens can “wake up” upon review of the proper answers to the questions.

Joseph Dimino

Jackson

Providing benefits for officer’s partner was the correct thing to do

The bravery, persistence and courage of a dying woman have helped illuminate a growing human rights issue in ways unforeseen by those opposed to her pleas.

Laurel Hester, the 23-year Ocean County law enforcement officer dying of cancer, with her quiet grace and eloquence and the support of so many others, including news media, public officials and the governor, moved the Ocean County freeholders to reverse themselves and grant her and her registered domestic partner survivor pension benefits that a married heterosexual would by law be entitled to without even having to ask.

And before Ocean County did so, the same benefits were approved by many other officials in counties and towns across New Jersey, including the Monmouth County freeholders and the Jackson Township Com-mittee. They are to be commended for doing the right thing without having to be shamed into doing so.

Many previously accepted opinions about race, ethnicity and cultural biases have turned out to be just plain wrong and have given way to more enlightened views based on new realities, a strong sense of fairness and a clearer and more sensitive understanding of human nature.

Ongoing research indicates that sexual orientation is inherently biological/genetic in nature and not a matter of choice.

Individuals with same sex orientation cannot enter into a heterosexual marriage and still be true to themselves and a spouse. Yet, at the present time, domestic partners are denied many of the same rights and legal benefits to which others are entitled.

The true strength of a civil society is measured by its capacity for tolerance, compassion for, understanding and acceptance of its most diverse and least understood members.

Differences are strengths, not deficits, which a mature community can build upon to grow and prosper.

Abraham Lincoln once asked a divided nation to overcome narrow minded attitudes by striving to become “the better angels of our nature.” Just as the nation was divided then over a human rights issue, so it is now. Lt. Hester’s and her partner’s pleas for equal treatment, like those of many other same sex couples, are an appeal to our better nature.

Laurel Hester and her partner entered into a committed, loving and caring relationship. In a compassionate and enlightened society, that’s all that should matter.

Barry Fulmer

Freehold Township