Mayor Seda's gypsy moth decision bad for Jackson
When a newspaper editorial calls Jackson Mayor Mark Seda's decision making, as it pertains to gypsy moth spraying, "boneheaded," it is just another indication that our mayor is trying to backtrack and justify a poor and environmentally unsound decision.

Yes, it is true that Jackson experienced 3,000 more acres of gypsy moth destruction in 2008, but it is equally true that it could have been far worse if no spraying had been done at all (as explained by Joe Zoltowski of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture). And, we most likely would have had far less destruction if only the mayor had been wise enough to spray in 2007.

You can't eradicate the gypsy moth problem simply by spraying one year as the mayor has suggested; it's not like dropping an atomic bomb and wiping everything out.

As Mr. Zoltowski has said, it will take a few years to see a continued decrease, yet, each year, more and more gypsy moths will be destroyed if the spraying program continues.

What we need is a mayor who will have some foresight and not look for instant gratification when it comes to gypsy moths. Jackson doesn't need to have a mayor whose decisions are called "boneheaded," but instead, someone who can truly lead our growing town and make wise decisions based on the evidence. Gypsy moth destruction will continue to decrease as long as we continue to spray.
Alan Stern
Jackson