Letters
MTOTSA commended for steadfast resistance

It is said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, which is why our founding fathers created a three-branch government in the main body of the U.S. Constitution, each branch to check on the others.

Still not satisfied, the “fourth estate,” a free press, was guaranteed by the First Amendment to be an independent check on government. The press has operated in this fashion for over 225 years.

It is the only voice the people have in the face of government abuse of power.

It is puzzling, therefore, that a local newspaper in a recent editorial, rather than being a voice for the people, seeks to muzzle citizens whose only offense is the exercise of democracy. In suggesting that these Long Branch citizens stop speaking up at council meetings, the editor writes “... it’s clear that nothing they say at a council meeting will halt redevelopment.”

At the last city council meeting a young girl read a letter pleading that Long Branch not destroy the only home she and her younger sisters have ever known.

Democracy, and the passing of its torch to the next generation, doesn’t get much better than that. Is it embarrassing for the city and difficult to watch? Yes, but that’s the point.

By maintaining a presence at council meetings week after week, these citizens won’t let us (or the council) forget what is being done to them in the name of “the public.” After Kelo, the majority of citizens have come to see modern use of eminent domain as abusive. Shouldn’t we be encouraging constitutionally protected protest in the face of government abuse of power? We constantly criticize our citizenry for being apathetic, and for being too litigious. Yet the newspaper tells these citizens to stop protesting and see their lawyer. Would it have said that to the protesters in the great “civil rights movement” of the 1950’s?

They could never have hoped to convince their government oppressors of the wrongs being perpetrated on them, either. But their continued protest shined light on government abuse, which, through the press, let their fellow citizens witness their suffering and ultimately stop it.

To their great credit, MTOTSA members are committed to fighting eminent domain abuse. Reportedly, the other side has tried to “buy off” one or another of them in an attempt to split the group. Yet they have refused to “sell out” their neighbors.

In this refreshing exception to the individual greed promoted by modern culture, they remain united, tirelessly fighting against government abuse of power.

They are role models for the young and an inspiration to all as they stand together to stop the bulldozers which are poised, literally, at the edge of their neighborhood.

I, for one, applaud them for week after week, year after year, standing up and being counted, not tiring and not selling out their neighbors.

Barbara J. Gonos

West Long Branch

Kean to hold town meeting in West Long Branch

On Tuesday, July 26, I will be hosting a town meeting in West Long Branch. This is my 23rd town meeting and I am coming to the end of my two-year plan to host a meeting in each of the 25 towns in my legislative district (District 11). These meetings have provided me with excellent insight into the issues of importance to my constituents.

The West Long Branch town meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the West Long Branch Borough Hall located at 965 Broadway.

I invite residents of West Long Branch to join me at this meeting to discuss important concerns, such as the state budget and property taxes. This meeting is open to all members of the public.

Please inform your neighbors about this meeting and come out to tell me how we can work together to make West Long Branch an even better community in which to live.

Sean T. Kean

assemblyman

11th District

Eminent domain must be stopped

I was in Long Branch on a recent weekend. I had a function to attend at Rooney’s Crab House. I remember when it was so easy to drive off the parkway go down Route 36 onto Joline Avenue to Ocean Avenue and there it was — that glorious ocean right in front of you.

All I had to do was make a left onto Ocean Terrace and there I was at my aunt and uncle’s beach house looking at that glorious view of the ocean … and the view was of the entire ocean not just a little piece.

Well let’s fast forward to this past weekend. You now need to go up down and all around just to get close to the ocean and then through a maze of condos to get to Rooney’s. It is just so crowded and congested.

Eminent domain is just plain wrong. There is no other way to explain it.

Why should my aunt and uncle be forced to sell their home which they worked so hard to get for others to make a profit? And of all people to get that profit but Hovanian, he just can’t stand seeing an empty area.

MTOTSA is the organization which is trying to keep this three-street neighborhood alive I have many childhood memories of this neighborhood.

Please let us keep what little we have left of this neighborhood. Stop eminent domain.

Emily Krause

West Paterson

Resident thanks city’s finest and bravest

Imagine that sinking feeling when I disembarked at the Long Branch station from my evening train from New York and discovered I’d left my keys in the city.

The good news was that, by sheer luck, I had an extra car key with me; the bad news was that my car, parked in the station lot, had a club on its steering wheel and

I had no key. I phoned AAA, but the task of removing the security lock was not in their purview. Thinking it a long shot, I phoned the Long Branch Police Department (LBPD) and asked if they or the fire department could assist me. The desk officer said he’d phone me back as soon as possible. Within minutes he called and said the fire department was on its way. Indeed it was. A fire truck showed up, as did off-duty officers, a uniformed police officer and, I believe, the fire chief.

After I showed proof of ownership, two friendly firemen, one brandishing a power saw (“a last resort”), worked on removing the club with a lock puller and within 10 sweat-filled minutes, I was free to drive off. I didn’t catch their names, but I want to thank those firemen as well as the LBPD, who proved that Long Branch, despite its rapid oceanfront growth, is still a small town with a big heart.

Here’s to all you guys for helping a citizen in (minor) distress. You done good. I am grateful for your help and for what must have been a slow summer night at the firehouse.

Tony Dozois

Long Branch