Letters
Open letter to state senators, assemblymen

The continued use of eminent domain in the state of New Jersey without any oversight of a state agency is frightening! Local municipalities have too much power to inflict damage on families and citizens in good standing. The emotional and physical duress that property owners face, staring down the barrel of the weapon of eminent domain abuse is disgraceful.

How can this continue to happen in New Jersey and in America? It is truly appalling.

In America, we are all to live free from despotism and yet local governments get to rule with absolute despotic control.

The property owners in Long Branch have been voicing their concerns about eminent domain abuse for three years. Despite countless council meetings attended, immense media coverage, thousands and thousands of letters to acting Gov. Richard Codey and rallies of demonstration; the property owners in Long Branch have yet to get any significant support from our governor, Assembly or state Senate.

Now we sit here this holiday season and await letters of condemnation! The properties in this neighborhood are not “condemnable” with regard to the condition of the dwellings; there are no safety hazards or public safety conditions. No crime, infestation or public health crises. So where is the justification for taking private property simply to give to another private owner?

It seems like every day city councils in the state of New Jersey are threatening more long time residents with the ultimate governmental power of eminent domain.

The activists fighting to stop this abuse have long said that this is an erosion of liberty, freedom and independence. All Americans need to wakeup and be cognizant of what is going on. Big time developers are making tremendous profits at the cost of property owners.

If you purchase real estate, pay your mortgage, pay your taxes and maintain your property no one should be able to seize your privately owned property and transfer its ownership to a wealthier population. Not only is this un-American and a violation of liberty; it is social and economic discrimination.

I ask again, “Where is our government that is supposed to protect our rights, both socially and economically?

All Americans are entitled to protection of private property and freedom from all types of discrimination. This is the first priority of our government.

We ask again for your help.

William D. Giordano

Long Branch

Paolantonio: Best wishes to mayor, council

First, I would like to extend best wishes to the newly elected mayor and council members.

Furthermore, I would like to thank the present council for its dedicated assistance during my eight-month appointment as mayor of West Long Branch, as the borough was going through a very difficult period.

Support from our borough employees was exemplary, and special recognition should go to Police Chief John Demaree, and Director of Public Works Earl Reid. Most of all, I would like to thank Lori Cole, the borough clerk, for her expertise and support. I would not have been able to succeed without her.

During my term, I made some controversial decisions. Expanding the Recreation Commission membership to include a representative of the West Long Branch Sports Association was one such decision. I felt it was important an organization representing more than 400 of our children in sports have a voice on this commission. Another decision was my opposition against the suing of Monmouth University. My significant concern of the Borough Council suing our own autonomous Zoning Board — appointed by the Borough Council — would be a clear waste of taxpayers’ money and set a precedent that residents of the borough would regret in the future. Especially when considering large amounts of money this would cost the constituents.

Lastly, I would like to thank my running mates and the people who supported our ticket. This election was important, as the residents of West Long Branch were afforded an opportunity for the first time in three years to make a choice.

John J. Paolantonio Jr.

West Long Branch

Core beliefs, bipartisan bent make a great leader

A sign of great leaders is that they have two key traits. One is that they have a core set of beliefs that are not influenced by polls or the latest trends in society. The second, even with those, is that they are not afraid to work with others who do not agree with them to advance the common good.

While these two traits may seem paradoxical, there are numerous examples from previous periods.

President Abraham Lincoln put people in his cabinet who originally thought he was incompetent, and who didn’t share his ideology, and he gained their confidence quickly.

In politics promises don’t mean much. What means more is a person’s background, and that is why I am so incredibly optimistic about Governor-elect Corzine. If one wants to see an example of Corzine being able to reach across party lines, all they need to do is look at his record in the U.S. Senate. When Sen. Sam Brownback Republican of Kansas, and arguably the most conservative member of the chamber was looking for a Democrat to co-sponsor a bill to help make a statement about the genocide occurring in Sudan, it was Corzine who stepped up to the plate. It was through their work and leadership that the bill was passed and the intent of that governing body was made known to the world.

One can also look at the leadership role Corzine played in the creation of the bipartisan Sarbanes-Oxley bill, which helped restore confidence in our financial systems to millions of people after the collapse of Enron and Arthur Anderson. Corzine didn’t care how much recognition he got for his efforts, as he saw it as his duty to work to ensure that such horrible events did not happen again in the future.

As one can see, we are lucky to have a man with such diverse and unique experiences to lead our state in these difficult times.

It will require hard work and many sacrifices, but I believe after the hard work by our new governor and the legislature we will be a better state as a result of their work.

Steven M. Clayton

Ocean Township