Editor’s Note: There are five members of the Neptune Township Committee, and perhaps you would rather be polled on each of them individually, but this is a poll of the Committee as an entity, much like the polls we often hear about regarding Congress.
It is true that most citizens in the Grove pay little or no attention to the performance of the Committee, but just because Grovers don’t attend meetings (the citizen attendance overall is abysmal) doesn’t mean that they don’t have an opinion as to how the Township is being run, especially as it pertains to Ocean Grove, and, after all, the buck stops in that Committee Room at the Mother Ship.
In the one Committee race from last Tuesday, more Grovers voted for Carlson than did for the incumbent McMillan, although it was close. It makes us wonder if Grovers believe that the Township Committee is paying sufficient attention to problems in the Grove.
You also might want to say something in the comments below.
As you all know, our polls are public opinion samplers and not scientific polling. But I think that our polls can give us a sense of how our neighbors feel about certain issues.
—-Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.
Prosper: There have been times in OG history when the town tried to secede from Neptune. One time it came to a referendum. The people of OG wanted it, but Neptune voters had veto power, and they rejected it. In 1925 there was a Borough of Ocean Grove, apart from Neptune, but the courts reversed it over “blue laws.”
When OG was founded, it was made part of Ocean Township by the State legislature. Subsequently, when Neptune was formed, the State attached OG to it.
—Paul
Our taxes are comparable to those we paid in Essex County. Why are we part of Neptune Township? The few school children in town can have a choice of school districts if we didn’t belong to Neptune. Policing can be done with a contract. Other services might be provided the same way. I don’t pretend to have the answers but maybe it’s time to start questioning the value of belonging to a larger entity that feeds off us and provides very little in return.
Thanks Joel. Well said. But as for your rhetorical (?) questions in the first paragraph, I follow my roll models at the NY Times and the WS Journal—-I offer opinions, provide a forum for you, and report the news—-but I try not to make the news.
At any rate, according to my inside-the-Beltway (i.e. Rt 33) sources, there are those at the Mother Ship who also read Blogfinger, so fire away!
Paul
Blogfinger, did you e-mail these Neptune related issues to the Mayor? Did you have a copy of a similiar letter published in the Coaster news paper? Did you expect the Mayor to contact you via e-mail or at least reach back?
I did all these related to my ideas on resident parking permits about two months ago. I have not received a response from the Mayor via e-mail.
I bring these points to your attention to edify you on what worked and did not work for this property tax payer,constituent of Neptune Twnsp. registered voter.
Joel T. Scranton is is my name. Was I acting like Don Quixote, The Man from La Mancha, who battled winds mills with the illusion of bettering?.
I have no question I dreamed. but it is not an impossible dream. I fought , but not the unbeatable foe.
(These are words from the song in the play “Man of La Mancha” for those of you who wish to understand my point please watch this quick WEB SITE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfHnzYEHAow
You can high-lite, copy and paste, push enter to watch.
But im not in a play when I write my property tax bill due or when I vote.
BUT WHEN I STAND ALONE, and all sit back, YES indeed I am mythical in a democracy. The democracy we sent soldiers to live or possibly die for to protect. It is not a SIT on your BUTTOCKS issue!
Joel T. Scranton
Carol: This is a poll not a research project. In our polls you get to ask one question. In this case we are asking whether people are satisfied or not with the Committee. There is no answer which is “not enough.” There is no reason to repoll on this question.
I’m not even sure why you would want to know whether our responders voted in the election or not. Regardless, they are entitled to their opinion. As for your other concerns, you won’t find those answers in our poll. Thanks, Paul
I think you should repoll and ask how many of the people who answered your poll actually voted. I agree with Joel, Saying one is not happy is not enough; how are Grovers communicating what they want and are looking for to the township committee? Also if the dissatisfaction is about derelict housing then we need to have our state assembly folks on notice that the judicial branch is not enforcing the penalties to the fullest extent. Just my 2 cents
When your done polling Blogfinger, Re-poll and ask how many of voters who were not satisfied attend meetings? Oh you darling Americans you!
I am an American, I sit back, don’t attend meetings, then complain about my government. Government by the people.
Joel T. Scranton