Letters

I am writing to express my concern regarding the proper care of pets during these frigid, bitter cold winter days/nights. Where is our compassion and intelligence regarding our pets, both dogs and cats, when the thermometer dips toward zero?

The following are some guidelines from a veterinary hospital.

Shorthaired animals should not be left outside overnight if the temperature is below 40 degrees and damp. Bring in any pet if the temperature falls below 20 degrees unless the pet is acclimated and has a good, insulated shelter, raised off the ground, facing southeast. (“Good” means small enough to trap animal heat, large enough to turn around and lie down in.) Straw or hay for the doghouse is best — cloth collects moisture.

During the colder months, pets need more food, especially increased protein, to deal with the cold. Fresh water twice daily is essential.

When we see animals that are obviously not being protected from the elements or not being cared for properly, why not lend a hand and offer to help? If nothing seems to work, then perhaps it is best to contact the local humane society or county investigator. It is against the law to not provide proper shelter and food/water to pets.

Kathryn Kovach

Jamesburg

Good to be an ‘other’ in board’s budgeting

How can I spend the money? Let me count the ways. This is the motto of the Monroe Township Board of Education.

A general rule of board of education budgeting is that salaries, wages and benefits should be about 80 percent of the board budget. This would mean in Monroe that $56 million of the $70-million budget would be allocated to staff compensation. Based upon current staffing levels, this would be divided as follows: 300 teachers at $60,000 for salaries and benefits — $18 million; 400 “others” at $95,000 for salaries and benefits — $38 million.

In the movie “History of the World, Part 1,” Mel Brooks said, “It’s good to be king.” To paraphrase Mr. Brooks, “It’s good to be an ‘other’ at the Monroe Township Board of Education.”

Patricia A. Appleby

Monroe

Won’t give up the fight for meaningful property-tax reform

I want to thank all the supporters who assisted me in my effort to become an 18th-District state assemblyman. I recognize the sacrifices made on my behalf. I also want to thank all the voters who had confidence in me and hoped my election would mean that I would directly act in the Assembly to bring about meaningful tax reform.

Although I lost the election, that doesn’t mean that I’ll give up my fight to alleviate the major issue for most New Jerseyans — the property tax, the highest in the nation. The heavy burden of property tax has been around too long, hurting too many people. In fact, the state Legislature started a deep look into the problem back in 1970, but it has failed to do anything about it to date. Why?

One of the main reasons, I believe, is that no legislator has presented an intelligent plan that could at least provide a basis for discussion on the Assembly floor.

To this end, I’ll be writing a letter to all Assembly members in January after they have been sworn in. The letter will outline my approach to lowering our property taxes by 60 percent, fully funding education without hurting anyone.

The approach requires that a bill be introduced to provide that property taxes be used only for municipal and county costs and to also provide for the institution of a 5-percent flat state-income tax to fund only primary and secondary education. This method of funding is fiscally sound, considering that the total earnings for New Jersey residents is $398 billion, while the cost of education is $17.5 billion. A 5-percent dedicated income tax easily meets the need.

Current use of property taxes takes a higher percent of the earnings from the lower-earning group while taking a smaller percentage of income from the highest-earning class to fund education. This is blatantly wrong. We should be taxed according to our ability to pay, not simply because we own property.

As a citizen, I will continue to do what I can to bring about meaningful change in the tax structure, and I hope that the voters who are interested in the change will write and call their legislators expressing their demands.

There is a lot to be said for the phrase “government for and by the people.” To quote Theodore Roosevelt, “The government is us, we are the government, you and I.” Let’s exercise our rights.

Frank Coury

East Brunswick

Officials responsible for overcrowding

As a relative newcomer to Monroe, and as a parent whose child will be entering Monroe public schools in a few years, I was disappointed to see that all three incumbents were re-elected to the Township Council for four more years.

Our decision to move to Monroe was based on the open space the town provided and the quality of the public school system — both of which now appear to be in rapid decline.

I work as a school administrator in New Jersey and know how overcrowded classrooms and high student-teacher ratio negatively affect the educational process.

My son will attend Mill Lake, a school that was built just a few years ago and is already overcrowded. The Barclay Brook School has had to create classroom space in the library due to lack of space.

The current council members, mayor, and members of the Board of Education have done a poor job of planning and providing schools that will accommodate the growing needs of the district. Unfortunately, the majority of residents of Monroe do not feel the same way.

The residents of Monroe need to realize that the current administration is responsible for the overcrowded conditions in the schools and take this into consideration when the mayoral election comes around in 2007.

Todd Bolsius

Monroe

Residents need more assistance programs

New Jersey is a wealthy state — the median family income is above $70,000. Yet the cost of living is also high in New Jersey. And a significant number of people struggle with not enough income. In 2003, there were more than 700,000 New Jerseyans living below the federal poverty level for a family of three ($14,824). One-fifth of the population had household income at or below $29,648.

The Legal Services of N.J. Poverty Research Institute released an in-depth study by Diana Pearce from the University of Washington, which provides bare-bones living costs based on local costs for each county.

Necessities are covered — food, housing, child care, health care and transportation — but no money is allotted for savings, restaurant meals or entertainment.

To meet basic living expenses, a family of three with one adult and two children needs $36,540 in Atlantic County and $54,432 in Somerset County. A two-working-parent family with a preschooler and a school-age child ranges from $41,350 in Atlantic County to $62,481 in Somerset County.

Realistically, to make it possible for low income-families to meet their actual expenses, we must ensure that food stamps, school breakfasts and school lunches are accessible to those eligible. The innovative N.J. State Rental Assistance program must be expanded to include more low-income families to make rents affordable.

Adequate child-care programs are vital so workers are able show up for work reliably. FamilyCare [a state program providing affordable health-care coverage to children and certain low-income parents] must be made available to all those who need it.

These programs are vital to individuals and families living with an income-expense gap so both they and the communities they live and work in can thrive.

Anjali Srivastava

director, Poverty Research Institute, Legal Services of New Jersey

participant

Anti-Poverty Network

Defeat of land swap means defeat for students’ future

I have listened to and digested the points of both the proponents and the opposition about the proposed land swap. Admittedly, I have some conflicting feelings.

The Park Savers say that if the Green Acres Commission approves the swap, it will set a tremendous precedent for the future. This is certainly true. However, what better precedent to set than to make this swap for our children’s future? Why should the children of Monroe have to wait any longer to receive the education they (and all children) deserve, in an environment conducive to learning?

Our children have sacrificed long enough due to our failure to pass the first referendum. Certainly, we can help our children now by supporting the sacrifice of this parcel of land to provide our community’s children with an improved learning environment.

Rather than being a divided community fighting for what we all want, let us work together and focus our efforts on finding additional, usable land to be considered for open space and recreation.

When all is said and done, these children are our tomorrow. How can we, the community of Monroe, set a precedent by allowing the swap to be defeated, thus defeating the importance of our children?

Hope Fisher

Monroe

Extends thanks to family, friends, neighbors for support

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, friends and neighbors who supported me in my recent race to obtain a seat on the Spotswood Borough Council.

Although I was not successful, it was a close, well-fought contest, in which more than 50 percent of the town’s electorate voted.

Thanks are also due to the Spotswood PTA for holding a Meet the Candidates forum that was well attended.

I would encourage every resident to continue to be an involved and informed voter, as this and two other council seats will be up for election in May 2006.

Marge Drozd

Spotswood

Time for Americans to alter habits, conserve resources

We, as Americans, must change our longtime habits and conserve more after the two giant hurricanes, Katrina and Rita, that caused too much loss of life and destruction to our beloved country.

We must think and feel our responsibilities at this time of crisis and try our best to at least save some energy such as gasoline, electric, water, etc.

May God bless America and all Americans.

Taj Ahmad

Old Bridge