Mindy Shepetin

Guest Column

Hats off to Robin Romano of East Brunswick for her response ("Focus on What's Good for Society, Not Just the Individual," Letters to the Editor, Sentinel, May 18) to the letter titled "Charge Residents a School Tax Based on Use" that appeared in the May 4 issue of the Sentinel. I couldn't have responded better myself.

Our children are our future, and their education should be of the utmost importance. Although no one enjoys paying taxes, that is what helps our country and our town to function. We take and take so much from society, it is only fair that we give something back.

It is true that everyone pays taxes for something that they do not use. As Mrs. Romano said, everyone in town pays some amount of their taxes toward the senior citizen center; yet, only senior citizens can benefit from such a center. Most parks, playgrounds and ball fields are used by people who have children; yet, everyone's taxes are used for the upkeep of those parks. The list is endless.

It is unrealistic to expect every citizen to utilize all the services or enjoy the benefits from all the community-run programs and centers that the township offers. Yet, all those services and programs, including the education of our children, are vital to the future of our town and of our society.

Most people move into a community because of the reputation of the school system. A good school system sells a community. If too many programs and necessities are cut from our schools, the good reputation of the East Brunswick schools will suffer. This in turn will lead to a decrease of families with children moving into East Brunswick.

Every real estate agent in town brags about the East Brunswick "Blue Ribbon" school system. Just imagine when that selling point will be gone. The few pennies you will save on the school system today will cost you tens of thousands of dollars in resale value later. The people who are so worried about their taxes will now have to worry more when they cannot sell their homes. By denying our children the education and programs they deserve, we are hurting the future of our town and of society as a whole.

In addition, I was very disturbed at how low the voter turnout was for the budget vote. No matter which way you vote, you must get out and vote. People love to complain; yet, when push comes to shove, they fall silent. How appalling is it that people cannot find five minutes in their day to come to the polls and let their voices be heard. What a letdown to our children and their education. If you do not come out to vote, you have absolutely no right to complain.

I really hope this community takes a good look around it and at all the services and amenities that our town has to offer. East Brunswick was, and hopefully will continue to be, a great place in which to live.

However, lately I am having my doubts. I have lived in this town for almost 20 years. I am becoming increasingly disappointed in the influx of buildings, especially residential housing, around us. There is more than enough housing. How much more crowded would you like the schools to be? Really, how many banks and grocery stores are necessary in one town? And now with the proposed Golden Triangle Project, we are looking at an additional 400 housing units, along with increased traffic problems that have not been properly addressed. East Brunswick is on the verge of turning into Route 17 in Paramus.

I originally moved to East Brunswick because it seemed like a nice, quiet suburb. This quiet suburb is now turning into a noisy, overcrowded city. As Mrs. Romano noted, we need to think about what is best for this community and for our society. If we fail to do that, we also fail our children. In addition, we make the future of East Brunswick and its children, who are its future, look very bleak indeed.

Mindy Shepetin is a resident of East Brunswick