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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 10:15 am EDT Post subject: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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http://eastwindsor.patch.com/articles/letter-to-the-editor-thanks-follow-monument-dedication
By Jay Taylor, Cranbury Township Committee
On Saturday, June 11 the NJ Civil War Heritage Association, 14th NJ Company H dedicated and donated a memorial to the soldiers from Cranbury and the surrounding area to mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Those soldiers fought valiantly, sometimes sacrificing their own life to keep one unified nation. Therefore, it is with a great deal of sincerity and humbleness that I write this letter of thanks and appreciation to all those who helped organize and who attended the ceremony.
It is with pride and honor that Cranbury welcomed approximately 250 residents, neighbors, descendants (from as far away as Texas) and state and neighboring town officials who all gave their time to be there on Saturday to give their respect to these former residents of our communities.
The planning for the ceremony took almost two years and it was my privilege to support the individuals and groups who came together for this one common goal. To that end, I want to personally extend my thanks to a number of people and groups who made this event a success and the memorial a lasting tribute the memory of the brave soldiers from our community.
The men and women of the NJCWHA and monument committee chair Bob Bisaccio. The NJCWHA not only donated the monument, but dedicated their time and resources to organizing the ceremony.
The Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society and specifically President Audrey Smith.
The Cranbury Parks Commission and specifically Tom Weidner, Pat Scott and Norma Swale.
The Cranbury Public Works department, Jerry Thorne and Bruno Bertucci.
The Cranbury Police Department, Chief Rickey Varga and the local CERT members who gave their time to help on Saturday.
The Cranbury Volunteer Fire Company which donated soda, hot dogs and hamburgers to those in attendance.
Andrew Zysk who as an Eagle Scout project installed the bluestone walk to the monument.
The East Windsor Patch for covering the event.
I can’t help but pause when I walk past Memorial Park now and reflect on the sacrifices made by friends, neighbors and our community to help protect our freedoms and country and how their influence helped make Cranbury the town it is today and hopefully will continue to be.
Best Regards,
Jay Taylor |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 11:26 am EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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First let me disclose I do not attend the TC meetings. However, I am friendly with some of the town's Republican committee chairs and am a Republican and have heard how Mr. Taylor and Mr. Mulligan are not following their campaign promises to make residents and the town their priority. I did not necessarily believe it based on the fact that these individuals are long time residents with young families.
However, it is letters like the above that I can understand this view and it bothers me. Instead of Mr. Taylor doing his job as a member of our government and being quiet he is choosing to benefit himself by grand standing on his involvement in the activity. |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 11:34 am EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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Guest wrote: | First let me disclose I do not attend the TC meetings. However, I am friendly with some of the town's Republican committee chairs and am a Republican and have heard how Mr. Taylor and Mr. Mulligan are not following their campaign promises to make residents and the town their priority. I did not necessarily believe it based on the fact that these individuals are long time residents with young families.
However, it is letters like the above that I can understand this view and it bothers me. Instead of Mr. Taylor doing his job as a member of our government and being quiet he is choosing to benefit himself by grand standing on his involvement in the activity. |
This is sort of hard to follow due to poor grammar, but is this a joke? |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 11:49 am EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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Guest wrote: | First let me disclose I do not attend the TC meetings. However, I am friendly with some of the town's Republican committee chairs and am a Republican and have heard how Mr. Taylor and Mr. Mulligan are not following their campaign promises to make residents and the town their priority. I did not necessarily believe it based on the fact that these individuals are long time residents with young families.
However, it is letters like the above that I can understand this view and it bothers me. Instead of Mr. Taylor doing his job as a member of our government and being quiet he is choosing to benefit himself by grand standing on his involvement in the activity. |
Well, I am not a republican. But I am glad we had the monument dedication. I was happy to see members of the Parks Board and the Eagle scout who did work on this project in attendance. I think Mr. Taylor's write up of the event for those not able to attend is wonderful.
This thread is about honoring those from Cranbury who served in the Civil War. If you want to start a thread called pissed off republicans who are cranky about their elected officials feel free. But it doesn't belong here. |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 12:18 pm EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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It is likely not a joke. There is presently a lack of civility in our local governing body that was born out of the budget process. It has been made worse by the inability of certain individuals (on the committee and party backers) to keep political disagreements from becoming personal.
This is simply another opportunity to anonymously criticize committee members that have since been alienated by their party for voting their conscience. Is the 2-cent tax increase the right move? Should we have rather spent down surplus? I don't know, I did not scrutinize the budget numbers for hours on end. I voted for most of the current committee members because I trusted that they would, and in the end exercise their best judgement.
Read the post critical of Jay and Dan and you will see it for what it is. The poster claims to be an outsider from the standpoint of not actively participating in committee meetings and simply being friends with a few of the party chairs. He/she "heard" that they are not fulfilling campaign promises and accuses Jay of grandstanding. It is simply more mean-spirited propaganda and party politics that are aimed at impuning these men. In a twist of irony, the poster notes his/her disappointment that Jay and Dan are not making the town and its residents their priority. I fully disagree with the statement, but fail to see how this type of note is good for anyone. You should be ashamed.
Jay - nice note regarding the memorial. |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 12:35 pm EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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Guest wrote: | First let me disclose I do not attend the TC meetings. However, I am friendly with some of the town's Republican committee chairs and am a Republican and have heard how Mr. Taylor and Mr. Mulligan are not following their campaign promises to make residents and the town their priority. I did not necessarily believe it based on the fact that these individuals are long time residents with young families.
However, it is letters like the above that I can understand this view and it bothers me. Instead of Mr. Taylor doing his job as a member of our government and being quiet he is choosing to benefit himself by grand standing on his involvement in the activity. |
Wow. What a cynical statement. “Mr. Taylor and Mr. Mulligan are not following their campaign promises to make residents and the town their priority.” Care to offer specifics? Some people are unhappy they didn’t agree with Win Cody’s take on the budget. Four TC members from two political parties, and the Township administrator and advisors, who studied the facts much more than any of us saw it one way and one TC member another. I respect both groups. But because they voted their consciousness on that one issue they are now not “making residents and the town their priority.” That’s pathetic logic, offensive even. These people all put a ton of time into these positions having to each sit on many committees and attend meetings every single week. They make one informed decision that some people don’t agree with and they suddenly don’t care about residents or the township.
And I couldn’t disagree with you more on the letter. I just re-read it and the entire purpose is to thank everyone else. There is no grandstanding of his own involvement and in fact having read it twice now I still have no idea what role he played. No one objectively reading it would take offense at it unless their sole purpose was to try and attack him. And to suggest that his job as a TC member is to remain “quiet”? That’s completely out of left field. Part of the job is to be gracious and acknowledge Township and resident accomplishments which is exactly what he’s doing. And it’s not like writing a nice letter means he doesn’t have time to do anything else, you couldn’t possibly be making that claim I hope. Or is it that the idea is they are supposed to quietly do whatever the Republican committee tells them like automatons and how dare they act on their own accord?
It is bitter, petty people and comments like this that are causing no one to seek re-election in this Town. Who would want to volunteer their time when some people will try to tear you down and name call any time they don’t agree with you? |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 1:30 pm EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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"choosing to benefit himself by grand standing on his involvement in the activity." What did I miss in his letter? He went out of his way to take the time to thank those who worked to put this event together and the volunteers of the Fire Department who provided free food and drink to the attendees. Where's the "grandstanding? Maybe it's time you thought for yourself instead of having others think for you. |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 3:32 pm EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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In simple summation. The post criticizing Jay as grand standing is meritless. The poster should be ashamed of making the statement, and critically evaluate the information they receive from party members that have basically severed ties with two committee members, while favoring the mayor. To each his own. But again, the poster should be ashamed of this sad attempt to throw mud on Jay/Dan. It is clear to me that it stems from petty party politics. |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 7:34 pm EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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I want to echo all the above posts except the second one. And let me add something (Jay may be able to guess who I am).
I've known Jay all of his life and his dad most of his. When he ran for office I told him that two things would happen.
First, if he were to win then with every decision made people would be happy and angry and sometimes irrationally so. This is a small town and often the angry voices get heard the loudest. This is always the case.
Second, that this was not the town he knew and that he was naive if he thought it was the same as it used to be. The town had grown and with it politics from the outside had come in on both sides.
His response to me was Cranbury was special and people knew party politics were not important in our community. His only goal was to keep the town going where everyone new each other and where families grew up and stayed. He laughed that his grandparent's house was still referred to by some as the Taylor's house even though his grandparents moved out in the 1970s. He said if given the opportunity people would vote for the best candidate and that most people knew that there was no consideration of political parties in Cranbury. That they would actually like to see TC members make their own decisions.
If people are now turning on him because of a budget vote, party politics or sending a thank you of all things then unfortunately he was wrong and I was right. Our town is now in danger of being like every other place in NJ. However, we can still decide whether party politics are here to stay in Cranbury and whether political decisions supersede the TC member's view of what is right. |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 8:23 pm EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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I wouldn’t judge the character of the Township based on comments posted here. This place attracts some of the worst people and the anonymity brings out the worse in them. I think they represent a small minority and such petty pockets of people have always existed in every town, Cranbury included. This place is just giving more credence to their voice than is really merited. |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 8:48 pm EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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I agree with the last post. I think anonymity brings out the most miserable elements of a person's character. I do not project the views of the few anonymous malcontents - some of whom are simply using a blind forum as a means to advance petty politics - to the character of the town. The township is a great place to live. I am merely objecting to someone taking shots at people in office from cyberspace. But, it is their lack of character that is on display. |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 9:06 pm EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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On both sides there are always going to be ardent party followers. That does not mean the town is that way, but these people are usually the party leaders and therefore the most visible.
Unfortunately the Republicans this year led by a small group of ardent party only individuals are making party politics more prominent just as some Dems did in the past. Those actions led to a loss of Dem control on the TC and this will likely lead to the loss of Rep control on the TC. I believe the majority of Republicans in town do not believe Dan and Jay are doing a bad job because it is clear to anyone paying attention that they are working hard whether you agree with their decisions or not. That is all any voter can ask.
I also agree with the above two posters that Cranbury is still a respectful town. The majority of posts defending Jay demonstrate this as do the other posts complaining about the attacks on TC members in previous threads. |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 9:34 pm EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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Guest wrote: | On both sides there are always going to be ardent party followers. That does not mean the town is that way, but these people are usually the party leaders and therefore the most visible.
Unfortunately the Republicans this year led by a small group of ardent party only individuals are making party politics more prominent just as some Dems did in the past. Those actions led to a loss of Dem control on the TC and this will likely lead to the loss of Rep control on the TC. I believe the majority of Republicans in town do not believe Dan and Jay are doing a bad job because it is clear to anyone paying attention that they are working hard whether you agree with their decisions or not. That is all any voter can ask.
I also agree with the above two posters that Cranbury is still a respectful town. The majority of posts defending Jay demonstrate this as do the other posts complaining about the attacks on TC members in previous threads. |
Agree completely. I am a registered Dem who voted Republican in the last three local elections for exactly the reason you describe, that the local Dems on the TC and local org were making everything political and party-based. Now the local Republican organization, not Dan and Jay, is doing the same and I won't vote for anyone who associates themselves with that. |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 10:01 pm EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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There are always IDIOTS out there. Jay, thank you for your letter. It WAS highly appropriate and welcomed by all (except the idiots). |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 10:10 pm EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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I do think that a Thank You was in order for all that worked so hard to assist and coordinate with the New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association. I was a bit put off by the politicians seemingly trying to use this as a political event for their own exposure. We all should be thankful for all those who sacrificed so much and for those who refuse to forget those sacrifices. Lets not tarnish this honorable event. AMEN! |
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Posted: Wed, Jun 15 2011, 10:28 pm EDT Post subject: Re: Letter to the Editor: Thanks Follow Monument Dedication |
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Guest wrote: | Guest wrote: | On both sides there are always going to be ardent party followers. That does not mean the town is that way, but these people are usually the party leaders and therefore the most visible.
Unfortunately the Republicans this year led by a small group of ardent party only individuals are making party politics more prominent just as some Dems did in the past. Those actions led to a loss of Dem control on the TC and this will likely lead to the loss of Rep control on the TC. I believe the majority of Republicans in town do not believe Dan and Jay are doing a bad job because it is clear to anyone paying attention that they are working hard whether you agree with their decisions or not. That is all any voter can ask.
I also agree with the above two posters that Cranbury is still a respectful town. The majority of posts defending Jay demonstrate this as do the other posts complaining about the attacks on TC members in previous threads. |
Agree completely. I am a registered Dem who voted Republican in the last three local elections for exactly the reason you describe, that the local Dems on the TC and local org were making everything political and party-based. Now the local Republican organization, not Dan and Jay, is doing the same and I won't vote for anyone who associates themselves with that. |
While David Stout was able to ram through his personal agenda, I don't think the local democratic organization had anything to do with it. I conclude from this thread that the local republican organization has gone mad. I am sorry that some people are a bit extreme in your current party leadership, but don't accuse the local democrats of doing the same. |
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