TOPIC OF THE DAY: Artificial fields
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 03/17/06
Make education top priority
Anyone who has followed the recent "turf wars" in Barnegat should wonder why this issue is being pushed down the residents' throats. It seems odd that despite numerous objections from the general public, both the Township Committee and the local Board of Education are intent on pushing this project through.
When it seemed like a bond could not be pushed through because four committee votes were needed, Walters Homes stepped up to the plate and offered to front the money against recreation fees they will have to pay for future projects. Now only three votes are needed to use recreation money for this project. That makes Deputy Mayor Maxine Blumenthal's vote unnecessary to ensure the project goes through.
My concern about the turf is the safety of the athletes. Many articles have been written over the past few years on the dangers of both "turf burn" and "turf toe." Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) recently made the national news because athletes are coming down with this superbug.
I have other concerns about spending three quarters of a million dollars on a project that benefits so few. It appalls me that my eighth-grade son cannot bring a math book home every day because he shares that book with students in other classes. Do we put more emphasis on athletics than education?
My other concern is with Walters Homes paying into the recreation fund in advance. Will this influence committees, commissions and boards to give Walters Homes carte blanche on future projects? With pay-to-play reforms in the papers, I question the propriety of this payment.
I urge residents of Barnegat to think, at election time, about replacing the Board of Education members with people who think the education of our children is our top priority, and send a message by defeating the budget. I also ask parents of young athletes to think about letting your children play on such a dangerous surface.
Robert Municchi
BARNEGAT
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 03/17/06
Make education top priority
Anyone who has followed the recent "turf wars" in Barnegat should wonder why this issue is being pushed down the residents' throats. It seems odd that despite numerous objections from the general public, both the Township Committee and the local Board of Education are intent on pushing this project through.
When it seemed like a bond could not be pushed through because four committee votes were needed, Walters Homes stepped up to the plate and offered to front the money against recreation fees they will have to pay for future projects. Now only three votes are needed to use recreation money for this project. That makes Deputy Mayor Maxine Blumenthal's vote unnecessary to ensure the project goes through.
My concern about the turf is the safety of the athletes. Many articles have been written over the past few years on the dangers of both "turf burn" and "turf toe." Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) recently made the national news because athletes are coming down with this superbug.
I have other concerns about spending three quarters of a million dollars on a project that benefits so few. It appalls me that my eighth-grade son cannot bring a math book home every day because he shares that book with students in other classes. Do we put more emphasis on athletics than education?
My other concern is with Walters Homes paying into the recreation fund in advance. Will this influence committees, commissions and boards to give Walters Homes carte blanche on future projects? With pay-to-play reforms in the papers, I question the propriety of this payment.
I urge residents of Barnegat to think, at election time, about replacing the Board of Education members with people who think the education of our children is our top priority, and send a message by defeating the budget. I also ask parents of young athletes to think about letting your children play on such a dangerous surface.
Robert Municchi
BARNEGAT
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