Letters
Reader bashes court’s eminent domain decision

Well-heeled developers whose money influences Democrat politicians in Middlesex County municipalities must be celebrating the 5 to 4 U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing local governments to take a private home or business.

Eminent domain, once touted as the doctrine only to be used by government to take private land as a benefit to the community, has been perverted, especially in cities in Middlesex County run by the Democratic machine.

This Supreme Court ruling allows a developer to mount the weakest of arguments that taking your home, business or other real property is a tax benefit to the community. Not since the Dred Scott decision in 1857 — which ruled that Scott, as a slave, was not a citizen of the United States and thus not eligible to bring suit in a federal court, and that as a slave he was personal property and thus has never been free — has a Supreme Court ruling been so wrong.

Eminent domain has been abused in Edison, Perth Amboy, Highland Park and New Brunswick. Coincidentally, Democrats control all these municipalities. The most egregious of these abuses is Edison. There, a decent, hardworking, 80-year-old man was forced to spend most of his savings to defend the business he built over decades from a developer who contributed large sums of money to local Democrats.

It is ironic that the liberals on the court sided with big money developers and their ilk. Justice Sandra O’Connor said in her dissenting opinion, “Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party, but the fallout from this decision will not be random. The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms.”

Justice O’Connor could have been talking about Edison or any other Democrat-controlled city in Middlesex County.

In view of this decision, Edison voters must vote out all the town councilmen who allowed this abuse to take place. Voters cannot trust any of these people with the power recently granted by the Supreme Court. In November and beyond, vote out the entire sitting Democrat town council and then choose very carefully between Mr. William Stephens and Mr. Jun Choi.

One of these men will control your home and/or business ownership.

Philip G. Labasi

Edison

Aug. 20 to shed light on tragic cycle of killing

Aug. 20 is Homeless Animals Day. The International Society for Animal Rights began this day to publicize companion animal overpopulation, increase public awareness of the millions of animals killed in shelters annually due to a lack of homes, and to emphasize the importance of spaying and neutering.

The total number of animals killed in shelters has been debated. Some estimate there are about 4-5 million animals killed per year in shelters, while others think the number is much higher (10-12 million). These estimates are only for shelter animals; they do not include street animals who die before ever making it to a shelter.

Whatever the true estimate is, millions of animals die because there are not enough homes.

On Homeless Animals Day, make a commitment to support rescue efforts. Support your local shelter, your local rescue group and your local independent rescuers. You can do this by having your own animals spayed or neutered, adopting your next companion animal and educating others about the importance of spaying or neutering and adoption.

We can end the tragic cycle of killing.

Michelle Sullivan

vice president

Homeless Animal Lifeline

Plainfield

Emergency medical training pays off in London

The quick, well-publicized actions of New Jersey volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT) Sean Baran during the July 7 terrorist bombings in London are a terrific illustration of the value of our state’s volunteer emergency medical services (EMS).

Although Sean’s training and experience as a member of a volunteer EMS organization have served his New Jersey community well, they also prepared him to respond effectively during emergency situations anywhere. His skills, invaluable to the victims he assisted in London, will prove useful to him and those around him throughout his life. The fact that Sean obtained those skills in New Jersey speaks volumes about the quality of our state’s volunteer EMS corps.

The nonprofit New Jersey State First Aid Council, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, represents more than 20,000 EMS volunteers affiliated with hundreds of first aid and rescue squads throughout the state.

Each year, New Jersey’s established, reliable volunteer EMS base responds to hundreds of thousands of calls for assistance all over the state, saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. That same corps of volunteers demonstrated its critical importance during and following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in New York City.

Sean is representative of the thousands of EMS volunteers in New Jersey who step in and help whenever, wherever they are needed. With volunteer rolls ever shrinking, the council regularly steps up recruitment and retention efforts to expand that base.

On the council’s behalf, I ask New Jersey’s residents to consider undertaking EMT training and then volunteering their services in their communities. The skills they’ll acquire, as well as the rewarding feeling that accompanies helping someone in need, are just two of the many guaranteed lifetime benefits.

Frederick L. Steinkopf

president

New Jersey State

First Aid Council

Asbury Park

Woodbridge needs animal shelter, not a dog park

So Woodbridge Township is going to construct a dog park. To that I say, “WHOOPEE DOO.”

I have already heard it referred to as the “Pelzman Poop Park.” At least when I was in Japan and Korea, we had “Smiling Sam the honey-bucket man” to maintain hygiene. Who in Woodbridge will have this responsibility? Smiling Charley!

I am not totally against a dog park. It’s just that I believe a decent animal shelter should come first with possibly a park area attached. If Woodbridge can find $80,000 for a park and $23,000 for a politician’s raise, then there has to be money somewhere for a shelter as indicated by my recent property tax increase.

Woodbridge claims they have an animal shelter.

Where is it? I am told it is on Arbor street in Sewaren in an abandoned chemical plant. Try and find it as there are no signs. Arbor Street is a dead end street with oil tanks on one side and private homes on the other.

Is Woodbridge ashamed or afraid of the public seeing the condition that exists in what they call a shelter? Is this so-call township shelter inspected by the New Jersey State ASPCA or by the township health department?

Are records available under the public right-to-know that indicate how many animals (dog/cats) are housed annually, how many get adopted and how many of each are euthanized?

I understand some cats and kittens are displayed for adoptions at the PetSmart in Woodbridge on Saturday mornings. The question is, where are the dogs viewed for adoption?

What Woodbridge needs is a decent, well-ventilated, well-lit and easy to maintain shelter where the public is welcome. I am sure there are people who would volunteer to run a shelter if a decent place in Woodbridge existed, like the shelter in Edison Township.

Ray J. Schneider

Woodbridge