Resident troubled by how public officials are treated

'Rude" is not a strong enough word to describe some township residents who have recently made it their business to attend and speak at the Edison Township Council meetings. "Obnoxious" may be a better word, but it still would not be an adequate description of certain individuals who disguise themselves as "concerned citizens." The only thing they really seem concerned about is bashing a new mayor and certain council members, and making sure they get several minutes of TV time. These performances are not designed to help our government officials as much as they are to embarrass them.

The shamefulness of all this has at least two parts. First, these people take a public forum that was created for the community to offer input and instead use it as their own stage to eagerly criticize anything to promote a personal agenda. The second shameful part is the manner in which they present their performances. They should realize that while they think they are being cute, clever or funny, many residents see them as mean-spirited and redundant. They go beyond complaining - which is acceptable and even encouraged - to relentless badgering, falsely accusing, insult throwing and heckling.

I commend the mayor and the Township Council for dealing with these individuals as politely as they do. You couldn't pay me enough money to be a public official and subject myself to this type of abuse - it's painful enough to watch on television.

Patrick Donovan

Edison