It’s been 11 weeks since the June 2nd Democratic Primary. During which, there was plenty of dirt being thrown by you and your minions at the eventual winners of said primary. This effort was rejected by our community and has left a number of unanswered questions about your intentions to improve Willingboro Township and ability to put the needs of our township above your personal friendships and individual likes and dislikes. The victorious candidates ran a campaign on the issues: grossly high taxes, municipal spending, public safety, government transparency and open communication with the residents of our town. They represented change from the old way of doing things. The public’s positive response was to elect them by an overwhelming margin. Now that the primary is over and another municipal election is months away, it is important to get back to every day issues. Therefore, as the self-appointed leader of our town, for the sake of our residents, please answer some key questions that remain about what you and your administration are doing to address some pressing challenges facing Willingboro Township: Question 1: What initiatives have you begun to bring businesses and jobs back to Willingboro Township? You talked about the “Buy in Willingboro” program, however, other than a newspaper article, what are you doing to make it a reality? What have you done to improve the relationships with businesses that are already in town?
Question 2: What effort have you led to improve communication with residents and enhance government transparency in our community? When first appointed through the inane Intra-Council Mayoral selection process, you indicated you would do regular meetings with the residents to give an opportunity to discuss issues of concern? Is this still on- going? What have been the results? Question 3: Because Willingboro has the highest municipal tax rate in the county, what spending cuts have you proposed to lessen the tax burden on our community? What plan have you proposed to provide reductions in government or increases in revenues? Question 4: How do you justify the Council salaries and benefits, in comparison to neighboring towns? What is your plan to bring the salaries and benefits more in line with neighboring towns? Are you willing, as the winners of the Democratic Primary indicated they will do, to take a 50% cut in your Council salary and refuse the township benefits package?
Question 5: When will you provide a detailed plan of the uses of the stimulus and neighborhood revitalization monies? When will you and your best friends on the School Board provide a detailed plan of what will become of the monies you took off the backs of our children and how that blood money will help off-set the tax burdens of residents?
Question 6: When will you be a true professional and, in a public forum, sincerely congratulate and appropriately recognize the two winners of the Democratic Primary who will serve, side by side, with you for the next two years? You were elected to represent the wishes of a majority of Willingboro residents and not your own personal likes and dislikes or those of your inner circle. Accordingly, the people of Willingboro made a resounding statement regarding who they want to serve on Council and you have inexplicably refused toacknowledge this unmistakable referendum. These may be tough questions – but they merely represent the dire state of affairs that our community finds itself. For the past several years, Willingboro has been in an economic and social free fall with no end in sight. We need our leaders to stand-up, make tough decisions and, more importantly, lead our community.
Mayor, we are providing you with an opportunity to demonstrate that you are such a leader and that you are willing to answer the tough questions and lead.
We look forward to your responses.
Sincerely,
Residents of Willingboro www.boromagazine.com