December 2002 - January 2003 Edition

Letters To Editor    Route 208 Walls (Responding to letter from previous edition) We'd like to respond to Gary regarding Sound Barriers. Unfortunately there are times when our tax money is allocated to projects and programs to which we disagree. Every hour of every day there are people benefiting from programs that we don't benefit from, to which our tax dollars are allocated. We don't participate in these programs and never will. And in most cases neither do our family and friends. Just because a homeowner chooses to buy property with a highway running behind it, or some other similar issue, does not mean that they are not entitled to have their tax dollars (and the tax dollars of family, friends and neighbors who support their cause) working for them. Your attempts to compare this to beachfront homes and homes in river plains do not apply since the physical improvement in this case is not to the private property of the homeowner. Over the long run, improving the value of the homes along the highway can only contribute to the long term Well being of the community. Most importantly, a study commissioned by the Borough revealed that the noise from Route 208 has risen to a level that compels the construction of sound barriers. If you cared to talk to a senior citizen who has owned one of these homes for the past 40 years, they can attest to the growing problem, because they have lived it. In fact, the New Jersey Department of Transportation has a "Traffic Noise Management Policy" that acknowledges this issue. It states, "As our state continues to develop and as we strive to maximize the efficiency of our existing highways, there will be an ever increasing noise impact on the quality of life for our residential neighbors." And finally, to compare a driver's desire to see a "green" highway with a homeowner's desire for quality of life improvement is ludicrous. By the way....it's our tax dollars paying for you to enjoy those pretty green highways. We'd prefer the wall. The Acampora's Chanukah  (A talented young writer wrote this to honor a big sister) Some flames never flicker away They last for much more than a day She was three years old than I And everything she did I just had to try From her I learned about silencing my fears  Of sleepovers, math tests and piercing my ears She taught me to read and to deal with fights She grasped at the straws and reached for the heights I'm cherishing now on this Chanukah night  How one little girl can spark another to life Anonymous Radburn Resident   Role of Council and Manager As a born resident of Fair Lawn, and a 30 year career police officer I worked under at least five Borough Manager, some were professionally trained managers, and some were council hand picked. The Faulkner Act applies no matter how the Borough Manager is selected. The only serious problem with the Manager and City Council took place in the late 1970"s when a Manager had to reverse appointments to the Police Department, in a letter written by the then mayor, but it had the manager's signature on same. That should have caused the removal of certain council members but the Court, at the time, stated it would leave the decision to the voters of Fair Lawn. At the next election the voters rejected at least three members of that council.  Vincent J. DiPentima Palm Bay, Fla.   Thanks to Police I feel the Fair Lawn police are the greatest and I wish we had more of them. I was told that at any one shift, there are only 3 or 4 cars on duty. I would feel much better if there were more police on the duty for coverage of now what is a really big town. I have had dealings with the police in other ways besides traffic or complaints. I remember the police coming to the house to pick my sickly father up when he fell and couldn't lift himself. I also remember compassionate officers when he passed on and the officer on duty told me that he would stay as long as we needed him.  Zak   Plaza Building I am terribly saddened by the 'Plaza' building fire in Radburn. I spent the 1st ten years of my life on Ballard Place -- Radburn. Please tell me how I can purchase your on line info on the fire. Please please please do not destroy the links! and printed editions of the news paper coverage. Would also be interested in the 2001 story and newspaper copies of that story. I feel part of my life own burned yesterday. Thank you very much  David R. Scott   (Note from the Editor:  We have a really big archives section.)   Overnight Parking Times have changed. Ages ago few people had cars. Today, a family can own and operate 5 cars. People need a place to park their vehicles. What about alternate side of the street parking so that the street sweepers can do what they have to do? Again ... the times have changed.  Linda What Do You Think?: Send an e- mail to editor@fairlawnnews.com or post a message on the Fair Lawn News Discussion Forum.