To the Editor:
I must add my voice to the growing chorus of requests asking for transparency at public meetings. I belong to several organizations. All have endorsed transparency by means of posted meetings with real time video and audio. Some even allow conversations, questions and statements by chat functions.
One organization quickly realized without transparency, members resigned, and a lack of volunteers became apparent.
Admittedly, government functions at a different level. Taxes must be paid, I agree, but are we receiving the best value for our dollars? Our state and federal legislators have traveled downward with the mythical Alice in Wonderland “Rabbit Holes” that continually led to dead ends. Windmills in our oceans, electric cars, zero emissions have proven very elusive.
Solutions are proposed that eventually lead to problems that are even more severe. Many in government do not consider the long-term effects of legislation when only one view is considered.
REAL legislation is the latest disaster to hit our shores. Redrawing flood maps, raising houses 10 feet based on projections that may never materialize. Yet house insurance is immediately raised on far distant projections.
And now, with more natural disasters, in particular the California fires that could have been avoided or minimized with sound policy, expect your home insurance to rise again due to reinsurance. Our insurance companies will cover losses in California. So New Jerseyans are paying for mistakes created by another state’s mismanagement.
With more citizen participation, much hubris from only one viewpoint can be avoided.
What are the problems facing Cape May County? No rental housing for low- and moderate-income workers is available. Lack of public transportation. Property taxes are continually escalated. How we fund our schools. Should schools consolidate into one countywide district? Should more government services be consolidated and more service sharing between towns to conserve funds?
Is it time to end home rule and more towns consolidate for better efficiencies and manpower requirements? How does the county plan to maintain roads, bridges, and other infrastructure while conserving tax dollars? The huge drug and alcohol addictions. A homeless epidemic in our county.
My homeowners and auto insurance are up 20%. As a landlord, a new business registration must be filed online for $75 every year. Plus, many other expenses as a business owner. Gasoline, vehicle repairs and maintenance, food, prices of new vehicles have all skyrocketed. Utilities, electric and gas, have all increased substantially. And I thought the new and improved “smart meters” would lower my utility costs.
A major concern is the continual use of executive orders to enact laws and legislative policy and agenda without public input. Many executive orders have a reverse effect of making matters much worse. A prime example is the lack of year-round rental housing.
Are we ruled under kingly decrees or laws passed by legislators that benefit all citizens?
I propose our commissioners begin meetings at 6 p.m. Meetings should be advertised with date and time. All meetings should have real time video and audio via Zoom. An agenda of last month’s meeting and the current topics be available to attendees. Current and past meetings should be posted 24/7 with YouTube. Minutes of meetings be available within 24 hours, posted online and in print.
It is time to fix the problems facing our county. With public participation and support, a general consensus of the way forward, these problems can be rectified.
Our commissioners are dedicated and hardworking. But to fix our county’s problems, they must
allow open dialogue and discussion.
