How Do You Screw Up A Good Idea? Add Politics!

I recently attended the Township Council meeting. Hearing the reports from mayor, council, administrators and township professionals on the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy was sobering, to say the least.

Our municipality, like many others, is facing unprecedented challenges in recovering from the devastation. Issues include the cost in real dollars, a myriad of new regulations and building codes, likely huge tax implications (both increases in cost and shifting of assesment liabilities), and worst of all the continued suffering of so many displaced residents and businesses.

The very personal tales of woe from both our elected officials and residents make you take pause and be thankful if you were spared, and sympathetic for their plights. So it was rather disheartening when blatent politics entered the discussion.

As discussed in a previous blog, I feel (DISCLAIMER:PERSONAL OPINION) that there is a very good possibility that our taxpayers can save a significant amount of money if our two school districts were to combine forces and merge our school bus fleets. Plus, it would likely allow us to provide what many would consider better service. Although this has been generally discussed for years, it has not gained much traction - in my opinion due to silly 'turf wars' more than any other reason.

You can see why. First we have our bus drivers riled up by false reports of job losses from a plan that does not yet even exist. Now we have our Township Council being drawn into what is clearly a school issue, all under not so subtle posturing for November's election.

This is why it seems like nothing gets done. Because it does not!

The process is pretty simple. Come up with an idea, gather some data, do the math, talk to stakeholders, refine it, present it, debate it, refine it again & GET IT DONE.

Or you can just shoot it all down by throwing politics into the mix. I mean really, how many of you actually care NOW, who is running for WHATEVER in November? Wouldn't you rather see us working together to save you some money & provide better service? Imagine that ...

Our township has much bigger issues to address. This issue should be brought back to our districts and resolved.

You put us here folks .... <<<SIGH>>>