Letter To The Editor: If Things Are So Perfect In Freehold, Why Is Everyone Complaining?

To The Editor:

Freehold Borough is a beautiful town filled with rich history and culture. It has roots back to the Revolutionary War and has thrived over the generations. It has some of the best residents in the county who take tremendous pride in their hometown and continue to better the Borough.

Unfortunately the town is struggling to keep afloat, and it seems that every resident has taken notice.

Schools are failing while receiving state aid, crime rates are higher than some national averages and property taxes remain high. As the Borough continues to get facelifts on Main Street, the town’s infrastructure continues to crumble.

Fact of the matter is, decline has been present in the town for years now, perhaps a whole generation.

Freehold Borough is led by an elected mayor and council who are truthfully doing the best they can. They continue to attempt to generate excitement in the heart of the town with various events and celebrations. Unfortunately, their best is no longer good enough, and certainly not worth the, roughly, $8,000 salary per member that the taxpayers are paying for.

The status quo, despite what members of the Council may tell you, is no longer good enough. Park Avenue Elementary and Freehold Learning Center are both in desperate need of aid as test scores show that students are struggling. Reports from the New Jersey Department of Education reveal that in certain grades up to 67 percent of students scored under proficient on state testing. Only 3 percent scored above proficient.

Is this an example of great and active leadership? Better yet, how many school board meetings have council members attended, appointed or not, to address and confront the problem first-hand? Does that sound like your $8,000-per-councilmember working for you?

Our first priority is to fix schools in the Borough. It is inexcusable that the bottom schools in the Freehold area all fall within the Borough’s borders. The first measure is to better the foundation of the schools and give students the best possible experience. Classrooms should not be separated by curtains or overcrowded. It is our duty as residents to inspire the future generations to invest in their own future and therefore the town they live in.

Another matter that is inexplicably overlooked is crime in Freehold Borough. We as a town are sadly far from the status quo when compared to the rest of the state, and for that matter the entire United States. The Borough has a higher average of violent crimes per 1,000 people than the entire state of New Jersey and even surpassed the national average. On a crime index of 0-100 Freehold Borough scored a 37, meaning it is only safer than 37 percent of U.S. cities.

Yet we hear little to nothing about the growing crime rate.

Crime must be addressed by the elected leaders. There is no question Freehold has its trouble areas, and it is, in our opinion, these areas that need the most attention. Roads and sidewalks must be maintained. We need to invest more resources and effort in areas where crime is an issue. If we better the school system and address the areas that are sprouting the most crime, we can see changes for the better and make the town safer.

You may be asking yourself what the purpose of this letter may be, and that is a great question. The point is that residents have been repeatedly let down by their elected officials and it can no longer happen.

When most decided to jump ship and live elsewhere, we decided to stay. Not only stay, but run for Town Council. We all already know, as residents, that there are serious problems in the Borough and that we collectively need someone who has solutions. We, Robert Gibbons and Michael Gill, firmly believe we hold the solution.

We believe that it is unnecessary to accept a salary as an elected official and will refuse to take the taxpayers’ money if elected. A man who serves for the people should not take money from the people.

We believe in attending school board meetings, appointed or not, to make sure we represent not only the people but their children as well.

We believe in an Independence Day Tax Holiday to stimulate local business and promote our own local festivities and events.

We believe in being true representatives to the residents of Freehold Borough, and carry only their best interest. It is an oddity today to find someone who serves you because they want to, not because they are paid to.

Freehold Borough is a beautiful place that has tremendous potential. Main Street has been made into a great attraction thanks to our elected leaders and business community. What the town needs is stability: Stability in our schools and maintenance to draw in future homeowners and families. More homeowners in the area will mean residents with more incentive to be a part of the community and be active in maintaining their homes and their schools.

Finding a way to make property taxes less suffocating can help bring homeowners to Freehold. Effectively bringing in homeowners looking to raise families will bring investment in the town that is desperately needed. They will improve our school systems, help alleviate crime figures and only help make Freehold Borough even more aesthetically pleasing.

Freehold Borough needs the help of residents who are willing to step in, regardless of any party affiliations and sentiments, and be true representatives. Residents are needed who, like ourselves, are willing to balance careers, family and everyday life and yet still commit to this town and run for Freehold Borough Council. Our sacrifice to our town is something we are happy to do, but with the help of local residents too.

This is a call not from only millennials but all Freehold Borough residents who share our vision of a town we believe in, a town we will always be proud to call home.

Robert Gibbons and Michael Gill
Freehold Borough Council candidates