A Candidate’s Blog: Transcript Four

[Disclosure: This blog is written from my perspective as both a candidate for a seat on Gloucester Township Council and as a concerned citizen with questions and concerns about business as usual in Gloucester Township.]

Congratulations are in order for Mayor Dave Mayer…at least I think they are. I imagine he must have done something noteworthy because he has recently been recognized by a dedication plaque over at the Gloucester Township Community Park.

Take a look at pictures 1 and 2 accompanying this blog. Were you aware of the newly constructed wall running along the outer perimeter of the Gloucester Township Community Park adjacent to Peter Cheeseman Road? Additionally, a new statue (picture 1) and dedication plaque (picture 2) were just added to the wall. The statue appears to be a little league baseball player and the plaque beneath it reads:

                    DEDICATED TO

MAYOR DAVID R. MAYER

                     APRIL 2013

What is unclear is what has actually been dedicated to the mayor. Is it the recently constructed wall, the entire Gloucester Township Community Park, or the Field of Dreams contained within?

Please take a look at the pictures 3 and 4 accompanying this blog. Picture 3 identifies the fact that you are standing on the Field of Dreams. Picture 4 shows the reality of the Field of Dreams. Not much to look at, huh? Interestingly, the other day there was a ground-breaking ceremony and judging from the story and the accompanying pictures it appears that the Democrat politicians of Gloucester Township are taking credit for the Field of Dreams. I wish they would get it built as fast as they were to get their pictures taken there.

As for dedications, normally an individual is recognized for some major achievement which triggers a dedication along with a ceremony and usually a story in the news, such as the Patch story about the ground-breaking. Did the residents of Gloucester Township receive invitations to, or were they alerted to, any dedication ceremony? If so, I wasn’t included and I haven’t heard a thing about it; how about you? I’ve lived here for twenty years now and raised six children who all live here, as well, so I would hope I would be recognized as a caring citizen. Additionally, I know of nothing in any newspaper or online news service that drew attention to the event. So, when did it happen and what was the occasion?

Allow me to tie this in to township issues. Have you driven through the center of Blackwood recently? It is one step away from blight. I find it interesting that the mayor and some of council were recently in attendance at the Economic Development Breakfast at The Palace (109 N. Black Horse Pike) and couldn’t take a minute to walk outside and glance down the pike and notice what a disaster Blackwood has become.

I grew up in Blackwood so I could tell you a thing or two about the businesses that populated the center of town but that’s for another time. In fact, there used to be a movie theatre in center city Blackwood in the space now occupied by the Harwan Park. Are you familiar with the tiny little Harwan Park (picture 5)? In a class act, that location was dedicated to Alex Harwan by now deceased Mayor Ann Mullen along with council (see the dedication plaque in picture 6). If Mayor Mayer is looking for recognition, maybe we can rededicate Harwan Park to him in the hope that having his name prominently displayed in center city Blackwood would spur him on to show a little concern over the deterioration that has taken place in the center of Blackwood.

Seriously, Mr. Mayer, are you somehow trying to take credit for the Field of Dreams over which ground breaking ceremony you presided the other day? How long overdue was that groundbreaking, Mr. Mayer, and why? Whose idea was the Field of Dreams, Mr. Mayer?

Residents of Gloucester Township, it’s time to take the blinders off and look around to see what’s really going on in our town. Are you satisfied with the taxes you pay, the schools you have, the roads you drive, and the economic conditions all around you?

You have a chance to end one-party rule in Gloucester Township and break the back of the political machine that runs roughshod over our community. The “Gloucester Township FIRST” mayoral-council team wants to end contracts for donations and attention to special interests. We want to see Gloucester Township thrive and get government out of the way of business so that we become a business-friendly community once again. Think about the choice you have this time around because our current government can only boast “business as usual” and what we get out of that is “the usual business.” Vote for change in Gloucester Township.

See you in November.