"The foundation for moral leadership is the Truth."
NOTE: DowntownBarnegat.com's comments appear below in red
What else could we have expected? If the results on Tuesday are a win, lose, or draw for J.J. Novak, one thing is for certain...he will forever be known as a lier and manipulator of the facts. His deceptive mailer sent to the homes of Barnegat taxpayers 3 days before the election, (the only one he has sent out so far) lists a ridiculous list of "Results/Accomplishments". The key one on this list is "Holding the Line on Municipal Budget". That is a bold faced lie and one that any knowledgable taxpayer will resent with a level of disgust that Novak will never be able to live down.
Novak -- by his own words -- in The Beacon on Thursday, Oct 25th stated that HE -- J.J. Novak -- raised the Twp. tax by 8.6 % . That is truly Novak's lone accomplishment. HE RAISED TAXES. He arrogantly did this only months after promising to keep taxes stable. He broke that promise and now right before the election lied about it. Are you angry yet? You better be. The Barnegat taxpayer can't afford 3 more years of high taxes, lies, and no results!
This election will show the true character of Barnegat. We already know about J.J. Novak. His message of bigotry and hate was unforgivable. Now, his lies and distortion of hard facts to fool you is the last straw.
Novak cries that he has no control over 78 % of taxes collected (Schools - 60 %, County 18 %). What he doesn't tell you is that the 18 % from the County contained a TAX DECREASE!. The Republicans that run the County did a good job. They cut taxes. Novak did a horrible job because HE RAISED TAXES. Being the egotistical Republican turncoat that he is, Novak doesn't praise his fellow Republicans on the County level...no. He lumps them into the 78 % figure to try to diminish the 22 % of the taxes that are HIS RESPONSIBILITY.
Again, an 8.6 % tax increase IS NOT "Holding the Line on Municipal Budget". Any statement that is not the truth is a lie. Novak did not tell the people of Barnegat the truth. As the only credible website left discussing Twp. issues, DowntownBarnegat.com rejects bigotry, hate, ineffectiveness, unresponsiveness and people who lie. We reject J.J. Novak's candidacy for Twp. Committee.
After election day, we will still have our credibility as a website, and our credibility as citizens. Novak cannot take that credibility away from us. We can only give it away by not telling the truth and supporting his bigotry, lies, and deceptions. For those too cowardly -- or too self-serving -- to speak the truth about J.J. Novak, it is not a seat on the Twp. Committee at stake. It is YOUR CREDIBILITY that is at stake. We have faith in the people of Barnegat, while Novak treats the people as chumps. On Tuesday we believe the people will say NO to Novak, and YES to a Better Barnegat. We fully endorse Dorothy Ryan as the ONLY morally right choice to begin to bring change to Barnegat.
Now it's your job. Get out and vote and let your voice be heard.
Dear fellow citizens,
I felt compelled to write this commentary with new hope for election day. Please make sure you go out to vote! After seeing and experiencing what's happened to our town over the last 5 years, I would be remiss if I didn't encourage ALL registered voters to get out there and vote. VOTE for change! Has anyone ever seen "It's a Wonderful Life"? We need SOMEONE in this town to play the part of George Bailey! Are you tired of watching our town turn into Pottersville? We've seen all the greed and self serving actions of the current administration. It's time to give someone else a chance in order to renew our faith. Please let there be a politician out there willing to speak the truth and work for the people, not themselves. We have one hope and course of action left. It's our right as Americans to vote! Please participate, and if you think you've been lied to or that promises have fallen short of your expectations or reality, VOTE for change!
Good Luck!
(which is also our right as Americans)
I strongly believe that the current regime that leads our town is out of touch with the people and more concerned with their hidden agendas. It has become apparent that the town has down nothing over the past year to improve quality of life. In fact the opposite has occurred. Our taxes, which during the past election were not suppose to, skyrocketed, our streets are in the worse shape they have ever been in, and we have countless developments under construction with so many houses under foreclosure, up for sale, or just plain vacant.
It is quite discouraging to hear people from other areas refer to us as Barnegetto or the slums of Manahawkin. This is and still has the potential to be one of the best smaller communities in new jersey to live.
John Novak has done nothing he said he would do during his last campaign. He mocks our residents and thinks everything is a joke. I strongly believe that Mr. Novak thinks the resident of Barnegat are nothing more than some pine baron hicks who he can manipulate for his own self worth. To all of Barnegat this should be evident and we should show him that this town is made up of hard working people of all types of backgrounds. We are not ignorant pineys.
Nothing has been done to assist the families of Lexington. Everyone has heard about this area and have formed opinions whether just or not. I can tell you from visiting this place that there are many hard working families who live here due to low income housing. With that said our town should adopt policies to clean up the area and force the owners to clean up the houses and the neighborhood. Our current town officials are more concerned with which clubhouse they can try to go speak at...Mirage, Heritage Bay etc. We have a responsibility to our less fortunate just as much as our seniors.
Now I am not saying Dorothy Ryan is the choice. Quite the contrary i dont think she as been vocal enough and expressed her plans so that more people can understand what her view is. I did read the survey she responded to last year however she needs to drive home the issues if she truly believes in what she wants to accomplish.
I need to see a spark, a willingness to improve Barnegat and our quality of life. Thus far no candidate has proven worthy. However in closing we know what we got or did not get with John Novak and I can honestly say we need new direction in this town. John Novak must be replaced.
If we elect a "Board of Buddies" as we have now out town is headed for disaster and will crumble around us. Lets make sure Barnegat thrives and is the place everyone wants to live instead of the ghetto that everyone wants to get out of.
Attention: Mr. Raymond,
It is obvious that you are a first time reader of this web site. If you have read these comments and others through the years you would have seen that we talk about nothing but the issues of Barnegat. But yet they fall on deaf ears. You would have also noticed that all the comments and issues are ignored by our committee people and Mayor. Your right by saying the administration of our school system is over paid but yet I need to ask you have you ever attended a school board meeting to discuss your concerns, or are you another town crier that likes to cry and votes for party lines, And puts the same people in office you cry about?
If you look around Barnegat you would see the quality of life and the infrastructure is falling apart. And who would you blame for that? Oh I saw in your comment about the board of education. If you followed politics you would see that we have given up garbage collection and freed men to do our parks, sidewalks and roads. but yet they all look the same. Have you driven around lately to look around? Barneagt is well known for a good school system not for the quality of life. Have you ever had your property damaged and kids hanging out all hours of the night cursing outside your house? How bout the great traffic problem we encounter. Were you here during the great evacuation during the fire? Could you just see the catastrophe if we had to evacuate Barnegat in a storm, power plant accident or some other emergency?
I saw a women in a wheel chair downtown riding on the road. Why? Because of the sidewalks they don't have there. What about the great recreation we have for our kids. This is why they hang out on the streets. Because the good old boys took away the parks and closed the skating ring and recreation hall. But yet we have transportation during the day for our residents and nothing for the kids again at nights or on the weekends.
Yes you are right the kids are our future but yet we give them nothing to do to keep them off the streets and out of trouble. If you ever attended a township meeting you would see it is a battle of minds with unarmed committeemen. Look around my friend and see how many for sale signs are up. If you have solutions for all the problems Barnegat has then I ask you to please put your hat in the ring to run next year. It seems you have all the answers but yet I have never seen your name on the ballot. And as for erasing your comment this web site is fair to the residents. They print all comments you send. And please do not take this as a personal attack against you. But as I ran last year I saw people of Barnegat do not want honesty or do they want the solutions to solve the problems we face. The truth is my friend again I will say " THEY CAN NOT HANDLE THE TRUTH". You can not give a solution unless you face the problem head on and not make jokes about it or give out contracts to people who break the laws of our town. Just sit west of the parkway and see what everyone there is complaining about. And that would be over loaded dump trucks riding the roads at a good rate of speed. Or how bout the noise they are faced with coming from the yard they go to. Our seniors came hear to retire not to be inconvenienced with that nonsense. As for Mr. Novak if you have read his comments on how to handle these problems I am pretty sure you would be attacking him too. Again please if you have the solutions to help Barnegat then please run next year and be a problem solver and not a problem crier.
This is the time of year incumbent politicians up for reelection chortle about their accomplishments. If you get onboard John J. Novak 's magical mystery tour, you come away persuaded that Barnegat is blossoming.
Rubbish!
John Novak beamed with narcissistic pride when he promised residents that a traffic signal would be installed at the dangerous intersection of Bengal and Barnegat Boulevards; the gateway for students driving to Barnegat High School and dozens of school buses. It was supposed to be operational before the current school year was in session. It is not.
John Novak promised that the unbridled residential development of Barnegat would be brought under control. He agreed that our infrastructure can no longer support the continued influx of new homes and that our quality of life was plummeting. But the wanton skewering of land goes on.
John Novak promised to address concerns about dump trucks barreling along West Bay Avenue overloaded above legal weights and moving well above the speed limit. Nothing has changed there, either. In fact, John Novak rewarded the offending Shoreline Sand and Gravel Company by voting to award Shoreline the new snow removal contract.
John Novak lives in the downtown vicinity. Surely he cannot be blind to the dirt paths that pass for sidewalks. Would he be so calloused and indifferent if one of his family members were forced to try and navigate these paths on crutches or in a wheelchair? Is the Americans with Disabilities Act something John Novak (a former state trooper and current attorney) chooses to ignore?
John Novak supported the closing of the Barnegat skate park due to its fence being vandalized. But has John Novak been a leader in searching for meaningful and convenient recreational facilities so children from all of Barnegat 's neighborhoods have a play area that is safe and convenient?
John Novak affixes an American flag pin to the lapel of his suit. Then he denies basic civil liberties to a portion of the citizenry whom he, John J. Novak, deems unworthy to live among us.
John Novak underscores the controversial workings of the school superintendent. But is he any different?
Election Day is fast approaching. On that day, the voters of Barnegat have the ability to free our town from the selective and discriminatory grip of John J. Novak. On that day, you can stand up and tell John Novak that you are not going to drink from his cup any longer. You can tell John Novak that those who died defending this country did so in order that all Americans can live under the freedom and equal protection of the law. You can tell John Novak that Barnegat will not tolerate bigotry. You can tell John Novak that he has lost the shell game he has been playing for the past ten months.
YOU can do it.
But if you don 't, then silence the street corner complaining. Stifle the rhetoric.
And if you need someone to blame, have the intellectual honesty to look in a mirror.
My name is Eric Thomas. I am a Republican. I am voting for Dorothy Ryan.
Novak's latest ad shows that he has done nothing tangible to improve Barnegat. The ad is titled "What's Going On In Barnegat???" The answer to that question Mr. Novak is...nothing. Nothing this year, nothing last year, nothing for many of the past years. In the ad Novak shows a bulldozer just sitting there doing nothing because he has no pictures of any improvements to our town. He lists promises...not improvements. Each election year we are told that roads will be repaved and sidewalks will be installed. But these promises are never fulfilled. Just like the one promise Novak made to us last year...to not raise our taxes. He broke that promise, and he raised taxes. Will he break these promises also? If there was ever an ad to show ineffectiveness, Novak sure laid it out clearly in black and white.
Two items listed on Novak's list of so-called accomplishments are the most amusing. The first is "Sidewalks Downtown!!!" DowntownBarnegat.com has been pushing for the dirt path used as a sidewalk (pictured several times on this site) to be replaced with an ACTUAL sidewalk. It should take a couple of days to get this done. We know government can move slowly, but this path has been in this condition for almost a decade. Come on, already!!! Just do it!!! But most importantly just this dirt path and the other dirt path (East of the Post Office) need to be paved. Novak wants to place new sidewalks all along two entire blocks of West Bay that already have existing sidewalks! This is a waste of taxpayer money. There are many areas that have NO sidewalks at all, and they should be the priority...not replacing existing sidewalks in decent shape. Why can't Novak spend taxpayers' money wisely and just make improvements where they are needed?
The second most amusing "thing going on" Novak mentions are the Lower Shore fields. Novak didn't show you a picture of this recreational resource that your tax dollars pay for but we have -- for years. Look at these tennis courts. What an embarrassment...no improvement at all.
It's great that volunteers are improving and using our football field...they deserve the full credit for their work, and Novak deserves the credit for the unusable tennis courts that the taxpayer should be able to use, but can't.
During last year's election Novak's high-priced mailers quoted Henry Ford saying "You cannot build a reputation on what you are going to do." Now all Novak tells us is what he is going to do. Do you see the irony? We only see no improvements Mr. Novak. It's hard to fill an ad with your accomplishments when you don't have any. Maybe that's why his ads are normally filled with blowhard nonsense. We need to actually see some improvements! And we really need to see some change in Barnegat.
The point that I hope is taken from comments I've read regarding Mr. Novak's positions is that all laws should be respected as such. The important thing as Americans and citizens to remember is regardless of your personal opinion or point of view (and we all have one), as an elected, public official one has the OBLIGATION to respect ALL laws as they stand. If an individual believes so strongly that a standing law is wrong then they should not take the oath of office at that time. An appropriate course of action would be to work within the system to change the system BEFORE vowing to uphold all of the laws. Until the law is changed they as elected representatives would have an obligation to comply with the law. You can't pick and choose which laws to respect. Imagine if we in our jobs told our bosses "I'll do some of the work assigned, but not all of it." I don't think that would move us farther up the ladder of success very quickly. How would it be if our children respected only those rules at school which they liked? I would imagine an extended recess period LOL and a less productive environment. Our government is set up to uphold the laws. That means all of the laws, not just those that we as individuals think are appropriate. I look forward to seeing SOMEONE work appropriately within the system, not continue to take advantage of their position.
It appears to me that this site is a disguised site against Mr. Novak, rather than a site that spells out issues and honestly discusses the MANY problems and discusses possable solutions that are in Barnegat.
If I am correct, you will stop reading here and delete the rest of this message
The first major problem is the growing school tax--Which has a far greater impact on total taxes than the local tax.
I am for a GREAT education for all the children--they are our future--but they do not need Rolls Royce accommodations--I, as well as most of you, grew up and learned with FORD accommodations---
IT IS THE TEACHERS, NOT THE BUILDINGS OR OTHER EXPENSIVE EXTRAS THAT EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN
I think that we have very good teachers, and I am sure that they are NOT receiving too much money--but the bill for teaching is too high--perhaps we are spending too much on administration and extras
There are other problems which need solutions--lets have an honest discussion--There are a lot of very smart people in Barnegat and an honest and open discussion (WITHOUT PERSONAL ATTACKS) will bring out a lot of good ideas for solutions.
Mr. Raymond - thank you for getting involved in our website, but your perception of us could not be more wrong. This site is a forum where all views can be expressed and from that we believe the truth can be clearly seen. This site is not "disquised" as anything. We are quite clear with the issues we cover. We are the only fair outlet dedicated to the truth in discussing the issues that effect Barnegat, especially regarding this November's Township Committee election. Notice I said Township Committee election...not School Board election. If you are concerned about the School tax rate, please vote in the April School Board election. At that time you can vote for -- or against -- the School budget. If you have read this site over the past few years, you would see that this has been the only place where real issues are discussed regarding Township management. We pride ourselves in fairly discussing relevant issues. Let me highlight some that we have been talking about for years:
- BARNEGAT'S CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE. Our streets are a disaster. Year after year, we are promised that they will be repaved, but they never are. All we get are empty promises at election time, but see no improvement. Click here to look at our "Accountability Facts" that we started over a year ago to track improvements. There have been none. Sidewalks are non-existent in many areas, or we use dirt paths every day in our Historic Downtown. We are sick of seeing babies in carraiges and disabled people in wheelchairs forced into crumbling streets.
- RECREATION IS ALMOST NON-EXISTANT. Our downtown playground was ripped down literally before our childrens' eyes. It was a traumatic experience for them. Click here to learn about this issue that our Twp. Committee has refused to speak to us about. Downtown kids have nothing to safely walk to with their families anymore in the Downtown area. Our tennis courts have been covered up with garbage cans for years, and when finally cleaed, have been left in an unusable condition for the taxpayers. Click here to see the pictures that don't lie. Our Downtown Youth Center was closed by the Twp. while our children where taking classes in it. They now have NOTHING to do in the downtown area. Click here to see how our Downtown kids lost yet again.
- We ran Heritage Day every year. I hope you enjoyed coming to it. Because the Twp. Committee tried to shut it down, now we won't have any events for it under this current Twp. Committee. This only day of town pride for the people of Barnegat -- by the people of Barnegat -- cost the taxpayers nothing! We think the town needs more events to promote tourism and bring business to our Downtown area. Instead of having more events, the Downtown now has less. Click here to see what our Twp. Committee did to this great day and the many volunteers who made it happen.
- We ran a poll where in January 2007 62.5% of the people said their home revaluation was unfair. But nothing was done by our Twp. Committee...they wouldn't listen to us until it was too late. Click here to see this poll, and many others of great importance to the people of Barnegat.
We stood up for our volunteer First Aid Squad who do a great job for our community. They are always there for us when we need them, but they were lied about and treated with disrespect by the Twp. Committee. Click here to see how these heroes feel about how they were treated by this Twp. Committee. Now we are wasting taxpayers' assets by renting property to a paid EMS service at a below-market rate. - We discussed the modern trash pick-up we used to have. Many say it was one of the best things we had in Barnegat. Well we don't have it anymore. We were supposed to save money by privatizing it. We are still waiting to see those savings. We personally spent almost $100 for new cans for our home, and it's time to buy new ones again...where's our savings? Click here to see how leaders in our town would handle this issue.
- We discuss responsiveness of public officials. If a taxpayer takes the time to respectfully write a Committeeman a letter, or send them an email, we feel that this public servant should -- at the very least -- respond. Don't you? Click here to see what town leaders think about this.
- Most importantly, we discuss the Twp. tax rate. This is the tax rate that the Twp. Committee is in total control of. This is THEIR job, this is THEIR responsibility. We cannot vote to approve -- or disapprove -- this tax rate like you can the School tax rate. Our only recourse here if the Twp. Committee raises our taxes too high, is to vote them out. We would do this because we don't like paying high taxes. Or we vote for them if we're in favor of paying high taxes. The Twp. Committee is RESPONSIBLE for their OWN tax rate. You know -- the one that Committeeman Novak promised to keep stable. He didn't do this. He RAISED our taxes...people are paying more than they should and are getting less in return. Click here to learn more about the Committee's tax rate increase. This should be of great importance to you since you are concerned about paying high taxes.
Six years ago I moved to Barnegat in the Settlers Landing area. The first few years it was a good neighborhood with a lot of potential. Now it is going down hill and the quality of life is really taking the turn for the worse. The kids in this neighborhood are totally out of control and the parents are just as bad. And as I look around I see the same for all of Barnegat. Just ride around and look at all the for sale signs. There seems to be no fiscal responsibility or leadership amongst our town leaders.
If you remember last year I had the opportunity to run for town committee and was a very vocal candidate. I was the one who told you if there ever was a disaster west of the parkway it would be a mess to evacuate, and it was. That was the worst evacuation plan I ever saw in my over 20 years as a firefighter. Again I stress how can you keep building and creating traffic without knowing where it is going to flow? And speaking of building. As I read the newspaper I see that the committee is playing the blame game on the school board for the high taxes in our township.
Ladies and gentlemen I ask you is it the school board handing out building permits to the builders that keep bringing in a high rate of families to our township, or is it the very people playing the blame game? How can one let the building continue and not know it is going to bring more families and raise the attendance to our schools. These are supposed to be highly educated men running our town and I would expect them to know all this, wouldn't you? Also these where the very same people who promised us better roads and parks if they privatized our garbage collection.
But as you look around I still see holes in the roads, sidewalks in need of bad repair and parks never touched. What I do see is men some dressed like they are going to some high class party driving up and down the streets in township trucks with the same materials they had on the day before.
Now lets talk about our crime rate in the town. There has been property damage, homes broken into and kids running wild day and night and even after curfew and the list goes on. One must wonder is the police department under staffed or is it just poor supervision? I don't think it is the supervision because the police chief can only work with what you give him. So if he needs more policemen on the road then maybe the committee should sit with the chief and work out his needs. This is what they were elected for right?
As for Mr. Novak I think he needs a reality check after making jokes about the issues he faces as an elected official. Instead of putting the task at hand he rather make sick jokes and ignore the fact that things are just not right with our township and changes are needed to be made. We need better judgement on the committee and people who want to make the quality of life better. We need employees to do the jobs they are hired to do. What I really want to know is what does our building, zoning and people do? If you look at some of the properties in our neighborhoods you can see why people won't buy the houses for sale. Does anybody really work there or is it a free pay check?
We need fiscal responsibility and sound leadership that will work for the people. It seems ever election people vote for the party line and not for the people who tell the truth and that has the answers to our problems. For years all you hear is people crying and I quote " WE WANT THE TRUTH " and when you get it that person is a crazed maniac and needs to shut up. The truth is " YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH". So if it is a person like Mr. Novak and the rest of the committee you vote for, then get what you wanted and don't cry. Or you can put your hat in the ring and be a problem solver instead of a problem crier. The waste is right in front of you now November you can either change it or live with it and STOP CRYING.
Those who deny that John Novak's bias-driven comments concerning civil unions are probative evidence of his bigotry would be well-served by revisiting the very principles of the democracy that allowed him to voice them. Like me, you and any other American, Novak has every right to speak his opinion. But as an elected public official who took an oath to represent ALL THE PEOPLE, he has no right to deny the equal protection of the law. John Novak's vociferous and stinging endorsement of Mayor Cirulli's unconscionable refusal to perform civil unions is a suppression of liberty that is contrary to the intent of the very laws Novak swore to upheld as both a former state trooper and current attorney. And to so much as imply that God guides his hand in a clear act of discrimination is outright blasphemy on Novak's part. I know the God I worship embraces all His children.
Cirulli, Melchiondo and Novak ran a campaign that featured innuendo that even a blind person could see. They exploited the upside down life of a former NJ governor and made a pathetic effort to capitalize on the prejudices and fears of townspeople. Now, the three of them have an acute need to divert focus from themselves because of the controversial revaluation. And they choose the Board of Education as the whipping post.
It is not at issue in my mind that the school district has been spending like drunken sailors. The salaries of the teachers, front office people, etc. are not what offends me as a taxpayer. Those salaries are far below what a single parent might need to sustain even a modest lifestyle. But $5000.00 per week for an egomaniacal superintendent who has more controversy surrounding him than any other public figure in the history of Barnegat?
Let us once-and-for all debunk the myth that McMahon, as an individual, should be lauded for bringing in millions in grant money as if he waved a magic wand. Is anyone reading this naive enough to believe that the grants were captured solely because Thomas McMahon submitted applications for funding when any other human being could have done the very same thing? A more realistically compensated superintendent could have hired a grant-seeking underling and achieved the same results. Barnegat is far from the only school district to receive grant money.
So far as school budgets go, it is probable that any future budget endorsed by McMahon will fall flat on its face. McMahon used to have the trust of the community. This was undeniably true in senior communities such as mine. By that trust has been pulverized. He lied. And no rational person will again subscribe to the representations of a liar.
But it is Novak whom we can free ourselves from in just a few weeks. Novak won by a scant 18 votes after a campaign that saw the Republican party spend close to $70,000.00. The tactics of that campaign were deplorable. I know for a fact that several well-placed Republicans who originally were onboard last year's campaign dropped out because they gallantly refused to help Novak, Cirulli and Melchiondo perpetrate the smutty tactics of the 2006 campaign. At last night's Republican club meeting, quite a few highly respected and productive members suspended their memberships because they cannot, in good conscience, endorse the thug named Novak who speaks from both sides of his prejudiced mouth.
Your harsh words condemning civil unions traumatized many, Mr. Novak. You are not a Republican you are a disgrace to the very principles of our party. You do not have a right to disenfranchise any portion of the American population because of your prejudice.
And I would vote for the Easter Bunny before I voted for you.
The education our kids are receiving in this town is excellent: this is something we can all agree upon, and the school district is doing their job in this regard. The township however is NOT doing their job, and this November's election is about THEM. The condition of the town stinks. Throw the bums out...starting with Novak!
John Novak wallows in a bottomless pit of gall and contradictions. This self-proclaimed champion of the people is truly a champion of the "person:" the person being himself. A power-hungry, pontificating thug, Mr. Novak must be soundly defeated on election day.
John Novak is a practicing attorney. As such, he should believe in giving all Americans the full benefit and protection of the law. But it was no one other than John Novak who openly decried the right of Americans desiring to be joined in a ceremony of civil union. It was and is John Novak who viciously disenfranchised some of the very people he wants you to believe he properly represents. And such a claim by Novak is pure baloney!
There can be little remaining doubt that the Barnegat School District is in disarray. John Novak has lived in Barnegat for a number of years. It is purely for political expediency that he opens his mouth now. How does he explain his silence in one breath when in another he states that the school district has been mismanaged for several years? To do so is his own confession that he has been selectively blind.
I am a registered Republican. I support the basic principles of my party and subscribe to them as a matter of choice. But I have too much respect for myself, my family and my neighbors to sit by and vote blindly simply because Mr. Novak is running as a Republican - a fact he omits from his campaign material. I believe each of [us] has a duty to think and extract the truth from the volumes of campaign rhetoric that is thrown at us.
John Novak's record on civil rights is clear. This man who wears an American flag pin on his lapel denies basic civil liberties to his constituents. And if there is one thing an American should know, discrimination against one must be viewed as discrimination against all.
I know little of what Mrs. Ryan stands for. Thus far, her silence has been deafening. She must speak out so people know she exists. A candidate seeking public endorsement has an implied duty to communicate their values and platform. It is not enough to merely speak the tired mantra of lower taxes, etc. Barnegat Township has definite issues. And these issues impact on the quality of life we live here to enjoy.
The jury is out on Mrs. Ryan. But its verdict on Novak is clear.
John Novak does not merit reelection.
I know most of you who will read this don't care that the taxes on my second home on the water in Barnegat increased, but I will post it anyway.
The house is on the water it is a wonderful location, it's new and I built it myself starting in 2002 and finishing the middle of 2004. Once I received the CO my home was assessed by the tax assessor and I began paying $8,500.00 per year. I thought this was a lot of money for 2,100 sq. ft. 4 bedrooms; 2 baths; eat in kitchen and family room home. Keep in mind this is a 2nd home so my children are not in the school system, but I felt that was the price you pay for living on the water.
Then last night I receive the mail which includes November 2007 through November 2008 tax bill. Last years taxes November 2006 through November 2007 were $8,945.00 this coming year taxes are $13,213.00 per year.
This is no longer the cost to live on the water this is the cost for municipal miss-management. Someone needs to be held accountable and explain how taxes assessed in 2004 (a member from the tax assessors office came into my house with a ruler, pad and pencil) when housing prices were at there peak must explain how a tax increase of nearly 50% is justifiable. Someone from the state needs to investigate this matter and any present member of the Barnegat town government MUST not be re-elected.
One must wonder what the chances are getting comments posted and where you post them. because I have a lot to say about the election and the waste and mismanagement of our tax dollars. I think the people of Barnegat are ill informed and can not handle the truth. you all commended the politicians for things that should not have been. like the fire for one and the handling of the direction we are heading. Either I have missed something or I live in a different Barnegat, I can not believe the people of Barnegat would put a price tag on our kids forehead. I hope you read that comment under your polls. Everything in this township is mismanaged and totally out of control. I hope to hear from you and my best wishes to Mrs. Ryan. You have my backing. I'll tell you this, the GOLDEN GIRLS team that ran last year was very respectful and well informed last year AND MADE IT A PLEASURE FOR ME TO HAVE THE PRIVILAGE TO RUN WITH THEM.
MATTHEW LIGHBODY
(UPDATE: The Twp. was contacted on Friday, Oct 12th, and the Code Enforcement Officer was notified about Novak placing his political signs on taxpayer-owned property. Hopefuly the Twp. will step in and protect the taxpayers' rights.)
Novak mis-uses taxpayers' property to promote himself. John J. Novak takes advantage of the taxpayers once again...first by raising taxes, now by using taypayers' property to promote himself with his political signs. The sign pictured here is placed on what is supposed to be a Twp. park on Memorial Drive. This property is paid for and maintained by the taxpayers of Barnegat. We pay for this property and no self-serving politician should have the arrogance to use the taxpayers like this. Please note (in the background) the terrible condition of the street. Also, look at the dirt path just beyond the street that is used as a sidewalk in downtown Barnegat. Novak is responsible for that dirt path. It is an embarrassment, it is a safety hazard, and should be a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act. This is arrogance beyond any shame except for last year when Novak put his sign right NEXT to this dirt path! He had a whole year to fix this safety hazard and embarrassment to our town, yet did nothing. Click here to see that picture from last year. Ironically, Novak's signs are yellow...a fitting color for a Committeeman who has shown no courage. Political signs are trivial. If an individual or business would like to place a sign in front of their home or place of work that shows the people that they support bigotry, intimidation, unresponsiveness, ineffectiveness, and overall cowardice that is their personal perogative, and that is their right. But do not place these signs on taxpayers' property. Good moral people have a problem with that, as they should. This is just another arrogant example of taxpayer abuse.
Novak's re-election strategy for this year is laid out, to once again manipulate the uninformed. This year he will blame the School District for all of Barnegat's problems. Any intelligent person -- without a partisan bias -- knows how ridiculous this is. The School Board should, and will, be held accountable when they face their own election. In addition, each year we have a choice to either approve or disapprove the School budget.
Novak wants to make the election for Township Committee a School Board election. And some members of our community will be easily manipulated to do this for him. The fools will play Novak's game. But we won't. Let's look at the facts for when we vote this November.
Novak promised not to raise taxes...he did. This is a fact. This cannot be blamed on anyone but Novak himself.
What did the town get in return for Novak's tax increase...nothing. In fact our quality of life has gone DOWN under the current Committee.
Novak does not have a single accomplishment to point to. If he did, we would have gladly written about it on this website. We even gave him a chance to speak directly to the readers of this site. He couldn't do this because he is unresponsive to the needs of the people of Barnegat. We all gave Novak a chance and he in return has failed us all. Now it's up to the people of Barnegat to hold him responsible.
I find it amusing to see how backwards Barnegats political parties are. Nationally, the GOP has a policy of less spending and more tax cuts while the Dems are continually adding on to the taxes and apending, spending, spending.
Now I know that we have seen tremendous growth in the past few years, but common sense dictates that we should have more tax revenues coming in to handle the need for increased seervices. Two things show how the current administration has mismanaged to create the situation we are now in.
First, where are the savings for the privatatization fo garbage collection. I would like to see the actual dollars and cents figures for this service. We owned the new automated trucks and receptacles. Our streets were cleaner because there were no cans being tipped over in the wind. And 1 employee could do the route with no extra benefits for a second garbage man. Presently, WM uses 2 people per truck, and the streets are a mess on windy days or when loose dogs get into the trash.
Next, a case in point of mismanagement. The township committee rents the first aid building to Quality for about $11,000 per year. Where do these people live. Go out and try to rent a 3000 square foot commercial property. The current rental units in Ocean County go for $10 to $15 per square foot, along with triple net. Triple net includes maintenace costs, real estate taxes and insurance along with common area utilities. That would make that property worth $30-45,000 per year plus the triple net.
Lastly, the commitee blames the school district for the vast majority of the tax problems. I concede that the problem is partly the school districts fault, however they did not allow all the unchecked building to go on. More building, larger population, bigger schools- thus larger school budgets. Not to mention the quality of life problems associated with the larger population. More traffic, more trash and more police.
Deflecting blame to anyone other than the committee that approved the final budget is politics as usual. Everyone knows that the standing twp committee passes/approves the budget, therefore owning responsibility! Responsible people would have looked at those things out of their control such as school taxes etc. and tailored the budget accordingly in order to keep the promises that they made at election time. Clearly that did not happen! A responsible committee would have also insured the infrastructure of the town before approving as many residential communities as well. It's time for a change. Don't you think?
Does anyone remember the expensive mailers that candidate Novak sent out last year? You may just remember the anti-gay message on one side, but flip it over and look at the other side. If you don't have it, this is what it said..."Promise: THREE more years of stable taxes and cuts in wasteful spending without sacrificing the essential services you deserve!"
PROMISE BROKEN. Committeeman Novak can't keep the one simple promise he made, yet he is the first to grandstand and blame the appraisers for the re-valuation and the school district solely for the overall TAX INCREASE that he shares responsiblity in bringing to us.
Let's get rid of Novak's smoke screen and take out the school tax altogether, and what do we have left? Still - a tax increase! Novak raised your taxes. As for cuts in wasteful spending, Novak's political party has been in control for years. Any cuts in wasteful spending is wasteful spending they are responsible for. Did they make any cuts? Spending continues to skyrocket under Committeeman Novak. Is it wasteful for the taxpayer to spend over $30,000 a year for Committeeman Hartman's health insurance when he has a full time job elsewhere?
We need Committeepeople who put the taxpayer first. AND IF THEY MAKE A PROMISE, THEY SHOULD KEEP IT. We need Committeepeople who take their oath of office seriously, and not blame others for their own broken promises.
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