The move of the retail portion of the Barnegat Post Office was reported as a done deal by the local press and Twp. representatives. It clearly is not. As the back pedaling begins, there are some important aspects of this decision that have not been discussed in any media outlet, although we have raised many of them over a year ago. These facts clearly show the short-sightedness and lack of thought by the Twp., postal authorities, and uninformed residents. Let's look at some facts.

There are really only TWO ACCEPTABLE SOLUTIONS.

One: Leave the Downtown Post Office as is and add another facility on the West side of town.

Two: Move out of the Downtown completely and build one big facility elsewhere that can handle up to 30,000 residents.

These are the only two choices that make sense and serve all the people of Barnegat. No self-serving political compromise as proposed by Committeeman Hartman should be acceptable. Now let's look at some of those funny little facts that have been overlooked.

POPULATION GROWTH
The Post Office says it needs more space because of the current growth of the Twp. This is obviously true. However if this small retail space is converted into the proposed distribution/warehouse space only, why is it that no one asked this simple question...what will the Post Office do when 10,000 MORE RESIDENTS are added in the near future? This small space Downtown will not be able to handle this growth, and the Post Office will be forced to have to do one of the two solutions we have outlined. They will have to move out of the Downtown location which will be much to small to accommodate 30,000 residents, and they will have to build -- or find -- another location. These 10,000 people are coming. The Committee will not stop building, and of course the builders that have made us "The #1 place to live in Ocean County" won't stop building until Barnegat is built out. So the move the Post Office is proposing will simply not work when this population boom comes in. The fact that we are the only ones to point this out is alarming. Either we're wrong (and if we are, I'm sure we'll be corrected), or Barnegat has no one with a vision leading us. This is a fatal flaw with this proposed move. It is short-term only and it will not serve the people of Barnegat in the future. One of the two solutions we outlined are the only answers to this problem.

ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE DOWNTOWN
The Post Office must stay in the Downtown with not just a full retail operation, but with P.O. boxes for residents as well. We cannot -- and should not -- have a postal facility without FULL OPERATION in the center of our Historic Downtown. If the Post Office wants to leave, then they should leave. But they should not be allowed to take up valuable Downtown space with a warehouse operation only. This property should be sold so another retail operation can move in. More antique shops, or a variety of stores could be part of an indoor/outdoor shopping complex suited for a small Historic Downtown area. Talk about foot traffic! This is something that would surely bring it.

A SIMPLE ZONING ISSUE
There is no way the center of our tiny Historic Downtown area should be used as a warehouse only facility. This is a Village Commercial area. Many of us could not live and work here without following these zoning laws. The businesses and residents who have already invested millions of dollars in this area will be hurt, and they WILL be heard. In the long run, law suits will most likely follow and this Postal move will not happen. The zoning in this area must be followed. Look at the cell tower issue and use some common sense. Zoning laws are in place for a reason.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The current location of the Post Office is located in an area that is easily accessible to people who choose to walk. Walking should be encouraged for many reasons. It is healthy, and it protects the environment. The area proposed for the new retail location does not have safe walkable routes to it. Most everyone will have to drive to it. Are we the only ones who find it ridiculous that during a time of war, when the President of the United States asks us to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel, the U.S. Postal service and the Twp. of Barnegat will force people to use MORE fuel, not less. What happened to supporting our troops? Sunshine Patriots will happily drive to this new location, but we should be looking at ways to REDUCE driving.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE INVOLVEMENT
Obviously when Barnegat has an Environmental Committee -- approved by the Twp. Committee -- they will have much to say. If the people suggested to be on this Committee are approved, they will most likely will be the first to oppose any compromise Committeeman Hartman is pushing in the local press. Only the two solutions that we have outlined should be considered. Opposing this move that would harm our environment by increasing the use of fossil fuel hopefully will be among this Committee's first priorities.

TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Speaking of committees, the Traffic Safety Committee should have something to say. Although its leader and most experience member Fred Rubenstein was removed for speaking his mind and standing up for the people of Barnegat, hopefully the remaining members will not be intimidated and will oppose this Postal move based on safety concerns. Two locations on both sides of town makes sense. This will reduce traffic...that is a no-brainer. The proposed move will increase traffic...that's also a no-brainer. The Post Office spokes person went out of his way to say to the press that the new retail location will be located a short distance from the existing site. Does he want us to continue to walk to this new location? If so, how are we to do it safely? There are no sidewalks that can take you to this site...you must walk in the street. This move could result in the uneccessary loss of life of a pedestrian. This Committee should stand against such a move.

Only in Barnegat could a simple solution be blown up into a controversy. We need leadership to sit down and talk openly and honestly to the people. We invited the Twp. Committee and Postal authorities to address this issue here on this site over one year ago. None of them ever responded to us, which is sad, because the public should be considering the real facts...not the public relations spin they read in the press.