Submitted.
Dear Voters,
Taxes are Skyrocketing - For a simple duplex almost $20,000 Keep in mind Eight story buildings in cedar bridge are not much more after getting all those tax abatements
Traffic is not getting better - Sometimes need to allocate one hour to and from yeshiva and work
School Buses are getting worse every year and we are told to swallow as can be much worse and we should be happy with what we have
Our police department leadership is nowhere to be seen and answers to no one (not even sure if we have a chief or acting chief at the moment) - to date I don't think there was any comment or statement from anyone when a choshuve yungerman was arrested other then we are investigating
Township meetings are still in secret / virtual when they claim it's for convenience but the same officials have no problem making time for photo ops but not to engage the public when it comes to real topics - they now can vote on anything they want in a total of under ten minutes a township meeting without facing the public.
Cost of living is too high, taxes, utilities, rent etc..
Why am I kvetching now and here?
Because in case you didn't realize there is a election coming up, I'm sure next week all the important people that represent us on any of the above issues will be making IMPORTANT recommendations who to vote for Township, BOE, Fire, County and state elections and voting are very important but do you realize that most the candidates are not asking for your vote, they are not earning your vote, they are not trying to convince you why you should vote for them???
We are probably a fourth of ocean county and candidates for ocean county have been traveling the county encouraging people to vote for them but have not once held any public meetings/ conversations for the frum community???? Other than attending some photo ops they are ignoring US and relying on forcing us via endorsements.
recently the candidates running on a county level have been to Ocean Gate, Little Egg Harbor, Seaside Park, Berkeley but none of the frum communities of Lakewood, Jackson, toms river, Manchester??? Other Than Jack Ciatterelli who is running for Governor i don't see anyone reaching out for votes?!?!?
Do they not want to represent us??
Does the county workforce represent the diverse communities of ocean counties??
what percent of Ocean County Employees are from the frum population of ocean county which is a fourth of the county???
Do we not count??
I think that they know we are fools and just follow the crowd.
Please get out and vote but vote to make a difference and demand a better quality of life and a living we can afford!
Unfortunately, nothing will change until people take matters into their own hands and establish a real vaad or committee one appointed by the people through elections, or by selecting representatives from each area of town. The olam in Lakewood are too busy with their own lives, just trying to get by, and have little time to research the candidates. Instead, they place their trust in askanim who claim to represent the community and assume that their endorsements reflect the community’s best interests.
ReplyDeleteSadly, this has not been the case. Over the last 20 years, it has become clear that many self-appointed askanim and spokespeople represent only themselves and their own interests. They use and exploit the koach harabim the collective power of the community’s voting bloc to strengthen their own influence and secure political favors, funding, and benefits for their circles.
For too long, this game has continued while much-needed funding that should benefit all of Lakewood’s residents quality of life has been diverted to a select few. As a result, resources intended for the broader community are often lost.
At this point, the only real leverage left is the power not to vote. The only power these self-appointed askanim have comes from claiming in Trenton that they represent a massive voting bloc. Until we stop empowering those who abuse our votes and misuse community resources, nothing will change.
In most communities, not just Lakewood, when people mostly vote based on endorsements of community organizations, politicians do not focus their campaigning on reaching out to the public directly.
ReplyDeleteMoshe Raitzik is running for Lakewood Fire Commissioner and did an extensive interview with the Voice that was published in their Sukkos edition. He has been asking for people’s votes. In fact, every time he runs for something he does so. Yes, some candidates hide behind their VAAD endorsement. Raitzik does not hide.
ReplyDeleteThe Josh Gottheimer campaign was an abuse of the Lakewood tzibbur taking advantage of rabbonim and roshei yeshiva and bullying the kehila for a 4th rate candidate in a primary election wasting everyone's time
ReplyDeleteThe Schnall election was worse as the community was lied too about Tuition in a major marketing campaign to bring out the votes and fool everyone to the polls.
ReplyDeleteThey totally ignored any mention of tuition this camping on the yelllow vote Avi signs
It's sick how they have no shame to play the Lakewood community as fools
They can play the Lakewood community as fools because the Lakewood community IS a bunch of fools.
Deletei will vote how the vaad and askanim tell ys to vote as they are guided by daas Torah. property taxes dont effect me as i get HUD on the duplex my brother owns
ReplyDeleteWhich daas Torah is behind the vaad??? Who is the "vaad"? They are so hidden that no one knows who they are anymore. I didn't see any letter recently signed by daas Torah on approving the vaad or the vaad recommendations on who to vote?
DeleteUnfortunately we are too late as Voting day is next Tuesday but this post should have been sent to the Lakewood weekly's that are published and sent to the Lakewood community.
DeleteMost people that read hefkerfelt already agree with you!
Please send submissions to:
The Lakewood Shopper: submissions@familyroommagazine.com
The Voice: info@thevoiceoflakewood.com
Yated: editor@yated.com
Hamodia: info@hamodia.com
The watsappp lakewood media is just as corrupt all paid off sold-out for money they play the game for them klal but endorse the same corrupt candidates and give schnal a free pa$$
DeleteThe watsappp lakewood media is just as corrupt all paid off sold-out for money they play the game for them klal but endorse the same corrupt candidates and give schnal a free pa$$
DeleteThe only one way to show we have power is to use it.
ReplyDeleteVote a few people out of office.
We actually did that two years ago. What did we get? A loyal Democratic party apparatchik.
Who voted completely against our interests. Raises taxes, votes pro-Toeva (and won't publicly declare his positions. Actually, won't publicly declare anything? Has he made ANY public statement about anything?). Does absolutely nothing about tuition credits. And that was before President Trump arranged a separate tuition credit program, which he won't make the state join in. Allows state universities to support antisemitic programs. Does not call out the democratic candidate who refuses to condemn hamas.
I remember quite well like yesterday,the Great Vaad descion.. to Snub Christie a Republican with family values and vote Democrat and lo and behold ,major upset Christie Won he never forgot how Lakewood treated a conservative fact not fiction ask AK to confirm,
ReplyDeleteGreat decision AK,how's your very good friend , the disgraced Governor Mc Greevy
DeleteI hear your tite with him
DeleteThe motivating factor for a vote is solely based on Gaiva And Greed
ReplyDeleteI agree to this but I’m clueless: who does this article think I “should” vote for on the ballet?
ReplyDeleteResearch yourself.Take the larger picture.Anybody with the slightest bias-irrespective of title or standing, should be ignored out of hand
Delete