I saw a title on the Patch Boards under the Town Square heading that got my attention. It had a picture of Mayor Mayer and the title read, “Let’s get behind the Mayor…”
Okay, here’s my disclosure: I’m running for a seat on town council in the upcoming November 5th, 2013, general election so this kind of stuff is a magnet to me. What the heck, I thought; it looks like some Mayor Mayer supporters might finally be beginning to surface; Lord knows I’ve searched for them in vain, trying to understand why things are the way they are in this town if so many people dislike him. So I opened the link.
A local blogger who gets me laughing, usually just when I need it, was the author. “What’s going on?” I thought to myself. All that was there was a link to the author’s blog on Google so I made the trip.
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So, it’s late Friday afternoon, 18 October 2013, and I’m reading "The Diary of a Madman” on a Google blog and finding out about a new park to be constructed in Gloucester Township and the dedication to be…the next day, Saturday, 19 October. “Citizen’s Appreciation Park” is to be constructed in honor of the selfless citizens of Gloucester Township who’ve made it so great. Where’s this all coming from and why has it been kept a secret?
John identified the nj.com website as the source for this information so to nj.com I went. I could find nothing so I entered the search phrase “citizens appreciation park” into nj.com’s Search bar and BOOM! Gloucester Township to break ground on ‘Citizens Appreciation Park’, dated 17 October 2013.
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Early Saturday morning, the day of, and still puzzled, I queried some of my township friends as to their knowledge of this event. One friend searched the Courier Post and came up with another 17 October story, Volunteers honored with park in Gloucester Township.
One wonders why Team-Mayer press released this to the Courier Post and nj.com but neglected to do a press release to the Gloucester Township Patch. Every major event that happens in GT is preceded by a press release to the Patch. Patch is THE local news medium for Gloucester Township so why no press release? Now, here’s where it gets even stranger; nothing whatsoever was posted on the official Gloucester Township website (glotwp.com). I scoured the site, including looking at the calendar, and there was nothing about this event.
The Courier story stated, “Gloucester Township officials and community groups will gather Saturday for the groundbreaking of a park to honor community volunteers.” Was this event to be attended by special invitation only? If not, how were residents to know about it? The stated reason for the park is to “recognize volunteers in the community.” That sounds pretty inclusive so that if you were a volunteer who gave tirelessly for the good of others without seeking credit for yourselves, you would be eligible to be honored by having your name imprinted on the wall.
So why didn’t everybody get news of this Dedication and ground-breaking service? Instead, and in contrast to its very nature of recognizing those who don’t seek credit for their efforts, this was whispered around to the chosen few and our local politicians made this a photo-op and an opportunity to take credit for yet something else. There was Dave Mayer at Saturday’s Dedication Ceremony swinging the golden shovel again, just like he did over at the Field of Dreams that still sits barren with only the tumbleweed moving about but a plaque on the wall of the Community Park dedicated to and honoring the illustrious Mayor David R. Mayer. Seriously, Dave swings that shovel so often, I’m wondering if he’s got blisters or is building up callouses on his hands. Maybe I’ll send him a pair of garden gloves to show him how much I care.
Some township residents thought it was beyond the pale for a sitting mayor without that much to his credit to have one of the town’s signature parks dedicated to himself, so I imagine there was some heat generated over that and no one wanted a repeat. In fact, lately the mayor has been taking quite a bit of heat in the Patch as Election Day nears. I’ll not try to rehearse all that’s going on but refer you to the Patch or, if you’d like, you can view my Candidate’s Blogs here: The Candidate’s Blog.
The point is that this event appeared to be purposefully hidden from the bulk of the residents of Gloucester Township possibly because Mayor Dave did not want the aggravation and the bad press it would generate in the Patch. If somebody thinks I’m wrong, please provide me with any other reasoned and logical explanation for keeping this event under the radar. Dedicating a park to the people but not telling the people about it and effectively keeping the people away; what’s that about? Not to fret, however, the Usual Suspects were all there…Dave Mayer, Paul Moriarity, Gabriella Mosquera, Orlando, Tracey, and Sam…
…And incumbent councilwoman Michelle Winters was there. What happened there? I can’t believe she sat silent at the last council meeting and said nothing while I asked questions based on what was revealed to residents by Dave Mayer about the Fall-2013 groundbreaking for the Premium Outlets when she knew that the new groundbreaking had been pushed into 2014, if it happens at all. She’s an incumbent and part of Team-Daver so she has to have the inside track on Dave’s shenanigans. Shame, shame.
Back to the park; allow me to share a little from the nj.com story…
Be informed that the property was purchased with state taxpayers’ money. “It’s a permanent kind of thank you for making a difference and contributing to the quality of life in Gloucester Township…Generations can come back and see their grandfather’s name on the wall. It’s a good legacy, and above that it’s really a thank you for what so many people do to make Gloucester Township a great place” (Dave Mayer).
Mr. Mayer, from the people of GT who have lost their homes and their neighbors whose homes are devalued each time a home is abandoned, from those in town who are staring around nervously and wondering if they will be next to lose their homes, from the retirees who are afraid they will no longer be able to live in their lifelong homes because they cannot afford the tax burden, and from the young man who stood in the last council meeting and begged our township administrators to stop spending money because his taxes were making it prohibitive for him to live in Gloucester Township...we all echo his sentiments; put the brakes on.
No, Mr. Mayer, you did not see him because you did not think it prudent to attend the council meeting. You have not thought it prudent to do so for months now. On the other hand, you have shown up before every council meeting that offered an awards ceremony and thus a photo-op and then absented yourself when township business was taken up so you really don’t know, or seem to care, what the residents of this town who don’t agree with everything you do have to say.
As for generations returning to read the names of their grandfathers on the wall…Mr. Mayer, are you not aware that we are bankrupting our grandchildren? The federal government runs on debt, the state government runs on debt, the county government runs on debt, and now our township runs on debt, and yet we buy, buy, buy. Nobody’s grandchildren will be able to live here to see the names of their ancestors on the wall, Mr. Mayer. Give us the transparency you promised upon taking office, Mr. Mayer. Come on out and face the people.
Don’t forget to vote on November 5th. It’s up to all of you whether you want a change from what one party-rule has given us in GT or if you want the moneyed-interests to keep telling our local politicians what to do.
Vote Gloucester Township FIRST – Brown, DiBartolo, Kline and Pauli on November 5th.
