Where in the World is Mayor Mayer?

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

Have you ever had to run the gauntlet of Red-Light Camera Mile in Gloucester Township? It is one mile of Blackwood-Clementon Road where ten red-light cameras are distributed across four intersections.

Gloucester Township is approximately 22-square miles but somebody thought we needed to concentrate 10 red-light cameras on B-C Road alone along a corridor that is already blighted and threatening to get worse. I have to wonder if residents in any other part of 22-square mile Gloucester Township ever turn on red too soon. I believe in equal treatment under the law but something doesn’t seem right here and this is nothing less than a special tax on the residents that live in Blackwood and have to travel any part of Blackwood-Clementon Road.

Here’s what our illustrious, lately absentee, mayor had to say about it when the lights were turned on: “We had to try to slow traffic down. And we had to do that for a number of reasons," Mayer said. "One is safety. The other is economic development. Traffic just flowed too quickly through there. As you can see, that corridor is not thriving." (Patch – 16 March 2012 – Township Rakes in Red-Light Camera Revenue.)

Is that corridor thriving now? Has all the revenue balanced on the backs of Blackwood residents at $85 dollars per shot helped economic development along Blackwood-Clementon Road? Maybe the mayor can call a town meeting and explain to us all the benefits of the red-light camera tax.

On Wednesday afternoon, 11 Sep. 2013, at 1:05 PM, I was interviewed on The Big Talker radio show at 1210 on the AM dial by 10-to-2 host Dom Giordano. You can hear the interview here. You will see a scroll-down list next to Dom’s picture; scroll down until you see “Paul J. DiBartolo – Red Light Cameras” and click the arrow to listen to the interview.

Dom had previously looked at some of my blogging on red-light cameras and was interested in David Mayer’s rationale for the cameras. In fact, he extended an invitation over the air to David Mayer to come on his show. I’m sure Dom would be equally obliged to bringing me back and allow Dave and me to hash it out on the air if Mr. Mayer so desires.

How about it, Mayor Mayer, are you interested?

Here’s the problem, I have not seen Mr. Mayer at a township council meeting for about two months now and he doesn’t answer my emails. I even spoke to his personal secretary, Assemblywoman Gabby Mosquera, and she admitted to seeing my emails saying only that Dave was a busy man but that she would remind him that I had asked for a response. Another resident at council meeting told me that he has called the mayor nine times without a call back.

If anybody reading this is on the GT Friends and Family Plan, or if Dave routinely stops you in the supermarket weekly to say hello like one reader tried to tell me, would you please tell Dave we’re looking for him.

The invitation of Dom Giordano is open, Dave. If you have a problem getting in touch with him, I will do my best to help. Come on, Dave, can’t you come out to play?

Where in the world is Dave Mayer?

Well, if not sooner, I guess we can all meet at the polls in November. Be smart and vote Gloucester Township FIRST on November 5th.