The City of Perth Amboy Council is Heartless Against the Disabled

I suffer from diabetes, which causes bad circulation in my feet, creating frequent and severe foot ulcers. At this time, I have an ulcer on my left foot and “Charcot” foot illness on my right foot. I reside in an area where it is very hard to find a parking spot. Due to my illness, I was forced to retire in 2011, because my job required a lot of walking. On April 20, I received a letter from the Police Department denying a “handicapped” only parking spot in front of my home, because of an ordinance – Chapter 255-A-Section #1-Prohibits this. If you live in an area with parking meters, the City does not  want to lose the income from the meter, so they will not give you the parking spot. The money is more important to the City than what happens to a disabled person. Due to the extra walking, they are forcing on them, on May 13, I attended the Council Meeting and again requested the “parking spot.” The Council stated “Sorry Charley.” {Hit the Road} and denied my request. Recently reelected Councilman Fernando Gonzalez not included – > Perth Amboy City Council, Shame on you – You are heartless, cruel and inhuman.

Thank you,

Gudelio Gonzalez Jr.

Municipal Consolidation

There is a claim that consolidating municipalities into fewer and larger municipalities would cure the high property taxes in NJ. I think consolidating smaller municipalities would require a new layer of top management to oversee the enlarged workforce. Assuming a reduction in the labor force, consolidation does nothing for material costs and supplies. What about any increased travel time from a central location?

NJ did not have the highest property taxes in the nation with the old 1844 state constitution where property was assessed at “true value” rather than “assessed value”, which escalates over time. Didn’t California use Initiative and Referendum a few years ago to adjust property taxes?

Should municipalities be consolidated across county lines? Should counties be consolidated as well? NJ had only thirteen counties in the 18th century. The number was increased to meet the voters requests. Townships were divided into smaller municipalities so the citizens had more control over local political priorities and taxes.

Why stop at municipalities? The ultimate consolidation would be to unite with the state of Pennsylvania (which has a similar latitude). Their state constitution is more democratic, voters can elect state officials, judges, and county prosecutors. If giving more power to voters leads to lower  taxes, maybe we need Initiative and Referendum in NJ to cure any other problem.

Ronald A. Sobieraj