Already Well Compensated

No one holds a gun to anyone’s head when it comes time to choose a career. Yet it seems that certain segments in the “public service” realm believe that the taxpayers should take care of them both financially and benefits wise in perpetuity. Some of these “public servants” can retire and begin collecting pension s and health benefits in their early to mid-forties so that for the next 30, 40, or even 50 years they have a sense of entitlement. So, while some of the rest of us have to work and/or scrimp until we drop dead I guess the “public servants” are the only ones that can lead lives of leisure but still are not satisfied! All we expect as taxpayers is for the “public servants” is to do their jobs and not hold a gun to our heads when they are already well compensated, way more than in the private sector!

Michael J. Rusznak

Memorial Day Parade Music

The annual Memorial Day parade happened this past weekend in Perth Amboy (as in most other US towns and cities that host a parade). The parade route covered a good portion of the City, heading through our busy and dense downtown area into our quiet and peaceful waterfront. The local school marching bands played their rendition of popular patriotic tunes as they do every year. First Responder sirens roared through the air as the local police department escorted the parade, blocked traffic and kept everyone safe.

It was all fine and dandy until the last third of the parade line up passed through. During this portion of the parade, rap music and reggaetton blared suppressing the sound of the sirens of the police cars. Not only did the music alter the ambiance, it also disrespected the purpose and meaning of commemorating Memorial Day.  

Memorial Day began as a day to remember and honour those who were lost during the Civil War (the deadliest war by far in USA history). While the exact origins of the tradition remains unknown, it is known that many towns and cities around the country held commemoration services. Graves were decorated, family of fallen soldiers were visited, prayers were sent above and communities came together to reflect on the impact war and battle had made not only to the particular community but, to the larger United States of America. Parades were and continue to be a popular way to get the community together. 

While I understand that times have changed, the fact that men and women in uniform is still dying due to job related matters is still prominent. PBS published informational information on Memorial Day which stated “[…] all Americans must take a moment to remember the sacrifice of our valiant military service members, first responders and their families. Memorial Day is a day of both celebration and grief, accounting for the honor of our heroes and reflecting on their tragic loss.” (http://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/memorial-day/meaning/). ;

Ultimately, I believe the music played towards the end of the parade was inappropriate and pushes the national agenda of commercializing holidays. The point of having the day off from school and work is to remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our rights. It’s to comfort those people who are reminded daily that the sacrifices of their loved one(s). And whilst parades can be fun, I think that now more than ever patriotic tunes needed to be blared through the City considering the population and local and national environment. Similarly, let’s not forget the members of our own community who have passed or have suffered due to the ongoing wars being fought oversees. Let’s not forget the true meaning of Memorial Day and why we observe the occasion.

Stop teaching our community to disrespect our veterans and active service members and start teaching them to value the sacrifices made in order for our country to remain safe and our rights be protected.

Stephanie Márquez-Villafañe

Same Old 

Tired Excuses

I usually do not write about local politics or affairs, but in this case, I’m going to make an exception.

I’ve lived on Inslee Street since 1959, so I know a little about this neighborhood, and in particular about this street. I’m not talking about the people, who have changed drastically over the years. In fact, there are only two other people who have lived here a little longer than I have. However, the one thing that has not changed is the sanitary sewer system, that is until the city separated the sanitary system from the storm water system, more on that later.

The sanitary sewer in the street has been consistently backing up since the late seventies. For those who do not know, the sanitary sewer is the big pipe under the street that all the poop, pee, drainage from your sinks and washing machines go. When these big pipes get clogged the nasty stuff cannot flow and ends up in some people’s basements. Yep that nasty stuff coming into you house is somebody else’s poop and pee. This water is full of germs, disease, and smells really bad.

Well, in my part of “Budapest” this has been happening consistently since the late seventies. Most of the time I or someone else would call the city, and the big truck comes, clears the line, and everyone is happy, well almost everyone. The people who have to wash out and disinfect their basements aren’t too happy. When I came home to find two feet of water, with turds floating in it, in my basement, I was not happy to say the least. This was back in the early eighties. I complained to the city and even sent them the bill for cleaning up my basement. The answer I got then is that the city cannot be held responsible for something that is essentially, an act of God. I think the lame excuse given was a tree branch getting caught in the sewer during a heavy rain, at the time the sanitary and storm sewers were one in the same so this was possible however improbable. In addition, it had not rained for two weeks before.

Then came the monumental project of separating the storm and sanitary sewer. The reason being that the city was paying to have storm water treated at the sewerage treatment plant, not to alleviate the “backing up” problem, although I was told this should eliminate the “backing up problem”, Not.

Now whenever the city came out to clear the blockage they always went, and still go, to the same manhole to clear it. I suggested to one supervisor, years before, that being it always blocks up in the same place maybe, just possibly, there is something wrong with the pipe in that area. I even suggested putting a camera down there and look. When you find the problem, fix it. Simple, right, nope, I forgot I was dealing with the city. The workers know there is a problem but are powerless to do anything but kick it up to their superiors. Then come the same old tired excuses. People putting things down the drain like rags, tampons, sanitary napkins, and my favorite grease. These things are mostly true, but if these things made it out of the small house pipe how did it clog the big street pipe, unless these things are getting snagged on something like, I don’t know, a broken pipe maybe. If you don’t look you won’t know.

Another unhappy resident that I know on Summit Ave, which I understand has a similar problem, was told that it was grease that was constantly causing this problem. All I can say about that one is that someone on that street must be dumping grease down the drain by the drum full.

Once, I talked to a supervisor after one of these many incidents and he promised to send the truck out every two weeks or so for preventative maintenance. He kept his promise, and we were problem free for a year or so. Then the preventative maintenance stopped, and the problem returned.

After this latest incident, 5/23/2018, I relayed this to someone who told me that since there were no more problems with the sewer they decided to stop the preventative maintenance, DUH. This person also told me that the city has the equipment, camera, but it is so antiquated that it can’t be used and even if it wasn’t, nobody knows how to use it. If this is true, it is unacceptable.

Not too long ago the city seemed to take an interest in the “Budapest” section. They even extended Budapest all the way to Washington Street, or was it New Brunswick Avenue, I don’t remember. Why they did that I don’t know, there must have been money in it for someone. They spent a lot of money redoing Francis Street Park. Then flyers were passed around about meetings for residents of Budapest to give ideas on how to improve the neighborhood. Here’s an idea, fix the damn sewers.

Joe Bayona