TUF's Mission Statement

Why is TUF needed? Franklin Township, Somerset NJ, suffers from high taxes, eminent domain abused, out of control development, paralyzing traffic, and a school board that has been so unresponsive to the public that it took two years of pressure before they would televise their own meetings even though they had their own cable channel. This site and the people behind it are dedicated to bringing our community back to the people.

Just incase you've been living in a cave the past month you should know that the recall of Ellen Ritchie was successful. Bob Mettler has taken her place on the Council. Here are a few pictures of the celebration that took place after the votes were counted.

After 2 1/2 years of work by TUF the BOE has approved an outside review of the $136M budget. On Mar 4th in a 6-2-1 vote the BOE has decided to go forward with an independent operation review.

TUF can think of nothing more American than its citizens voting for whom they wish to be their leader. Finally after 3 years Franklin is allowed to see it's candidates debate.                                                                                    

One of the promises of the recall was to stop the Bennetts Lane-Veronica project. Finally Council and the planning board have make it happen.

days since the last BOE budget passed. TUF believes that this is a measure of a lack of trust between the public and the BOE.

Lead by Ritchie and Danile the same group of Council members that brought us the Ritchie-Morris Bennetts lane project make a political mockery of the Reorg meeting. ITOW

Perhaps the biggest threat to our way of life in Franklin is development. The more houses the more traffic, higher taxes due to more children in schools and less open space/ wildlife habitat. More about over development.

The most important thing you can do to help is to attend meetings and speak out. If you remain silent nothing will change.

Get the truth about how much Franklin's tax levies have grown. Our analysis corrects for both population and inflation.      

In the last year Eminent Domain has threatened three different areas in Franklin.

TUF presents recordings of statements made by the politically active. This page is a response to many of the comments, both good and bad, that we have heard at Township meetings.

• Township Attorney attempts to argue that debates on FTTV are illegal.
• Who's doing the talking, Ashley-Williams or Sumter?
• Did Councilwoman Ritchie lie about pressuring Dr. Orsini?
• Councilwoman Ritchie on WCTC
• Ritchie and Danile make a mockery of the 2007 Reorg Meeting

While we all cringe when we see our property assessments, its spending, not assessments that are the main cause of tax increases.