TUF received this from Linda Weber-Smith.

We have decided to comply with her wishes (the subject of her email is "print the whole truth") and post her email which includes the editorial including her comments entirely unedited. The only change we have made was to x out her email address. We have also posted our reply which we updated on Dec 17th, 2003.

Home News Tribune editorial for 11.18.03 Franklin should OK skate park Franklin taxpayers deserve to have their money spent wisely. Judging by the recreational habits of today's youth, a skate park is a good use of those dollars. A local taxpayer group is making a lot of noise about a proposal to spend $250,000 to build such a facility. Taxpayers United argues that a skate park is an inappropriate use of open-space dollars, skateboarding hasn't established itself as an activity with staying power, too few children will benefit by the facility, and better uses can be found for township funds. Each of those concerns is easily countered. Open-space money is by design intended not only for the purchase of land but for its improvement through recreational facilities. Skateboarding is immensely popular among teens, and has been for the past decade. Old Bridge, East Brunswick, Sayreville and Edison are just a few of the communities with skate parks already. Skate parks around the area are well-used, and they often serve a portion of the youth community that may not take to -- and is left out of -- traditional team sports. As crucial as good roads, numbers of police and solid basic services may be, recreational opportunities are important, too. They give children a place to exercise, socialize and grow. They enhance any community, improving not only the quality of living but the value of property. They are more than luxuries. Township homeowners would pay an average one-time fee of $1.05 from open-space funds to build the facility. That's a small price to earn a big reward for township children.

THESE KIDS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY 0  ZERO! JUST LIKE THE BASKETBALL PLAYERS....KIDS ON PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT....KIDS WHO PLAY TOUCH FOOTBALL ON A WEEKEND IN A PARK OR SOFTBALL.  YOU ARE A BUNCH OF IGNORANT HALF TRUTH TELLING SELF SERVING POLITICAL WASTES! SHOULD WE CLOSE THE THEATRE AND SENIOR CENTER, THEY ARE NOT SELF RELIANT AND I AM SURE THE COST TO MAINTAIN THESE BUILDINGS AND HEAT AND ELECTRIFY THEM ARE ASTRNOMICAL!  SHOULD WE CLOSE THEM? 

DID YOU TAKE A RIDE AROUND AND COUNT HOW MANY YOUTH WERE PLAYING BASKETBALL ON THE SAME DAY YOU VISITED THE SKATEPARK....WHAT ABOUT THE NEW TENNIS COURTS.....WHAT ABOUT THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IN THE VARIOUS PARKS?? SHOULD I CONTINUE OR DO YOU GET THE IDEA YET?  YOU ARE BIASED AND DISCRIMINATING PEOPLE AND HAVE NO RIGHT TO SPREAD YOUR POISON AND IGNORANCE IN THIS TOWN....JUST BECAUSE YOU PAY TAXES DO NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT SPORTS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE "RIGHT OR WRONG"

WE CAN CLOSE THE SENIOR CENTER AND START PAYING FOR IT IN OTHER WAYS, LIKE MEDICARE GOING UP BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TREAT SO MANY SHUT INS AND DEPRESSED SENIORS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO WHERE TO GO AND SOCIALIZE....WE CAN CLOSE THE THEATRE -HOW MANY  PEOPLE ARE REALLY THEATRE PEOPLE THE SAME 100 GOSH WE COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THE THEATRE COSTS TO MAINTAIN...HEAT, WATER, AND ELECTRIFY.

WE CAN CLOSE ALL THE PARKS SO NOBODY HAS ANYTHING TO DO WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT AND JUST PUT THE MONEY INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE KIDS AND ADULTS ARE BORED AND FIND OTHER WAYS, NOT GOOD WAYS TO OCCUPY THEIR TIME. 

UNLESS YOU HAVE POSITIVE INPUT INTO THIS TOWN KEEP YOUR IDEAS AND IGNORANCE TO YOURSELVES....VOLUNTEER IN POSITIVE WAYS....NOT JUST TO PUT $1 BACK INTO YOUR POCKET!

LINDA WEBER-SMITH

RECREATIONS CHAIRPERSON

TAXPAYER

MOM

TEACHER

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