At first, it seemed as if it was a legitimate and potentially controversial concern. Why would the township of Guttenberg give permission to mayoral candidate and Councilman David Delle Donna to have a street fair, closing off a portion of Boulevard East in the process, when the town put a stop to a similar idea contrived by the Parent-Teachers Organization of Anna L. Klein School?
According to now-outgoing PTO President Liz Geron, that was the scenario. She had received word that Delle Donna’s campaign was sponsoring a political event next month that was going to close off Boulevard East for the entire day.
P>And in Geron’s eyes, this was the height of hypocrisy. Because after all, Geron wanted to have a fundraising street fair in June, in order for the PTO to raise money to refurbish the Klein School library. But the PTO was told by township officials that there was no ordinance in place to have a street fair.Not to mention, there were concerns from police officials that stemmed from residents upset that they would not have access to their Hudson Avenue homes for the entire day.
So the PTO’s street fair plan died.
But when Geron received word that this new street fair event was happening Sept. 15 and that it was sponsored by the Delle Donna campaign, the former PTO president was angry.
"It doesn’t seem fair," Geron said. "Why can he hold a street fair and we couldn’t? We can’t have something that was going to benefit the kids, but they can hold a political event on Boulevard East? Doesn’t seem right to me."
So the investigation ensued.
When asked about the event, and whether it was a political campaign event, Delle Donna became as equally angry.
That’s because the event has nothing to do with his mayoral aspirations, he said. The event is part of the township’s SAFE Kids program, coordinated by the Guttenberg Fire Prevention Agency, headed by Tony Casper. The event will take place Sept. 15 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Boulevard East, between 70th and Bulls Ferry Road, near the township’s monument to honor fallen soldiers of war.
In the past 10 years, there have been four SAFE Kids fairs, where kids are treated to games and rides while also being informed about fire and safety procedures and organizations.
"There are presentations from the fire department, the ambulance squad, the police department," Delle Donna explained. "The State Police will have their K-9 patrol dogs. Companies like Coca-Cola, Pizza Hut and Outback have donated food and drinks to give to the kids. There will be games and rides. We hope to have 500 kids there. It’s strictly a fun day for the kids."
Added Delle Donna, "Anyone who thinks that it is being used for political reasons is totally out of line. I will volunteer my services and work the event. But there will be no speeches or signs. It’s beyond comprehension. It seems like anything we do, there’s someone who wants to tear it down and put their own spin on it."
Delle Donna said that the event used to be held in the Klein School courtyard, but that in 1999, the last time the event was held, the schoolyard became too cramped.
"This way, we have more room on the Boulevard," Delle Donna said. "That’s the only reason why we’re going there for the day and yes, the street will obviously be closed down and traffic will be detoured."
Both Delle Donna and township clerk Linda Martin were quick to point out that the reason the Klein PTO was not given permission to hold its street fair had nothing to do with closing down the streets.
According to Martin, the reason Geron was not given a permit to hold the fair was because the PTO wanted to have fundraising games of chance, 50/50 raffles and vendor booths, all with the idea to raise money to give back to the school.
Unfortunately, for a group to hold a raffle or game of chance, they need a gambling license from the state. There is an exception, though. They would not need such a permit if the town had an ordinance in place to allow games of chance and raffles. Guttenberg officials approached the idea of allowing such games in 1954, when a group wanted to hold BINGO in an old theater, but the plan was voted down. So there is no such ordinance in place.
The SAFE Kids program event will not be a fundraiser. Therefore, there was no need to collect a permit from the township.
"They were told that they could hold their event as long as there were no raffles and games that cost money, because the ordinance was not in place," Martin said. "It had nothing to do with closing the street. It had to do with raising money."
"It put us in a position that if we allowed the PTO to hold their event, then every non-profit organization and church would want to do the same," Delle Donna said. "We didn’t stop the PTO from having an event. They just couldn’t charge money to have the games. Of course, we want to see the PTO make money to help the kids. But we have to follow the laws."
Geron, whose husband, James, is the Republican candidate for mayor running against Democrat Delle Donna in the November mayoral election, said that she is fed up with the process. She has withdrawn her son from Klein School and has resigned as the PTO president.
She still insists that something was done wrong in the process.
"They’re not telling you the whole truth," Geron said. "I’m pretty sure that this will be political."
"It’s a ridiculous charge," Delle Donna said. "It’s so ridiculous that I have to laugh. Anything you do, people seem to think there’s this deep, dark reason behind it. I encourage anyone to show me what’s political about it. There’s nothing political with this event. It’s a nice day for the kids. That’s all it is."