To the Editor:
As I am sure most have heard, the Feds have made a trip back into Bayonne, and the rumors are swirling. The question is, “Have they been here all along?” Is the Board of Education next? People may say what they will but I am all for moving ahead with a more transparent, honest government that works efficiently and will do what is best for the taxpayers of Bayonne. A government that will always put the interests of its citizens first and not follow in tune with a higher political authority as it has in the past.
In my opinion, one of the main reasons that cities fail is that their governments become an extended arm of the octopus of power and their fates are determined by those who have no interest in the town except money and power. This is how cities fall into the trap of accumulating debt and then their governments have to raise taxes. No one person can track every contract that is awarded to certain companies, but we all can play our part as citizens to track when contracts are given out to whom and request information on them. We, as citizens, have to keep our government accountable. Our taxes are paying the bills. It has been good to see that more and more residents are going to council meetings, offering suggestions, and asking questions. This is the only way that we will get the answers. I do see some changes are happening in our city at a very nice pace.
The right thing to do going forward is do your own research on any candidates for political office and really think and determine if they will do what is best for the citizens. We have to ask ourselves, “What connections does this individual have? Who has he or she worked for? What is his or her track record? Are the words that come out of his or her mouth believable or are they party rhetoric? Are we as individuals going to give in because he or she is the pick of the party that we may or may not belong to? Will this individual be our voice in government? Do he or she have his or her own agenda?
Last, I would like to commend Mayor Davis for speaking at this past council meeting. It was a good speech and spot on. I believe that if funds designated by the School Development Authority were not spent as they should have, then the Board of Education should be held responsible. There would also be a major issue if contracts were awarded without following the proper processes of prequalification and bidding. I repeat my calls for resignations, and I look forward to an elected board in the near future.
JOHN MILAN SEBIK