Letters

A few hundred college-bound students in New Jersey have been waiting for over two years to get a bill passed in Trenton. The in-state tuition bill, when passed, would help these children of immigrants receive an affordable college education and avoid the exorbitant “out-of-state” fees imposed on them.

This is not a unique situation in New Jersey. Since 2001, nine states have passed laws permitting certain undocumented students who have attended and graduated from their high schools to pay the same tuition as their classmates at public colleges. It is only reasonable to expect that as the fifth-largest immigrant-population state, New Jersey follow their footsteps and enact the long-pending bill into law.

These Garden State immigrant students, much fewer in number than their counterparts in Texas, California or New York, deserve the in-state tuition fees for a number of reasons.

One, these children have been here for many years and they look, speak, think and act just like any other American kid. Most of them went to primary, middle or high schools just like any other Jersey boys and girls. This is their home: New Jersey’s “mainstream” American students have been their friends all these years with whom they sat in class, played baseball and soccer, and went to the mall.

Two, unlike out-of-state “mainstream” students, these kids and their undocumented immigrant parents have always supported New Jersey’s colleges and universities with sales, property and income taxes. They have contributed to our state and national economy, too.

Three, the “mainstream” out-of-state students could choose to pay less for college and attend schools in their home states, but they consciously decided to pay three or four times as much. These immigrant students do not have any such luxury or option. They know their admission into the state’s public institutions is not a free ride: they’d have to work hard to get in on a competitive basis. They also know they don’t qualify for any federal or state loans or grants. In spite of all the obstacles, they want to go to college and get a degree.

Four, future social and economic benefits brought in by a generation of educated immigrant youth will far exceed the present education expenditure. On the other hand, an uneducated generation of young people with a broken dream would be driven back into poverty, despair, loss of health, or even underground activities, costing us huge economic and political consequences. Don’t go too far: ask any city mayor what happens next.

We all know college education is expensive and common Amer-ican citizens have reasons to be frustrated. We need to ask, however, is it the fault of the undocumented immigrants and their college-age children that America can’t keep its education tabs down? In other market-driven countries such as the United Kingdom or Australia, governments have taken long-term, pragmatic measures to prevent higher education costs to spiral out of control. We haven’t. Let’s be honest: it is those misplaced priorities that are responsible for our frustrations.

Unfortunately, anti-immigrant organizations and individuals are not shy to exploit these misgivings. Especially since the tragedies of Sept. 11, in a whipped-up, pervasive, anti-immigrant climate, it’s been easy to scapegoat and penalize hard-working immigrants and their aspiring children who have nothing to do with terrorism. The addition of a few hundred resident students to our public colleges is not going to crash our markets. It’s simple math anyone is able to learn and understand.

The anti-immigrant rhetoric that attempts to rob the immigrant children of their dream of college is politically motivated. We should not be fooled by it.

New Jersey’s lawmakers — traditionally known for their pro-people, equal-opportunity affirmative-action stance — should come forward and pass the in-state tuition bill on fast track. This state should set its records straight: it must side with its American children of immigrant parents. We must give these innocent children a chance to succeed.

In a country that has championed its progresses on human rights, civil rights and liberties, we can’t afford to turn back on our history and create a new era of bigotry and discrimination.

Partha Banerjee

executive director

New Jersey Immigration Policy Network

Newark

Community must take steps to provide help to substance abusers

For people with substance use disorders in Mon-mouth County, starting on a road to recovery can seem impossible.

Even after admitting they have a problem, people who want to overcome their addictions have many other issues to consider: How do they find available treatment programs? Will health insurance cover the costs of the services they need? Will they be able to stay on the job while seeking help?

Answering these questions can help people with substance use disorders take the first steps to get help they need.

The Manalapan-Englishtown Alliance to Prevent Alcohol and Drug Abuse works every day to inform residents in our community that dependence on and addiction to drugs and alcohol is a disease that can be treated.

From working in this field, I know how discouraging it can be when help seems out of reach. Nationally in 2003, only 1.9 million persons (0.8 percent of the total population and 8.5 percent of the people who needed treatment) received treatment at a facility that specializes in treating alcohol and drug dependence and addiction.

As a responsible community, we must ensure that addiction is recognized as a disease, and treated as such. We can do this by educating ourselves about the signs to look for in friends, family and co-workers, such as a sudden decline in performance or attendance at work or school, or sudden changes in behavior or personality.

We also can call upon our doctors to actively screen patients for and diagnose dependence or addiction, and ask our employers to help make treatment available.

Help educate people with substance use disorders and their family members about treatment options and support services.

Spread the word about employee assistance programs that can guide people into recovery while still maintaining their jobs.

By educating yourself and others about solutions to substance use disorders, you are joining the voices for recovery and helping to heal lives, families and our community.

Lisa Harmon

addiction professional

director

Manalapan-Englishtown

Alliance to Prevent

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Manalapan

Stately old home in Freehold held many memories

I am just returning from the demolition of the Bartleson house on South Street in Freehold Borough. I am filled with emotions and a need to express them somehow.

As a child, I danced at Diehl’s Dance Studio next door from 1960 until the 1970s. Diane Diehl was my good friend, and we played our summer hours in those backyards. In 1965 I delivered the Asbury Park Press, and the owners of the Bartle-son house were among my customers.

The old man would sit on the front porch in a rocking chair reading. I was apprehensive to approach him to be paid, because both he and the house were so old and larger than life. Near the end of my career as a news carrier, I approached him on the porch. He appeared to be sleeping with the book in his lap. I tapped him gently but he did not respond. I left the paper and found out later in the day that he had died.

When I came back to work in Free-hold, I had the opportunity to tour this entire house of my childhood memories. What a beauty. During the holiday house tour, I spent hours decorating the first floor for the tourists to come.

The beautiful architecture was mainly still intact. The history of every person who had ever lived or worked there [was] evident in the small details, as with any old house.

I have never lived in a new house. In each house that I have lived in, I realize that I am part of its history for the time that I am there. I always think of what people will say of my tenure when they look back from the year 2105.

The house that I live in now is over 100 years old. When I moved there, it had two very old rose bushes that were dying in the backyard. I knew that whoever planted them loved nature and roses. It has taken me eight years, but the two bushes finally came back this year and produced the most beautiful blooms I have ever seen. The planter lives on at my house even though she died many years ago.

As I age, I fully realize that material things are just that and should have no power to break my heart. But as the walls and fireplaces turned to dust today, my heart was very sad. With this conversation with myself, I realize that the history of all who had been at the Bartleson house had not been nurtured to live on, but had been disrespected into a pile of rubble.

My only consolation is in knowing that we gave it our best fight. Sadly, today we lost.

Jayne Carr

Englishtown

Marlboro, not state taxpayers, must pay for mistakes

Concerning the request of the Marlboro mayor for “corruption aid” to compensate for illegal actions of the former governing bodies which resulted in the present problems the township is experiencing, I oppose such aid.

This could start a dangerous precedent as more and more irregularities are uncovered in communities statewide.

If such a request is approved for one community, other cities and towns will surely follow suit.

In light of the precarious state budget situation, this is an expense the state does not need. This is a local problem. However, I would be delighted to see the officials and developers who are responsible for this situation forced to make restitution.

The facts which over the past two years or so have been publicized were fairly common knowledge among people who follow local politics. Yet, there was apathy, low voter turnout, and the (former) mayor was re-elected.

Why should taxpayers in other communities pay for Marlboro’s mistakes?

Of course there are newcomers to the community who knew nothing about the politics, but they moved here in spite of the heavy real estate taxes; they probably can afford them.

I have been a resident of Marlboro for 23 years. During the years since, I have witnessed the change from a quiet, semi-rural township to what has become a complex of poorly planned housing developments, overcrowded schools and roads that can barely handle the increased traffic.

I did not just sit by idly. I attended township meetings, circulated petitions opposing specific developments where variances were granted to please the developer, and when the (former) mayor ran for what was to be his final term, I actively supported the independent candidate who opposed him. And yet he was re-elected.

There is no easy fix for this situation; there will be more developments of luxury homes once contractors start building new subdivisions already approved by the previous administration.

Let’s face it — the township goofed; we have only ourselves to blame. Let’s take the high road and not go crawling to the state to bail us out.

Christa Schweizer

Marlboro

Shopping center planning leaves a lot to be desired

To our leaders of Manalapan: What were you thinking [in] approving a Dunkin’ Donuts on Gordons Corner Road without a new traffic pattern?

Currently, you can’t get out of either side of the shopping center on the CVS side without waiting and waiting and waiting for clearance. It’s a tragedy waiting to happen. Shame on you!

It’s not too late to correct the traffic pattern. Haven’t you noticed that the driveways meet on the CVS side and the Yorktowne [Shopping Center] side? That alone is dangerous enough. Did you realize that the businesses will suffer because people like myself will get totally disgusted trying to get out of that lot?

I will go to the new pharmacy opening up at the Yorktowne Shopping Center rather than go to CVS and chancing an accident. To get out of Yorktowne is somewhat easier if you are making a right at the end of the shopping center, but if you have to make a left on the other end ...

It is so very dangerous, and it will only get worse when Dunkin’ Donuts opens. Poor, poor planning.

Pat Duhig

Manalapan

Thanks given to supporters of agency’s youth help line

When was the last time you helped a young child or teen handle a problem or think through ways to address a tough challenge? And, when was the last time a young person said thank you for your advice?

We know many parents have conversations like these. Yet sometimes young people need to reach out to others for assistance. The professionals and trained volunteers at the 2nd Floor Youth Help line help kids each and every day.

2nd Floor is a program of the award-winning nonprofit agency, 180, Turning Lives Around. More than 3,000 youth from throughout greater Monmouth County have called our toll-free number, 1-888-222-2228, since September. As of July 12, more than 6,300 kids have visited our Web site www.2ndfloor.org to learn about resources, sign up for free orange wristbands, or learn how to participate in our quarterly creative art and writing projects that illustrate answers to interesting and fun questions. Thousands of our 2nd Floor wristbands have been distributed at Monmouth Mall, at community fairs and meetings, and throughout the schools.

Our 2nd Floor team is looking for more volunteers to join us in listening compassionately to the concerns of children and teens.

The topics of relationship roles, self-esteem, bullying, family, abuse, dating, peer pressure, and more are often raised by these young callers.

All adults interested in volunteering can contact 2nd Floor coordinator Cindi Westendorf at (732) 787-6503 or go to our Web site and submit an electronic form to sign up and volunteer. Training is provided, and flexible volunteer shifts are available to accommodate your schedule, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to midnight.

Thank you to Greater Media News-papers for sharing information on our program via news stories. Thank you to all the Monmouth County school districts that have opened the door to 2nd Floor, and in particular the Matawan-Aberdeen School District and Colts Neck High School for helping to create 2nd Floor’s youth adviser committees. And thank you to community organizations including the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Asbury Park, the YMCA of Western Monmouth County, and all our community partners who are supporting our mission. Together, we will help young people address their challenges in order to fulfill their dreams.

Sue Kozel

2nd Floor consultant

Upper Freehold

Residents grateful for action taken by Jackson officials

I am writing to you with good news. Jackson has rezoned our rural neighborhood, which borders Freehold Township and Jackson, back to R-3, residential 3-acre minimum. Thank you Jackson Township Committee.

[Recently,] you printed a letter from Jeffrey Kneler, the owner of Equity Builders, trying to convince us that his now-withdrawn Ashlie Plaza commercial complex, to be built between rural residential homes, would be a good thing. It didn’t work.

We brought the issue to Jackson, they looked at it and agreed this was an error, and reinstated the zoning to R-3 from NC (Neighborhood Commercial).

Our group, the Jackson-Freehold Neighborhood Alliance, was formed and has been working hard on this issue since it was brought to our attention by a sweet, soft-spoken couple who bought property in the area. They know who they are, we will forever be grateful to them.

We also need to thank all the neighbors for their support, by signing petitions, writing letters, buying and displaying signs, contributing toward the attorney, making signs, distributing fliers and attending neighborhood and town meetings.

Congratulations neighbors. Don’t ever think you can’t make a difference. This truly is an awesome neighborhood.

Sherry Pagut

representing the

Jackson-Freehold

Neighborhood Alliance

Freehold Township

Club members appreciate support from Build-A-Bear

The Freehold Township Woman’s Club would like to thank the Build-A-Bear store at the Freehold Raceway Mall for their help in our project to provide bears for children in need of cheering up. The store gave us two coupons toward the cost of the bears and included coloring books and ribbons in the boxes. The employees were most cooperative in our group effort to make children’s lives a little better. We appreciate everyone’s help.

Members of the club gave the bears to children who were patients at the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit, affiliated with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. The hospital was glad to have gifts at this time, and our members are pleased with the positive reaction of everyone there.

Joan Vastbinder

recording secretary

Freehold Township Woman’s Club

Freehold Township

Mayor says Freehold Borough could use extra aid, too

Marlboro’s taxpayers have certainly been the victims of circumstances beyond their control — the corrupt actions of public officials that resulted in overbuilding that has strained their resources — and Assem-blymen Michael Panter and Robert Morgan are to be congratulated for trying to secure state aid to alleviate that burden.

The taxpayers of Freehold Borough, however, are shouldering an even greater burden, which is the result of an even greater and more far-reaching failure — the failure of the federal government to enforce its immigration laws.

We would welcome similar efforts on behalf of our unfairly burdened taxpayers.

Mayor Michael Wilson

Freehold Borough