Letters

Will a train replace the hikers and bikers who enjoy the newly opened southern extension of the Henry Hudson Trail? If state Sen. Peter Inverso could wield his political power once again, the answer would certainly be yes. In 2001 Inverso (R-Middlesex, Mercer) was a member of the Senate Budget Committee that controls NJ Transit’s budget, and during budget hearings he requested the Lakehurst-Matawan line be reconsidered — even though NJT’s own multimillion dollar 1996 Major Investment Study concluded it was not a viable option.

Why did Sen. Inverso do this? The answer is simple: He did not want train service running through Middlesex County, even if the Lakehurst-Monmouth Junction route is the most efficient and logical choice.

Furthermore, it is distressing to know that, because of the pressure exerted from politicians in Middlesex County, NJT was reconsidering the Lakehurst-Matawan train line after a 20-year lease was granted to the Monmouth County Park System to develop the southern extension of the Henry Hudson Trail.

For residents of Monmouth County, a Lakehurst-Matawan line would mean the loss of the newly opened recreational facility and the loss of $2.1 million of our tax dollars the Monmouth County Park System recently spent to pave the trail.

Homeowners in Monmouth County, like myself, who moved into the vicinity of the Henry Hudson Trail because we believed it would be an exciting addition to our community, will lose a great recreational asset.

Unlike Inverso, state assem-blymen Michael Panter and Robert Morgan (D-Monmouth and Mercer) have worked tirelessly to find an efficient, logical alternative for the MOM rail line that would benefit as many people as possible. I am encouraged that Panter and Morgan realize how destructive the Lakehurst-Matawan alternative would be to the residents near the Henry Hudson Trail southern extension.

The Matawan proposal makes little sense based on the large number of homes along the trail and the closeness of this route to the existing North Jersey Coast Line. I thank them for their dedication to this issue, and for involving constituents.

Let Sen. Inverso and NJT Executive Director George War-rington know that if a line is to be developed, the only one that makes sense is the Lakehurst-Monmouth Junction line as the 1996 Major Investment Study has already concluded.

Brian and

Barbara Buckley

Freehold Township

Republicans did no favor by pushing for new law

In the Aug. 31 News Transcript, you published a large campaign adver-tisement by the two Republican candidates running for the Township Committee in Manalapan. One of the paragraphs read, “Miracle Torregrossa was instrumental in getting Manal-apan to pass the anti-pedophile ordinance generally referred to as Miracle’s Law.”

It turns out that it could very easily be referred to as the “Drop Dead Covered Bridge Law” because it allows sex offenders to not only live in Covered Bridge, but in many other senior communities as well.

Gregory Bean, executive editor of Greater Media Newspapers, wrote in the same News Transcript (emphasis is mine), “In Manalapan, where they’ve just adopted an ordinance restricting where people convicted of sex offenses can live, a draft map of the restricted zones makes it look like the only places in town convicted offenders are welcome will be parts of the Covered Bridge adult community, the area out by Oakland Mills and Thomp-son Grove roads, and the New Begin-nings housing development just outside Englishtown.”

Yes, I can be considered biased because I am the Democratic County Committeeman of District 15, which is in Covered Bridge as well, but I am a grandparent first, who will now be looking suspiciously at every new resident moving into our community when my grandchildren come for a visit.

Doesn’t it seem odd that the areas sex offenders can’t live in are those of Miracle Torregrossa and Peter Hall?

What’s next on the Manalapan Republicans’ agenda — allowing the Bush administration to put the Iraqi prisoners of war in Covered Bridge also?

Henry Botwinick

Manalapan

Writer believes Burry will serve with honesty, integrity

I have been a proprietor in Colts Neck for the past 13 years. During this time, I have met and interacted with many of the local citizens and have also had the opportunity to observe daily life in Colts Neck.

I have seen Lillian Burry serve as mayor and township committeewoman. She has always conducted herself with the utmost integrity and a strong desire to serve and respond to the townspeople. During her tenure, she has helped maintain municipal taxes and avoid unnecessary expense, fought against overdevelopment, helped preserve endless acres of farmland, and worked to maintain quality of life in her community.

She is now running for the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders. We all know that our state has been plagued with political corruption and officials who “look the other way” when they should be protecting their citizens.

I am sure that if elected, Lillian Burry will conduct the business of Monmouth County with the same integrity, honor and fiscal responsibility that she has demonstrated as a local public servant. When discussing how to resolve issues, she listens to her constituency and is quoted as saying, “The citizens have spoken.” She will listen and answer to the citizens of Monmouth County.

This woman is the kind of person we need on the board of freeholders. She will work to correct past abuses and make sure that all future business is conducted in a manner that best serves all the citizens of Monmouth County, not select individuals. Vote for Lillian Burry this November. She will serve with honesty and integrity and speak for us, the citizens of Monmouth County.

Christina Buffa

Holmdel