Why, oh why, will have to the Star-Ledger just about every year print a picture of a baby sitting in a Branch Brook Park cherry blossom tree (entrance web page, April 4)? Sure, it is sweet, but it just encourages more people today to do it.
Some of these trees are practically 100 years previous and pretty fragile. Truly, the old trees are the kinds finest suited for climbing. Every single year I drive through the park after the cherry blossom festival and see damaged limbs lying underneath trees. This is no way to respect our park.
This 12 months I was cheered to see that the Essex County Parks Commission posted signals inquiring park guests to not decide the blossoms or climb the trees. So, what case in point are dad and mom location for their kids by enabling or even encouraging them to climb the trees?
We community inhabitants are pleased that so lots of people appear below for cherry blossom period and love it as considerably as we do. But, remember to, anyone need to get pleasure from just seeking at the trees and wandering through their elegance and fragrance. And, the Star-Ledger should not persuade undesirable behavior by printing inappropriate photographs.
Catharine Longendyck, Newark
Where were being the watchdogs in Clark?
About the editorial “A culture of racist corruption in Clark Township”:
Of course, the Clark governing human body must be termed out for paying $400,000 in hush funds to a whistleblower to hold secretly recorded racist feedback by Mayor Sal Bonaccorso and two law enforcement officers concealed. On the other hand, from particular experience with scores of Clark people, I do not see the town as racist. I see the people today as betrayed, which include by the media.
If your editorial is accurate and the $400,000 payment was unanimously permitted by the council in February 2020, centered on the agenda from that meeting, Clark citizens ended up explained to they had been approving a “plan of revaluation of serious property in, by and for the township.” It ought to have elevated an alarm that this was an “emergency” appropriation that, in accordance to the township’s chief economical officer at the time, “might not be necessary” — but there was no person to issue it then or to report on it later.
The vast greater part of the folks of Clark that I know are welcoming, welcoming persons who are not racist in any way and and will do what is right if informed the fact. Regrettably, the mechanism for disseminating truth of the matter is evidently flawed in Clark, in Union County, and in most of this condition.
John Bury, Kenilworth
Grateful for assist to immigrants
Soon after pretty much two decades as an immigrant legal rights activist, I proceed to be appalled by the requirements and troubles facing the New Jersey’s immigrant neighborhood.
A person of just about every 4 immigrants in New Jersey — about 500,000 — has no immigration standing or only non permanent position. I applaud the appropriations proposed in Gov. Phil Murphy’s fiscal 2023 budget to shut the chronic gap in products and services for these underserved citizens.
I am specifically grateful for amplified funding for lawful assistance to victims of exploitation, corruption, and out-of-management violence against women of all ages, kids, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ people and other folks at danger of deportation to horrendous ailments in their house countries. Companies giving these providers are starved for assets to handle a increasing backlog of cases and the chronic failure of Congress to adopt overdue reform of our out-of-date immigration legal code.
For many years, immigrants have replenished the indispensable initial-line workforce. They have attained a rightful place in our modern society. Still, we continue on to relegate quite a few of them to second-course residency. They wrestle to navigate an insanely elaborate technique and are uncovered to predators who additional exploit them for the reason that of their extraordinary vulnerability. A few months ago, a gentleman was arrested for allegedly posing as an immigration officer in Mercer County and bilking customers by professing he could expedite their instances.
The solutions funded by these appropriations will deliver urgent aid. The return on investment to enable marginalized immigrants to eventually grow to be whole-fledged members of our communities, will be manyfold.
Maria Juega, Princeton
Diversity and enjoyment in Reasonable Garden
Possessing grown up in Good Lawn, I felt pleasure and joy reading about the town’s initially-at any time celebration of the Hindu competition, Holi, last month.
My household experienced the chance to take a look at southern India quite a few many years back due to the fact our son functions in Bangalore. We seasoned initially hand the adore, hospitality and generosity of the individuals of India, and we applaud Reasonable Lawn’s Local community Relations Committee for doing the job to educate, advocate and respect the distinct cultures of their citizens.
There is no far better time than the blooming year of spring to celebrate love and mother nature. I hope extra towns in New Jersey comply with Honest Lawn’s lead in celebrating our state’s rich cultural diversity with pleasurable, loved ones occasions like this 1.
Marjorie Egarian, Lambertville
Various sort of ‘boat check’ can resolve a difficulty
Relating to NJ Progress Media’s special report, “Beached, docked & dumped,” and “As $550K boat removing inches closer at N.J. cove, officials strive for lasting alternative,” a stick to-up tale:
How about this idea?
Whenever a new or employed boat is bought, the purchaser need to open up an escrow account with the point out for, say, 20% of the invest in cost.
When the boat is marketed or if not disposed of, supplying proof of the disposal would cause the return of the escrowed resources.
20 p.c may perhaps look like a large sum of funds, but it really should make certain that extra homeowners will acquire right treatment of boats they no for a longer period want.
Mickey Dwulet, Roseland
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