To the Editor:
Just curious about something that was said at the BOE meeting last night. Dr. McGeehan said that she was in meetings with state representatives about school funding. Representatives from the Newark and Jersey City Boards of Education were there too, along with Mayor Baraka of Newark and Mayor Fulop of Jersey City. What struck me in her comments was that she said that the only people from Bayonne were Dr. McGeehan and Mr. Smith. They were there alone, not with their mayor, councilmen or women, or legislative representatives. Alone. In the last several months, the mayor’s column in the Bayonne Community News and his recent press release have come off very negative toward the school board. Personally, I try to stay out of the politics of city hall. However, if the mayors of Newark and Jersey City can take time out of their days to put politics aside and fight with their board of ed for funding for their cities, why can’t our mayor do the same? I get it, you need to not be tainted by the negative things happening at the BOE as you come up in your own election fight. But, Mr. Mayor, leader of our community, now is when your residents need you to band together, with the BOE, and go to Trenton, and get us our rightful share of funding. Now is not the time to try and play politics. Almost 300 members of your constituency lost their jobs last night and there were already nearly 30 more before that. These people and their families spend their money in this town and contribute to our community. It’s a massive blow to the entire community. We are counting on our elected officials, at every level, to put their personal politics aside and do what needs to be done for our kids and our community. Take a stand. Do the right thing and be our advocates in Trenton. Stop playing politics and start working for the citizens of Bayonne. We expect better from you.
SHARMA L. MONTGOMERY
