Comments on: RED BANK COUNCIL ROUNDUP

By: Boris

Boris — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:00:46 +0000

I understand Wallace St. is going to be done this year too.

By: Laura in NJ

Laura in NJ — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:20:51 +0000

WHAT ABOUT WALLACE STREET???? Some of that road improvement money should be earmarked for Wallace, which is pitted with potholes and bad patch jobs. Why did Linden Place get addressed first when Wallace clearly carries more traffic??!

By: gary morris

gary morris — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:09:37 +0000

Anon your just missing the point, its not Republican posturing (and I supported Menna and Murphy during their election), its a Red Bank thing, are they the best deals, can we renegotiate them if needed, and where and what is the amount in the parking fund, when and for what other purposes can it be used. The only people I knock on the council are Murphy and Dupont for their insistence on keeping the health care, and for Duponts continued stance of we'll look into it. Don't stand in the shadows Anon, be proud and come up with an idea to help us possibly save money, don't be part of the problem with complacency, instead help the town.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 08:24:30 +0000

Gary if you can get better deals then the town now gets, then by all means speak up. But as always, you imply that the council and others have not looked into these items. I like you have been to many meetings and know that is not true. Sitting at your computer spitting out foul laguage, and being that good little Republican soldier is not going to help. You say we should pull together, but you always seem to try and seperate the town.

By: gary morris

gary morris — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:04:48 +0000

plastic bags...All this work for an ordinance to ban plastic bags. What on earth is going on down there.
Lets see council members, other towns around us are trying so many ways to lower taxes, by either shared services with law enforcement (which I do not agree with, but that's my opinion), consolidation of staffing within the work force and we are DOING PLASTIC F#$&ING SHOPPING BAGS! W T F!!!!!! Rome is burning and your playing the fiddles!
I know that health care is a bore to some but its a start, Lets take a hard look at all of the borough vehicles that we have and an accounting to who has and drives what where and when, including gas perks, do we need to sell vehicles, do Stanley (sorry), or Gary Watson really need these 8 cyl Durango's, who works in what department and gets paid from another, the recycling fees the dumping fees are they the best that we can get? What do we pay for gas, can we bulk buy with other boroughs and save money there, it goes on and on, we are NOT an endless pit of tax dollars. Everyone that reads this site should come up with just one idea to save us money and then take it to the council to vote or work upon, its about time we all pulled together in our town and not in different directions. AND WHAT ABOUT THE PARKING FUND. WHERE IS THAT CASH, WHAT IS IT BEING SAVED FOR AND HOW MUCH IS IN IT? Mike nice thought, but saves me and everyone else in this town shit in taxes, get on to the more pressing issues, save us money!

By: Kim

Kim — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:08:39 +0000

Are people missing the major points to this article? (1) RB increased their police force by 3 people. Higher spending. (2) RB is increasing the cost to connect to sewer and water. Increasing revenue through higher taxation. (3) RB is adding a limitation on the amount of time a car can be parked, again an attempt to increase revenue through taxation. (4) RB is borrowing $345K for road improvements. Almost the same amount we just got in aid from the state. Why are people talking about plastic bags? Spend, Tax, Spend - How do we stop it - that should be the topic of conversation, not plastic bags. I think it is sad that the the head of the RB Finance Committee is talking about compostable bags instead of how RB can be more fiscally conservative given the 2008 issues with state aid, interest paid by RB for existing debt and costs for state and local pensions and benefits.

By: alexander a

alexander a — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:51:56 +0000

I have been using canvas tote bags for more than a year. On the benefit side they hold more products, they are easier on the hands, they don't readily go into the waste stream. There are draw backs here as well, these bags need to be washed as they become soiled, a leaky meat package will not be contained on a trip from the store to home, I prefer meats to be packaged in plastic and separately. What about produce bags are they to be gone as well? I think mandating the end to plastic reusable bags is silly feel good lawmaking. I use these plastic bags for many other purposes like you other folks. I carry recyclables out of the house with them, store dirty dish cloths in them between washings, take lunch to work with them, dredge meats in them. I have found that since using my canvas bags and running out of the plastic I am using more zip-lock/glad/baggie bags that cost me money and still get thrown away. As far as paying for a bag, quick story shop-rite offered a few cents off per bag if using your own bag. When I cashed out I was told the discount only applied to re-usable shop-rite badged bags. RIPOFF. Concerning paying for plastic bags, why should i have to pay a store to advertise their logo? In my opinion this whole issue is silly and really not all that "green".

By: amandap

amandap — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:11:21 +0000

These comments made me laugh out loud! You go Poop Bagger & Ditch Waverly!

I use grocery bags to scoop poop and bring my re-usable bags to the store. I agree with the point about charging, some stores now give credit if you bring your own. Whole Foods being the most generous at $.10 a bag!

By: lurker

lurker — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:44:09 +0000

Does anyone know what the $545K in road and other improvements to Spring St is all about?

By: A

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:39:11 +0000

It seems to me that a much better solution to the bag problem is what they do in Europe - they charge about 4 cents a bag in many supermarkets. Only tourists and lazy people use supermarket bags - everyone else carries their own re-usable bags.

I feel like I'm an environmentalist, but from everything I've read, it's not clear to me that it makes sense to ban plastic in favor of paper. Paper takes up much more space in the landfill, and are much heavier, so they cost more fuel to transport them. Why not let people have bags, but pay for them? (They cost the store money -- clearly they are not free.)