I will certainly be voting against the referendum. In a matter of fact I and hundreds of volunteers from Clifton as well as people outside of Clifton are committed to do all we can to defeat this referendum. First and foremost it robs the city of precious open space and recreation land when we are drastically deficient in this area. It is costing $50 million plus more in off site improvements. And remember we are not picking up any new assets but losing a very valuable one, a park. As a result of possible flooding it has the potential to cause irreparable harm to the city. Lastly it is a referendum that even if it does pass it can be a decade or more before any groundbreaking occurs. One only has to look at a recent referendum in Monroe Township that passed three years ago and building has still not occurred. The same environmental groups that have worked on that case are committed to saving Latteri Park. The two years we have waited for an answer on the Brighton Rd. Annex might seem like a weekend when compared to Latteri Park. I have been an educator for more than a quarter of a century and have dedicated much of my life to educating handicapped children. My wife is a pediatrician who oversees school based pediatric health clinics for impoverished children. We both believe that those who care for and educate our children need to lead the way morally and the Board of Education has failed in this regard. There is nothing more important than our credibility, and throughout this process the credibility of our Board continues to decline. I hope in the near future that a change in direction or leadership will occur so we can not only solve any “overcrowding” that may exist but improve the quality of our educational system as a whole. Steve Goldberg
I am voting in favor of the Latteri referendum. The schools have been overcrowded for quite a while and the City has been short-sighted in the past in terms of building new schools. As time goes on the cost of building a new school only goes up. As the mother of three young boys I would like to see them benefit from a new school. Jacqueline Alectoridis It is still not clear to me why the solution to move sixth grade back to elementary schools and ninth grade to middle school is not being considered. I will vote no. Alex Burakovsky I live around the corner from there and I want to keep it a park. I enjoy watching the kids playing. Marvin ‘Lucky’ Bock Ed Note: If you’d like to share your opinions, send your comments— which must include your name and phone number. chawk6072@optonline.net
Schweighardt’s Florist
Open 8 am to 8 pm 7 days a week
206 Ackerman Ave • Botany Village Clifton • 973-546-3230
Family owned Since 1935 • • • • • • • •
Gifts • Plush • Balloons Plants & Dish Gardens Customized Silks Fruit & Gourmet Baskets Funeral Homes & Hospitals Wire service Corporate accounts welcomed Weddings & Bar/Bat Mitzvahs by appointment
Thanksgiving Open Thanksgiving Day
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8 am to 4 pm 1821
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November 2006 • Clifton Merchant