Ed, I’m a county worker, replying to the state workers who were crying in the paper about having to work on Black Friday. You should get a box of tissues and suck it up.

Extra Absorbent

How they can shop for a box of tissues when they’re so busy slaving away for the state?—Ed. Note

Ed, Mayor Palmer and the Trenton Council really dropped the ball. Those two men who did that extraordinary brave act of saving that woman from being stabbed to death should be honored. Their names should be in the paper more often and there should be a dinner for them. If there was ever a time that as a city we can set example of the way citizens should be, it should be now. Those two men did a brave thing. It’s a fine example of the way citizens should behave in the city.

Credit Card

Well, your salute is giving them a mini-banquet here in the BackTalk Ballroom.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, our police may not be the finest, Santiago may not be the finest, hell, Palmer isn’t the finest, but you’ve got to give it to our pot holes — they come in fallout shelter sizes now and have more impact than any police chase.

Bro Ken Axel

Those holes are strategically placed according to a police master plan to funnel fleeing suspects into their trap.—Ed. Note

Ed, the Hamilton school bond referendum is a farce. The vote is scheduled for Dec. 11. It could have been held on Nov. 6. The board of education and the administration did this intentionally because they only want people who currently have children in school to vote because that will give it a better chance to pass. Wake up, people, and vote this referendum down.

Vote Rocker

Round up the empty-nesters! Skip the early bird special at the diner that day and plan your schedule around a trip to the polls.—Ed. Note

I thought that Gov. Jon Corzine should know he got off cheap with his not wearing a seat belt. I had mine on but got a $59 violation from New Jersey state trooper on Route 206 for having a paper air freshener on my rearview mirror. The trooper was very disappointed when he kept saying to me that he smelled something. When I opened the lid to my ashtray to show that I smoke cigarettes, he busted me for an air freshener. Go figure, New Jersey’s finest!

Sniffed Out

Ah, the sweet smell of enforcement. Was it a “pine forest” or “new car smell” freshener?—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, where do they want Santiago to live and what damn difference does it make if he lives in Chicago or in New Jersey? So what! He’s ineffective as a police director. If he lived right here in Trenton on Stuyvesant Avenue he would still be ineffective as a director. So why do we care where he lives? Let that man live wherever he wants. It’s stupid; it’s why this country is run the way it is, because we concern ourselves with stupid stuff.

Smarty Pants

Well, if they can get rid of him on a technicality, then at least you won’t have an ineffective director. You can have a new one.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about the City Council wanting Santiago to live in Trenton. Why are they being so hard on him and not the mayor? Palmer is the head of the city and he should be required to live here also.

Homer

Palmer has a house here. Short of tracking him with a homing beacon, it’s hard to prove where he “lives.”—Ed. Note

Ed, I see the Trenton City Council wants Santiago to live in Trenton or they will fire him. Well, where does the mayor live? I don’t think he lives in Trenton. And how many council people live in the city of Trenton instead of the outskirts of Trenton? I would like to know that!

Map Maker

The difference is that Palmer at least pretends to live in Trenton.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, my sister and I went to a diner last Friday and sat down for a meal. A group of five girls came and sat down near us. We nearly vomited when these five girls, about 16 or 17, were making out — kissing, hugging, touching — while we were trying to eat. Don’t these girls have any pride? How gross! P.S. Love reading your paper!

Hungry for Decency

Ruined your appetite, eh? Were they ugly or something?—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I’m calling about the article on state troopers asking us to report aggressive drivers. On Thanksgiving Eve I was driving on the Garden State Parkway and a woman was driving like a madman. She cut me off and could have killed me and my children. I immediately called the State Police Keyport barracks. A woman answered and I gave her the make, model and license plate of this crazy driver. Her answer was, “Oh well, if you can’t give me the exact location of her car, there’s nothing I can do about it.” Ed, I told her where we were on the parkway, the area and signs I was looking at. What more do they want? So, if the lady from the state trooper barracks is reading this, thanks for nothing.

Home Safely

I guess the troopers need to get on the same page. The guy asking people to report aggressive drivers to save lives forgot to clue in the lady who hates her job and can’t be bothered.

—Ed. Note

Ed, I think Rick Murray really insulted patients that have to be in nursing homes by calling them droolers and pants crappers. I think he needs to learn that some people, Alzheimer’s patients and people who wander away and others, need to be in such a place, not because they were dropped off there. I’ve worked in nursing homes for 15 years, and believe me, there are plenty of families involved with relatives in nursing homes. If you consider them what you called them you are the lowest person. They deserve more than your insults.

Care Giver

They do deserve more than insults. Mr. Murray intended no disrespect.

—Ed. Note

Ed, I have never seen the need to offer a reward for information, especially regarding murder. If I knew something about anyone who took another person’s life, I’d be happy to turn that person’s name in, and definitely not take any money for that good deed. Does everything nowadays concern that almighty dollar? Just think about it.

Goody Two Shoes

You may not need money to come forward with information, but then again you probably don’t have any information. People hanging around murderers will need some incentive to risk their lives by turning in a violent criminal.

—Ed. Note

Ed, abiding by my grandmom’s belief not to wish nothing bad on someone, I wish this to the cruel, perverted S.O.B. who chopped the head off a cat and left the body in the Bromley driveway: Good luck when you become a hood ornament on a fast-moving, very large truck.

Good Cheer

Very nice of you not to call for his head.

—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I’m responding to that New York Giants fan who says Philadelphia has the least attractive people. Well, New York City has the highest crime rate with illegal aliens with their Bloods and Crips that come in illegally. So, how can he make a good argument? At least Philadelphia fans know how to speak English any day of the year.

McNabb

As opposed to people who can’t speak English on Sundays?

—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, let’s take a men-only survey. Would they rather have sex or watch a football game? This should be very interesting.

Notta Dude

It’s only women forcing that choice. Men would have no objection to sex during football. Just don’t block the TV.

—Ed. Note

Ed, is Judge Feinberg from Mercer County Superior Court in cohoots with Gov. Corzine, favoring him by not releasing the plan for the privatization of the New Jersey Turnpike and other toll roads in New Jersey?How will Corzine benefit from this financially, and if so, why aren’t the taxpayers given the information? Why isn’t this proposal to sell or lease the turnpike put on a referendum?It was purchased with tax money from the citizens of New Jersey back in the early 1950s, so the voters should have the right to say where the money goes or how it’s going to be spent with this turnpike deal.What is Corzine going to get out of this? Another billion dollar salary?

Wise Traveler

Corzine gets a legacy of attempting to fund a bloated government by squeezing every dollar from our transportation infrastructure.—Ed. Note

Ed, I loved your front page “alien hookers.” Why don’t you put what it really is, illegal hookers? Boy, men must be really desperate because there isn’t one good looking woman in the bunch.

Hotter than You

Desperate and drunk. Really drunk.—Ed. Note

Ed, I was looking at The Trentonian’s front page with the photos of the prostitutes, and you people referred to them as “Brazilian babes.” If you guys think they are “Brazilian babes,” you must have some ugly-ass wives or girlfriends.

Eye of the Beholder

We took some poetic license with “babes,” it’s true. But we never got the photos of the two 24-year-olds arrested in the bunch. So we’re thinking maybe we weren’t that far off.—Ed. Note

Ed, the Hamilton school bond referendum is a farce. The vote is scheduled for Dec. 11. It could have been held on Nov. 6.The board of education and the administration did this intentionally because they only want people who currently have children in school to vote because that will give it a better chance to pass. Wake up, people, and vote this referendum down.

Schooled

However you feel, get out and vote.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I saw the piece about them sending all that money to Poland to build a Jewish museum. What about the Afro-American museum, what about the Italian-American museum right here in this country?We need the money here, like they said, we don’t need to be sending no money over there especially for the Jews because they own the country anyhow.You probably won’t publish this, but I’ll be looking for it in your paper anyhow. I’m really upset.

Really Upset

Great. I’d been wondering when the anti-Semitic contingent would catch up with the anti-Latino and anti-black bigots in BackTalk land. There’s diversity in our ignorance. Oh, and consider yourself published.—Ed. Note

Ed, How can you possibly claim that sending American tax dollars to Poland for a museum on Polish Jews is a worthy cause? Things like that should be completely privately funded by whoever choses to do so, not by our government. The only worthy cause is that of Congressman Smith and all the other politicians in sucking up to special interest groups.

Especially Interested

Really, the only function of the federal government should be to protect the states from foreign threat. But among the international causes out there sucking up American tax dollars, I’ll stand by my comment that the museum ain’t that bad.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, This is for the person who said Chris Smith has lost his mind. That man has done more for Hamilton Township, more for America, and more for the world than anybody I know. I’m sure there’s a lot of other people that have done stuff, but as far as Hamilton Township, Chris Smith is No. 1. I’ll be there and back him up in anything he goes for.

Mrs. Smith

Chris, you’ve got friends— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about that fatal accident on Route 1 involving a tractor-trailer and delivery vehicle. I drive a school bus and these trucks have no regard for anybody. Every day I’m going up Route 1, doing the 55 mph speed limit, and the truck sneaks right up and kisses my bumper. These guys know they can’t stop, and if there’s an emergency, he’s going to run over that bus or any car in front of him.

Bus Driver

Get that trucker’s license plate number. Give it to the cops.— Ed. Note

Ed, I want to thank Gov. Corzine for putting the state employees to work on Black Friday. Now put the death row inmates to death during your term. It hasn’t been done for a long time, about 40 years. It’s time for one of our governors to stand up and have the balls to say the people are right. You’ve been convicted and you’re going to die.

Hangman

Corzine seems deadset on leaving his legacy in the form of toll hikes. But if that doesn’t work, I’m sure his next priority will be state-sanctioned death.— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, this is Mary from Tender Hearts. Wow, your column really gets results for us. We made up and gave out 70 baskets, with 50 to the Fort Dix-McGuire Air Force Base to families of servicement deployed. We were running low on turkeys, you put out the word, and we did great. We are so happy with the results. Your followers are out there and we love them, from the people who dropped off turkeys to those who dropped off groceries, the people who came by and offered tohelp to deliver, and Hamilton Township, which helped us with canned-goods collection and distribution. We thank everyone for their help, including Ed.

Mary

I’m all about results, baby.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’d like to congratulate the Ewing police and firemen who played a wonderful Thanksgiving Eve football game to benefit the Sunshine Foundation. The police won, but the real winners were the kids helped by the Sunshine Foundation. They raised over $6,700. These guys practiced on their off time, which isn’t easy. I also congratulate everyone who helped, especially the vendors who donated things, Ewing High School’s marching band, the cheerleaders, and refererees who donated their time. Congratulations to all for a really great job.

Cheerleader

These people are heroes even when they’re having fun. We all thank you.—Ed. Note

Ed, my car was burglarized again in Bordentown City, but I never reported it because the police haven’t done anything in the past. Now I see in the newspaper that other cars are being broken into. The police used to walk on foot patrols and ride bikes and be more active in the community. Now I only see them out on the highway stopping cars. I think we need to go back to the old school of policing and make that personal touch in the neighborhoods so we feel safer here.

Pedestrian

You have a point. If all crime take took place within the limits of our public highways, the drive-around-and-look-for-trouble method so popular among law enforcemers would be a winner. But given the spread of modern crime beyond roads, the ability to stray from those asphalt ribbons might behoove our finest— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m writing for my son in the Air Force, now serving his last year of six in Korea. Last month he drove home to New Jersey from his Air Force Base in New Mexico to stay with us for a month before he left for Korea. He left his 1999 Black Chevy S-10 low rider pickup until he comes home in a year. On Thanksgiving Day in the afternoon, his pickup was stolen while parked on Anderson Street near Roebling Avenue. Just last week someone broke the passenger window to find there was nothing in it to steal. Please print this to let everyone in this area know of all the breakins going on here that do not make the paper. Thank you from a proud father.

Low Rider’s Dad

Does he have the 19-inch gold rims, matching side pipes, aftermarket keyless entry and purple neon under the running boards?— Ed. Note

Ed, I can’t believe you guys are bringing up the Baron AA and Jack Rafferty. The Democrats used that as their platform to get into office because they had nothing else to offer, and eight years later it shows. They have nothing. Just look at the state of our town. They’ve run it into the ground. Hamilton was a better place when Rafferty and the Republicans were running things. When he left office he left several budget surpluses in nearly every department. Eight years later, where are we? What did Gilmore and his cronies do with all the money? If you ask residents today if they would gladly change their gang problems for the gamblers at the Baron AA, what do you think they’d say? Stop beating a dead horse, guys. Ask the Dems one simple question: Where did all the money go?

Unhappy in Hamilton

Oh, come on. We haven’t beat that horse in years. Can’t let a horse corpse totally heal (no offense, PETA). Anyway, the Republicans are back in power now. I wish them luck.—Ed. Note

Ed, I want to thank The Trentonian for putting that article in the Wednesday’s paper, “Rafferty’s Role Questioned,” and that picture of him. It’s about time people realize he’s a crooked politician and a puppet for Bencivengo. If people were smart, they would have known this would happen.

Historian

That photo by Paul Mickle is a Trentonian classic. It got a lot of mileage back in the day.— Ed. Note

Ed, Mr. Bencivengo said he won by only 500 votes. That’s a disgrace. We’re in a hole, we don’t know how many millions, and we were shoved in that hole by Gilmore. The people who voted for Gilmore show you the mentality of Hamilton Township residents. Gilmore pats them on the head, especially the seniors, tells them how wonderful they are, hands them a few parks, and then look what we have, a nice hole and a big tax coming up. Blame it on everybody but the guy who did it.

In a Hole

Be happy you won. Time to look to the future.—Ed. Note

Now, now, Ed, the name game? You’re already picking on John Bencivengo? Benciville? Come on, don’t let your liberal side show. Give him a chance.

Can’t Take a Joke

Don’t confuse simple fun with “liberal.” Call me the L-word again and we’ll have to take this outside.— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I just want comment on “Name Game.” I think if Mayor Gilmore is proud of what he did in the Hamilton, his name should be on the things he helped start and did for the good of the township. He had a few problems but every administration seems to have problems. I can’t understand the big outcry over this. It’s ridiculous. Actually, I want to see Bencivengo do better and then we can all say how great he is.

Gilmore Buddy

We like the mayor, too, but he never shied away from recognition. We always liked the way he would velcro himself to the side of whomever the featured figure was at a given public event so as to maximize his chance to appear in whatever photo made the paper.— Ed. Note

Ed, Besides Jack “The Baron” Rafferty, the Hamilton transition team includes a man from South Carolina who was on Christie Whitman’s team that destroyed the pension system and the trust fund to build roads. People used to talk about Mayor Gilmore bringing in people from North Jersey; well that’s only 40 miles, South Carolina is 700 miles. Mr. Benci’s transition team is a joke.

Not Laughing

A joke, a poker club, or an assembly of the best advisers he could find?— Ed. Note

Ed, the people of Hamilton Township have very short memories. Wasn’t it about 10 years ago that we all wanted Rafferty and his crew out of office? Now it seems he’s got a foot back in government. Don’t these politicians ever go away? And about our tax increases, isn’t it time the teachers and police stop getting raises? As their pay goes up, test scores continue to go down and crime continues to go up in Hamilton. There’s something wrong with this picture.

Memorex

If there’s a critical mass opposed to Rafferty’s role as Bencivengo’s advisor, then you guys can rise up and the new mayor will feel the heat. If not, let’s see what the boys can do. We’ll keep the Rafferty cigar-smoking photo at the ready. — Ed. Note

Ed, Has Congressman Chris Smith lost his mind? As I sit here, ready to pay my huge fuel oil bill after paying my huge property tax, I see that Smith put a bill through Congress to send five million hard-earned American taxpayer dollars to build a museum of the history of Polish Jews in Warsaw, Poland. This is just a drop in the bucket of the billions we send to foreign countries. Not one dime of American money should go to any of them while Americans are suffering. When are people going to wake up to this?

American Pie

Of all the money sent around the globe for various causes, this one stands up as a worthy one. Smith seems in possession of his mind. But are we letting our country go to hell in many places at the same time our globalist view and rampant spending abroad are spending your tax dollars as fast as you can pay them? Absolutely. — Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, there’s a new book store in Trenton offering free books to area teachers. Classics Used & Rare Books at 117 South Warren St. has a lot of good books for children and adults. Under Mayor Dougy Palmer’s book program for Trenton teachers, these books are free. Please spread the word. Our children need to read.

Book Pusher

Teachers, if you have reading kids, check out these free books. If you don’t, we have a problem. — Ed.Note

Hi Ed, I’m a high school student in Hamilton. My views on everything going on around Hamilton — from Trenton’s Captain Sleepy to the gangs slowly moving into the lives of 11-year-old children — is that police officers all around this area should become one and try to crack the case all together. Instead we have two sides of the Trenton police station busting on each other for taking a nap, when they can go out all in one and break down these streets. By the way, increasing our police force by 10 officers is nothing because gangs multiply by the hundreds every day. Gangs are a way of life for these kids. It’s time to think not about the money the police make but as if it’s their life on the line. Make Hamilton safe for my future children!

Bright Kid

Whaddya think, officers? Will you heed this respectful and poignant call to unity from a wise-beyond-his/her-years student? The gangs are growing. It will take an organized army to defeat them. —Ed. Note

Ed, I just got off the phone after talking to “John Brown” who told me to put some cash in an envelope and send it to our soldiers in Iraq. I don’t believe this was a legitimate call. I just want to alert other people so they aren’t scammed for their money.

P.S.A.

If you send the troops money, don’t do it because John Brown said so, do it because they deserve it. And don’t send it through John Brown. —Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I read Rick Methot’s column every week, and the way he honored Mark Dettmar in his column on Veterans Day was a true class act. He did a really fine job. Please pass this on to him.

Proud American

Great job, Rick! And happy Thanksgiving to all our troops, current and former, home and abroad.—Ed. Note

Dear Ed, please print this because I am tired of all the people complaining about Pennsylvania tags in Trenton, when they don’t have a clue why the plates are all over the city. The cars are perfectly legal, registered and insured. The problem is the people driving them; they are illegal immigrants and can’t obtain a drivers license. A legal resident (in Pa.) registers and insures the cars, then rents the vehicles to the illegal immigrants for $100 or so a month. Many of the legitimate owners have seven to 10 cars on their insurance policy and nothing can be done about it because it is perfectly legal.

Immigration

So, they should be complaining, they’re just not complaining for the right reason. Get it straight, complainers.—Ed. Note

Hello, Ed, I would like to comment on “money embryos and lives.” First, there are other ways to get stem cells and other research to help people. For the religious comment, YES we do care about people, we just don’t feel that you should be giving embryos up for a living. Third, you can get stem cells from an adult and it’s proving to be better then using a baby’s cell. Fourth, an EMBRYO is a LIFE and could cure the fatal disease you talk about. Finally, Ed, your comment about the “itsy-bitsy coffins for each embryos” I find that too sad to even think about.

Lifer

This week scientists announced that human skin may hold the key to harvesting stem cells without the use of embryos. So there’s new hope all the time.—Ed. Note

Dear Ed, I can’t understand why Hispanic leaders think it’s so important for immigrants to report crime. I think it is more important to educate them so they can avoid being victims of a crime. I read how groups are going to be formed to tell these immigrants how to report crimes. Forget the groups; I have five tips for them so they won’t have to report being robbed or mugged and there would be no crime committed against them. First, don’t drink yourself into a coma and walk out of a bar by yourself, you become an easy target. Second, don’t carry your life savings in your pockets, bad guys know you have a lot of cash on you. Third, ease up on the jewelry; it attracts bad guys. Fourth, leave your cell phones home. Fifth, Leave bars in groups; bad guys stay away from a few guys leaving together.

Unconventional Wisdom

I especially like the “don’t drink yourself into a coma” advice. That goes for everyone during this holiday season.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I’m wondering why L.A. Parker thinks black people should be artificially castrated with condoms. If that was a white guy we’d all be in trouble.

Donor

Huh? L.A. thinks anyone who isn’t ready to provide a good home and a solid family shouldn’t procreate, and he’s right! It’s not about race, it’s about family and values and intelligent choices. And since when is wearing a condom a form of castration? It’s called — repeat after me — con-tra-cep-tion. Now say it 10 times.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m a Hamilton resident, and I read that someone lost a parakeet. I have wild bird feeders outside my house and there’s a parakeet feeding out there. If they are still looking for their bird, they can call me. I’m leaving my phone number with you.

Tweety

Gimme a call if the parakeet’s still on the loose and we’ll connect you two love birds.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, man, I have heard enough, read enough, and seen enough about Congo the German shepherd. Why don’t we just put Congo in New Jersey State Prison, where they never put anybody to death, like Jesse Timendequas, or Ambrose Harris. Enough is enough. There are pets, cats and dogs, being put to death every day in shelters because they are not adopted and it’s overcrowded. We’re talking about one German shepherd. Bow wow.

Bob Barker

Amen! And we’re out.—Ed. Note

Ed, If that judge puts Congo down, he should be removed from the bench immediately. I get so angry. I’m a senior citizen. People are hungry and starving to death, there are gangs out there, and this judge has this dog facing death. But your column is terrific and so are you!

Bench Clearing

Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Dogs good; gangs bad. Next ...—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I want to thank The Trentonian for the articles on Congo to alert readers like myself to go out and rally for this dog. I just wanted to ask the judge a question: What about second chances? The dog doesn’t have a history of biting people. To take him away from the family and put him down is very cruel. I hope the judge changes his mind.

Kind Heart

Yeah, yeah. Save the dog. Next ...—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I just want to add my two cents to Congo and hope the governor has enough compassion to save that dog. If it was anybody’s wife, you’d expect the dog to do the same. That animal control officer is a real jerk. I get the impression he has a lot of fun putting down dogs and cats that aren’t quite ready or should not be put down.

Psycho Analyst

So this guy looooves to kill dogs, huh? Have you given him a personality test or are you just using your intuition? Next ...—Ed. note

Ed, there is an easy way to resolve the Congo situation. Let Congo rejoin his family and deport that illegal alien Rivera to his native land with his two friends, Judge Anus and Animal Control Almighty Johnson.

Bite Me

The proper term is “His honor.” Next ...—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, maybe the dog Congo has a lineage way back to border dogs, and he’s just protecting America from the illegal scumbags working over here. The dog should live. They should take back that $250,000 from the wetback and send him back. But if he was here legally, then pay the man.

Cowboy

I’m pretty sure Congo is unaware of race or nationality. But you never know what they teach in obedience school these days. Next ...—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I say bye-bye, Congo. I’m just amazed that all these people can take time off from work to protest for a dog, yet at the Veterans Day parade you don’t have enough people to come out, or when you’re at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen, you don’t have enough people to help serve, but you have plenty of time for a dog. This society is pretty screwed up. Bye-bye, Congo.

Sound Mind

Screwed up, indeed. You’ve put it all in perspective. But Congo is pretty cute. Next ...—Ed. Note

Ed, I think Congo deserves a second chance. How can people think they can kill that poor dog when the New Jersey’s taxpayers are keeping a killer like Ambrose Harris alive indefinitely on death row? Congo was only defending his family; he wasn’t out murdering someone. That landscaper should have listened to the dog’s owner and waited for him to come down and secure his dogs.

Dog Walker

I’m pretty close to being sick of all the dog talk, so let’s get it over with. Here goes ...—Ed. Note

Ed, this is for Big Blue who flipped the bird. Trenton’s always been Eagles and Phillies territory. I don’t know what this idiot’s talking about; he must be from New York. Anyway, Philly’s 30 miles away, New York’s over 60. We sound like the people in Philly, not like the idiots that can’t talk good English in New York.

Brotherly Love

They better speak well in Philly because they can’t get by on looks. A study last month by Travel & Leisure magazine said Philadelphia has the least attractive people in the United States. —Ed. Note

Ed, this is for Big Blue. If you don’t want to read about the Phillies, turn the page. Nobody is holding a gun to your head! Sounds like a dumb Giant talking.

Philly Willy

Turn the page is right. Big Blue can “flip” the Birds and land on the Giants. That’s the beauty of a newspaper versus, say, a stone tablet with one story on it. —Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about “Above the Law.” The reason that a cop can talk on a cell phone while driving is because the law says he can. The law allows law enforcement officers to speak on a cell phone while driving, the reasoning being that they do it with the radio all the time, and therefore, they are more careful and able to do it. Whether that’s true or not is another story.

Law Professor

Thanks for clearing that up. How many other things are they allowed to do while driving?—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I’d like to congratulate the movie industry for its fine promotion of gang activity with the movie “American Gangster,” as if we didn’t have enough problems already! And they had the nerve to go Number 1 in the ratings.

Roger Ebert

The nerve? That’s called success.—Ed. Note

Ed, for those who voted no for stem-cell research, you think more of your money than people who are dying and could have been cured. For those who voted no for religious reasons, I say OK, you might have saved embryos, but you cared not about the lives already here. You gave everyone with a fatal disease a death sentence. Also, if you really believe that embryos are human life, why do you allow thousands of them to be dumped in the garbage every day? Why do you not pay for a full-fledged burial service for them? Is that how you treat your dead people? You dump them in the garbage?

Cell Damage

The funeral parlor business would really be booming. Imagine, an itsy-bitsy coffin for each embryo.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m calling about article “Cops rage against The Trentonian for highlighting crime.” I’d like to commend Paul Mickle for having the courage to write this beautiful article highlighting the fact that these cops have had their gravy, cake and ice cream for a long, long time. Because the truth is coming out, that they really don’t care about the citizens of Trenton, they are reacting in this very negative, childish way. As for Jenny Hightower, they know emphatically that they killed that young girl. And their comments about making plenty of arrests, there was one guy, I won’t name him, you know him, who said the hardest job the Trenton police have is picking up their paycheck.

Cop Critic

Mickle is the man. But he wasn’t going after all the officers in the department — just the spin doctors in charge of coverups, blame-the-messenger tactics and the misallocation of resources for public image instead of crime-fighting. There are plenty of hardworking cops on the street.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, you seem like a relatively intelligent man. Have you ever sat down and really thought about the gangs and crime going on in this small city of Trenton and looked at the gangs’ job benefits? I thought that would be something you would wonder about: Why do these gangs continue to stay around? Like Karl Marx once said, “Who’s benefiting and who’s not.”

Gang Curious

Relatively? Relative to what, a dog? Anyway, selling crack is a hell of a lot less work than four years of college and a 40-to-60-hour-a-week job. As long as you’re willing to die from a bullet to the head at age 16 or be raped in prison, gang-banging’s a great career with a bright future. —Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, on Tuesday my friends and I went for lunch after our senior citizens meeting in Ewing. We were at Cafe 72 on West Upper Ferry Road. A gentleman came over and told us his horoscope said, “Be kind to the elderly.” Then he said he was going to pay our bill. We don’t know who he was because he left before we could ask. The waitress said he gave her a nice tip, too. We want to thank him and hope he read that horoscope in The Trentonian.

Fabulous Foursome

All the best horoscopes are in The Trentonian. Maybe we’ll start stuffing fortune cookies, too.—Ed. Note

Ed, this is about the dog on death row. People are in such an uproar because this dog is supposed to be executed. I’m an animal lover, too, but enough is enough. Why don’t people protest about high gas prices, homelessness, and this war that’s being fought instead of a dog. I blame The Trentonian and newspapers for putting this on the front page. This is not a front-page article, it’s a dog, a four-legged animal, and that’s it. Give it a break.

Dog Tired

Blame us all you want, but if everyone’s talking about it, and everyone’s reading about it, then who are we to get all righteous and decide what the news “should be?”—Ed. Note

Ed, this dog Congo should be put to sleep. If he were a pit bull, there would be no outcry for his acts against the gardener. Is there racism in the Doggy World?

The Rev. Jesse Jack Terrier

Racism, classism, doggism, it’s all here. Say a Trenton pit bull bites a white businessman instead of a Princeton shepherd biting an illegal alien. Would it be the same? That’s deep, dog. —Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about the article on UFOs. Well, I attended one of the meetings that Dr. UFO conducts and there was a lady there who said she was in constant communication with people on Saturn. Well, I didn’t find that so unusual, since my wife tells me I’m in outer space half the time. Since the government is starting to recognize UFOs, I told my wife, if I don’t return home from bowling some night it’s because I’ve been taken up in a UFO to a galaxy far, far away. And tell Jeff Edelstein if he wants to come, his wife will no longer have to worry about his snoring.

Seven-Ten Split

Jeff’s snoring is coming along nicely. Turns out he just had to lose a tiny bit of weight off his uvula. Seriously.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling from Pennsylvania about L.A. Parker’s “City needs more condoms not cops” article. What they need is the Guardian Angels back. Now they’ve got some women that are Angels, too; they can back up on the streets. He talked about Camden being bad; well, Trenton’s bad. The mayor moved out and Santiago moved out. Have them move back in and live in the ghetto.

Angel of Trenton

It might take Charlie’s Angels to get the mayor to spend more time here.—Ed. Note

Congratulations to the new Hamilton mayor. Maybe he’ll be able to control the police, our overwhelming taxes and township overgrowth. Please, Mr. Mayor, since the other mayor didn’t listen, we need a traffic light or change of traffic direction at Hempsted and Kuser Road. It’s so treacherous there with the church and park entrance. Nobody can get across the street half the time. Please do a traffic analysis or something.

Constituent

Mr. Mayor, might as well get used to reading BackTalk each week. It doubles as your in-box.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, tell the person who wants to get rid of those trophies to donate them to the Special Olympics, which will do them over for their events. It’s a worthy cause. Anyone with extra or old trophies should donate them.

Coach

But no mud-wrestling or dog-fighting trophies, please.—Ed. Note

Ed, to all my fellow foster parents, especially those who care for medically fragile children and do not get recognition they deserve, even from DYFS, keep up the good work and do it for the children you love so much. And to the foster parent who cared for the twin who died in that fire, kudos to you and God bless. We need more foster parents in Mercer County.

Un Sung Hero

Anyone out there with a big heart and extra time, consider being a foster parent. There’s no shortage of kids who need your love.—Ed. Note

Ed, I recently went to Atlantic City and played at some of the casinos, where I was amazed at the number of foreign dealers. I know the casino wages are low, and maybe that’s why they are attracting these foreigners. I think our politicians should look into this. We don’t have enough Americans to take these jobs? We have to import them from outside the U.S.?

All Aces

In other nations they offer associate-degree programs in card dealing. It’s become a lost art in the states.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m a Hamilton police officer. Most of the Hamilton cops are relieved that we have a new mayor. Gilmore was lying when he said there were more cops on the street. If you check the records, there’s just as many today as there were 10-20 years ago. He said he hired six, but that’s because six left. Good luck to the new mayor.

Benci’s Body Guard

Any other cops in Hamilton care to disagree?—Ed. Note

Ed, I don’t feel sorry for those “poor babies,” the state employes who are unhappy because they can’t get the day after Thanksgiving off. They should try working in a hospital where you don’t get Thanksgiving off or the day after. Try working every holiday, including the entire week plus the weekend.

Still at Work

Everything is relative. Nine-year-olds weaving rugs 16 hours a day in third-world sweat shops think your job is a piece of cake.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, This is Mary from Tender Hearts, calling to thank your faithful readers for donating canned goods to our Thanksgiving drive to help the families of our troops in Iraq. We are preparing 70 baskets and we still need canned goods and 40 turkeys to fill our quota. We could also use store gift certificates so we can pick up what we need.

Basket Weaver

You heard her. They need turkeys, you turkeys! Help her out.—Ed. Note

Gov. Corzine is not too bright in not giving state workers the day off after Thanksgiving. Everyone’s going to take off Friday as a vacation or personal day, so why spend state money to open the buildings for a skeleton staff? We could all be out shopping on Black Friday, pumping our money into the state sales tax.

Buyer

You will all be out shopping anyway, according to you. So take your vacation or personal day, but don’t make us pay for it.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I live in Ewing. A few neighbors and I have been trying without success to get Public Service or the road department or the police to change a light bulb on Penwood Drive. This light’s on a bad curve and at night it’s bad. We were worried about the kids out trick-or-treating. The pole number is E63010EW. Please help us.

Screwed In

How many public workers does it take to change a ...—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m calling about the dog, Congo, that they want to put down. I’m sure there’s a better alternative. Why don’t they take him into Trenton, maybe they can straighten the city out because the mayor evidently can’t. Maybe the dog would do some good. Give him to the city police or the State Police. Don’t put this dog down. It’s not fair.

Dog Gonnit

Congo for mayor!—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, let me get this straight: You come into this country illegally, you get bit by a dog and collect $250,000. Maybe you can go back to your country and live like a king. Gee, I wonder if I can do that if I go to Mexico?

A. Cross D’border

I think you’ll get as far as the bit-by-a-dog part. Then you can get a really good prescription at a dodgy pharmacy and make some decent cash if you can smuggle back the meds.—Ed. Note

Ed, I live in Trenton and I’m having a hard time finding an Asian Oriental female who is 18-19 years old, single, into punk rock, and going to school to be a doctor like me. Please, Ed, how can I find her? I’m just looking for that type of female, that right girl.

Date Less

So now I’m playing matchmaker? If you’re out there, Miss Oriental Punk Rock Doc, this dude’s looking for you.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’ve been working over 18 years at a large manufacturing plant in Hamilton, where they have an agenda to get rid of veteran workers and replace them with lower-paid workers, usually immigrants, getting $7-$8 less in hourly wages. These immigrants almost outnumber the American workers and morale is very low. This plant is the last plantation in the country.

American Worker

Morale is low because your buddies are gone or because you don’t like immigrants? Perhaps a bit of both. —Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about the Nov. 5 story about Nakia White on page. 16. I’d like to tell her congratulations and keep up the good work. We residents of Trenton are so proud of her. I want to say to The Trentonian, why wasn’t the article about her Harvard law degree put on the front page of the newspaper? Once in a while we need to know some of the good stuff that’s coming out of Trenton.

Reed R. Feedback

We put it in the paper so our readers would “know” about it. We count on them reading past page one. —Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I just recovered from seeing Page 6 on Nov. 5 and I just got to your beautiful poster. Wahoooo! Viva Blanco! Good job, Ed.

Horn Dog

One outta two ain’t bad. —Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I just read the bio for your Page 6 girl for Nov. 5. Was she a goalie without a mask? Good grief! On the other hand, it did jolt me awake this morning.

I.M. Mean

Just fold the page at her neck. —Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m a 14-year-old girl and I lost my new silver digital HP Photosmart M537 camera while trick-or-treating near the Elton Avenue and Sunny Brae Elementary School. I got this camera last July for my birthday and it holds many sentimental photos. I hope someone found it. I’m leaving my phone number with you.

Annie Liebovitz Jr.

Hey! You with the camera. You know who your are. Call BackTalk and pretend you just found the thing and leave your phone number so this girl can have it back. —Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about “dog’s fate.” Let me get this straight. A gardener goes into the yard when he’s not supposed to be there and was warned not to get out of his car, but he gets out of his car, attacks the dog with a rake, assaults a woman, the dog’s mistress, and then the dog is ordered put to sleep? And this man gets a $250,000 settlement. Is this a joke? Hey, judge. Hey, lawyer. Please let me have your jobs. I’ll do the right thing. Step down please, you are all total asses. I wonder how much Michael Vick would have gotten for this.

Puppy Love

Vick a gardener? We know what he’d be growing.—Ed. Note

Ed, For the life of me I cannot understand that judge who ordered the dog put to sleep for protecting his owner, his puppies and protecting himself from being hit with a rake by this guy Rivera. Rivera came on private property when he was told not to because the dogs were out. He comes out there and pulls a woman on top of him, hits the dog and the dog has to die because of this? Plus he’s getting $250,000! Give me a break!

Dog Daze

Use a woman for a human shield, win yourself $250,000. Not bad for a morning’s work. Sure beats planting tulips. —Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about the German shepherd dog in Princeton. Why is it, when a dog like Congo tries to protect his family, right away the justice system wants to put the animal down? But it’s OK for people to commit rape, murder, and nothing happens to them? Mr. Rivera, it’s your fault for showing up early and provoking this dog who was protecting his family. He does not deserve to die, he deserves a medal. This judge is really an idiot. This dog seems to be good and gentle. So, for being protective of his family he gets death.

Kay Nine

The dog is good and gentle. Until he flips out and chows down on human flesh.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I’d like the people in Hamilton, especially senior citizens, to know there will be a special school board election on Dec. 11 for bond approval that will cost taxpayers $81.25 million. Hey seniors, taxes are going to go sky high. The only way to stop this is to vote “no” Dec. 11. Remember the date. Schools Superintendent Neil Bencivengo wants this money to build a new school and repair the old ones. Also on Monday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. there will be a meeting at Crockett Middle School to discuss this bond. This is the best kept secret.

Old and Broke

OK, seniors, don’t let us down. We’re expecting a large and rowdy presence. Think pitchforks. —Ed. Note

Ed, about Jack Knarr’s article, if you think that’s bad with the city police, you should check out how they hide incidents of vandalism at the Trenton Board of Education. Remember, they’re all under the city of Trenton, so what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

Goosed

Hey, Jack. Got an inside source at the board of education?—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m glad we have a new mayor in Hamilton. Now maybe something will be done about the crime. I live in the Bromley section on Victor Avenue and we went to the pines watch meeting. We were told a cop would be going by every day, but that hasn’t happened. The kids are jumping on cars and fighting in the middle of street. Somebody got jumped on Nottingham Way and another got jumped on East State in the last couple weeks. Maybe with a new mayor everything will get done.

Hamiltonian Everything?

Now that’s optimism. Expect him to do some of the things Gilmore didn’t, and then his Benci’s successor can promise to do all the things he didn’t.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, why is everyone focusing on Santiago for being a non-resident when you have a fire director who’s also a non-resident and lives down the shore and you have a mayor that lives in Hunterdon County. Do you think people can overcome their tunnel vision and broaden that search to find out what’s going on?

Panorama

Many people are talking about Palmer’s residency. Now they can add the fire director to the list.—Ed. Note

Ed, it’s such a shame that Bencivengo did not win the Hamilton mayoral race on his own merits. He’s fortunate that he will have the Republican council to operate and pull strings for him.

Shamer

What percentage of political wins can be traced to merits? I feel the need to break out the sports clichés: A win is a win is a win. Just win, baby. Win at all costs ...—Ed. Note

Ed, while it’s true that Comcast had a monopoly for many years, that monopoly no longer exists in Mercer County, which has been wired for Verizon FiOS. Having converted to Verizon earlier this year, I can tell you it’s a superior television product, and maybe you should give them a call.

Verizon Salesmen

I still say turn off the friggin’ idiot box and read a book.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, another brilliant article by L.A. Parker on Nov. 8 on page 2. I used to brag to my grandmother how well my children (her great-grandchildren) were doing in school. She would just shake her head and say, “It’s not what they learn in school, it’s what they learn at home.” It used to blow my mind. But my wife has told me I’m going straight to hell because I say, if you are going to reproduce without regard, you’re going to kill without regard.

Birth Controller

Someone once said — and I’m paraphrasing here — that the population of the Earth continues to grow, while the sum of its intelligence remains a constant.—Ed. Note

Ed, kudos to Trentonian reporter Jack Knarr for enlightening the citizens of Trenton about the failure of the leadership in the Trenton Police Department on reporting crime. This is criminal, and now that it’s out in the open, perhaps the state’s attorney general or the prosecutor will conduct an investigation into the matter or the mishandling of the State Police Uniform Crime Report. Incidentally, has anyone seen Santiago? He’s been under cover since his buddy former Newark Mayor Sharpe James got indicted.

Inside Source

Santiago is huddled in a special bunker three stories below ground plotting Operation Discredit Trentonian.—Ed. Note

Ed, now that we have elected a new mayor in Hamilton, will someone please fix the broken lights on the soccer field at Veterans Park so our kids don’t have to play in the dark? Those lights haven’t worked for over a year!

In the Dark

Tell the kids to eat more carrots and improve their eyesight. And get a glow-in-the-dark ball. In my day we didn’t have lights — or a glow-in-the-dark ball, for that matter. —Ed. Note

Ed, I’m a city crossing guard, responding to that crossing guard’s comments. We are supposed to be outside from 7 to 9 a.m., waiting for people so we can be seen, and we come back and work from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. We are allowed to sit in our cars when it’s extremely cold, and it hasn’t been that cold, and we are allowed to sit outside with a chair. We get paid damn good money for standing and sitting out there, close to $15 an hour. So, I know where her orders come from. We know what to do and a lot of them are not doing it.

Cold Cross Buns

So there is truth to the crossing guard scandal! Kids, demand your right to an adult escort across the street!—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about the Greco twins who were in the Denzel Washington movie. That article was fine, but the mother didn’t have to come down on the father the way she did. I happen to know their father is going to be ordained a minister and he spends most of his time in the church and teaches Sunday school. I got a feeling Miss Margie is not telling us that maybe she is the reason why he does not see his children.

Divorce Lawyer

Well, if you can’t use your kids to disgrace your ex in the newspaper then where can you do it? —Ed. Note

Ed, I’m glad the stem cell question was defeated because there are other ways to fund stem-cell research without killing embryos, which are babies. I’m glad the anti-abortion people were out and got people to think.

Cell Block

It might also have failed because taxpayers don’t feel like forking out another $450 million.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed Note, I see New York magazine finally got rid of their smut section. When is The Trentonian going to clean up its act and take these transvestite whores out of the back of your paper? It’s disgusting.

Norm L. Really

The great thing about our newspaper is — with the ingenious way we keep each word on its own little piece of paper — you can read the features you enjoy and skip anything you don’t like. Don’t blame us if you’re drawn to the transvestites. There’s probably a therapist listing in there somewhere if it helps.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, this message is for outgoing Hamilton Mayor Gilmore. Now that you’ve lost your bid for re-election, Trenton wants you to come over and help straighten out this city.

Headhunter

Let the man have a few drinks and chill out with his hot wife for a few days before you shove more work down his throat. —Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I’ve lived in Hamilton my whole life except for a stint in the Navy. I can’t believe all the calls you got from people worried about their TVs. I can remember when I watched channels 2, 4, 7 and maybe 11 for the Knicks games. These people are out of their minds! Read a book! There’s other stuff out there to do. They’re not happy with 110 channels? What is this world coming to? Let’s not have more TV nonsense when we can be talking about legitimate grief. Tell them to read a book.

Angry Sailor

It’s the opiate of the masses, as they say. Turning entire generations into drooling morons. —Ed. Note

Ed, After reading the article, “Where is your home?” I’m amazed Joe Santiago still doesn’t comply with the Trenton residency ordinance. H ow can we respect a police director who breaks the law? I am further amazed by Annette Lartigue’s statement that there are no if’s, and’s or but’s to compliance. She was right, but she should also take a good look around at her work place, the Mercer County Board of Social Services, and insist that the residency ordinance also apply to those employees. Start following them home and practice what you preach.

Homebody

Stalking employees — isn’t that what kept Ross Perot from getting elected?—Ed. Note

Ed Note, when you have pizza or Chinese food delivered to the house, how much do you tip the driver?

Fortune Cookie

I don’t order Chinese food. —Ed. Note

Hi, I’m calling about a missing dog, a 2-year-old white Maltese whose name is Snuggles. She’s been missing for two days. My son has been crying all night and my two little ones are very devastated. I live on Rivera Avenue. If someone sees her, please call me, Ed.

Dog Gone

Everyone be on the lookout. These kids are counting on you. Call the BackTalk number when you find her. No keeping the dog — no matter how cute!—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, why did Goldman Sachs dump Corzine when he was working for them? He did not retire.

Madame Curious

They asked him to wear a seat belt and he said no.—Ed. Note

Ed, thanks to our lovely state officials all the state workers were screwed recently in their paychecks. They forget to up the pension amount since July, so they did it retroactive in one paycheck. Thanks, governor. You made your $4.1 million last year so it wouldn’t bother you in your paycheck, but those of us who live from paycheck to paycheck can’t pay our bills out of this paycheck.

State of Despair

Maybe you can work one of your 13 holidays and make some double-time.— Ed. Note

Ed, I read where Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson did not like the idea of stopping and frisking people. But with three cops shot in four days, I wonder if he’s changed his mind. What do you think, Ed?

Security Concerned

A stop-and-search without probable cause or “articulable suspicion” doesn’t sound like America to me. It’s easy to be all for martial-law-type tactics until they reach out and bite you. If you begin by eroding the rights of “suspicious-looking” people, or those who dare to walk down the street at the wrong hour, you erode the rights of us all — the rights that the architects of our Republic held sacred and strove to make permanent because they’d experienced a lesser form of existence in a non-free society.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’ve just been informed that Comcast is no longer giving us channels 4, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 98 and 99. I just want to alert everyone about this. I’m fed up. We need a new cable company in Trenton. Tell us, Ed, who can we call to complain about this unfair monopoly by Comcast?

The Cable Guy

You can call (800) COMCAST to complain. By the way, what shows played on channels 77 and 98? I’m anxious to know.— Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I’m responding to Palmer’s Buddy and Palmer’s Ranch. Palmer’s far from doing his job in Trenton. Look at the downfall of Trenton, the school situation, housing, gangs and crime. He’s elected by city voters and he is required by ordinance to live in the city of Trenton.

House Guest

Just think: If Hillary wins the White House you won’t have to worry about Dougie because he’ll probably move to D.C. to join her cabinet.— Ed. Note

Ed, who is going to go down and represent the Caucasian or white race about the racially motivated attack at Rowan, where the four African-Americans beat up the white kid? Who will we get to protest, because I know Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson won’t be there. Could you get back to me?

Massive Attack

Perhaps you could lead the rally without hatred in your heart. Use your rally as a vehicle of peace.— Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, What the hell is Palmer trying to pull? He’s rebuilding the Battle Monument and the projects. He’s rebuilding for the people who destroyed them in the first place, and all they’re going to do is start the vicious cycle all over again. All this guy is doing is taking care of his own because he knows this is his last term in office.

Battle Scars

If by “his own” you mean the fine folks of Trenton, then yes, Hizzoner is rebuilding for the city. And always remember: Trenton is beautiful. You can’t be it if you can’t say it.— Ed. Note

Ed, I would like people to remember three things before they vote next Tuesday. First, New Jersey property taxes are 52 percent higher than the national average. Second, state government costs $1 billion a year but the budget is $33 billion for the year. Third, 29 states have initiative, but New Jersey does not. If all these things make you happy, then go ahead and vote for those same people again.

House Cleaner

And if they don’t, you know what to do.—Ed. Note

Ed, It seems Palmer wants to live in Hunterdon County and doesn’t want to do anything for Trenton. He grew up in Trenton and knows what the city used to be. Why can’t he do something for the city now? Where’s Palmer’s vision when he was first elected in 1990-92? I’m a “Mayor Hater,” too.

Mayor Hater No. 58

He still cares deeply about Trenton. He also cares about his next step up the political ladder.—Ed. Note

Ed, everywhere you go in Trenton, these teenagers come in four’s or five’s, beating and robbing people, selling drugs. You can’t go to the store. It’s like we’re prisoners in our own house. What these low-life kids need is more harsh punishment. And what about the parents? What are they doing? When trouble happens, they say “That’s not my kid, my kid is good.” These kids need one year in a place upstate; let them work and be punished. That’s the only way.

Scared Adult

If only incarceration could cure the problem. The problem is deeper, and it starts at home.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, Trenton Mayor Palmer and Police Director Santiago are beating their chests, proud they are hiring 50 new police officers, but they don’t tell you the money is coming from a federal grant. It won’t make the city safer because more than 50 officers will be retiring soon. So, there will probably be fewer police than before, and the department is still wasting an officer sitting outside Palmer’s empty Trenton residence around the clock, a waste of taxpayers’ money that should stop now!

Count Down

Actually, they did tell us the money is from a grant. That was in an earlier story. And I think they’ll replace some of those retirees. That’s usually how it works. —Ed. Note

Ed, I read your column every day, and I want to know if you are available to go to a New Year’s Eve party with me. My husband is running with his union secretary, so will you take me out? Love you, Ed Note. Keep the messages coming.

Foxy Lady

Yowsah! You’ve got me a little tingly, here. What are you wearing? —Ed. Note

Ed, why don’t people leave Mayor Palmer alone? I wouldn’t send my daughter 30 years ago to a public school in Trenton or Ewing; I put her in a private school and what an education she got. If I had grandchildren, I’d take out a mortgage to send them to a private school. Don’t blame Mayor Palmer for the gangs. Blame their mothers for having kids with no husbands or fathers; blame the people who live like slobs in downtown Trenton and downgrade the city. Chambersburg used to be so nice. Leave Palmer alone and blame yourself. So what if he married a wealthy woman? It’s his prerogative and more power to him.

Doug’s Wife

Marrying a rich woman is one thing for which I won’t blame the mayor (hint, hint, all you sugarmomma BackTalkers out there).—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I think something should be done about Hamilton High West, which has no soap in its rest rooms. My grandchild carries hand sanitizer, but with the coming flu season and superbug, I think the soap dispensers should be full. The toilet paper, paper towel and vending machines are usually empty. If the problem is monitoring the bathroom, then at least supply hand sanitizer in the classroom under the teacher’s supervision.

Germ Freak

So there’s a school full of kids who can’t wash their hands or wipe their butts? Yikes. It’s a sorry situation if they won’t trust students with the basic essentials of personal hygiene. Maybe they could deem some kids “bathroom monitors,” like the old hall monitors. They’d never get picked on, right? It’s either that or diapers. —Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I’m calling about Palmer’s statement about the police officers’ four-on-four-off work schedule. He said it was implemented because they wanted to work with the police union. That four-on-four-off schedule was given to the police so we would not sue the city for a lot of overtime pay owed us for the illegal scheduling we worked, according to the federal government. And it did reduce sick time. Please print that so people know what’s in the paper is an out and out lie. My name is Russell, and I’ve been a police officer over 33 years.

Officer Truth

Wait a minute. You mean we shouldn’t believe what politicians say?—Ed. Note

Ed, I am angry at The Trentonian for putting Coach Reid on the front page. He did not commit a crime; he deserves sympathy and consideration. He is hurting. so please, why do you do this? I’m really, really angry.

Reid’s Mom

At least we didn’t make fun of him for gaining 20 pounds every Sunday.—Ed. Note

Ed, I just read in the “other paper” that Lawrence Township sold a piece of land on Route 1 to Mayor Palmer’s wife for $500,000, but they paid $2.29 million. Someone should investigate Lawrence Township. I don’t understand what’s going on. You buy property for $2.29 million and sell it for $500,000? I’m sure The Trentonian would have been interested in that property to put their building on Route 1.

Auditor

The Trentonian is right where it belongs. We can’t give up our view of the police station, let alone the city’s most entertaining neverending roadwork project.—Ed. Note

Ed, you’re the best thing this paper’s got, next to the Page 6 girl. I’m calling about the Trenton crime wave. We live on the 800 block of South Clinton Avenue and we had six vehicles broken into and garages broken into. We called the police and they said they can’t do anything because Palmer and Santiago will not provide the manpower to patrol the streets. We keep calling about the crack houses and the whores. Why doesn’t this stuff appear in the paper? What’s going on?

Crime Reporter

Well, Palmer says he has more cops on the way. In the meantime, try to take advantage of the crime, crack and whores as inspiration for fresh rap lyrics. I’ll beatbox. Ready?—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m calling about the crossing guard situation that has some people worried. They need to know that when a guard has been on a corner a certain amount of time, he or she knows the kids and what time they come and go home. So, they know when they are done crossing those children. We do cross adults, but not everyone wants assistance. When it gets cold, we are allowed to sit in our cars. So, please do not complain because we are doing this job the way we are told to do it. Thanks, Ed.

Street Smart

Finally, the crossing guards fight back! Glad to know you’re reading The Trentonian while sitting in the car between crossings.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, the other day one of your contributors said that if a person shoots somebody, that person should be shot, too, or if they get hit with a pipe in the head, that person should die by the pipe. Live by the sword, die by the sword kind of thing. I agree, but I believe the victims of that person should apply the pain, not the state.

Anarchist

That’s some modern thinking, there. Whatever happened to public stoning?—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I see where another Philadelphia officer was shot while on duty. That makes three officers shot in three days. My condolences to their families, and I hope the others will recover. I had a son who was a policeman in New Jersey and I’d want the killer executed. Look, Sen. Shirley Turner and your followers, you want capital punishment abolished. I blame all the police officers nationwide for not going on strike and demanding the death penalty for any officer killed or shot on duty. Let them get back the respect that police officers had in the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s.

Iron Fist

But these guys aren’t afraid to die. They’re like the terrorist martyrs. Death row is supreme status for a real Original Gangster.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I’m listening to the news in Philadelphia, where a policeman was shot again. This is absolutely ridiculous. My advice to the mayors in Philadelphia and Trenton is, don’t hesitate to shoot these punks. The hell with them. If they want to shoot everyone, you go out and shoot them, and don’t prosecute the police for trying to protect people. They deserve to be killed.

Ruth Less

But don’t shoot till you see the red of their bandannas.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, a while back you were concerned that us pet owners were more concerned about our pets and other pets than the 18 murders in Trenton. Well, let me enlighten you. First, our pets are innocent little creatures and all they want is a nice home, some good food, health care and a lot of love. They don’t care how you dress, how much money you have, or what you look like. They are your friends forever. These 18 murders in Trenton were gang-related, and us pet owners say, who cares? At the present rate that they’re killing one another, hopefully soon they will all be gone. And the dust will once again settle on Trenton, and the people will be able to walk the streets without fear.

The Exterminator

A growing trend among BackTalkers is this disturbing disregard for human life — or, rather, a definition of human that excludes Bloods and Crips. Assuming there’s no chance to free your heart from its icebox, let’s quibble the specifics of your extermination plan. There are hundreds, probably thousands, of gangsters in the city. Even if we assume, for sake of argument, 30 murders a year, you’re looking at many years before they “will all be gone.” It seems safe to assume that they’re multiplying much faster than they are dying. So instead of cheering every time there’s a murder, perhaps you scrape the plaque off your soul and envision a world in which criminals can be rehabilitated into humans.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed Note, I read your column every day and I really like it. I live at the South Village Senior Complex on Lalor Street. I’d just like to thank our management and maintenance staffs for giving us the opportunity to use their community room for prayer service and family functions. And for all the complainers there who don’t like it, they need to come to our prayer service. It will do you good.

Keeping the Faith

See you at the service.—Ed. Note

Ed, Lt. Gov. Palmer? What a joke. That half-wit can’t even run the city. Just look at the crime rate. The city is a cesspool. How could you possibly appoint him to anything? He can’t handle what he’s got on his plate. I blame the idiots who elected him just because he’s popular. Trenton is one of the worst areas, and while Palmer didn’t create all the problems, he’s done nothing to solve them.

Palmer Hater No. 55

Maybe a step up is just what he needs to break out of his slump.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I have a great idea for Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes: Build a new corrections center at the old General Motors plant. It’s the perfect spot, with its city water, city sewer and city electricity and a big tank.

Ex-con

You should win an award for recycling.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I’d like to offer a challenge to the gas station owners in Hamilton Township. I’d like to ask them why they feel the need to raise gas prices 13 cents in one week. Let the fun begin!
I think it has something to do with the concept of “what the market will bear.”—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, thumbs up to you! Why are these people so concerned about where Mayor Palmer lives? They might feel better if he lived in the rescue mission or out on the street. As long as the man is doing his job, leave him alone. He can live wherever he wants to live. The president of the United States doesn’t live in Washington, D.C., all the time; he goes to his ranch. What about all these city and state workers who don’t live in Trenton? Get off the man’s back.

Palmer’s Buddy

Um, President Bush took a fair amount of heat for spending so much time out at his cattle ranch. But anyway, the people blasting Palmer for where he lays his head at night wouldn’t agree with your assessment that he’s “doing his job” up to par.—Ed. Note

Ed, I understand Hamilton Mayor Gilmore claims there were 172 police officers on the force when he took office and today there are 182. There may be 182 today, but there was more like 180 when he took office, that’s two police officers added in seven years. I’d like to ask him for verification of his numbers, 172 and 180. I’d be real interested to see how he produces those numbers.

Number Cruncher

OK, mayor. Can you squeeze in this BackTalker’s question between now and Tuesday?—Ed. Note

Ed, I just got a call from the “New Jersey Navy Veterans Association” asking me to send them $30 for our troops overseas. They are sending me an envelope. Is this a legitimate organization or a scam? I’ve heard different stories about people asking money for police organizations that are actually scams. Hope you can help.

Helping Hand

Why don’t you just send $30 to a Navy sailor? Cut out the middle man.—Ed. Note