Ed, it makes me sick the way Hamilton Township Council keeps giving themselves a big round of applause. Here is what they did, let’s see, let’s go through it. They came into office and they had a deficit, they raised taxes a lot and they laid people off. Now we have higher taxes and more people out of work, which means a bigger burden on the taxpayers who are working. Sure their budget is in balance, well that’s great, but unfortunately instead of cutting things they laid people off. Vinnie, I can’t wait to have the opportunity to vote for you. Way to go Hamilton.

Hamiltonian

For better or worse, they made the tough choices. At least they did something.—Ed. Note

Ed, I am a CO at one of the prisons, actually the one in Bordentown. I am calling about the article you had about the Bloods running the prison. Yes, they are the predominant group in the prison, but they are not running the prison where we are. None of the guys running the prison are afraid of them, or running scared as the article said. I don’t know where you get your information for this. That is not true of the prison where we are. We are not letting them run things or asking them for protection. Get it right.

In Charge

You hear that, Bloods? You don’t run jack.—Ed. Note

Ed, I was reading the article that said the corrections system was worried about all the cell phones running around the prison system. I have a solution. Cell phones work on radio frequency. Jam the frequency. No cell phone communication. Simple.

Jammer

And guard’s will have the added drama of telling new inmates they’re entering a “dead zone.” —Ed. Note

Ed, about the recent articles on the city youth detention facility closing down. They say that they want to put the kids in alternative programs. The bottom line is, these programs are not working and have not been working. About 80 percent of the juveniles in those programs are repeat offenders. Then you have the kiddies who run, and are out there for months before the sheriff’s department decides that it wants to catch up with them. They are also talking about sending them to a facility in another county, which basically means that the city is out more money. How could they justify that move when our facility is fairly new?

Detainer

Alternative programs don’t work. Regular incarceration isn’t exactly producing model citizens at the other end. So what’s your answer? Keep them locked up forever?—Ed. Note

Ed, I just wanted to let you know that because of the article in BackTalk about the recent dog walk we got 500 to 1,000 people to come out; we are not done counting yet but it is closer to 1,000. That’s about $10,000 raised for charity. We could not have done it without you. Thank you so much.

Walker

More proof that BackTalk is the most powerful media outlet in the United States. Long live BackTalk. —Ed. Note

Hi, I am calling in reference to Villa Park. I would like to say thank you to the Natural Resources and Culture for a job well done. The big man with the dreadlocks really looks as if he takes pride in his work. Keep up the good work.

In the Park

A big thank you to the big Rasta man.—Ed. Note

Ed, as a parent of a Steinert softball player, we paid over $150 for our daughter’s uniform. The money comes out of our pockets, not the taxpayers. The booster club raises a lot of money to support these kids, not the taxpayers. Think about the money that’s involved to provide benches, fences and even keep up the grass. These fools who call in should ask questions before they make their comments.

Booster

And I believe my response to that “fool” was similar to yours, although you gave the full explanation. Thanks to all the boosters out there!—Ed. Note

Ed, I am an avid fisherman. I would like to know how the state could furlough the workers that release the trout from the trucks when people already paid for their licenses and planned their trips around this time of the year for fishing. The fees for the license and trout camp go for about $25 and $30. By the time you are done you are paying about $100 to fish in New Jersey.

Sinker

I’m pretty sure the trout will still get out. Let us know if you don’t catch anything this year.—Ed. Note

Ed, Gov. Corzine furloughed the Division of Motor Vehicles for a day recently. Does he not realize that this is a source of income? People come there to buy plates, pay for licenses, renew licenses. These people are bringing money into the state. What, is he stupid? Can we please get someone in office who understands business, which would be any Republican?

Smarter Than Jon

Um, I guess he figures that since you’re required — by law — to renew licenses, etc., you’ll pay up at some point anyway. If you don’t, the state can make a nice penny giving you a ticket.—Ed. Note

Ed, I am so sick of these substitute teachers who come into our building with nothing but a paperbook in their hands. They do nothing all day but sit around and read. I worked with one today who was so pathetic she would not take attendance. She had a student take the attendance. Enough is enough. Get rid of these rooms of substitute teachers.

No Substitute

What do you propose? Leave the kids to their own devices?—Ed. Note

Ed, I call this another good kid story. About a week ago I went shopping and had about 10 bags of groceries to carry into the house. I saw a 12-year-old boy going by my house and, being disabled, I asked him to bring my groceries into my house. I gave him a $5 tip and he offered to put the groceries away for me. I said no thank you I would put them away later. This shows a good example of what his parents taught him.

Grateful

GrandmaI’m telling you, there are still more good kids than bad in this world.—Ed. Note

Ed, I am thankful that the Hamilton cops caught those dog fighting criminals. I hope everyone knows that dogfighting is a crime. It was probably a slip of the tongue, but when the police captain described the bloody crime scene he referred to the perpetrators he said “three gentlemen” came out of the woods wearing gloves and boots covered in blood. These were no gentlemen.

K-9

If we can thank Michael Vick for anything, it’s that he made it common knowledge that dogfighting is a crime. As for the captain’s slip, he’s just so polite he can’t help himself. —Ed. Note

Ed, this is for the recreation man, Samuel. I am a family man and for the last 40 years I have lived in Trenton. They have never charged the kids for using the pools. This is not the township, this is the big city. I hope Mayor Palmer will straighten this out. Thank you very much.

Swimmer

Maybe they can somehow combine the libraries with the pools. Would that save enough money? “Afternoon water reading program for kids.”—Ed. Note

The people collecting at the WAWA were the Knights of Columbus collecting for the disabled children, “God’s Special Children.” They do it every year. It is strictly their project, there was no collection at all for the church. The writer was really wrong in what he was saying ...Correction... This is Frank from the Knights of Columbus. Once a year 100s of volunteers go out to collect money to help children that are mentally challenged, “God’s Special Children.” Not one penny goes to the church. We thank everyone for their donations. God bless you.

Good Knight

Thanks to both of you for clearing that up.—Ed. Note

Ed, Sen. Bill Baroni recently commented that Hamilton Township’s finances are a model for every town in the state. What is he smoking? I know he wants to legalize marijuana. Hamilton has raised taxes to the highest rate in history and then they say woops we misjudged it by a couple of million dollars. Great example; please don’t bring it to my town.

Bring Me Down

I think he would tell you that the township has turned things around under difficult circumstances since the end of Gilmore’s reign.—Ed. Note

Ed, I have nothing against gay people. I have best friends who are gay people. I am referring to the gang rape of this guy in prison. The Bloods should change their colors to pink. They should be in the gay pride parade.

Jail Joker

I fail to grasp your point. Some thugs allegedly raped this kid in jail, and you have gay friends. And you think you’re making a joke, I think. It’s just not coming together.—Ed. Note

Ed, In response to “What a Dump.” So much for privatization. This place is no longer as the sign on the entrance gate says — “The Finest Ecological Facility in the State.” When I drove in there last Saturday the potholes almost killed me. The grass drop-off was nearly filled. The township guys would never have allowed this.

Bumps at Dump

Now that it’s going back out to bid, you might get a chance to see if another private company does a better job. —Ed. Note

Ed, about the guy who was complaining about the ecological facility in “What a dump.” He is absolutely correct, I have never seen it in such disrepair. It’s in terrible condition. Bring back the township. This one is going to bite you on the butt, John.

D. Privatize

Blame it on a “transition period.”—Ed. Note

Ed, this weekend I was at a softball game where Steinert was playing. I noticed that Steinert’s uniforms were different from the day before and were customized with the players’ names. Other schools have numbers on the back not names, which allows them to be used for the multiple years. At times like this shouldn’t they be more sensitive about how they spend our taxpayer dollars?

Nameless

There’s taxpayer money and then there’s money raised through the hard work of booster volunteers, and you, as a taxpayer, can’t complain about the latter.—Ed. Note

Ed, the sweetest thing happend to me on Mother’s Day. I was in the parking lot at Acme out in Yardville where I live. Two little boys were there with their father getting into a van. They had just bought flowers for their mother. The oldest boy asked me if I was a mother and then said, “ I hope you get flowers, happy Mother’s Day.” I would say his mommy and daddy are bringing him up wonderfully just like I did my children.

Sweetened

Some parents are getting it right.—Ed. Note

Ed, I am a resident of the 100 block of Walnut Avenue. Lots of kids get hit during the summer months when they play near the street. I would like to suggest that the city make that 100 block a one-way street going south and the 200 block a one way street going north. It should save a lot of lives and make a better community. It would help the police out a lot when they are chasing cars. Recently there was an accident and the man got away because there was too much traffic and the police couldn’t catch him.

Thatta Way

How hard can it be? Just add a few signs, right?—Ed. Note

Ed, I am furious with that landlord in Mill Hill talking about how he helps the underdogs. Calling the rest of the people snobs. I would like to let that creep know my son and daughter-in-law and grandchild live there. They both work, and they can just barely make payments on their home. They have it rough, too.

Renters’ Kin

How do you know he didn’t include your family members among the underdogs?—Ed. Note

Ed, about this cell phone ban New Jersey is supposed to have. I see people every day driving around talking on their cell phones. Maybe they should hire a task force of just regular people like ticket takers to drive around and give tickets to these people. People assume they are not going to get caught. They drive around real slow and are not paying attention. Maybe they should raise the fine to $1,000 and maybe they will get the point.

Hang Up

I don’t like the idea of an army of not-quite-cops out there with the power to pull me over. It could get ugly.—Ed. Note

Ed, I believe L.A. Parker deserves a Pulitzer Prize for his article on May 7 about Coach Jordan. It just goes to prove the truth will come out and this is America. God bless America.

American Reader

Well, he certainly calls it like he sees it.—Ed. Note

Ed, my mother died in the early ‘80s and to this day I have never put flowers on her grave. The flowers I gave my mother were the things I could do for her during her life. It was whatever I could do to help her and care for her after she was widowed. Now, I’ve got children and grandchildren and I have no regrets about doing whatever I could do for my mother.

Giver

Moms are the best. And that’s not just a sentiment for the second Sunday in May.—Ed. Note

Ed, I just want to respond to some of the comments made. We the parents have tried to talk to the president and he never had the time. He was always too busy. We teach our kids that no matter what happens during the game, they are still winners and to keep their heads up. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, just make sure you have fun! We have dignity and morals. We as a group have gone over and read the rule book, as for not knowing the rules, that’s rubbish. We like Dan but not the way the league is run. It would be different if all was fair. Dan does not treat those kids as if they were his own. He feels bothered, when they approach him, he shoos them away. I see it and so do the other parents. For your info I’m a he and not a she! That’s all I’m going to say.

Dugout

Now that y’all have aired this out in BackTalk, perhaps it’s time to act like adults with each other in person.—Ed. Note

Ed, regarding the Catholic Diocese of Trenton. I have not received a reply to any of the six messages I left on the office answering machine of Bishop Smith’s secretary. It is regarding this issue at St. Hedwig’s church. I wonder what secrets the diocese is holding back on this issue.

On Hold

No secrets. Just busy. Praise Jesus.—Ed. Note

Ed, surprise, surprise, surprise. Mr. Jordan becomes Trenton Central High School football coach. That was a forgone conclusion as soon as he was hired by the Trenton school system. My main concern is, what about Ralphiel Mack? He was also cleared of all charges against him. The NAACP was intent on making Carl Jordan whole again. What about Ralphiel? Shouldn’t he have been made whole again and been reappointed by the school? After all, his record was just as good, if not better, than Mr. Jordan’s.

Dare Jordan

Are you saying the NAACP got Jordan the head coaching job in Trenton? Anyway ... you’re comparing Mack’s record at Trenton with Jordan’s record at Steinert? Apples and oranges? Steinert and Trenton? Anyway ... for everyone’s sake, let’s pray it works out and Trenton starts to kick everyone’s #@! as it did in days gone by. ... Word comes out of of Steinert that Jordan doesn’t have the goods to be a top-notch coach. Let’s see him prove them wrong.— Ed. Note

Ed, the Division of Pensions no longer has human beings working there. I believe they have gone fully automated. They will not need to furlough other state workers since they are saving a lot of money by not having a human being working there. All you get is computers, 45-minute wait times. Unbelievable.

Real Person

So is this a complaint or a compliment?— Ed. Note

I would like to applaud the DOT in Ewing for taking down the dead trees that were around our campus. Removing dead trees is a protection of private property and utilities. The law requires that they plant three new trees for every tree they take down and that is what the DOT did. I appreciate the fact that they take care of the neighborhood. Great job by the DOT. Incidently, they are replacing the dead trees with new red maples, which is the appropriate tree for that location.

Old Red

Maple“Great job by the DOT.” Someone at the department is going to frame this installment of BackTalk and put it on the wall.— Ed. Note

Ed, I am calling to rebut someone who called in about a local Little League. You should teach your children to win with dignity and lose with dignity. Maybe you should get a rule book out and read it because you obviously don’t know the rules.

Little League Mom

Ed, this is the president of the North Trenton Little League. As coaches we have to regularly deal with parents who do not know or understand the rules of Little League. Cheating as defined by one single parent can’t actually be called cheating because parents do not know the rules. It is unfair to the child, the league, and to the president of that league, to say someone is cheating. Once the parents learn the rules of baseball the game would be better in the city of Trenton. I personally know the president of the Chambersburg Little League and he does not cheat or teach his players to cheat. In the future, facts should be stated first and not just accusations made.

Prez

Ed, about the Chambersburg Little League. I am a past president of another league. I think that article was a disgrace. This woman did not call to ask the president about this incident, she just went right to the newspaper. She doesn’t know the rules and she is taking it out on the president. The rules are for the protection of the kids. I have known the president for years and I think he is doing a great job. If he goes 200 kids will be out on the street. Because when he goes that league is done. It’s a shame that one parent is this distraught about her team getting beat. She should learn the rules, and if she has a problem she should contact the board of directors.

Past Prez

Ed, about the Chambersburg Little League president. I’m a parent and I would like to say that the president, Danny, is about the best president in the whole District 12. Maybe the crying parent and the president of 6/11 should take a lesson from him on the rules of the game. This man has built a batting cage, he has everything to offer for a child. Chambersburg is the best Little League in the city. Chambersburg rules!

Homer

Ed, I am responding to the comment about the Chambersburg Little League. What about Danny from Chambersburg? He has been nothing but good for those kids. Danny treats those kids like his own. He is like a father to children who don’t have one. My son has been on that league for five years and, thank God, no complaints. Whoever dislikes him that person should find something else to talk about. So stop crying and let us play baseball.

Danny Fan

And may I remind everyone, it’s just a game.—Ed. Note

Ed, I want to comment on the recent domestic violence murders in Trenton. If Director Bradley and Mayor Palmer want to address the problem, they should speak to the judges and court clerks in the city and state of New Jersey so a higher bail could be set for arrestees. When the police are called to respond to a domestic violence incident and they arrest a suspect, that arrestee is taken to the police station, warrants are signed and a bail is set by a judge or court clerk. The bail depends on the arrestee’s criminal record and 99 percent of the bails are set at $2,500 and the arrestee only needs 10 percent to bail out, so they are out in an hour with a $250 bail; what a joke. The fine in Trenton for parking in a handicapped spot is higher than $250 and we all wonder why there are four murders already.

Stop the Violence

Whoever you are, please consider running for office.—Ed. Note

Ed, they are planting about 50 trees at the New Jersey Department of Transportation down on Parkway Avenue. They look like $200-apiece trees. I know the Department of Transportation employees have been asked to take one furlough day a month. Who is the moron who decided to plant $10,000 worth of trees when people are asked to take days off? Besides that, they are poplars which grow about 60 feet high and will bend in the wind and smash into the wires. I hope someone gets fired.

Leaf Us Alone

What gives? They could have paid someone to hold an umbrella if they needed shade. Humans before plants!—Ed. Note

Ed, I want to send a special thanks to all the residents who live in the Franklin Street and Williams Street neighborhood. I was involved in an automobile accident and my son was hurt real bad. The community came out and showed a lot of love. I also want to thank the Trenton police and the paramedics. A special, special thanks to the woman, I believe “superwoman,” who sat with my son until the paramedics arrived.

Grateful

Once again, BackTalk restores faith in the human condition. Thanks for sharing.—Ed. Note

Ed, I went to St. Gregory’s to see the kids make their First Communion on Saturday. The girls were wearing white dresses, but there were only two boys in all white suits. The rest of the boys had on blue jackets, blue shirts and khaki pants. What’s going on now with the Catholic religion? It just did not look right at all.

Church Fashion Police

I, for one, am appalled.—Ed. Note

Ed, the state is at it again. I come home the other day and Public Service is out in front of my house. Come to find out the state is putting trees in. They don’t even take care of the trees they have on I-95 now. I want to know how they have the money to plant trees and who is going to take care of them once they are planted? Just another way of throwing money away. The state of New Jersey, God bless.

In the Shade

Just be glad they’re not putting in a roundabout. —Ed. Note

Ed, I always enjoy L.A. Parker’s articles, however when he suggested recently that it is a good idea to stay out of the workplace if you are sick, that is OK if you are salaried. What about those of us who work by the hour and get paid by the hour? It is pretty tough in this economy today to call out sick.

A-choo!

L.A. was speaking about co-workers who have accrued sick time. If you don’t have any then it’s a tough decision to call out. Try not to cough on anyone.—Ed. Note

Ed, we got a shipment of Zoysia grass last year. It came in a huge heavy package and we had to cut it all apart, which was really difficult. We planted it all, watered it and took good care of it. This year we have three sprouts of grass for all that work. The company offered to replace it for free, but we said no thanks. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Grass Less

How “too good” did it sound? They promised it would grow?—Ed. Note

Ed, there was this lady named Angie, she was supervisor of the cafeteria in one of our schools. Her food was so good that children wanted to go to school just for the food. By the time the kids came home they were still hungry. It’s time for them to learn how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Kids are always hungry.

P.B.&J.

Teaching kids to feed themselves. A basic life skill. Good thinking.—Ed. Note

Ed, I am referring to the “Not-so-hot lunch.” I am a cook at the Joyce Kilmer Elementary School. The food is not nasty. Yeah, people do need to come in just to see how the cafeteria staff works hard to make homemade food for the kids. A lot of these workers are getting laid off. Whoever wrote that about the food doesn’t know what they are talking about. These kids have very good food. They have homemade spaghetti. I cook right there. It is not prepackaged food like they used to get.

Chef

Kids think everything is “nasty.” They’re too fussy. —Ed. Note