Ed, the Hoboken mayor stepped down after serving one month in office because he was arrested. Why did the mayor get paid $4,200 for 12 vacation days? He should have been reimbursed only one day’s vacation pay after serving only a month. I am glad he is now on permanent vacation.

Bad Math

Ah, the efficiency of government.—Ed. Note

Ed, hi, I would like you to put something in the paper to say thanks to the two gentlemen on Hutchinson Avenue who pulled me out of the flood recently. We don’t have enough people in this world like that.

Pat

We need more everyday heroes and Good Samaritans. But, as BackTalk often reminds us, there are still many of them out there.—Ed. Note

Ed, I want to say that I think Obama’s health care plan is a wonderful thing. The drug companies, the insurance companies and the doctors are lobbying against it. My mother is currently in a nursing home and they are sucking every bit of her money. What do you do when you reach your max and you have no money left? You should not be forced to sell your house or declare bankruptcy to pay medical bills not covered by insurance. Just because you now have insurance does not mean you are safe. We have to have a new health care plan in this country. I don’t care what anybody says. These idiots who are trying to prevent it from happening, just stop them.

Go-Bama

There are also millions of Americans who are “lobbying” against it, but whatever. Perhaps we should wait to declare it “a wonderful thing” until we can see it in action, eh?—Ed. Note

Ed, to the Chambersburg area people who have watched their streets fill up with parked cars with Pennsylvania tags, I have a solution for you. Write down the tag number of the vehicle, note the address of where it was parked, list a brief description of the car. Then send that information to your local police department and ask them to get in touch with the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Department. It worked for me.

Good Plan

There you have it. So simple, yet so logical. Go figure.—Ed. note

Ed, For years I voted for Rush Holt. I went to a Ewing Township meeting recently where Rush Holt met the citizens of Ewing. A gentleman asked a question about what the congressman was going to do to clean up the old GM plant in Ewing. Mr. Holt said he did not know it was that polluted. The plant is a toxic waste site. Please have your readers call Rush Holt and ask him to clean up the site. It could be used for a mall or something else that would bring in revenue to Ewing Township.

Rush

JobYou can call it the No Longer Toxic Mall. —Ed. Note

Ed, I am president of a local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge in Mercer County. We are absolutely allowed to fund raise in New Jersey. We are registered with the division of charities. And with the attorney general’s office. It is not against the law to solicit in the state of New Jersey. To set the record straight it is legal to do so.

FOP

Thanks. It makes sense that police would be following the law. Good luck with your endeavors.—Ed. Note

Ed, Plaxico Buress, formerly of the New York Giants, gets two years in prison for having an unlicensed gun and shooting himself in the leg. We have young thugs running around every major city in this county carrying guns just like it is the wild west and they are cowboys. Nothing is ever done to those people. Who is a bigger threat to society, a stupid football player who shoots himself or these thugs that go around shooting innocent people and themselves?

Trigger

Hmm. Tough question. I’m gonna use my lifeline.—Ed. Note

Ed, this is in regard to the new tennis coach at Trenton Catholic Academy. I want him to know that the school is not an inner city school, it is located in Hamilton, N.J. We have kids from all over the state of New Jersey who attend. But the academy is not located in the inner city. Maybe you need to take a geography lesson before you come on into our school and coach our kids.

Geographer

Note to administrators: Immediately brief this coach on snobbery and elitism before he further embarrasses your academy.—Ed. Note

Ed, people who listen to New Jersey radio station 101.5 please help me find out what happened to Tommy G. The Tommy G show at 11 o’clock has not been on the air for the last three weeks. I am hoping someone can tell me why. We need to get him back on the air so we can find out what is going on with the election and the candidates. He doesn’t bite his tongue, he speaks the truth. I hope he is just on summer vacation and will be back. Call in if you know.

Dead Air

Well, his photo is off the Web site. And they’re filling the late-night slot with re-runs of Dennis and Michelle’s daytime show — which makes for confusing radio. I tuned in at midnight Thursday to hear that “it’s a beautiful sunny day today.” Disorienting.—Ed. Note

Ed, it’s Mary from Tender Hearts. Starting today up until the end of August will be our last week for collecting school supplies. Then we will be handing items out. Also we need to ask your readers to donate a sofa bed that is in good shape. Call me at this number (609) 890-3517, and we can arrange to have it picked up.

Mary

Once again, Mary is making it easy for you to to be a good person. Drop off the stuff and she’ll do the rest.—Ed. Note

Ed, I work in government. I am calling about Chris Christie. I think it is terrible that Mr. Christie lies, doesn’t report things, and gives a loan to one of his co-workers whom he promoted twice, and I am sure that in her evaluation process he is her rater. How is that not a conflict of interest, Mr. Christie? You should not be able to run for office. These are criminal things you are doing. You did not do anything with your brother, and now you are not going to do anything with this lady. The New Jersey voters should not vote for you.

Chris’ Miss

Ed, question: Can I charge Christie for replacing the mute button on my TV remote? Every time he comes on I press the mute button. Between now and November I should have burned it out. I am glad they found some dirt on this slob of a consumate politician. He will only promote the ideals of Bush, and we don’t need that. A vote against Christie is a vote for the better future of this state.

Sound & the Fury

So he lent a co-worker some money. And failed to report as income the interest on that $46,000 loan. Shocking. If this is the best “dirt” the Dems can find they’re still in trouble. As long as Christie can keep Palin from “helping” his campaign. —Ed. Note

Ed, I recently had the pleasure of being arrested in the city of Trenton. They took me to the Trenton Police Station, where they held me in lockup cell 18, which had not been cleaned, I could tell, in years. There was all kinds of fecal matter and dirt everywhere. From there they took me to the Mercer County Workhouse, where I slept on the gym floor with 80 other guys. From there we went to the northeast station, where there was a sign on the wall that said something to the effect that no inmate can stay there more than 24 hours due to asbestos. I was housed there for over 72 hours. Somebody’s got to look into this. First time I have ever been arrested. Thank God. I hope I never get arrested again in Trenton.

Busted

And the moral of this tale to all the young people out there: Stay out of trouble. Unless you enjoy fecal matter and asbestos. —Ed. Note

Ed, this is a dog lover’s message to you, Mr. Vick. Maybe your teammates will forgive you, but your dogs won’t forgive you because they are already dead because of you. I wish you nothing but bad luck. May your team lose every game, and let’s see if they want you playing with them then. Don’t cross our Lord with bad things to his creations. Because in the end you will pay.

Haunted

Do you believe in dog ghosts? There’s a pack of tortured four-legged souls following Vick around on the field, biting at his ankles and slobbering on the ball so it slips out of his fingers. —Ed. Note

Ed, this is about Vick being with the Eagles. I could probably forgive him if he was just bankrolling a dogfighting operation. But he was chaining dogs to trees and electrocuted them to kill them. I can’t forgive that. If he really did that he is a monster, he should not be on any football team. He should be sweeping the streets.

Unforgiven

Hey, easy on the street sweepers. They didn’t hurt anyone. —Ed. Note

Ed, if Michael Vick was a dog, he would have been euthanized years ago. In this country money talks and BS walks.

Executioner

He might have been euthanized after he got arrested, but not when he was piling up hundred-yard rushing games. —Ed. Note

Ed, about Michael Vick. I am finished going to Eagles games. I used to try to go to Eagles games four or five times a year but I am not going any more. I am fed up with that franchise. A man that kills dogs. He says 40, but it was probably 140, but who knows how many. I don’t want to see him out there making millions of dollars. I hope everyone stays away.

Birds Shot

I’m guessing the Eagles did some kind of market research and even factored in an ineffective, short-lived boycott. This won’t sink them. —Ed. Note

BackTalkers weigh in on Jersey’s new gun law...

Is this governor of ours stupid or what? Now let me first say I own no guns. Don’t you think, governor, that honest citizens are the only ones going to a gun shop with the proper credentials to buy a gun? Do you think the criminal no matter who it is walks in with the same credentials? I think not. So how are you protecting us ? All you are doing is taking another right away from the honest citizen.

How is this law going to stop gangsters from obtaining handguns? They buy them off the street. How often do you think the bloods apply for a handgun permit?

Here we go again. A gun a month. Great photo op for a duo who need repair, one who single-handedly destroyed a city in 10 years brick by brick, and another creep from new Jersey with a bankroll, which he will need to spend on ice water in hell. When is the last time you ever heard of a gang banger buying a gun with paperwork attached. Why do you take the people of this state for a bunch of idiots .. do you think limiting me to one gun a month is gonna stop gun crimes in this state ... if so, please explain!

The only thing that this new gun law has provided is a new photo op for the Gov. Corzine and something else for him to put on his resume for re-election. Anyone who has ever “legally” purchased a handgun knows that it takes at best four-six weeks to get through the approval process, just for the permit to purchase. On rare occasion, a local township would have allowed possibly two purchase permits with one application, but the was up to the discretion of the police chief. Efforts would be far better if they put resources into enforcing current laws or harsher penalties such as doubling or tripling current sentencing guidelines.

When are these politicians going to look past the end of their noses? When will we see legislation targeting the real problem: getting and keeping criminals off our streets? These guys aren’t getting their weapons from the local gun shop. I want to know when we will see a vote on the “one violent criminal release per month” law. Use a gun in a crime, no bail, no plea bargains, mandatory jail time. It just makes it harder for the good guys to protect our families from the revolving door of “justice.”

It is a stupid law which will do nothing to elevate gun abuse. It’s just another feel good law! There is a law already on the books that if you buy two or more guns at one time, a special report form goes to the state police. This is just another example of the politicians dealing with a subject that they know absolutely nothing about. Want to stop gun violence? Anyone convicted of using a gun during a crime gets mandatory life in prison. Period. No parole.

None in favor, six against.—Ed. Note

Ed, has Corzine gone off the deep end or what? Picking a 74-year-old grandmother to be his running mate for lieutenant governor. He has ruined this state enough. It is time for him to go and take Doria with him. Him and all his cronies. We need some fresh blood in there. We need some young blood in there. Give me a break. A grandmother?

Ageist

Hey, 74 is the new 56.—Ed. Note

Ed, there was an item in BackTalk recently and I was so glad to see it. This gentleman said “Don’t call me an African-American, I am an American.” I think that is hurtful to this country because many black women and men gave their lives so that you and I could be free. They don’t live in Africa. This is America. I congratulate that man.

Congratulations

It’s a funny thing. There are other people who definitely prefer the term African-American. As a description of race for a person of color it can often be less than fully accurate, because a person may be partially of African descent and partially, for example, of Asian or European descent. There is no definitive conclusion to this discussion. I’d like to hear from more BackTalkers on this one.—Ed. Note

Ed, I see there was a surprise visit to the animal shelter. I would like to see the health department make a surprise visit to the human shelters on Perry Street and wherever.

Surprise

Are you suggesting that conditions there are less than satisfactory? Or are you just a big fan of shelter inspections?—Ed. Note

Ed, this is to the Hamilton Township residents. When your next property tax bill shows an increase don’t jump on Mayor Bencivengo. Look at the greedy bloodsucking teachers and the school board. The Hamilton Township teachers have just received a 4 to 5 percent raise in their contract with no change in their benefits. Don’t they realize how most people in this township are struggling? They live in big fancy houses, drive fancy cars, get paid for unused sick days, retire at 55 with their health benefits paid in full, and only work 180 days a year. On top of that they vote for Jon Corzine for governor. How dumb is that? You will never convince me they are underpaid. But the teachers are never satisfied. It has got to stop.

Enough

Well, they say you get what you pay for. Who said that anyway, a teacher?—Ed. Note

Ed, I am calling about Kostas Petris. I was listening to an interview of him on the radio. He is running for governor of New Jersey on the independent ticket. If he would run this state like he does his business with his family I tell you he would make one heck of a governor.

Alternative

Everybody always complains about politics as usual, but they won’t give their votes to third-party candidates like Petris because “he has no chance” and “it’s a wasted vote.” Well, do you want change or not, people?—Ed. Note

Ed, hi, it’s Mary from the Tender Hearts. Just calling to let everybody know we are having our back to school drive. This year a lot more people are coming in to get school supplies. We would appreciate donations of any kind of school supplies. Thank you.

Mary

BackTalkers have a pretty good streak of responding to Mary’s requests for help. I expect the same this time.—Ed. Note

Ed, This is in response to “The Pits,” the person who is looking to adopt a dog. We recently adopted a pit mix named Phoebe from Pet Rescue of Mercer. They are an amazing group of volunteers who find all types of dogs good homes, including pit bulls. After filling out an application, a volunteer will visit your home to make sure the dog will be well cared for. The group also does pet adoption days at PetSmart in Hamilton. Your misconceived ideas that special training and skills are needed when caring for a pit are ridiculous. They are the most loving, friendly and loyal dogs when raised in the right environment. Do yourself a favor and research the breed a little more before jumping to conclusions.

Puppy Love

There are a lot of wonderful, gentle, happy pit bulls. But every once in a while a pit bull does something crazy like eat a baby and everyone’s all down on the breed. With love and proper care, they grow up to be great pets. Under conditions of abuse, as with other breeds, they’ll turn out angry and possibly dangerous. The problem is they can be particularly dangerous because of their jaw strength.—Ed. Note

Ed, I would like to respond to “The Pits.” My wife and I adopted a four-month-old dog from Pet Rescue of Mercer. He is a pit bull named Barney. Barney is the most loving and gentle dog we have ever owned. You do not need special skills to own a pit bull or any other dog. You just need to give the dog a lot of love and a good home. Sounds like you’re not ready for a dog ... maybe you should get a goldfish.

Got Pit

I dunno, some of those goldfish can get pretty big. And I don’t like the way they look at you. —Ed. Note

Ed, please tell this person to get the facts straight. Puerto Ricans have Social Security numbers and are legal citizens of the U.S.A., therefore we can get New Jersey insurance and license plates. The ones they should be concerned with are the South Americans and Mexicans who are illegal in the country and drive with Pennsylvania plates. They drink and drive, cause accidents, leave the scene and therefore raise our insurance premiums. New Jersey should really crack down on this problem. We just received a letter that our insurance rates are going up 12 percent, and we wonder why? Also, there are many other races that drive illegally in the country, too, not only Latinos and Hispanics. Consider that next time before you single any one out!

Rules of the Road

Puerto Ricans are Americans. There should be no confusion there. —Ed. Note

Ed, could you please tell me what is wrong with the legal system in the city of Trenton or in New Jersey in general. I have been following the Plaxico Burress story very closely over the past few days and the D.A. in Manhattan wants to hang this man for possession of a gun. Sure he might have had a gun on him, but he didn’t even commit a crime while in possession of the gun and the D.A. wants to hang this man, with a minimum of two years in jail, no bargain. In Trenton these hoods get caught with guns multiple times, use the gun to commit a crime, have criminal records and only get a slap on the wrist with probation. What the heck is going on in this city? Do we need the Manhattan D.A. to come to Trenton to clean things up? Wake up, judges and D.A.s in Trenton, and start handing out stiffer penalties for these hoodlums. The Plaxico case should set an example for all the D.A.s in New Jersey, especially Trenton.

On Target

All you need to do is get the national media interested in every little weapons case in Trenton.—Ed. Note

Ed, I am hoping you will allow me to respond to “Coach Control” regarding the article “Loud Coach.” First, I would like to apologize for that coach’s behavior and let you know that all us coaches from Florence do not conduct ourselves in that manner. Second, a bunch of us have complained, and our township is aware of certain coaches’ unsportsmanlike behavior, but nothing is done. Maybe if we receive more complaints the township will act.

Good Coach

The parents are the ones who can wield the pressure to effect change. If BackTalk is a catalyst, even better.—Ed. Note

Ed, I work for the New Jersey Department of Corrections. They are furloughing state employees and yet the department has decided to reinstitute the tuition refund policy. We are going to pay a whole bunch of upper-class people to get their master’s and Ph.D degrees while we lay off all the lower class people. I have a feeling something is not right with that.

Guarded

PessimismYour feeling is correct. It sucks.—Ed. Note

Ed, I went to Junior 4 in the 1930s and had three wonderful years there. Grace Dunn and Miss Lawrence, her assistant, were wonderful people and knew how to run a school. I was in the Operetta “The Red Mill” and enjoyed every minute of it. Hope we hear from some more of our past schoolmates.

Dottie

Can those education wizards from back in the day at the Junior 4, if any of them are alive, tutor some present-day local teachers on the way it’s done?—Ed. Note

Ed, when times get hard usually domestic violence increases because couples argue about lack of money. They blame each other for the situation they are in. People need to realize that this recession is only temporary. They all have to tough it out, things will get better. This is not the first time we have had to go through this. Please go and vote. Kick those corrupt politicians out of office. If we keep weeding out the cheats and the liars maybe it would help in a situation like this because our taxes wouldn’t be as high as they are now. Government for the people and by the people. Everybody hang in there.

Super Positive

Well aren’t you just a ray of sunshine? Don’t get me wrong; I love it. But if you think these crazy ex-boyfriends are shooting their former lovers dead because corrupt politicians are running the show, you’re connecting about 47-too-many dots.—Ed. Note

Ed, I hope you will be able to say something to the author of the cartoon Crankshaft. I want to let him know that his recent story line is not funny to people who have parents in a nursing home who have gone through dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. It is hurtful. Maybe if he had ever experienced the situation he would know what pain and hardship he is causing people.

Baby Boomer

I’m not an acquaintance of the author(s), but everyone reads BackTalk, so you can rest assured your complaint is out there and under discussion.—Ed. Note