Leaders: Bias Graffiti Part Of Larger Issue

By Bob Vosseller

JACKSON – Anti-Semitic graffiti was discovered at the site of the future Chai Lifeline Center in the township.

Township Police Chief

Matthew D. Kunz told The Jackson Times , “There was some crude spray-painting in a wooded construction area on the bark of a felled tree, which could possibly have been interpreted to be of a bias nature. It is my understanding that tree has been removed.”

“To my knowledge, there is no indication at the site regarding the nature, ownership or intended use of the area being cleared. The area is just some cleared trees,” the chief added.

The markings were first discovered during the early morning hours of June 20.

“I am saddened, disappointed, and, frankly, deeply angered by the discovery of horrible anti-Semitic graffiti at the site of a new addition to our community,” Mayor Michael Reina said.

The mayor added, “for hope that this class continues to stay motivated and make a positive impact on society. I am confident that they will,” he added. Jackson Liberty Principal Geoffrey Brignola remarked, “We could not be more proud of the class of 2023. Having to start their high school careers with a pandemic, which carried into their sophomore years was something new and hard for everyone.”

Jackson Liberty High School Valedictorian Sophia Tiongko speaks to attendees at the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2023.

“Throw on top of starting a new school, and it would have been easy for them to throw in the proverbial

Elenor Hannum, who has been critical of certain construction projects and code enforcement over the years, spoke before the Township Council about Jackson’s ethics.

Hannum said Planning Board Chairman Tzvi Herman has responsibilities to rewrite the township’s master plan and that he has “the appearance of conflict, violating both New Jersey ethics law and municipal land use law.”

She accused him of showing favoritism “in land use applications since it benefits him,

Seniors Facing Affordable Housing Crisis

“Not only has he pushed through applications without regard for the environmental, traffic, water resources, stormwater management and wastewater knowing that the county holding tanks are currently over capacity. He dismisses valid concerns of residents and their attorneys,” Hannum added.

Hannum added, “in my and most residents’ opinion, Mr. Herman has indeed violated the public trust and has displayed biased judgement in applications that serve his own personal agenda that is outlined in the Jackson Pulse magazine that he is an editor of.”

“Mr. Herman must be removed from the Planning Board because

By Stephanie Faughnan OCEAN COUNTY -

As the cost of living continues to rise, an increasing number of seniors are burdened by exorbitant housing expenses that exceed their fixed incomes. This predicament has forced some to make difficult choices between paying for basic necessities and keeping a roof over their heads.

In a letter addressed to Governor Phil Murphy, Commissioner Director Joseph Vicari asked the state to make funds available for rental and housing assistance for older adults.

“Your age friendly stores, offices and parks are of little use if our parents and grandparents can no longer afford to live in New Jersey,” wrote Vicari. “Perhaps some funds can be diverted from the Age-Friendly program to a senior housing initiative.”

(Housing

Grad: Continued From Page 1 towel and give up, but they didn’t. They were resilient and they persevered to accomplish truly outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, arts, humanities, and community service, and they made us all proud along the way. We want to wish them all the best in all of their future endeavors.”

JMHS Valedictorian Evan Walsh said “I’ve found myself reciting the words, ‘Thank You’ over and over again. Now that this whole experience is slowly coming to an end, I’ve realized how thankful I am for all the people who have made my success possible.”

Walsh said, “there was never a moment in my high school career where I felt like I didn’t have anyone to reach out to, and I’m beyond grateful for that. I love you guys too. The most important ‘thank you’ that goes unsaid too often is a thank you to my family.”

The valedictorian noted, “Class of 2023. Has it settled in yet? I’m not sure I’m ready to accept the fact that high school is over yet, either, and like I said before, it really went fast – I’m sure our parents would agree. Above all else, take care of, and love yourself, and remember that you are worth every breath you take in life.”

JMHS Salutatorian Evelyn Wachowski said, “we, the class of 2023, have finally made it. As we each walk across the stage today, we will be putting an end to our high school careers. Though many of us are excited for the next chapter in our lives, I encourage you not to gloss over the past four years, as we have made some great memories together.”

“We have been there for each other since the first day of freshman year where we all walked in unsure of what high school would hold. Whether your next chapter includes college, trade school, the military, or straight into the workforce, the phrase stands true, once a Jag always a Jag,” she added.

Sophia Tongko, this year’s valedictorian at JLHS, began her speech by recounting a pivotal moment from her childhood. “I have a mole above my right eyebrow. When I was younger, I was very insecure about this mole and would obsess over it incessantly. I thought of it as a flaw, a blemish, an imperfection. One day I was particularly fixated on it, my eyes glued to my own reflection.”

“Noticing me poking and prodding at my face, my grandma told me that my mole was an indication that I would be very successful in my future, and that I should consider myself lucky to have been marked by such fortune. In hindsight, she was most likely just growing irritated by my whining and trying to quiet me,” Tongko said. She added that her grandmother, “taught me an invaluable lesson about perspective. She showed me that something that initially seems unpleasant can be interpreted instead as a blessing. I realized that day that I could simply look at a cloudy day from a different angle and find the silver lining.”

“This doesn’t have to be an end. This doesn’t have to be heartbreak. We can come out on the other side as superior and more resilient human beings if we simply understand that this road is not an imperfection, it’s not a blemish, it’s not a flaw. With a change in perspective, our future can be fortunate,” she added.

JLHS Salutatorian John Dunzelman remarked during his speech that “one thing that I have personally learned from these years at Liberty is that sometimes, time can feel a little funny. Some of the people in our class I have known since kindergarten, while others might have joined us just in the past few years.”

“It feels like just yesterday we were all preparing for our first days of high school, worrying about our schedules or where we would sit in the cafeteria,” he added.

The Salutatorian added, “while we experienced everything high school had to offer, it felt like it would all last forever, but now it feels like time passed in the blink of an eye. Congratulations to our class of 2023, and, just as the time has flown, I am sure we will all fly too.”

Ethics:

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I and every resident in this town that I have spoken to perceives a conflict between the private interests and his public duties,” she added.

Councilman Martin Flemming explained, “the planning board is appointed by the mayor. It is not our decision.”

“Over the past several years I’ve watched councilmen do housekeeping - as they call it - to our code book. That housekeeping seemed to be centered around land, property zones and anything that applies to the development of Jackson Township but when I inquired about Jackson’s code of conduct, I found that there wasn’t one,” she said.

“Therefore, Jackson must refer to New Jersey ethics law. An ethics officer will obtain and maintain a signed statement from each person from whom the information is distributed and acknowledge receipt of the distributed materials and keep them on file,” Hannum said. She said she wasn’t sure this process was taking place “except for the financial disclosure part. Whenever the public perceives a conflict between private interests and public duty, confidence is in peril.”

Hannum heads the organization CUPON-Jackson /Manchester, a volunteer non-profit community-based organization that was formed to spread awareness of changes that adversely affect communities, particularly when it comes to development.

She added that by law government agencies have standards involving how public duties are performed “which brings me to municipal land use law. Board members cannot vote on matters in which they have a conflict of interest…or an appearance of a conflict of interest.”

Resident Sheldon Hofstein asked Jackson Township attorney Greg McGuckin if there was a procedure to follow if anyone on a township board “is accused of bad ethics. If there is proof, shouldn’t they go to the Prosecutor or the Attorney General of the State?”

McGuckin said “a complaint under the New Jersey local government ethics law is handled by the Department of Community Affairs Division of Local Government Services that is where complaints are filed if there is no local government ethics rule, so in Jackson Township if anyone wants to file an ethics complaint that is where it goes.”

Hofstein added, “if she has proof, which she says she does, go to the proper channels to take care of this.”

Tzvi Herman, a former member of the Township’s Board of Education, was appointed to the Planning Board by Mayor Michael Reina more than a year ago. Herman became the Planning Board chairman in January.

The Jackson Times reached out to Herman who was not present at the Council meeting, for response to Hannum’s accusations but received no reply. Mayor Michael Reina referred the matter to the township attorney, McGuckin, who said that Hannum had offered “no evidence whatsoever of any ethics violations. It seems to be based on a person’s religion. We don’t get into a person’s religion when you make an application to a board.”

Graffiti: Continued From Page 1

those who may not be familiar with Chai Lifeline of New Jersey, they provide programs and services to children and families struggling with life-threatening pediatric illness such as cancers that affect so many young children. They’ve complied completely with our municipal zoning, planning, and approval processes.”

“They’ve obeyed every law and township request and this is the welcome they get? Make no mistake, the Jackson Police Department and other agencies will bring the full resources of their departments to holding the perpetrator(s) of this despicable vandalism accountable,” Mayor Reina said.

“Those with the spray paint are not the only ones responsible for this hateful act. Those who sit comfortably behind a screen and spew ugly divisive comments on social media gin this hatred up, pit neighbor against neighbor, and stoke the flames of violence. Enough is enough,” he said.

“Those of us with the true best interest of Jackson at heart will continue to move this town forward with unity, respect, and welcoming to all. I urge everyone in town to join us.”

Jackson GOP Club President Mordy Burnstein stated in an e-mail to the club’s membership “there must be zero tolerance for such despicable acts and we all unequivocally condemn this incident of unfettered bigotry and hatred.”

Burnstein added, “this unfortunate incident did not occur in a vacuum. In the hours preceding the vandalism, agitators within our own Jackson community spewed hateful rhetoric across social media regarding this specific site.”

“Hateful rhetoric on online platforms has re- al-life ramifications, as we so tragically witnessed today. We must all do more to ensure that such bigotry is expunged to the fullest extent possible.

I call upon our devoted law enforcement agencies to use all resources available to them to find and hold accountable those responsible for this loathsome action,” Burnstein said.

Burnstein added, “Jackson Township is a beautiful and wonderful town, whose diversity is its greatest strength. We cannot allow the words and actions of a few to divide us.”

Chai Lifeline New Jersey Director Rabbi Sruli Fried told The Jackson Times, “Our hearts were both horrified and deeply pained by the discovery of anti-Semitic graffiti at the construction site of the future home of Chai Lifeline New Jersey in Jackson. This reprehensible act is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing rise in anti-Semitism across our state and across the country.”

Rabbi Fried noted that reports of anti-Semitic incidents in New Jersey has increased by 10 percent last year. “Moreover, nationwide, anti-Semitic incidents hit an all-time high in 2022.”

“This disappointing incident stands in stark contrast to the values of acceptance, kindness, and community we hold dear. Chai Lifeline is steadfast in in its mission of providing support to children and families battling serious illnesses, trauma, and loss,” he added.

A few weeks ago, Manchester Township resident Ron Carr was arrested for painting swastikas on 15 houses and burnt a township house to the ground.

In April, Dion Marsh, also of Manchester, attacked a Jewish man waiting at a stop sign in Lakewood, stole his car and ran over two other Jewish men and stabbed another.

( Graffiti- See Page 5)