After reading Don Bennett's
article "A Fight Is Picked," I can verify the old adage "The
more things change, the more they stay the same," is certainly
true.
Bennett's article centered on a land squabble that took place
way back in 1934, between
public officials in Cover Township and South Toms River.
At issue was a chunk of land known as Mathis Plaza, a small
peninsula that was created when the Toms River was dredged,
and then filed in to make way for Route 4 - later to become
Route 9, and now Route 166.
The newly created parcel of land was claimed by officials from
South Toms River, even though, under riparian rights, it used
to belong to Dover Township.
How does this compare with today?
Today in Dover, we have an open space commission whose job it
is to save precious, virgin woodlands from falling into the
hands of greedy, unscrupulous developers.
Well-Connected Friends Of Controlling Political Party
|
Carved In Granite
Straight From Mt. Rushmore:
Friends Of The In-Crowd |
This open space commission doesn't appear to be very vigilant,
because the only land they've managed to save, thus far, are
properties that used to belong to well-connected "friends" of
the controlling political party.
Since we're talking about Dover Township, that would be the
Republican Party.
|
Dover Township's Most Distinguished
And Trusted
Lawyer-Land Baron |
It doesn't appear to savvy, rational minds that these
properties were ever in jeopardy of being acquired by
developers; hence, what we are left with is suspicion about
these open space acquisitions.
Cronies Got The Goldmine;
Taxpayers Got The Shaft
The politically-connected "cronies" got the gold mine, and the
poor beleaguered Dover taxpayers got the shaft.
I defy anyone to show me one citizen of Dover Township who is
enjoying the benefits of the properties secured by the open
space commission.
All I know is when I pass by them in my car, the only
"residents" I see frolicking about are the indigenous
squirrels, rabbits, possums, raccoons and whatever deer we are
left with.
Something Like Depression Era Pay-To-Play
Getting back to Don Bennett's article, he makes reference to
something that sounds very much akin to Great Depression era
pay-to-play to me.
He says that back in 1934, Dover launched an "investigation"
into the Mathis Plaza land squabble which appeared to be a fee
generating stunt to aid Democratic lawyers who represented
both Dover Township and South Toms River.
Now do you get it? It always comes back to the lawyers.
And the more things change, the more they stay the same.
