Red Bank must implement cost cuts

Gary Morris again brought to the Red Bank Town Council a petition - currently containing 600 signatures - which asks that the mayor and council stop taking health care benefits. As in the past, the request was met with hostility although Councilman Pasquale Menna stated that it would be considered in 2007. Let's remember, these benefits can be relinquished voluntarily by anyone at any time. Council people John Curley and Kaye Ernst don't take them at all. As usual, residents who spoke up on this or other subjects were met with hostility, rebukes, accusations, condescension and a deluge of meaningless words. As usual, the clean message to the townspeople is "We don't have to work with you (or even be civil to you)."

Here's a little food for thought: each person taking health care benefits diligently pursued a job which is to be performed for the public good with no remuneration. Each person derives something of great personal importance to him/herself as a result of being elected to the job. Each of these people is more than capable of purchasing his or her own medical policies.

Among my neighbors is a woman who does not receive a quarter of the medical care she needs because she cannot afford insurance. Nonetheless, her tax dollars help purchase policies for people who are comfortable, well-off or even wealthy. The August tax increase forced another neighbor to give up her Medi-gap policy.

There is absolutely no doubt that many more townspeople are in similar positions. Times have changed. Most people would be ashamed to be carried on the backs of others much less those who can least afford it. The fact is that the borough must look for and implement cost cuts in every possible area including benefits

Once again, it's "Let them eat cake!" in Red Bank!

Christine E. Jahnig

Red Bank