To the Editor:
A brave working young man spoke at a garbage meeting....and I cannot get him out of my mind! He was living in his grandfather’s house, working two jobs. He pled that no more bills come his way. The operative word here is working. Let’s let this man keep his dignity and use the dump if he chooses. We were told it has a life of 10 years... I helped with food and toy distribution at the Sparta Presbyterian Church in December... shock and more shock was my experience when I saw the line of county folk referred by school nurses, churches and social agencies, standing in the cold, not necessarily clad for warmth.......reminding me of the soup kitchen in Mississippi (Katrina) where I worked last year with my church....but this was Sparta!
One of the church staff said she had been at there 16 years - never saw anything like it. Are they are “invisible” brothers and sisters? As the economy dips, houses don’t sell, jobs are lost, etc., will others be in those lines?
We Spartans are good people. I think most of us, given a few minutes to ponder this, would forego a few cappuccinos rather than save a few dollars on the backs of those for whom this levy would be a burden.
As I pondered why this council proposition, I spoke with Washington Township (Warren County) Deputy Clerk Nancy thrice. 908-689-7200, (29 sq mi, 6200 residents, we are 39 sq mi). .. .and then wondered even more. They recently contracted with Blue Diamond One weekly pickup, one bulk item weekly. One buys stickers - $14 for 10. Each can picked up must bear a sticker. I use 100, 1 pay for 100 - You use 10, you pay for 10. Or you may pick your own trash company. For those who like choice, have bear roaming their area, have private roads, no longer can lug cans up and down their driveways, etc., you may opt out. Is it that Washington Township is better negotiators? In this presidential candidate climate, it is clear many do not want big brother? In the “green” climate of Sussex County, there are those who take recycling seriously. We didn’t need to spend thousand on a referendum -just do the right thing.
Ginny Jones, Sparta
