I‘m not usually in praise of the Highlands Mayor, but I have to admit she takes criticism or suggestions gracefully and recognizes them as business and sincere interest, not personal. Every politician does not.
But she was outspoken, sure of herself, and full of information at last night‘s special Highlands council meeting and wanted to make it known that something, politics, conflicts, whatever, has taken away from settling the regionalization question simply on the basis of what should be settled: the best education for the kids at the best price for everybody involved.
And the attorneys for Highlands and Sea Bright are so different, and so much more knowledgeable and willing to inform the people, than the labor attorney hired by Atlantic Highlands to do the same thing.
It’s not the time to question why Atlantic Highlands would hire and rely on a labor attorney in such a vital issue for the borough; by contrast, it’s impressive to see the background and hear the knowledge and experience of the Highlands/Sea Bright attorney when it comes to discussing such a major issue for both towns and Atlantic Highlands. Heck, they’re the ones involved in the new law, they’re the ones with any experience in the field.
Shouldn’t everyone be listening to them rather than the attorney who had to come late to his meeting, explain more than once he’s a labor attorney, doesn’t know math, and leaves a meeting because he had to dash off to some other meeting for some other town somewhere?
It’s understandable the Highlands/Sea Bright attorneys did not want to go into specifics on some of the questions they were asked…why show their hand if they’re going into mediation? But at least they listened, and it’s my guess they are going to use some of the arguments that were presented to them.
It’s a meeting too many residents of Highlands missed, and I do wonder why…
Is it because people are bored with regionalization?
Is it because they trust their governing body so much they don’t need to listen to what’s going on?
Is it because they simply don’t understand what it’s all about or the ramifications of not regionalizing?
I don’t know, but given the notice they had, the message that went out that it was an important meeting, it was disappointing and surprising to see there was not a standing room only audience.
But then, the same thing happened in Atlantic Highlands. The room was packed for the Cannabis issue, but once that was set aside, the crowd left, many to go to a local bar to talk about the strategy to come, But few stayed to hear what was going on about regionalization.
Could it possibly be because there are so many new people in both towns, people who don’t know the pride, the history, the way they’ve done business for generations in these towns and are now bringing a new way of doing things to both towns?
Old or new, showing a distinct lack of interest is not the way to improve any town. Even if you don’t want to be involved in actually doing something for your hometown, at least make an effort to find out what the towns elected people are doing for you.
