Speak Out!

By Mayor Philip Kramer The 2016 budget is $59,488,016, which is $55,461.77 less than the 2009 budget. That’s essentially flat over 7 years despite 12 percent inflation*. If passed, the Township Council will raise the levy (the portion of the budget paid by property taxes) by 1.75 percent, or $601,307. That is the lowest tax increase again since 2009. Our …

By Syed M. Rizvi As Muslims, we don’t have to defend ourselves. Our record and our past, is an open book for today, yesterday and the day before. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We are not some political toys to be used for someone’s political advantage. Indeed, we are a force to be reckoned with. We are not …

By Bill Connell, Somerset. I was out holiday shopping and saw a t-shirt in a store. It was chess pieces on a treadmill. The Rook was trying to tell the Knight, just walk straight on the treadmill. I laughed at first, but it put me in a spiritual mood. How often is our first mistake assuming people see things the …

By Karen Trautmann, Somerset. It’s that time of year where children count down the days to experience the magic of Christmas morning and adults hope for just a few more days to decorate, clean, bake, buy, and wrap to get everything just right for the magical day. Saturday evening was no different. “Mommy, what’s going on?” my three-year old asked …

By Michael D. Purzycki, Somerset. One town over from Franklin, Princeton University is debating whether the racism of a former president (of both Princeton and the United States) is enough reason to cease honoring him. Several weeks ago, a group of Princeton students occupied the university president’s office and demanded, among other things, that the university rename both Wilson College …

By Dr. Sayed M. Rizvi, Clifton. The recent terrorism in Paris is sadly yet another heinous, deplorable and inhumane attack on humanity. These acts of hate and evil need to be confronted and halted one way or the other. Everyone, be it regular citizens, the government or members of a particular faith, must come in unison to stop these atrocious …

By Dr. Syed M. Rizvi, Clifton. Today we have great challenges because the terrorists and criminals are attacking the very essence and meaning of Islam. We have never seen such an upheaval in the world as we are witnessing today. In the name of Islam these terrorists are killing Muslims, Christians, Jews, and followers of other religions. Muslims are more …

By Bill Connell, Somerset. More than once in local politics I have seen where the answer or the reaction to the question is far, far worse than the question itself. This situation is no more evident than with Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad. His interpretation and reaction to his detractors was embarrassing for him and the whole Democratic Party. As a …

By William Galtieri, Somerset. When Chris Kelly ran in 2007 his message was clear that the only way to control taxes is to control spending. Now as acting mayor, he has reversed that opinion doing the complete opposite. He has voted to spend more of taxpayers’ money, wanting to spend more than anyone else on the Township Council but not …

By Richard Seamon, Somerset. My involvement in the Franklin Township School District began in 1998 when I attended a Board of Education meeting due to a transportation issue for my oldest child who was entering Kindergarten. With a younger child at home and a third child on the way, it became very clear to my wife and I that we …