From their beginnings, public schools in the United States have been viewed as institutions that served their local communities. Initially, those schools were often financed by voluntary contributions, but by the end of the 19th century the tradition of funding them through local property taxes was widespread. This tradition had real advantages because many families were living in small, relatively isolated communities with similar standards of living.

The state attorney general seized the assets of one of New Jersey’s largest engineering firms, Birdsall Services Group, at the same time the company and seven executives were indicted. 

The Eatontown-based company as well as seven current and former executives and shareholders, including the retired chief executive, Howard Birdsall, were indicted for illegally financing the campaigns of the same public officials who have awarded them millions of dollars in public contracts.

As reported here a week ago, there was a proposed 4.5 million dollar increase to the school budget which was voted down last night. But Chesky Seitler who has branded himself as the savior to the taxpayer an ran to be on the school board based solely on reducing taxes was not even there to vote. 

On the heels of a recent stalling of the repeal of red light cameras in New Jersey,

Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) has introduced legislation that eliminates the financial incentive for towns to install red light camera ticketing systems. 

A BOE meeting to discuss the budget and the 4.5 million dollar increase is scheduled tonight. Yes, Tonight, in the middle of the Passover holiday, the day before the Sabbath, and a time that many people Are either away from home for Passover or Easter weekend. How convenient. 

I am currently in Israel. I noticed that many homes here have elaborate security systems. I was explained that there are many break-ins, and that the thieves are very ingenious. Especially on holidays when they know people will be away for a specific amount of time they can strike with a reckless abandon on a persons home. Thieves climb terraces and saw through bars on windows assured that nobody is watching them when everyone is in Synagogue or away having a Seder by their parents. 

Two leading kosher supervising agencies have given their endorsement to a brand of Israeli cigarettes as kosher for Passover. That should come as a relief to all the young boys(and girls) in Lakewood that in this day and age still take up a practice that is a known cause of illness and death.

Since THE LAKEWOOD TIMES will be posting less articles for the next week. We would like to leave it up to our many readers to provide some lively, thought provoking content. We ask our readers: have you ever given, or better yet accepted a bribe.

Please no names in your post. We cannot edit comments, so if you get too specific we will have to delete it. 

Just tell us why you felt it was necessary to 

• bribe an official, 
• a public servant, 
• a head of a school etc. 
• Were you happy with the results? 
• Do you believe bribery is the best way to get things done? 
  

Now is your chance to get it off your chest.

Ask the average person, bottom line, how much corruption ends up costing them. They will probably answer 10 to 15 percent of their tax money. It makes sense. It's a problem, but a small problem. It's how things ultimately get done. 

Now what if you learned that corruption is the MAIN reason your property taxes are so high? What if you found out that most of your tax dollars ultimately get lost and wasted just so a few people can reap unearned rewards from your hard earned dollars. Would you get upset then? Or would you simply go on and say, "that's the price you pay to get things done"? Better yet, what if you woke up one day and saw nothing got done.