This letter is in response to Tuesday’s editorial “Stop campaigning, start improving.” The editorial seemed to lack a main focus and therefore I’d like to address some of the seemingly scattered conclusions that were drawn.
First I’d like to make it clear that when the editorial said “Empower Our Neighborhoods … is far from done with the fight [for wards],” they mean that EON and the Coalition for Democracy have petitioned for a recount of the votes and are investigating reports of fraud and voter suppression. That should be made clear to readers. Members of the coalition are attempting to clean up elections in New Brunswick. As the editorial said, “There were a lot of issues for students at the voting stations.” But while it seems The Daily Targum would let this slide, many students and community members would like to see fair elections in our city. We refuse to believe, as the Targum claims, the problem “cannot be fixed.” Currently, EON and the coalition are investigating over 250 cases of people’s votes not being counted and many others that were counted that shouldn’t have — for example, double votes and votes from people who do not live in the city. In an election in which the difference is only 82 votes, I’d say this is an effort worth pursuing.
The editorial also said “pushing the wards matter further will only annoy people more and turn people off from civic engagement.” It fails to back up this claim or explain who is being annoyed. Is it simply the editorial board? Only 14 percent of voters in the Targum’s own online poll chose: “I’m glad it’s over. I’m tired of the campaigning,” while 50 percent were “upset wards did not win.” I’ve found that when people are involved in discussions on issues that matter to them, they are in fact more likely to become engaged. So I have to ask: Who is annoyed by the work of those investigating this election? The city administration and the poll workers who know they did wrong? I wonder if the Targum even understands the implications of this nonsense argument for the community they claim to represent. The Targum would honestly have its readers believe that University’s student attention spans are so shallow and short lived that they cannot be bothered to care whether or not their votes are counted. I reject the Targum’s insane assertion that students will only participate in the city government if EON stands idly by while hundreds of legitimate votes are thrown in the garbage.
Finally, the editorial board says groups like EON should work with the city council and within the community and “use their resources to help others and not just themselves.” I’d like to point out that EON members attend every city council meeting and ask policy makers the questions that matter to residents — more than can be said about the Targum. The Targum should also recognize how EON is helping in the community, especially with the recent incident concerning George Coleman Jr., who was hit and killed by a car while crossing Rt. 18. It was, in fact, an EON member who alerted the Targum of the candlelight vigil that was taking place on Nov. 9. Many members attended the vigil while only one city official, City Administrator Thomas Loughlin, stayed throughout. (By the way, EON encourages all students to attend the city council meeting today at 6:30 p.m. to show support for the Coleman family.) And just yesterday, the Targum ran an article “Volunteers scrub down basement to prepare for food pantry.” The photo that accompanied the article featured two EON members: Mike Mishkovsky and Charlie Kratovil.
The Targum’s lack of investigative curiosity and criticism of those who put in such work is a disservice to the students who take time out of their day to read it. It is easy — and lazy — to throw wild disjointed complaints against a group working to ensure the rights of students and long-time community members alike. It would be much more admirable for the Targum to do the hard work necessary to uncover the problems that surrounded Election Day and problems that face residents of our city every day.
Mike Shanahan is a Rutgers College senior majoring in political science, Democratic committeeman from Ward 6 District 4 and EON member.
8 comments
Back up your statements, stand by your words. Reveal your identity.
EON is facing the pushback that is common when people challenge the prevaling power structure. I say, EON continue to educate the community and hold the board of elections accountable.
EVERY vote counts. I support a recount and an expert look at our voting machines
that leave no paper trial to dectect fraud and double counting.
These unaccountable machines were not necessary to speed a count of the votes
on the ward issue. These machines are part of the cause for the delay in getting results,
We cannot trust the resluts now.
It seems the counts would have been announced sooner if there
had been paper ballots. The recount work is important for future elections and all
City contests about how this governement runs.
This election revealed to me, most importantly, that a paid Cahill operative,
TK Shamy, with his own agenda for power,
appoints and pays the poll workers in our town. That is wrong.
Isn't this tantamount to the fox warching the hen house?
I admire the tireless work of EON members to secure the
democratic voting process in our town. I think residents
appreciate this work they do not have time to do themselves.
Only paid CIty operatives are annoyed
by a look into honesty in democratic vote counting.
I say to them .. beware .. 100% of the people are
in favor of honest and accountable elections and government.
The people are not annoyed at the prospect of voter fraud
investigations. This work is not at the expense of the
taxpayers. Smart and honest EON workers do this out of
dedication to democracy. I admire them beyond words for
their sacrifice of time to ensure community integrity.
The fight against an investgation is led by
our incumbant government operatives and at expense to
taxpayers. Perhaps our Sheriff is consulting with convicted,
corrupt ex-Mayor Lynch about how to stop EON right now.
The Sheriff admits he takes advice from this felon,
still serving Federal sentence for his betrayal of the public trust.
Write abou that. Godspeed to EON workers and the Coalition Lawyers,
some of who's very ballots were rejected without valid reason.
I urge every resident to call the Board of ELections and ask if their
vote was rejected and why.
FAIR AND HONEST ELECTIONS!