An Exchange

I received this exchange between a friend who was concerned about the proposed closing of the County Libriary. I was very interested since like myself my friend voted for some of the Republicans thinking it may inprove the quality of the Freeholder Board.
Here is just a portion of my friend's letter to Sam Fiocchi

Closing a library, in my opinion, is a poor decision. Targeting 4H,
libraries, and sr. centers, etc., affect those who most need the services and are
least able to speak out - the children, the poor, and the elderly.
As newspapers such as the London Times and the NY Times (effective March
28th)> increasingly begin to charge for their subscriptions, it will become
Increasingly more difficult for people who are struggling to make ends
meet to have access to the world around them. Libraries will be increasingly more
utilized to access these types of subscriptions. Libraries are also
heavily used by job seekers who in the face of unemployment do not have the extra funds
available to afford an internet connection. Other areas in the county,
astoundingly, are still without a reliable internet connection, and people
from> those areas rely on those connections.

Here is Freeholder Fiocchi's response in part. He seems to blame the Democrats for the entire problem of the County debt of 11 milliion

thank you for taking the time to write to me. The Freeholders do not want
to shut down the library but we are facing a budget deficit of $11 million
dollars. I am a newly elected Freeholder and the poor business and spending
practices of the previous Democrat controlled administrations have put us
on this course, we now are facing difficult choices and we are compelled
to straighten out

He goes on to say the following to back this up

The county levy has doubled in

the last 8 years, the budget has nearly doubled in the same period and our

taxes in NJ are the highest in the nation. Aditionally, ratables are

down, revenues are down and so is state and federal aid. Be assured that the budget committee is looking at every dollar

My friend responds to Mr Fiocchi's assertions

I must say that I am terribly disappointed that partisanship had to enter into your email - especially given that as an independent, I voted for you...
As you yourself point out, we are a struggling community. Removing library services serves will have negative externalities - it will continue to entrench our county with the belief that low educational values are alright. Education gives us the opportunity to do more for ourselves and more for our economy.
As far as partisanship--the country inherited a recession, sir, from a Republican President. Cumberland County has been poorly run by Democrats, which is why I voted Republican this past election.But the truth the economy is a national and global issue, and cannot be placed squarely on the shoulders of any one party.
I understand and appreciate the difficulties that the freeholders are facing, and indeed the entire community, but I am very disappointed in your partisan response.