Relief from tax burden should, but won't, begin with politicians

This is an open letter to Greg Bean, executive editor of Greater Media Newspapers, regarding his "Coda" column, "If They Won't Do It, We'll Have To Do It Ourselves," that appeared in the Dec. 21 issue of the Suburban.

I am a resident of Old Bridge and have been for the past 19 years. I love living in New Jersey, and I am glad I moved here, if only for the sake of my two boys, as they were very young when we relocated here from New York. I receive the Suburban (curbside) on a regular basis and look forward to reading your column every time. In fact, it is the only newspaper I read.

I have to tell you quite honestly, I don't agree with some of the things you write ... I agree with everything you write.

Like most homeowners, I am starting to feel choked by my ever-increasing property taxes. Our beloved Township Council just approved an increase to last year's budget and announced that there would be an increase in property taxes. What a surprise.

After begging the state for help, we were again left to help ourselves. Now Gov. Jon Corzine is worried about what is basically a handful of people (comparatively speaking, of course) who receive benefits from the taxes that the state collects from all its citizens - benefits, mind you, that most residents are not privileged to receive. And what about the countless politicians, state and federal, who receive fat pensions and benefit packages for their short term of "service," even after they are no longer "serving" the public?

If anything is ever going to be done that will benefit all the citizens of New Jersey, it will have to start with the people who are running the state. And we all know that it will never happen. Imagine state politicians turning down undeserved benefits. There would be enough money to lower property taxes, fund every school with state-of-the-art everything, fix every road and highway and anything else the state claims it has no money for. Then the federal government could follow that lead, and the entire country would have enough money help out every poor person here and abroad. If only wishes came true (and I wish really hard).

Keep up the good writing, Mr. Bean. You have my ear, and you speak my voice. I wish you a happy holiday and a healthy and prosperous new year.

Richard Miller

Old Bridge