Today's letters: an endorsement for Councilman Pete Mendonez Jr. & why roadkill is piling up in Pennington
I am writing this letter to endorse Councilman Pete Mendonez Jr. for New Jersey's 15th District Assembly. Pete diligently serves as West Windsor's Councilman, advocating for diversity and transparency in politics. He is focusing his work on inspiring minorities and millennials to express their voices and to change the world. He reaches out to the youth of his district in various ways, whether it's attending local events or running door to door.
For the last two years, I've invited Pete as Fortis Institute's graduation keynote speaker and he's honored us on three occasions with his wit and insights. Most recently, at our April 2015 graduation held at the Trenton Museum, Pete's keynote speech reminded our new graduates how important each one of them truly is. He mentioned that "Millennials outnumber any generation in the world right now," and he challenged our students reminding them that having strength in numbers comes with great responsibility. He reassured them that success is attainable but it does not come easily. He told them, "You will be told to go to the back of the line, but all great leaders lead from the back."
In addition to reaching out to the youth, Pete's campaign team consists entirely of college student's within the district. Pete is not only an inspiration to our students but to me and my staff. I believe Councilman Pete Mendonez is the person best to be our next Assemblyman. As he told the graduating class of 2015 to "Continue to fight for a better world," so vote for him on November 3rd!
Timothy M. Rodgers
Campus president of Lawrenceville's Fortis Institute
I live on a country road where the posted speed limit is 25 mph--the same for the road behind. Of course, most cars zoom by going over 40. The roadkill carnage is what you'd expect: squirrels, raccoons, the occasional deer or turtle. (We once called the police to come and put a doe out of her suffering.)
What disturbs me is the casualness of the killing, life left dead or dying on the road without, seemingly, a care. One large raccoon remained smack where other cars would hit it: obviously the driver hadn't stopped to see if the creature was still alive or to move it to the side. The result is that these animals are hit again and again until they are ground into the pavement. Lucky are those that attract vultures.
Who are these drivers who litter the road with death? Owners of huge SUVs, lawn doctors with their rumbling trailers, teenagers thrilled to get behind the wheel of a jeep? It shouldn't matter: 25 mph is slow enough to avoid most accidents. (In fact, at that speed, the country comes alive.) Besides cavalierly breaking the law, such drivers demonstrate no responsibility for the privilege driving affords them. "I'm important. Get out of my way. Or don't, and see if I care." I'm tempted to lay a 2 by 4 across the road as a speed bump. That could slow them down. I'd rather a good conscience would. Or a cop. Please.
Realize these are people we share other roads with. Don't bother them: they must get somewhere quickly. It's their race to death.
John Delaney
Pennington
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