The grass  roots group from Fairfield, Fairfield Citizens for Flood Control  Reform, orchestrated a meeting at Churchill School two weeks ago with many of the  surrounding communities in attendance also.  The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the Army Corps showed up along with about 400 residents from Fairfield  and other towns affected by flooding from the Passaic River.  No New Jersey elected officials (except for local) showed up for this meeting but they were all invited.

The grass roots group has been contacting the officials by phone, emails and written letters and  advising them of the issues and the meeting but to no avail.  Sen. (Richard) Codey did answer and also sent a letter to the NJDEP on our behalf but no one else took action.  While some officials did send their office people to attend, I wonder what was so important that evening  that they could not come in person, not a one?  County, state, federal?  No senators, no representatives, no assembly people, not one was  available?  Isn’t this taxation without representation

Officials seem content with spending billions to treat the symptoms and not a  dime in enacting the cure.  I would like to switch places with them for a moment and ask them, “If you were deciding to re-elect me after I ignored your correspondence and skipped your meeting and took no stand on your problems, would you put me back in office?”  If you are being honest, I believe your answer to that question is no.

Why then would you expect the 400  people in that room to re-elect you?  Four hundred votes can sway an election, as  witnessed in the past.  I have been reading that the Tea Party is looking  to have a presence in New Jersey. This may be their opportunity if they are interested in affecting change and fixing this river.

We have the answers, they  are based in logic and the Corps and the DEP agree.  It  will create jobs for the next 10 years at a minimum, stimulate the New Jersey  economy and relieve the flooding for all the towns in the central basin  without impacting other towns in the process.  It will also save money as  the housing buyout plan is set at $3.4 billion and the tunnel plan is set at  $1.8 billion.  The tunnel is the ultimate fix but there are also some short term fixes that will help alleviate the flooding (river maintenance).  The grass roots movement is being joined by other townships’ grass  roots teams and will only grow larger and more influential.   These teams were started on dining room tables as most of our great American  movements began and they, like the others before them, will not be denied.   

JOE LUZZI

Fairfield Citizens

 for Flood Control Reform