Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.
Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.
CHEERS: To news that Atlantic County is following Gloucester County's lead by establishing a county-wide abandoned home registration system to hold delinquent homeowners accountable for decrepit properties. The wave of foreclosures that rocked our nation was especially brutal on Atlantic County, where major losses in the gambling industry have meant thousands of layoffs in recent years. With foreclosures comes empty homes and the many problems that follow, including blight, crime and falling home values. Gloucester was the first county in New Jersey to contract with a private company to establish a database and start going after banks and other owners allowing these properties to fall into disrepair. It's likely others will catch on and follow this lead. No responsible homeowner should have to live next to one of these nightmares.
JEERS: To an inadequate penalty for a man sentenced this week in connection with a hit-and-run accident in Philadelphia that left a Mullica Hill woman with serious injuries. Rashan Roberts was sentenced to 11-and-a-half to 23 months in prison along with five years probation after running down 22-year-old Rachel Hall, a senior at Temple University, on April 29. Roberts claimed he panicked and fled the scene after hitting Hall, who was riding a bicycle. Hall suffered major head and leg injuries and her recovery will likely continue long after Roberts' sentence is completed. We understand that accidents happen, but fleeing the scene was a choice. That choice should have carried a heftier penalty.
CHEERS: To recognizing the unsung heroes in a town. Each year Stand Up For Salem, the organization behind the push to revitalize Salem City, honors those who have helped make a difference in the struggling community. On Wednesday Salem City Police Chief John Pelura III and residents Ken and Debbie Gralley received the Pedersen-Campbell Award for their service. The trio covers a lot in the city from law enforcement to firefighting to working in local schools. They are all very much part of the fabric of Salem and demonstrate what it means to go above and beyond to make a community a better place to live.
JEERS: To not-so-smart-criminals. Take the burglar who broke into a vehicle at TK Autosports on Wade Boulevard in Millville a week ago. Guess the creep doesn't know about modern technology. All of his actions were captured by a surveillance camera at the business. Video surveillance cameras have come along way providing better quality images and becoming more affordable. We're not quite up to Great Britain where video cameras capture everything on their streets, but the U.S. is making advances, so criminals will have to think twice before now before they make a move.
CHEERS to the true meaning of community. When a 3-year-old was reported missing early Tuesday, Haddon Township came together to do everything it could to find Brendan Creato. Sadly, the boy's body would be found in a wooded area near the Cooper River about three hours after automated phone calls alerted the township to the disappearance. For more than 24 hours on Tuesday, residents could be seen doing everything they could to help, from forming search parties to organizing a well-attended candlelight vigil. Although the reason why Haddon Township gave their all is truly a tragedy, the compassion and dedication on display is something worthy of this little bit of recognition.
JEERS to evasive action taken too soon. It didn't take long for the Lumberton Township School District to remove a book from its schools after a parent complained about sexual content. It took even less time of the school district to put it back on the shelves after a policy review of "Looking for Alaska" by John Green. It's a coming of age story for young adults and Lumberton schools are hardly the first to call the content to question. On one hand, kudos for making the book available again. On the other, where would you rather have your teens learn about making mistakes and growing up: from the pages of a book or TV programs preaching loose values?
If you know of someone or something you would like to nominate for a cheer or a jeer, please send the information to letters@southjerseymedia.com.