During recent times — at council meetings, in letters to the editor and on social media — proponents of the Conover Road bike path, led by Councilwoman Ayesha Hamilton, have turned name-calling into an Olympic sport.
Every time I have an opinion that differs from the mayor, they call me names rather than making their point. Have they for even one second thought that maybe my views on a particular issue are based on what I believe is good for the community?
They claim that the Conover Road bike path had equal support on both sides. Nothing could be further from the truth. Both in quality and quantity of opinions, the path was rated as overwhelmingly undesirable.
The path would have traveled either through the front yard or touched the back yard of four residences along Conover Road. All of the affected residents were against the path for valid reasons that were beyond NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard).
One of them is a small businessman, a second-generation tree farmer. He pleaded with the council, saying that erecting a fence along his back yard would make his business operationally very difficult, since large trees are not easy to move.
The added insurance requirement due to proximity of the path would put undue financial burden on his business.
Ms. Hamilton ran on the platform of helping small businesses in West Windsor. However, she apparently didn’t care about this one actual small business.
Most of the support for the path came through emails from recreational bike users that were generated in response to an appeal from the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance.
These were form emails which essentially said, “Bike paths are always good. Build this one.” One even came from out of state. Wouldn’t it be more reasonable for a council member to side with a local businessperson over recreational bike users?
By repeatedly calling me names, the mayor and his supporters have lost the moral authority to complain about negativity in the township. They are contributing to it by focusing on the person and not the issues.
Let’s focus on issues, listen to our residents and then make what each of us feels is the appropriate decision on how to vote. In case we disagree, let’s keep it civil and not question the motives of persons on the other side of argument.
Hemant Marathe
Marathe is vice president of West Windsor Council.
