(Sarah) Palin is some kind of woman. Smiling Sen. Joe Biden (never had a full time job) probably didn’t cram too hard for the debate. Thinking he had a novice by the tail. Did you see his face when he realized he had a tiger on his hands? America has to vote for John McCain because we deserve a chance to vote for president down the road.

This woman is another Harry "give’ em hell" Truman – another candidate once not considered qualified to be vice president.

No terrorists on American soil in seven years. Thank you (George) Bush. God bless you. God bless our troops and their families and remember freedom is not free.

Joseph Sidor

Clifton

Not a good role model

Helen Nikovits believes that she has presented information that we have not heard before. She quotes from Phyllis Schlafly, so-called facts about Obama. Phyllis Schlafly is a right-wing, religious wacko. The only item I agree with Helen on is the fact that Obama did say something to the effect that our children should learn Spanish.

I myself, tore my phone book in half and sent the Spanish section back to Verizon and told them where to shove it. I completely disagree with Obama on that idea. Hispanics should learn English, period, or go back to their own countries and speak Spanish to their heart’s delight. The American people, including my Democratic, liberal self, will never allow the overtaking of the English language by Spanish. Having said that, enough is enough.

Obama is not a Muslim, but a Christian. And who cares what his religion is anyway. Personally, I’d like to see an atheist or agnostic or deist run for president. I’m sick of all this religious garbage entering into our affairs of state. In addition, I am glad Obama is a strong right-to-choice advocate. Not everyone believes in the myth of God-given commandments, and no one has a right to interfere in the choices a woman makes with respect to her own body and whether or not she wants to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.

Mind your own business.

As far as relationships with radicals and corrupt officials and jerky religious leaders, please keep in mind that McCain was part of the Keating Five in the S&L scandal in which thousands of Americans lost their life-savings, and he has plenty of skeletons in his closet.

Broaden your knowledge base by reading the facts about Bush’s lying us into Iraq, the deals his father made with respect to weapons sales to Iraq. Read about the Downing Street Memo in which Tony Blair and the Bush administration conspired to lead this nation into an attack on a country that was not involved in 9/11. Consider what you, or your children’s pensions and Social Security would look like today with the stock market turmoil if Bush and McCain had privatized Social Security as they plan to do. I could go on and on, but I am outraged by the fact that we rant and rave about flag pins and who did or didn’t salute the flag and all this other silly stuff while more than 4,000 American soldiers died and will continue to die because of a war Bush started on lies and McCain wants to continue.

These are human lives that will never share another Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday with their families, loved ones who will never, ever come home again! Talk about abortion! Republicans wait until the child is born, and their families learn to love their smiles, and then they ship them off to their personal dirty little wars and then they abort them. Finally, no one could be worse than Bush, or McCain and Sarah Appaling. You're probably a very nice woman, but really, you’d be happy with this insult to womanhood as your president and commander-in-chief?

Phyllis Schafly should be so proud of you. You truly deserve each other.

Beverly Wardell

Clifton

What more can go wrong?

Tectrachloroethene (PCE), chlordane, dieldrin, arsenic, and methylene chloride. Add to this contamination, the presence of mold and mildew on installed drywall and insulation.

Found groundwater contamination. Add to this list, the disturbance (by the contractor) of the engineering control (cap) over contaminated soil releasing hazardous substances onsite and offsite into the environment and direct contact exposure to the workers. A truck easement granted to the next door neighbor (in this industrial zone) to back trucks directly next to the 290 Brighton Road Building. A stream (which has not been tested for contamination) and railroad tracks directly behind 290 Brighton Road (both of which were not told to the DOE Buildings Facility Department).

Lying to the DOE Buildings Facility Department that the park across the street had tennis courts, a running track and lots of open space to be used for the outdoor gym classes. The approval of a deed notice (institutional control) over a known 20-foot sewer (sanitary and storm water) easement. Finding contamination in 2005 and not reporting it to the DEP Hotline as required by law. Starting construction and buying materials (steel, sheetrock, electrical equipment) without first getting zoning board approval and receiving construction permits.

Political intervention by Senator Nia Gill and Assemblyman Tom Giblin to pressure the DEP to issue construction approvals despite the Kiddie Kollege Law. Post closing agreement in which the buyer (Clifton School District) released the seller of 290 Brighton Road from any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages arising from, relating to any environmental condition on, at or migrating to 290 Brighton knowing the property was contaminated and was previously a chemical factory which stored hazardous waste.

Millions in cost overruns already when the entire project is under appeal by the neighbor (Van Ness Plastics) to the NJ Appellate Court for the reversal of judge’s reversing the zoning board decision not to grant a use and parking variance to the Clifton School Board for the construction of this school in a known industrial area. Somehow, forgetting to tell the School Development Authority that the property was contaminated and not mentioning the environmental waiver (no innocent purchaser liability relief here). Finally, add a Department of Education Office of Fiscal Accountability Audit on the entire 290 Brighton Road Project.

Welcome to the construction of the Clifton High School Annex at 290 Brighton Road. I am sure you probably thought of at least two different school construction projects (Kiddie Kollege and Neptune School) which my description could have applied.

In essence, that it the problem, despite the enactment of laws that are supposed to protect both taxpayers and students, the Clifton School Board to moving full steam ahead with this project without regard to the safety of workers, students, staff and the public.

Did you know that our "open and transparent" BOE held a special meeting today (Friday Oct 9, 2008) just two business days before their regularly scheduled meeting to approve a change of work order for $40,000-$50,000 for new drywall? What was the big rush for a special meeting? Could it be that they didn’t want most of the public to learn about this added cost? What else are they trying to hide? According to the board, the contractor installed mold and mildew drywall in 290 Brighton Road, which now has to be taken down. Supposedly, the contractor didn’t notice the mold and mildew on the drywall until it was installed and stopped once he saw it. However, this is not quite what happened. Our local building department discovered the mold and mildew drywall months ago when they had made an inspection and noticed the roof was leaking in several places. The contractor and school administration was well aware of this mold and mildew and vowed not to use this contaminated material in the construction.

Furthermore, in early September during a rainstorm, I personally witnessed the flooding condition inside 290 which was visible from the street as the contractors had the lights on and the front and side doors open. Additionally, the openings on the sides of the building where windows were supposed to be installed were open to the elements allowing the rain to penetrate the building…

I wrote a letter to the State Department of Health and Senior Services, Clifton Building Department and Clifton Health Department to inform them of this potentially dangerous situation at 290 Brighton Road and alerted them to the fact that this mold and mildew drywall and insulation could be installed.

I understand that the Clifton Building Department has ordered the School Board and contractors to prepare a Mold Remediation Report.

I am disgusted to learn that this contractor in fact did install this mold and mildew drywall. Mold and mildew contamination is a very serious condition. In fact, recently, a school under construction in Neptune NJ had to be torn down due to mold and mildew contamination during construction and the State Schools Development Authority is suing the contractor for millions of dollars. Who is looking out for the safety of our kids? Has anyone checked the insulation for mold?

But here in Clifton, we have a BOE whose first response is just to approve more taxpayer monies without first researching the problem and getting the contractors and architect to foot the bill. $50,000 is not a lot of money if it is someone else’s money, right? Mold and mildew remediation is a very costly and difficult endeavor. As I have said before, this BOE thinks taxpayers have an unlimited supply of money.

I am calling for an immediate halt of construction at 290 Brighton Road until a full investigation (by an outside source) can be completed. I ask each and every resident in the City of Clifton to join with me in this request. Call the BOE members; call the City Council and mayor! Did you know the City Council has the authority to call for an independent audit? The Mayor and Council did just this in Paramus after the contamination at the West Brook School. Tell the BOE we will remember in April 2009!

Mary Sadrakula

Clifton

Why the frenzy?

Why are so many trying to convince us to vote for Barack Obama?

The media is in a frenzy trying to sway our votes. The Obama Campaign says it is over and maybe we should just stay home and not go to the polls to exercise our right to decide who our next President will be. When did the media, pollsters, pundits and various celebrities get to decide who our next president will be?

On Sunday (Oct. 19, 2008) we listened to Colin Powell endorse Barack Obama. Mr. Powell was duped by George Bush into advocating for the invasion of Iraq and now he is being duped into supporting Barack Obama. 

In both instances these poor decisions reflect on Colin Powell's lack of good judgment and his capacity to process the required data in order to make an informed decision.  As he disparaged Sarah Palin's experience and qualifications on becoming vice president, he completely ignored Barack Obama's total lack of experience as a leader and administrator for the position of president. In fact, Palin has more experience (as a mayor and governor) in both a leadership and administrative capacity, than Barack Obama has as an ineffective state and U.S. senator. 

Mr. Powell also seems very content to turn a blind eye to Mr. Obama’s very questionable relationships with William Ayers (an unrepentant terrorist), Tony Rezko (a convicted felon), Rev. Jeremiah Wright (preacher of anti USA vitriol), Louis Farrakhan (anti Israel proponent who refers to Obama as the "Messiah") and ACORN (part of the sub-prime lending wall street scandal and under investigation by the FBI for voter registration fraud.)

Perhaps Mr. Powell has been offered the position of Secretary of State in an Obama administration where he can then try to undo the damage he has done to this country and to his own integrity in the Iraq war fiasco.  Mr. Powell's guilty conscience is no excuse for endorsing an inferior candidate for President!

Maria Heider

Bloomfield

What dreams?

I just finished reading the Obama book, "Dreams of my Father".  After reading Beverley Wardell's article, I am amazed at people who are voting for Obama as they are completely fooled about him. That book is the biggest laugh of all. Obama, was raised in Hawaii with his mother and father for only two years. He himself says he couldn't find a marriage certificate because his parents supposedly got married at the City Hall, he thinks. His father left him to go back home to Africa when he was 2. He already had a wife and children, after leaving Obama’s mother, he married a few times more and had six other children. 

Dreams?  

A brilliant college man who died drunk. 

Mother supposedly hooked up with another man and moved to Indonesia when he was only 4 and he stayed there until he was 10. 

He was raised then as a Muslim. His mother then sent him back to Hawaii to live with his grandparents until he graduated high school and then moved to Chicago. He was an organizer for the black community, spreading the word only for the black community and not once for the white community. 

He organized all right, everything to help the poor. He was not raised in Kansas as people think. I can certainly understand his black community ties to an extent, but, he has forgotten his white roots and the people who raised him. The rest his history, his ties to Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, Muslim ties and let’s not forget that he got plenty of money from the Arab community who are only thrilled that he is running.

Does anyone notice these things or does no one give a hoot. 

I guess people want socialism as he has stated over and over again that he wants to spread the wealth and Senator Biden says "Its your patriotic duty to pay taxes."  If we get taxed any more, we won’t be able to squeeze the buffalo's sweat off the nickle. People seem to have a blind eye.  Fine, vote for Senator Obama and watch the country turn worse off than it already is. 

Everyone blames Bush for everything, he got the country just when it was turning after Clinton cut the military, etc.  Bush has a lot to be blamed for I agree but, Obama is not the answer. As for McCain, he may not be the answer, I agree but at least he does not want socialism. Be careful what you wish for, it will come to pass and before you know it, we'll be like Russia. They too wanted the Czar gone with his politics, they overthrew the government and then came communism and look what happened to them, bread lines, starving, people living together in one apartment cramped, etc. 

 As for immigrants, my grandparents came to this country legally, came to Ellis Island, came the right way, learned English, suffered to work many hours to eventually give my mother and her children, etc. a good life. They didn't look for welfare, they worked. You people want immigrants to come here. Fine, who is going to give them money and insurance? You. 

People are losing their jobs left and right and you want them here? Do you want to give up whatever we have left to give to them while they come here and live off others? 

 Obama laughs at all the suggestions that people say to him when they bring up the fact of his associations and changes the subjects.

Michelle Obama, on the other hand says terrible things like she was only now happy about being an American and everyone overlooks that fact.  

He is not for Israel, but wants to have ties with Iran and if elected he said today that he wants to reach out to Iran and keep ties to them. Of course he would because of all the money that I mentioned the Muslims are sending him.  Think people, think and be cautious. When, and if he gets in, the U.S. as we know it, will be changed forever.   

Sara Palin is bashed about from here to tomorrow, her children are bashed, her husband and her integrity.  I guess no one remembers that slime ball, President Clinton, running around having his private parts attacked by Monica Lewinsky, the finger shaking at the world and the nation and his lies about not doing anything with Monica. Hillary Clinton’s lies about Whitewater, the continuous line of women who accused Clinton of his sex escapades, and let’s not forget the Lincoln bedroom being sold for money to Clinton’s cronies.

Of course, no one remembers those times. Right? 

Let’s not forget he was to be impeached? Integrity, ha. Oh no, not the Clintons. 

When Hillary ran, everyone went Hillary crazy, she could do no wrong. The White House would have been quite crowded with Hillary and Bill and the vice president wouldn't it?  Hillary could lie like the best of them.

 I know I am writing a blue streak and to deaf ears, but I say that when Obama changes everything and people start complaining, I don't want to say, I told you so. I haven't got much to give, but if you, with a little wealth, want to share it with everyone else because the government says so, I'm ready.

Bonnie Raymond

Clifton