Tom Moran’s editorial of Dec. 22 claims Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Gov. Phil Murphy “underplayed the danger of Newark’s water crisis” and accuses them of “doctoring the results” of a recent filter testing report “to hide the danger.”
In making such inflammatory claims, Moran becomes another media member pushing the agenda of the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), which arrogantly believes Newark can’t solve its water problem without them.
Moran blatantly takes up the NRDC cause. He advocates Newark should settle a lawsuit brought by the NRDC, to allow them to create “a blueprint” and “detailed protocols” for Newark’s lead abatement program.
But he ignores several key facts that prove Newark is doing just fine without them.
First, Newark’s lead-line replacement program, completely financed by the city, is moving at warp speed. Twenty or so crews are replacing 85 lines a day, and about 4,500 of the city’s 18,720 lead lines have already been ripped out and replaced. At this pace, the job will be completed 18 months from now. No city in America has ever replaced that bulk of lead lines as quickly and at no cost to residents, making it the model city for efficiently ending the lead threat.
Second, Moran insinuates the NRDC must ensure “work is being done properly,” which ignores this pertinent fact: the project manager is CDM Smith, is a 70-year-old world-renown environmental company. Newark went first-class here. CDM Smith developed the first federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for American water pollution control plants and has done dozens of monstrous infrastructure projects the world over. It doesn’t need the NRDC’s “blueprint.”
Third, Moran accuses Baraka and Murphy of nearly criminal acts in “doctoring” the filter reports. This hysterical accusation borders on libelous, and ignores the fact that neither mayor nor governor had control of the reports, as it followed federal EPA and DEP guidelines.
On this third point, a retraction is in order.
Mark Di Ionno, interim communications director, City of Newark and former Star-Ledger columnist
We need a new way to redistrict N.J.
After the 2020 U.S. census, the lines of New Jersey’s 40 legislative districts must be redrawn. Currently, 10 individuals appointed by Democratic and Republican party leaders — typically sitting legislators — break into two “teams” and work behind closed doors to create new maps. The problem is that each team works to gerrymander the districts to favor its own party. Then, an independent arbiter chooses which team’s map becomes our new district map. Throughout this secret process, public interests are subordinate to party interests.
The League of Women Voters of New Jersey has researched redistricting in other states and believes we can do better. The league recommends a process that is more transparent, inclusive and independent. Fair districts would be more competitive, motivating legislators to be more responsive to giving everyone a voice.
Visit FairDistrictsnj.org to sign a petition and learn about ending political gerrymandering. And, urge your legislators to take action to improve redistricting in 2020.
Ellen Kovac Elizabeth; Union Area League of Women Voters
N.J. must keep fighting climate change
Ed Potosnak’s recent guest column, explaining the feasibility of New Jersey transitioning to 100% clean energy, is incredibly welcome news (“Fossil fuel front group should come clean about its true mission”).
It is urgent we take these steps now. The United Nations has warned we have only 11 years to make the changes in our habits — mostly reducing reliance on fossil fuels — if we are to avoid “irreversible damage” from the warming of the planet.
Gov. Phil Murphy understands the climate emergency we face and greatly expanded the state’s wind industry.
But, as Potosnak’s writes, such attempts to protect the environment alarm the fossil fuel industry, which has created a fake “consumer” group, called Consumer Energy Alliance. This group is a propaganda arm of the climate-destroying fossil fuel industry.
I doubt the governor is fooled by this propaganda. And I have every hope he is ready to go down in history as one of the leaders who moved rapidly toward a future of renewable fuels.
Caren Kaufman, Collingswood