Our weekly round-up of letters published in the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥.
1
Offshore wind will protect ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Shore
I am writing in response to a recent opinion article that was published in The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ asking for a halt to offshore wind projects.
New ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ is primed to lead the nation in finding clean energy solutions to the climate crisis. Investing in offshore wind will protect our shore communities from rising sea levels and flooding while creating good-paying union jobs and reducing our reliance on dirty fossil fuels that pollute our air and cause asthma and heart disease.
Governor Murphy’s administration is committed to developing offshore wind in a responsible way. That’s why state agencies, like the Board of Public Utilities, have held numerous hearings that have examined each proposal to ensure it meets standards for environmental safety while protecting consumers. These reviews are in addition to strict federal oversight.
The public has had ample opportunity to weigh in on the Atlantic Shores offshore wind project since it was first proposed in 2018. Regulators are continuing to monitor the project as it moves through the development process.
Though some have attempted to tie up development in the courts, towns do not have standing to challenge these types of projects. Rather than throw up additional barriers, we should have confidence in the regulatory process and prepare to welcome Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind as a critical step to building a clean energy future that will create union jobs and improve public health.
Caren Fitzpatrick
Linwood
Solutions for homelessness
On April 22, our Supreme Court was asked if homeless people can be ticketed, or if ticketing is a "cruel and unusual" punishment under the Eighth Amendment.
At the same time, I read how "Tunnel to Towers," a nonprofit, has expanded their good work and is now buying up hotels and helping to house the homeless in large-scale projects and provide extensive on-site needed services, besides just paying up individual mortgages for families of brave individuals who died.
In an article about the Oregon SCOTUS case, it was stated that "on any given night, more than 650,000 people in the United States are experiencing homlessness, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development."
Tunnel to Towers is proving, and I emphasize "proving," efforts to help house the homeless can indeed work. So a lesson is being learned. Our veterans are often homeless for sure.
Can you imagine how many of the 650,000 could be helped if the tens of billions of dollars spent by the government on "global warming/climate control," and multibillions now being spent on free travel, housing, food and education benefits for many millions of illegal migrants, were used to help house and help the 650,000 homeless in all of our cities?
I am sure there would be money left over. A lesson absolutely must be learned from the new Tunnel to Towers efforts to create large-scale projects. I have no connection to "T2T" in any way.
David F. Lipton
Toms River
Rep. Van Drew, please help dialysis patients
At 20 years old, I was diagnosed with end stage renal disease (ESRD), or kidney failure. Two years later, I began receiving dialysis.
I was employed upon diagnosis, but lost my job before beginning dialysis. I began dialysis on Medicare. Since Medicare only covers 80%, and my disability income disqualified me from Medicaid, I could not cover the remaining 20%. I went deep into medical debt just to survive. Six years of dialysis, a kidney transplant and 15 years later, I can now say that I am out of debt. I became a nurse, received an MBA, worked hard, and paid it off. Many aren’t so fortunate.
Many ESRD patients lose their private insurance upon beginning dialysis, not because they were fired (like me), but because insurers reduce care to cut costs — pushing patients onto Medicare too early. So I am petitioning Congressman Jeff Van Drew to cosponsor the bipartisan Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act, which would allow dialysis patients to keep their private insurance for the first 30 months of treatment.
I hope Congressman Van Drew will do the right thing and cosponsor this bill so future ESRD patients don’t have to face exorbitant bills.
Shekeila Harris
Vineland
