The July 2 headline in this paper was Millions in funding headed to Cape Region towns. In reading the entire article, $70 million of a record $1.36 billion bond fund bill as part of the community redevelopment has been allocated to dozens of groups, organizations, towns, etc. in Sussex County.
Out of all of those listed only two first responder expenses totaling $240,669 (less than 1/2 of 1 percent. One new ambulance, one new station generator were included.
There is a whole lot of absolute nonsense in who is getting money and how much is being given to them. Nothing for police, and for all intents and purposes nothing for fire and rescue services (with the exception of the two aforementioned items). Why no money for first responder personnel?
I don’t know how many police, fire/rescue, prison guards, 911 staffers, and others who qualify under this umbrella that serve all of the areas taking this money there are, and it doesn’t matter, but they need to be taken care of. In the distribution of that local $70 million, every single one of those first responders should receive a minimum of a tax free bonus check for $10,000, or even more.
We all know those folks are absolutely underpaid, and we all would be in real trouble without them. That billion-plus dollars would make these bonuses possible for all first responders in the entire state without even making a dent in that amount.
Do something with this money that would make a difference to these people and acknowledge them with a big bonus and a Thank You. Every group listed in that article can afford to give some back to make this happen; let’s see who is happy to do so.
-
A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to newsroom@capegazette.com. Letters must be signed and include a telephone number and address for verification. Please keep letters to 500 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content and length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days. Letters restating information and opinions already offered by the same author will not be used. Letters must focus on issues of general, local concern, not personalities or specific businesses.
