Dear Editor:

Last week Alexis Elwell-Serringer submitted a letter to your column containing many of the same thoughts I’ve had for several years. Comments by some anonymous contributors to the NJ.com forum have grown appalling. The recent references to her brother’s tragic death are despicable. I, and those close to me, sympathize with Alexis while reading hurtful postings about their family members. My mother, Linda Gonnelli, has borne the brunt of many of these personal comments. Hurtful comments and threats were also made about my father’s fatal car accident. We have had to relive that fateful day too many times. And, like Alexis, I feel that the cowardly contributors are most likely campaigning for my stepfather’s political opponents.

These comments are beyond indecent. It is easy to lie, spread rumors and drag families through the mud when you can hide behind a screen name. I ask that supporters of both Secaucus political factions consider what the families endure, and in turn, the damage it does to our community. My parents have been accused of posting comments to the NJ.com forum in the past, and once again, we can prove this is not the case. Alexis’ outrage can be ended, and the writers can be identified through a technical scope and legal channels. It is time for the poisonous writers to cease and leave politics to the politicians.

Meryl Haslach