Dear Editor:

In a letter to a local newspaper (Jersey Journal) on February 13, 2012, using the signature of Mayor Nick Sacco, but probably written by his high priced (taxpayer money) public relations firm, the mayor makes a feeble attempt to “explain” the increase in traffic accidents resulting from the over development in the northern part of Tonnelle Avenue.

Mayor Sacco or whoever wrote your letter, a motor vehicle accident is a motor vehicle accident. The 181 accidents on Tonnelle Avenue, so far, in an 8 month period, present a dangerous condition to the residents of North Bergen, who reside in the area of your overdeveloped site on Tonnelle Avenue.

The mayor wrote that North Bergen is not trying to refute that “it’s fact the Walmart Shopping Center has caused some additional traffic". Then, he tries to minimize the problem by writing that it is a “serious exaggeration” to describe the condition as “dangerous”. He follows this by stating a “left turn only lane” is being constructed to reduce “congestion.” Mayor, if there is “congestion”, and then it is not any kind of exaggeration to describe the condition as “dangerous.” Also, why construct a “left turn only lane”, if there was no problem? Mayor, as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee in Trenton, you must know that as the Walmart Shopping Center becomes popular, the result is more traffic and more accidents.

The letter goes on to extol the “positives” to North Bergen. However, Mayor Sacco did not extol the “positives” to the Sacco political machine. Were there political contributions made by these developers who seem to have a free reign in North Bergen?

Mayor Sacco then brags how his administration has been committed “to developing North Bergen in a smart, responsible manner that balances the need for growth, with the need for open space.” Mayor, Are you kidding? Let us take a look. On River Road, you allowed an out of town developer to come in and destroy the historic Palisades just to put in a bank, a drug store, and a coffee shop. Did the developer make contributions and are any members of your political machine associated with this developer? Only recently, a Superior Court Judge reversed the action of the North Bergen Planning Board in granting variances to allow construction in close proximity to a gas line opening up the possibility of a tragedy. Then, further north on River Road, there is a large steel net hanging against the Palisades Cliffs. Mayor Sacco, tell us, is this to beautify the cliff or is it for a safety measure to prevent rocks from falling because of the overdevelopment?

Mayor Sacco, and your ghost writer, I remind you of the words of Abraham Lincoln; you can fool all the people some of the time, some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.


Sheyla Vallecillo