Letter to the Editor: Vote 'No' On BAC Referendum Tuesday

To the Editor:

I am a Berkeley Heights resident and I am making sure I get out and vote NO on May 7.   

I am a home owner who lives very close to the proposed new BAC Warren Corporate establishment. I have been following the ins and outs of the so called "debate" over what is going on regarding the Warren BAC proposed site.    

1) This election has absolutely NOTHING to do with swimming or allowing the BAC or anyone to build a facility of this sort. It has to do with building a large commercial complex in a residential neighborhood, and in turn seriously affecting the entire residential neighborhood. I read the article after article saying to vote yes because BAC has been great for the community, how Jim Wood is a great guy, how swimming is good for the kids. I have seen that many BAC people, from out of town, brought their kids to the BH discussion etc ... UGGG ...  this is not about swimming, not about the kids, not about building a nice facility, it is only the selfish choice of location that people are up in arms against. Vote NO to tell them to choose a different location for their venture.  

2) This election is NOT about some "hidden agenda" or movement against the BAC. This claim is just another ploy to move attention away from the issues.   The fact is that this issue should have been over months ago. The BH town counsel has voted this down twice already by a vote of 5-1. The Mayor is against it. These are the people that BH voted into office to make these decisions for us. The reason we are having this election is because the corporate interests of the BAC was not happy with the answers that got from the town counsel and keeps insisting on trying to find ways to get this building built. In fact this election is costing the tax payers money. It was initiated by the BAC.   We need to vote no to protect our town against the corporate greed of the BAC. 

3) This election IS about protecting a Berkeley Heights neighborhood. The proposed complex is HUGE and will totally change ( not in a positive way ) the surrounding residential areas. We need to protect ourselves against this corporate greed. Voting NO protects our town against being bullied by out of state corporate interests with deep pockets. Lets say NO to their proposal by voting NO.Lets ask them to do the right thing and build this complex in a legitimate commercially zoned area where it doesn't negatively affect the area.  

4) This election IS about Berkeley Heights. The next time someone asks you to vote yes, ask them what town they are from. Probably the biggest thing that bothers me about this election is all of the people claiming the the Stop the BAC-ers are complaining or have some hidden agenda or they dont understand the facts,  meanwhile the people writing this or going door to door are from OUT OF TOWN and their movement is being funded by out of state corporate $$$.    If you are from Berkeley Heights, and are approached by someone to discuss what this vote means to Berkeley Heights, ask them what town they are from and if they can show you ID with a Berkeley Heights address. The BAC proposal is bad for Berkeley Heights from every aspect. It was voted down by the town counsel twice. This election IS about Berkeley Heights, that is why we need to stick together and vote NO.

I am a  Berkeley Heights resident and I am making sure I get out and vote NO on May 7.   


Tom Maciejewski

Berkeley Heights