It is obvious to all that the Board wouldn’t be talking about reform if the employees hadn’t got caught.

And if past practice is any example, the Commissioners will go back to governing the Authority as though it was a private slush fund. Spending your money on whatever project that will benefit their political party, their friends or family members.

For those on vacation we found out recently that Michael Joyce, DRPA safety director gave his daughter a DRPA E-Z pass transponder that allowed her to cross the Delaware River for free. Besides this abuse it is alleged that Joyce improperly received pension credits for a part-time, $67,356 solicitor\’s job in Pennsauken. Records show he also received pension credits to which he was not entitled in 2008 for a second, $18,200 solicitor position with the Pennsauken Sewerage Authority. After the story was published Joyce resigned from his $189,000 DRPA job.

A few days after the Joyce story was published Fox 29 News broadcast a report about John Havers a Delaware River Port Authority employee. He was suspended for a month after borrowing toll money to cover party costs and was later moved to a job running a cruise terminal that\’s not currently receiving ships.

Havers left an IOU note with the safe, so he avoided being arrested for embezzlement. Even so DRPA officials suspended him for a month. Fox 29 News revealed that, while suspended, Havers had someone take his SUV from the DRPA to the authority\’s depot to get gasoline. After the suspension, he was transferred to a role running the DRPA\’s cruise terminal despite the shortage of business there these days.

Havers is from Gloucester County, as is DRPA CEO John Matheussen and New Jersey State Senate President Steven Sweeney. Fox 29 sources said Sweeney protected Havers when others at the DRPA wanted him fired, but Sweeney denied that in an interview last week.

And if you happen to be one of the 900 DRPA employees who doesn’t use your two weeks sick leave each year well come Christmas the Commissioners award you with a nice bonus. Fox 29 says that practice cost the public millions each year.

Today the Courier Post released an article about even more wasteful spending practices of the DRPA. The commissioners approved a $700,000 cash grant to Pennsauken Township to be used to convert a neglected five-acre site on Garfield Avenue into a football field. The grant was originally intended to be a loan to spawn private investment in the township.

Pennsauken Mayor Ricardo Taylor Jr., who is a commissioner on the bi-state board, said he opposes DRPA spending toll money on non-transit projects, but he said he wasn\’t going to turn down $700,000 in cash.

The money comes from the balance of a revolving loan fund created in 1993 with a $700,000 gift from DRPA. Pennsauken, Gloucester City, Camden and Philadelphia each had revolving loan funds to compensate the municipalities in some way for local, tax-exempt land surrounding the authority-owned bridges.

Gloucester City spent its $700,000 loan fund renovating a derelict waterfront building now occupied by the Holt Group. DRPA closed out the fund with a zero balance six years ago.

Records indicate Camden City has received $6.9 million from the DRPA for unspecified economic development usage since 1993. Neither the city nor DRPA could produce an accounting of that money the Courier Post reported.

And if all the above isn’t enough to get you mad as \”Hell\” consider this, the DRPA says it is in desperate need of money to maintain the bridges. In July 2011 the tolls on the four bridges will be increased by $1 up to $5 a crossing.

You see the trash and overgrown yards of the empty houses. We also have the houses with no \”CO\” and up to 12 people living in them of which the Housing Authority and mayor are aware of.

Can you hear the police cars coming to the domestic dispute that happens often? Also the semi trucks come racing down King Street.

Let’s go to the Old Coast Guard Base.

Watch the dog droppings as a man that works at the office building there lets his two black dogs everywhere and does not clean up after them.

We are headed to the park, be quiet, we don’t want to wake the homeless. Watch those beautiful little colored plastic bags sparkle.

I really love watching the \”elite\” sailing on \”OUR Schooner\”. What does an average taxpayer have to do to get on the list? And who, pray tell, pays for the schooner fuel. That’s why my taxes went up!

I can’t wait for school to start. Watch the students throw trash everywhere.

I will finally get some exercise because I will have to park two to three blocks from my house.

The children must park as close as they can to the school!

Marilyn Flexon, Gloucester City

To make a long story short, we joined the Gloucester City Tree and Beautification Committee. Although we still play a role on this committee, we were able to separate the committee into two—a tree committee and ours. The spinoff is our new Gloucester City Gardening and Beautification Association.

We are a non-profit association and not politically connected. We like to think we can work with all people and appreciate working side-by-side with all residents. We appreciated mayor and council and public works giving us a city-owned lot and a water source to start the first Gloucester City Community Garden at Atlantic and Market Streets.

Basically, we have an agenda. We are currently distributing flyers for our \”Corner Curb Appeal\” Project—the aim is to have everyone join in our efforts to get weeds, debris, dirt and trash from every corner in town and for this to be a commitment—an on-going project—not just a one and done project.

WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO SHARE WITH YOU!

WE ALSO WANT YOUR IDEAS AND SUPPORT!

WE ARE ACTION-ORIENTED AND IMPATIENT!

HELP US MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!

PLEASE JOIN US THIS THURSDAY, AUGUST 5^TH, AT 6:30 AT THE GLOUCESTER CITY LIBRARY!

Joyce Calzonetti & Mickie Glassman, Co-Chairs

Gloucester City Gardening & Beautification Association

JEER-Another scandal involving the commissioners/employees of the Delaware River Port Authority. Last week the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Michael Joyce, DPRA safety director gave his daughter a DRPA E-Z pass transponder that allowed her to cross the Delaware River for free. Besides this abuse it is alleged that Joyce improperly received pension credits for a part-time, $67,356 solicitor\’s job in Pennsauken. Records show he also received pension credits to which he was not entitled in 2008 for a second, $18,200 solicitor position with the Pennsauken Sewerage Authority. After the story was published Joyce resigned from his $189,000 DPRA job. Once again we hear the cry for reform of this agency; but once the story is removed from the front page, the DPRA will go back to doing what they have done for years, rob the public.

JEER – The state’s new law of stopping for pedestrians who are walking across the

Last year, the Dance Club had approximately 50 members. This year there are around 75 members.

Ultimately, the School Board approved the Dance Team as an activity, like cheerleading. The Board also approved field trips and workshops for the 2010-11 school year.

Board members said the Camden County Health Department would be allowed to use facilities at a Gloucester City school in October.

Unfortunately, Board members said, state funding was cut to $754,392 for the district. But, on the upside, adult education increased to $155,000.

During the meeting, one BOE member brought up funding concerns for clubs that only have one or two members.

His concern was that funds are being wasted if there were only one or two members in a club, and that a stipulation should be in place requiring a minimum number in attendance for the club to remain in existence.

Some of the other concerns were how was this information going to be reported, and if it was going to be done monthly, by semester, or annually.

A resident at the meeting said it should not matter how many children were attending, whether it be one or two, as one was enough to have the club remain.

Members said more discussion was needed on this issue, and the subject was tabled until the August 2 meeting at 7 p.m. in the Gloucester City High School Media Center.

Board members encouraged parents, students, and staff to attend the public meetings.

Photos of the two men sleeping on the benches (top and below) were taken at Proprietors Park, King and Jersey Ave., on Tuesday afternoon, July 19, 2010

How can we invite people to our city when they have to climb over the homeless in our beautiful park.

Our side streets are not being cleaned by the City. I live on Cumberland & Willow. We the residents clean Willow street as it is not being cleaned by the City.There needs to be a renters handbook given out to all renters. And we need a 3 strikes and you’re out law for landlords who take in rough tenants.

I would also like to know when Dublin on the Delaware is starting.I suggest the city straighten out their many problems before they plan anything else.This side of the tracks is turning into a Slum.

Thank you Ken Doyle

Hi Bill

I realize the backup of trash collection due to the 4th of July Holiday, but that is no excuse for \”poor performance\”. I only see this on Rosalind Avenue but this happens every week and I am sure it happens in other parts of town.

Waste Management has been \”spoken to\” in the past with the same performance as the employees show, \”POOR\”.

Enclosed are a few pictures taken at 2pm on Friday, July 9 on Rosalind Avenue.

Respectfully:

Leon Milcarek

JEER-Drivers that honk horns when a light changes. Drivers that do not slow down when turning onto a street. Drivers that do not stop at stop signs. And to pedestrians that walk out in front of a car expecting the driver to stop without saying thank you when he/she does. It always seems that there is never a police officer nearby when these things happen.

CHEER-To the Gloucester City Beautification Committee for the great job on the Community Garden. This effort really brings life back to that vacant lot at Market and Atlantic Streets. It shows how much of a difference people can make when they work together. It also shows that there are a lot more good things happening in Gloucester City then bad.

JEER-Shame on the people of this city that ignore the dog waste clean-up ordinances! When you are taking your dog for a walk CLEAN UP AFTER FIDO ELIMINATES!