Double the fun

Is two really better than one? In some instances, this may be true. But in others, it’s just overkill.

Mayor Joseph Scarpelli made an announcement last week that he will begin forming a Mayor’s Transportation Advisory Committee, which he calls M-TAC (kind of like B-MAC — get it?) The goals behind this committee are good ones — to discuss traffic problems, recommend solutions, educate the public on alternative transportation options, and so on.

But the puzzling thing is this: Last fall, Republican Councilman Anthony Matthews held a meeting and asked residents to come out and discuss the traffic issues in Brick. His intent was to start a traffic advisory board.

Knowing this, why is the mayor now starting a transportation committee of his own?

When asked about why the mayor was forming a traffic advisory board when one was already in the works, a member of the mayor’s staff said, “That one was formed by the Republicans.”

Apparently traffic problems are best solved along party lines.

Granted, there is a hot-blooded mayoral election brewing for November. But, really, can’t the Township Council and the mayor come together to form an advisory committee for the residents?

The Republicans have spent the last few months pointing fingers at the mayor and his administration for what they perceive to be a lackadaisical attitude toward traffic problems in Brick, particularly Route 70’s “missing mile.” But the mayor and his administration have helped produce several improvements to the township roads — including the lengthening of the left-hand turn lane from Route 70 onto Chambers Bridge Road; lobbying for the Brick Boulevard improvements; and the upcoming work at the intersection of Duquesne Boulevard.

It may seem that the mayor and his administration may not have moved too far in combating Route 70. (According to Matthews and Republican mayoral candidate Councilman Stephen Acropolis, the state Department of Transportation has never even heard of the traffic conditions on Route 70). But there have been roadblocks along the way, pardon the pun. First, the state has no money. Second, state officials that the township has dealt with over the years have moved on to greener pastures and the new ones may not care as much about Brick Township. And third, the state has no money.

So, who’s doing more work on behalf of Brick residents to curb the traffic problems? The answer will be up to the residents to decide come November. But one thing is for certain, two traffic advisory committees for one township definitely won’t get the Republicans or the Democrats across the finish line any sooner.

As former Secretary of Labor Arthur J. Goldberg once said, “If Columbus had an advisory committee, he would probably still be at the dock.”