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To the Editor, Asbury Park Sun:

Asbury Park deserves public servants who have taken the time to learn the facts about our schools, and offer a plan going forward.  That is why I endorse Joe Grillo, Carritta Cook, and Wendi Glassman for the Asbury Park School Board.

Sadly, the assault on truth permeating our national politics has now appeared in our local elections. Joe Grillo, a current Asbury Park School Board member, has been attacked with anonymous personal smears and false information.  In addition, the opposing candidates have continually quoted either outdated or incorrect information, even after they have been given the public sources of the correct information.

As with all such anonymous, personal attacks, the writers fear the public debate of issues, so they hide their identities behind rogue PACs that do not disclose who is funding them. They seek to avoid having to defend their statements from the facts and legal repercussions.

Voters need to know the FACTS before they vote:

FACT: The State Government drives school funding by employing complex formulas to determine:  1) how much the State should contribute to that municipality’s schools, and 2) how much a town should contribute to its schools—primarily through local property taxes.

FACT: Beginning two years ago, the State is reducing its funding to Asbury Park schools by $24 million over 6 years.

FACT: The State determined that Asbury Park should be paying more toward its schools. 

FACT: Asbury Park School District will spend $29,888 of state and local taxpayer funds per student this year – that number will continue to go down as additional cuts are made over the next 4 years.

FACT: Joe Grillo led the charge to reduce this year’s tax increase by an additional $500,000 in light of the hardships we are facing due to the pandemic.  

Cook, Grillo, and Glassman have a plan for our schools:

• Continue to make budget cuts by reducing the number of facilities in use, and finding efficiencies throughout the District;
• Increase the amount of federal, state, and private grant monies received; and
• Work with City officials on sharing services and facilities to save money.

If you have had enough of nasty personal smears on good people and misinformation, join me in voting for the ticket with the facts and solutions for the challenges ahead – Vote for Cook, Grillo, and Glassman for Asbury School Board.

Dominic Latorraca

Asbury Park resident and member of the Board of Education

[This letter represents the opinion of its writer and is not representative of any opinion of the Asbury Park Sun staff. All readers are welcome to submit Letters to the Editor to news@asburyparksun.com for our consideration. For guidelines on letter-writing and submission, click here.]

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