Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.
Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.
JEERS to the silent treatment. It's been more than two months since 3-year-old Brendan Creato was found dead in Haddon Township and the details officially released by investigators have been scant. We understand that this is an active investigation, but a town has spent 60 days without knowing whether or not someone took Brendan or if he somehow got out on his own. At this point, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office must have an inkling as to how Brendan died -- if not where and when. If so, let the residents of Haddon Township know there's been progress since Oct. 13.
CHEERS: To the strength exhibited by a woman who has turned trauma into action. Katlyn Pagaduan was molested by a track coach while she was a student at Deptford High School. Now 31, she has played a lead role in promoting recently signed federal legislation that aims to keep sexual and violent predators from teaching our kids. The bill, dubbed the Passing-the-Trash Ban, is intended to prevent schools from helping teachers find new jobs "if the school knows or has probable cause to believe that the school worker engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor or student." While we all know that the great majority of teachers are responsible adults, we see far too many stories of teachers convicted of molesting those they are supposed to be protecting and guiding. Pagaduan's traumatic experiences, which included the stabbing death of her boyfriend at the hands of the very same track coach's son, still haunt her today. Those experiences have led to her to work with legislators and other victims to help protect future students. We thank Pagaduan for her advocacy.
JEERS: To a terrible idea that should be squashed before it gets started. An item inserted in recent federal legislation now allows federal agencies, such as the IRS, to robocall delinquent taxpayers to demand payment. This new authority comes as South Jersey residents are reporting a wave of phone scam calls from creeps claiming to represent the IRS. The callers demand payment of bogus debts and threaten legal action if victims don't comply. Given this is going on, it's a little hard to imagine why anyone would think it's a good idea for the IRS to start making legit calls. Police and the IRS itself have been assuring taxpayers for years that the IRS won't call to demand immediate payment. That's how you tell the difference between the real IRS and the fraudsters. This new power will simply confuse customers and lead to increased scamming. Let's not make a terrible situation worse.
CHEERS to sensible legislation. Congressman Donald Norcross brought together local law enforcement on Monday to bolster his fight to close a loophole in federal background checks that allows individuals on the FBI's no-fly list to obtain weapons or firearms. Norcross, who is wrapping up an accomplished freshman year in office, sent a letter to House leaders urging them not to adjourn for the year before it took up the issue. Despite your stance on whether those on the no-fly list should be able to obtain weapons -- the NRA argues innocent citizens could end up on the list without access to a due process to get off to it -- we agree with Norcross that such a common-sense issue should at least be hashed out on the House floor.
CHEERS: To remembering our late veterans at the holiday season. On Dec. 12 wreath-laying ceremonies were held at the Cumberland County Veterans Cemetery in Hopewell Township and Finn's Point National Cemetery in Pennsville Township. More than 1,000 wreaths were placed by volunteers on the graves at the cemeteries. The Cumberland project was part of the Wreaths of Remembrance project at the Finn's Point event linked to Wreaths Across America.
JEERS: To frightening the faithful. For many, there seems there couldn't be any place where they would feel safer than in a church. But that wasn't the case on Dec. 12 when an evening Mass at a Vineland church was interrupted by two men who told the parishioners they were "going to die." Frightened, those at the service left their pews and fled outdoors. The men were later arrested and jailed.
If you know of someone or something you would like to nominate for a cheer or a jeer, please send the information to sjletters@njadvancemedia.com