Opinion: Donovan Rejected Dems' 'Common Sense' Merger Plan

The following is a joint statement released Thursday by Freeholders David L. Ganz, Joan Voss, Steve Tanelli and Tracy Zur: 

There's an old legal aphorism that goes, if you have the facts on your side, you pound the facts. If you have the law on your side, you pound the law. If you have neither on your side, you pound the table.

Right now the County Executive is pounding the table, opposing any merger regardless of the merits. Our common-sense proposal is being unjustly rejected. We took 9 months to craft this plan and the Executive made up her mind in 9 seconds.  Bergen County residents should be incensed with any politician who opposes saving the taxpayers between $90 and $200 million. 

Some Republican Freeholders today have no problem trying to take credit for the Democratic plan claiming it as their own. This wins the Bergen County Chutzpah Award. Even better is that 4 weeks ago Freeholder John Mitchell acknowledged to the Bergen County Record that "the Republicans have no specifics to outline so far" in their own plan.

As to the charge that the Republicans 2012 plan should have been approved, no thanks. That plan was irresponsible in abolishing the County Police, which could have cost the County millions in revenue. Our plan is sound, responsible fiscal policy, with between $90 and $200 million in savings delivered to the Bergen County tax-payers.

Our plan was developed through extensive research and over 50 meetings with public and law enforcement officials. We conferred with staff and advisors, but any allegations of violating the sunshine law are nothing more than table pounding in an attempt to distract and muddle the core issue.

We look forward to presenting this plan at the next Freeholder Meeting and having a vigorous conversation on the plan’s merits.

Click here to read more on the Democrats' merger plan.