Are You Kidding Me, Marie Strumolo-Burke?

Community member and contributor “PoorRichard” has submitted the following opinion piece for The Watch:

Are you kidding me, Marie Strumolo-Burke?

When all else fails, blame someone else

After the recent verification of Marie Strumolo-Burke’s racist recording debut,  she continued to deny  responsibility for her terrible remarks.  Then she blamed Mayor Kimble for tax increases. Yes, really.

For almost 10 years,  Councilwoman  Strumolo-Burke has been on the Belleville Council.  If we use her reasoning about  Mayor Kimble and Councilman Kennedy raising  our  taxes,  she would have raised our taxes higher, or about 75% .  She has been in office 2 years longer, so she raised our taxes even more than her opposition.

Using  that same reasoning,  her running mates Longo and Freda would only be responsible for a 55%  tax increase. They have been in office for only 6 years. However, in that time, they have succeeded in nearly destroying our educational system and bankrupting the School District. Longo and Freda are responsible for overspending and misappropriation of funds. Two fine examples of their irresponsible actions are the  unbudgeted  2 million dollar Clarity Contract, and the 32 deficiencies in the 2012-2013 Belleville School District Financial Audit.

The simple truth:

Belleville’s School District is in financial trouble and under investigation by the State of New Jersey.  Why do you think they keep canceling their meetings and moved the Board Election to November?  They don’t want you to know.

We entrusted  Longo and Freda with the education of our greatest treasure, our children. They have failed our children and our community.

They should not be trusted.

Councilwoman Strumolo-Burke has been verified on tape making racist remarks.  She denies making those remarks.

She cannot be trusted

There is a School Budget meeting on May 7^th.  You need to see for yourself.

Poor Richard