Dear Editor:
I am writing to urge my fellow residents to attend Tuesday’s December 19th, 7:00 p.m. meeting at Parsippany Municipal Building, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard. Mayor Barberio and 4 of the 5 Council Members have been pushing to quickly provide generous 30-year tax breaks for the redevelopment of 6 Sylvan Way and 7 Campus Drive. Plans are for a 240 luxury unit apartment building, a Lifetime Fitness gym, and a warehouse. These proposals will have the township lose tens of millions of dollars critical to funding essential township services (fire and ambulance) our schools, and infrastructure needs (water and sewer). Three such sites were already voted on at the December 5th Council Meeting – these are an additional three sites.
I attended Councilman Musella’s town hall this week and the panel of experts there clearly made the case that these PILOT programs are not necessary. It is absurd for the Mayor and attorney John Inglesino to undersell the value of redeveloping in Parsippany. These programs will have us taxpayers footing the bill and lining the pockets of multi-million dollar developers. The residents must have their voices heard on matters that impact us directly. I have been a resident in Parsippany since 1968 and I believe the proposed tax breaks for developers will significantly diminish the quality of education our children receive along with our home values.
You have an opportunity this Tuesday to make a difference. You can let the Mayor and Council know that this town is not for sale to John Inglesino and his developer friends. I encourage you to prepare a brief statement expressing your thoughts on the proposed tax breaks. Your input is valuable to stopping these catastrophic policies.
Karin Kruse
Long-term Parsippany Resident
