Amazing what happens when people are informed, the great Democrat mushroom farm is now closed, keep in the dark and feed them BS is hopefully no longer the norm. Now deep six Kilpatrick and we will have better Government my priority would be get rid of the golf course Jaworski said it can work but you have to throw more money at it I THINK NOT i

I am very concerned about the future of our town. We have great amenities here...many people now complaining about them, particularly Riverwinds, moved here for these amenties. Now they are complaining about the cost. Oh you like it, you just didn't want to pay for it. We will be watching to see what happens...hopefully I will be happily surprised.

Terry, I not sure if you have lived here long but Riverwinds was to cost only pennies in taxes to the residents of WD. The old and now past township officials lied to us when they didn't have all the pieces to the puzzle in place. Don;t know how they could have figured out a cost for tax dollars without having everything in place. No hotels and high end restaurants, no marina, and no ice skating rink.

What concerns me most about this article is Steve Sweeney's response, he's heartbroken about his town. Steve the people have spoken and you still don't get it. It's all about politics for you and Gerry White, your repsonese ring clear of that. Sweeney the sad thing about this election, is that you are not gone. You are disgusting! The people have spoken, and we are tired of paying for you and your cronies! People are hurting and you and Gerry White don't give a damn. Way to go Ray and Sam!

Don't forget to get rid of the township engineer contractor and the township lawyer. Both have had a long ride and now it is time to get off. both have been in the papers for scandols and or being one of the highest paid lawyers in the country. I hope more will follow in the near future.

I liked what the democrats said in a circular to our residences about our 2 new elected republicans. They said they carried pitchforks and a torch. Well the pitchfork represents the hard working people in this township who have been ignored all these years and the torch represents that the new Republicans lit a fire under our butts to get out and vote. Good luck and lets keep it going until every last encumbent is out of office as well as all their cronies.

Glad to see Joe Vallee Jr and Sr in this picture. Win won for the gipper boys.

To Steve Sweeney:

Hey Steve, I AM a life long resident of WD ( I believe you grew up in Pennsauken ) so this is NOT your town my friend. Your threats of restoring Democratic Theft and Corruption to West Deptford will no longer be tolerated by it's residents. In fact why don't you take the hint from this election and pack up and move out of MY town. You and your ilk are exposed for what you really are and we don't want you here. in other words Steve, GET LOST !!!!!

A Lifelong WD Taxpayer and Resident ( and PROUD of it !!!! )

After reading the above message all I can say is WOW. Let's not forget the other guy who should also have been out of politics but got a promotion from WD Township Administrator where he tried to intimidate WD residents to his current position of Democratic Chairperson. We need to get him out of office also. I hope WD residents keep it going by getting rid of some other factions. They been around way to long and it is time to cut the purse strings. Get rid of Angelini, the Township Lawyer and the Township Engineer company.

Hi Thomas, first let me say that having a dialogue, even though we may disagree, with people who will do so under their name is refreshing. Those such as above, who do so under the cloak of anonimity, have no credibility in my opinion. Most of those who spew on the WD Forum fall into this category. I also do not know how long you have lived in town...but really does it matter. Most of us who have chosen to live here came because of the quality of life here. By the way, I lived in Deptford lifelong until moving here in 1984 and as you know, I'm sure, WD was originally part of Deptford so technically... So I was around and involved pre Riverwinds. Actually I was a member of the Recreation Advisory Committee following in my ex-husband's ( who I believe was the first or second chairman of said body) and my current husband's, (also an early and long time member of same) footsteps. Here is the facts as I know them, and as people who know me will verify, is very good ( you can probably OPRA request documentation as far as meeting dates and minutes if you feel the need.
The plan for RWinds did not hatch over night, it was several years in the planning. Initially, residents were asking for a rec center and a downtown ,so to speak, where families and and fellow residents could congregate together. At the time, there was a vacant warehouse ( believe where Colace is now that was vacant), but that was deemed unacceptable due to zoning and no space for "downtown area".

continuing: at the same time the Army Corp of Engineers was fighting to make the now Riverwinds land a site for toxic dredge spoils which no one wanted in "their backyard". So former mayor Shields and his then "cronies", engaged in a hard fought but successful battle against this federal body and literally snapped this land from their clutches. Now we had to do something with this area. There was one proposed project --Imperial Landing--which was received with very mixed emotions from residents, therefore it was placed on the ballot as a referendum and clearly opposed. I believe this plan would have allowed only the residents of the area, closing this beautiful are of riverfront to all of the other residents. Wetlands became an issue, but eventually this was correctly remediated. This all was well publiziced. There may have been other ideas postulated, I don't recall. Riverwinds planning began. More facts to follow later.

Hi Tom again, during these planning years there were 2 public meetings a month of twp commitee, 1 public monthly meeting of rec adv commitee, several public presentations of plans for the entire complex with a model of the Community center itself, several years worth of elections where people could show their "fear" by voting those planners out of office, with VERY little opposition to the plans. There was a hotel and conference deal in place. And remember, the plans also included the sports area for youth football, cheerleading, hockey, and soccer, all of which have been completed and soared in participants. The old football field was then freed for the growing interest in lacrosse. All of this information very well publicizied. A survey regarding this venture was sent to every household in town with an overwhelmingly positive response. Lastly, the open public meetings required before that $50 million bond was voted upon were attended by exactly 0 residents...does this sound like there was much "fear" or negativity at the time. As we all know hindsight is 20/20. I for one have enjoyed this complex since its inception. Now my grandchildren are enjoying the best overall recreation facilities in a wide geographic area. I'm not rich...but I'll gladly pay for that.

I hear you Terry and I to have been a long time resident of WD. However, everytime I attended a meeting our voices fell on deft ears. I once brought 35 frustrated residents before Mayor Docimo and the board and presented her our issues she basically did nothing. She took control of the meeting that eventually rose to 100. She made an agenda that didn't even allow for the residences to speak. Township Inspectors, whose children were working for the developer, were inspecting and or not inspecting the properties properly. They basically werelaughing at us.
Their reasoning for purchasing the land and turning it into a wonderful place for our community is not my arguement. My arguement is how can any WD official make a statement that The Riverwind Complex will cost the residents of WD pennies on the dollar when they didn't have all the amenities in place.

No one is morally superior because of a screen name. I personally think its unsmart and unsafe to use a full name, esp since your town has been disclosed through your post. These forums can be viewed by anyone at anytime so its a pretty serious matter of security if you ask me or the cyber crimes dept of the GC Prosecutors Office. My screen name doesnt undo the validity of my opinion, thoughts or my feelings- which is RW is a mess, they can't even sustain their own operating costs. Our local government put the horse before the cart, and now we are stuck with the tab. You have to look at facts of who really financially benfitted from RW, not the residents.

Hi Tom, I am just tired of hearing that the residents, at that time, say their input wasn't asked or heard. The amenities were as in place as they could be. The planned hotel and conference center needed the community center to be built as part of the deal was their being able to share same as part of their draw to customers. The vast majority of residents were in favor. Those that were not, did not put out a strong offensive. I know, I was at almost all of the meetings and presentations, I saw the questionaire results. I believe the meeting that your referencing was one that after the township meeting, Mayor Docimo came down to the floor to speak with the group, I'm thinking you must live in The Grande area. I seem to recall a friend of mine ( I could name her, but won't in this arena, being present. From my take as an "outsider", she was trying to help within the scope of her domain. I'm sorry if you were not satisfied and do hope your issues were eventually satisfied. In '84, I moved to a new section of a development that had been stagnent for a few years, due to problems the residents had and the builder was not willing to remediate. Twp refused to grant either new bldg permits or COs. Lastly, Jerry White's volunteer Dem chair position is only to be voted upon by the dem executive committee volunteer members. For you to comment on his election or ouster unless you become an active worker for our committee, is inappropriate as I saying Ms. Priga has to go.

To My Town Too: That was not meant as a personal attack and I'm sorry if it seemed that way to you. I have been taught to stand up for your beliefs and own them...maybe not smart in today's scociety. I find it difficult to have a meaningful discourse with anyone who doesn't look me in the eye, so to speak. Again, just like Tom above, you and I will have to agree to disagree. God bless America.

Terry, you seem very knowledgeable and I too do not want to make this seem like a personal attack. I was just lied to by so many township officials that I don't need the aggravation again. I did what I did for over 100 residents in that particular situation.