[NJARC] Frustration at Camp Evans

[Joe blanks]

Ray,
I would like to go.
Please post the time of the meeting and where it's to be held.

Joe


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ray Chase" <enrpnr@erols.com>
To: <njarc@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 11:57 AM
Subject: [NJARC] Frustration at Camp Evans


> Ready for an Info Age protest?
> First a little background.
> In 1993 the Army announced the de-activation of Camp Evans.  In 1995 an 
> environmental cleanup was started in order to make the premises 
> acceptable to turnover to Wall Township and the Info Age group for use 
> as a public resource.  Now, 23 million dollars and 8 years later that 
> outcome still eludes us.  In the latest saga of mis-management, the 
> electric power was to be turned off for about two weeks in order to make 
> a transformer replacement.  The power was turned off in October (with no 
> advance warning, even though cottage tours were scheduled) and to date 
> has not been restored.  (Waiting for a part!!)  The buildings have no 
> heat or de-humidification and if nothing is done soon more serious 
> freezing damage will occur to this historic site.  It's amazing how the 
> U.S. Army can mobilize for a major war in record time but cannot bring 
> this restoration effort to fruition.  Of course it is not the military 
> fighting organization that is frustrating progress here but a 
> bureaucracy of mainly civil service red taper's and contractors who have 
> a vested interest in prolonging the job.  When the job is done, the 
> money stops flowing and the civil service types hope they have another 
> project to latch onto.
> What can we do?
> Every month the clean-up powers-to-be hold a Restoration Advisory Board 
> (RAB) meeting in wall township to advise the public of  the status of 
> the clean-up and turn-over.  I occasionally attend these and it is clear 
> that bureaucracy prevails and that dynamic leadership was lost some 
> years ago.  Fred Carl has fought these impediments to progress for all 
> these years and has worn out his welcome many times over.  He has called 
> on some political big guns at times to solve major issues such as loss 
> of the sewer system etc. but he can call on these allies only so many 
> times. In the meantime, the site continues to deteriorate and stands 
> idle when it could be used for the publics betterment.  I am suggesting 
> instead a grass roots attack this time at the next RAB meeting if we can 
> muster up enough club members to make it a show of force.  It may or may 
> not work but it sure cannot hurt.  We can read prepared statements and 
> the local press might somehow get tipped off to our protest.
> The next RAB meeting is scheduled for Tuesday January 27th in the 
> evening at the Wall Township Municipal complex (a mile or so from Camp 
> Evans).
> Please let me know if you are willing to make this a protest event.  If 
> enough of us show up and demonstrate a significant public interest 
> support for getting the job done, maybe the bureaucrats will get a 
> message or at least get fired up a little.  I can get more particulars 
> on the exact time and place of the meeting and maybe plan some 
> statements and press releases to use but it won't work unless we can 
> have at least 10 to 20 people at the meeting.  I guarantee that if a 
> group of interested individuals show up at their meeting, it will rattle 
> their cage a bit.
> Let me know,  Ray
> 
> 
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