Our Voices
Urging the Mayor and Town Council to make a statement
June 6, 2020
Dear Mayor Neff and the Little Silver Council members,
Utility companies, food blogs, Little Silver Chief of Police, the YMCA, the National Football League and countless others are all taking a firm stand against the tragedy of George Floyd’s murder, police and citizen violence against black people and empathizing with the pain and suffering of our black brothers and sisters due to systemic racism in the United States.
And yet, you and the Little Silver Council are silent.
Our community, a white suburban neighborhood, is not in a bubble untouched by what is happening in our surrounding communities, the state of New Jersey and our nation at large. New Jersey, with few exceptions, is successfully marching peacefully because public leaders, mayors, police chiefs, elected officials, police and citizens of every color and age group are engaging positively and acknowledging that Black Lives Matter.
And yet, you and the Little Silver Council are silent.
Racism is a complex social dynamic and we as white people too often do not speak up or show leadership at times such as these. We don’t want to rock the boat. It’s easier to slink into our corners than to confront the wrong doing of racial bias and prejudice. Systemic racism is real. Police violence against black people is real.
Mayor, your silence and the Little Silver Council’s silence are not going unnoticed.
It is important that you and the Council of Little Silver take a stand. Acknowledge that systemic racism is real and that you and the Council stand for justice and for an America that doesn’t discriminate based on the color of one’s skin - that what happened to George Floyd and countless others is not acceptable.
As a homogenous group, the power you have to demonstrate leadership will provide our children a pathway to understand and learn the history of our country that got us here today. Our history is fraught. We all need to truly understand how slavery, the Civil War, Jim Crowe, redlining, lack of GI bills for education and loans, separate bathroom facilities, Green Books for lodging and restaurants, discrimination in housing and workplace, lack of voting rights, etc., etc., are all a part of today’s unrest.
Can’t you provide leadership to acknowledge the pain that is occurring in our society and to implore our residents to be courageous and brave? Our privilege allows us to ignore. Let us collectively not ignore this moment.
Too often, leaders want to take the easy way out. Don’t do that. Our lack of diversity in Little Silver will not serve us in the years to come. Our nation is changing. Our community needs to meet that change and change with it to prosper in the years ahead.
We all must be brave. We all must be courageous.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan G. Gotti
Little Silver
Urging the Mayor and Town Council to make a statement
June 4, 2020
Dear Mayor Neff and Little Silver Council,
I hope you are doing well. I wanted to write to you to discuss what has been going on in Minneapolis and around the world, particularly after the killing of George Floyd last week. I've been so deeply saddened and angered by the news, and my grief is matched only by the awful fact that what happened to Mr. Floyd is by no means an isolated incident in this country. In fact, it represents only one extremely horrific example of the many racist acts that happen daily.
I would like to know if you have discussed Mr. Floyd's death with our Little Silver Police officers and in our town Council. I would also like to know what you believe are the shared values and beliefs in our Little Silver culture, those you stand for and champion. What are the standards and ideals we must hold each other to uphold and strive to achieve together, especially in these times when we must examine and work against systemic racism? I have been appreciative of the statements of the Monmouth County Law Enforcement Community and those from other town mayors and councils. Just yesterday, our Little Silver Superintendent also shared a statement that I found powerful and meaningful.
Please know I have tremendous respect for you and the leadership in our town. I know we have wonderful officers that live and work in our town, and I believe in both their and your responsive leadership. Yet, I also know that we must ALL do MORE to speak out and to clearly condemn the horrific actions of the few and recommit ourselves in specific ways to do better for the many who remain unheard. It is in that spirit, that I reach out and ask you to please make a statement. I think it would be incredibly meaningful if you and our town council spoke up and said that the action/inaction of those Minneapolis police officers is unacceptable and indefensible; that it does not represent the good officers here in Little Silver, nor the policy directives of our state AG. I would ask you to draw upon the leadership Little Silver has shown and our many good endeavors as you emphasize our common values to do more and to do better. As a mother, who at my core believes we must model Empathy and the Courage to Act, I would be incredibly proud to make sure my son heard your messages. Our family has been honored to be a part of every effort locally that we could to give more, to let you and our first responders know just how thankful we are for your front-line service (and not just in these times of Coronavirus), and to take action that reflect equality and the importance of a common humanity. I recognize how your job is even more difficult in these times, but I believe words and actions matter. Please, make a statement.
It is not lost on me that I am a white woman of privilege, living in a town with very little diversity. One that we love, but know is like a bubble to some very difficult realities in the world at large. I will never know the fear of sending my son out into the world and worrying that his interactions with the police could be fatal due, in no small part, to the color of his skin. He can wear a hoodie without fear. My husband can jog in our neighborhood without fear. We are white and privileged. We have personally had the good fortune of being kept safe by police officers, instead of fearing them. Almost every encounter has always been positive. We are seen and heard…kept safe almost by default. Never once have we felt any fear about our interactions with police officers. But if I were black, if my husband and son were black, I would absolutely have other fears. And there would be countless other lessons I’d have to impart to my young, innocent son. This is a heavy reality. One I hope to help change. One I hope you’ll help change.
Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
With sincere appreciation,
Amy Eklof
Little Silver
Two River Times—O’Scanlon Tweet Garners REsponse
My Senator, Declan O’Scanlon, tweeted on Mother’s Day with a tone that disregards the lives of mothers everywhere. In it he states, “So..first time I’m going to suggest this....but it’s time. Everyone...defy the @GovMurphy ! Go outside your house!! It’s ok, you can trust me! Look South/Southeast...revel in that moon! We’re likely going to take this rebellion a few steps further next couple weeks. Get ready!”
His disregard for life by inciting rebellious behavior is reckless and dangerous. I’m so ashamed of him. This is not responsible leadership! One can disagree without a call to defiant action.
NJ is one of the hardest hit states and is still fighting to flatten the curve. O’Scanlon does not have a record for supporting women or common sense, and this inflammatory language is divisive when we need leaders to work together to make important decisions based on complicated factors. Governor Murphy is not blocking the moon! You can go outside safely! Just trust him? It’s fine? This tweet on Mother’s Day and also at the end of National Nurses Week says a lot about him and his priorities.
O’Scanlon has joined Trump, the GOP, and Congressmen Chris Smith in risking lives for their political agenda. This is not leadership in a crisis!
Mothers and NJ families everywhere, especially in his NJ District 13 deserve better.
Amy Eklof
Little Silver, NJ
O’Scanlon Rebellious Tweet was Reckless
Published Letter to the Editor by Amy Eklof