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It’s not a secret in Lakewood; you don’t win an election by your popularity or performance, you can only be elected with the endorsement of the Lakewood Vaad. The Lakewood Vaad is comprised of dedicated askonim who truly believe that a system of autocratic rule is the best for our community. They may be right. They do tremendous good on behalf of the kehilla & deserve much credit.
However, the facts remain that the public officials are not beholden or accountable to the Lakewood citizenry, their reelection only hinges on getting the Vaad’s endorsement.
Many people have been complaining to our public officials about the terrible traffic & overbuilding in Lakewood & things keep on getting worse, not better. I believe that this lack of direct accountability to the citizens of Lakewood is causing a breakdown in effective leadership.
I don’t have a solution to the problem.1. The citizens of Lakewood out of their own free volition and choice decided to follow the vote recommendations of the Vaad. As American citizens that is their right to do, your criticism notwithstanding.
2. A bloc vote is very powerful when virtually the entire community votes together in sync. This is demonstrated by various Chasidish kehilos who carry great political weight, far beyond their numbers, due to their disciplined bloc vote.
3. The citizenry of Lakewood is very happy with the enormous population growth 拽撞谉 注讬谉志讛专注 of the frum community in Lakewood and the requisite housing and building boom that comes with it. This is easily demonstrable by their consistent re-electing the very public servants who enacted the regulations allowing this growth.
住讜祝 讻诇 住讜祝 we need to say an enormous 讘专讜讱 讛砖诐!
To the OP, yes they are. it’s not their fault people vote for them again and again.
Joseph, if they are so happy, why are there so many complaints about traffic and the scarcity of places in the fall for every student?
Public officials are rarely accountable. If they have real power, the first thing they do with it is remove their accountability.
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