The New Politics of Racism in Suburban New Jersey, Pt. 3

By Rev. Jim Purcell, MPS, CPSP1

On March 3, in Middletown Township, New Jersey -- perhaps the 'Whitest' town this side of Nebraska, the Township Committee voted to disband the Human Rights Commission. This commission was also, by statute, the Civil Rights Commission for Middletown Township, one of the largest municipalities in New Jersey -- and likely the leader in the least diversity.

Middletown is rich in patriotic spectacles, if not addressing civil liberties

In my opinion, no community stays all-White (or 93 percent at least) for its entire history, dating back to when the town was a Tory stronghold for Red Coats before and during the Revolutionary War -- unless part of the town priorities are not being inclusive, and for generations. Meanwhile, things like human rights commissions can certainly be a nuisance in that scenario. Communities today are not non-diverse by accident. It is a plan by the town fathers, long-standing political bosses and party interests that keeps that ugly idea going. And, there is no short supply of that in Middletown, as will be discussed in the next installment of this series.

It is a great shame, not only because the commission had been in continuous operation since 1968, but also because I am aware of the work of  the commission's chair, Dr. Carolyn Schwebel, and I have always known her to be the one in the trenches, fighting for disabled-accessible improvements to public buildings, not being afraid to tackle issues of race and controversy to do what was as just as she and her commission members could.

It is not a secret in Middletown that Dr. Schwebel was not a "team player" with the all-Republican GOP. She speaks truth-to-power in a place where that is very hard to do. Dr. Schwebel, you see, is pretty much the only actual tether the government in that town had of understanding how the actual world, not secluded in a moneyed section of New Jersey, works.

There are four members of her commission, and there have been several others wanting to join as well. And, as I am well aware from my days putting out a newspaper in this close-knit community, the Middletown Committee ignores the truth of the actual world, in favor of its own. In fact, Dr. Schwebel was not able to accept everyone who was interested in joining the commission, because there were too many.

Yet, one of the primary reasons offered by former Mayor Anthony Fiore for this disbandment was because there were not enough people interested in joining this commission. Well, I have known Dr. Schwebel many years and I am not about to call her a liar, as I am aware of her good character, while I am similarly aware of the tradition of bad conduct by this committee and its entrenched politicians.

One of the so-called reasons, which were expedient excuses, by the town committee was that the Human Rights Commission was not drawing enough interest by volunteers. In fact, the commission had no wont of new recruits. Dr. Schwebel, reluctantly, had to turn down several volunteers for the post due to the size of the body.

She stated recently to her commission members: "Mr. Fiore was wrong when he said that there was no interest, no one applied for the Middletown HRC. Several citizens have actually applied for membership on the Middletown HRC. While Larry, Spiro, and Ray were appointed, the rest, about seven, who looked good,were not."

In its proclamation disassembling the 46-year-old town body, the committee stated: "Whereas, the Commission has not been an active body for many years, and when it did meet, it failed to focus on its statutorily defined mission as set forth under N.J.S.A. 10:5-10 (formerly N.J.S.A. 18:25-10 at the time of its formation by Resolution in 1968); and whereas, not only did the Commission fail to perform its statutorily defined duties, it involved itself in matters entirely outside of the jurisdiction of the Township’s governing body, in one instance it was even used to promote a pet food drive for a charity associated with a member of the commission."

So, the alleged reasons for the disbandment included, but was not limited to: the commission addressing the broad scope of issues presented it (e.g. "failed to focus on its statutorily defined mission") -- yes, it could not be told what it would say by politicians; it is alleged the commission "has not been an active body for many years," and I would ask how the commission can be meeting and doing things the committee didn't like without being active; and, "in one instance, [the HRC] was even used to promote a pet food drive for a charity associated with a member of the commission." The committee is castigating the commission for helping out dogs? Really?

Things cannot stay stuck in the past for any community so long

So, the Town Committee and former Mayor Fiore and freshman Mayor Stephanie C. Murray all made it clear they didn't want the commission around. The final excuse for this was that the action was a cost-saving measure.

Insofar as  "saving money," the HRC was a volunteer body, as was the volunteers that helped them with their initiatives (far from being inactive). Aside from burning some electricity and leaving the bathrooms open when they met at Town Hall, 1 Kings Highway, there was really no cost whatsoever attached to this body. I daresay the governing body probably spends more on appetizers for one or two of their own self-congratulatory, private events than this commission costed the town in an entire year.

On Friday, January 28, 2010, Dr. Carolyn Schwebel, the chair of the commission, wrote a letter to then-Middletown Township  Mayor Anthony Fiore thanking him for his visit the previous night during a meeting of the HRC.

At that session there was, naturally, a discussion between Mayor Fiore and Dr. Schwebel about the nature of her commission.

As she promised at the then-recent meeting, Dr. Schwebel sent Mayor Fiore a memorandum from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, noting NJSA 10:5-10, "which empowers local municipalities to appoint local commissions on civil rights."

Dr. Schwebel went on to cite the reference and noted the primary function of such a included "...[an] attempt to foster through community effort or otherwise, good will, cooperation and conciliation among the groups and elements of the inhabitant of the community."

Dr. Schwebel made the argument that the "intention was not to limit the functioning of local civil rights commissions only to advising the governing body." Yet, in the resolution abolishing the commission and in its language throughout the dismantling process the group was always characterized by the Township Committee as an "advisory group" to the governing body; not an independent body of its own with its own ability to review issues or take testimony, as appropriate, about crucial issues of diversity and equal access and offer independent opinions, other than those the Township Committee strictly gave them.

It is no secret that Dr. Schwebel is also involved, and has been for many years, in an area group called The Equalizers, a private group that explains and, when necessary, agitates for, equal access to various public venues for those who are disabled. This is work intended to 'catch up' lethargic Monmouth County and Shore towns in things they should be doing anyway to comply with the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act. If such a group is a reason for scorn in any community, then priorities for that place need to be seriously re-examined.

Middletown is part of the United States of America, where there is a U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights in operation right now, despite those who would seek to run their municipality in a similar fashion to "Boss Hog" on the beloved 70's TV show "The Dukes of Hazard." Yet, Middletown Township has managed to do just that -- evade what most other communities have to do in New Jersey to ensure the rights of the citizens of this state.

Where there is not oversight, there will be excesses: Any CEO can tell you that -- any store manager for that matter. What is it that will get accomplished? Whatever is checked to ensure workers have done it. In this case, the Middletown Committee just did away with its own Human Rights and Civil Rights Commission. So the question has to be offered: Just what is the pain in the neck that the committee wants to go away -- the human rights" part or the "civil rights" aspect of the body? Either way, it is not a healthy sign for any community.





Correction: I have been informed that the abolishment of the Human Rights Commission has not yet occurred, it was simply vetted on March 3rd for the governing body, which will vote upon it finally at its next session. Personally, I don't think anyone on that dais is going to change their mind about a thing, though. JJP