DaTruthSquad Special: Volunteers “Fired!”

Da admission must be made right now that daTruthSquad was trying very hard to not bring back da popular BaconHead of da Week. But this latest story from da Asbury Park Press is like bringing da mountain to Manalapan.

Who are these BaconHeads trying to fool?

If you read the Thursday Asbury Park Press, you read a very interesting tale about “bipartisanship” in Manalapan fostered by Manalapan’s new leader, da Queen Michelle Roth.

Da newspaper report told you many things voters would want to hear. Unfortunately, one thing da “Shock Quotes” made by da Queen and her right hand, former mayor Andy Boy didn’t tell you was – daTruth!

“She said she hoped that "intimidation and bully tactics" in the news media, at town meetings and on the Internet did not keep other residents from getting involved in local politics and volunteerism.”

Da last time daTruthSquad checked, da one thing that can be said about this blog is it never fired anyone – especially a volunteer. Da very same cannot be said about Manalapan’s Queen of Mean.

Immediately after taking da oath of office, two prominent volunteers where unceremoniously “fired” from their non-paid positions. DaTruthSquad will let you judge to see if “bipartisanship” was a reason for their dismissal.

What da newspaper story didn’t tell you was two prominent people were “fired” from non-paying volunteer jobs – da very same volunteers she blamed daTruthSquad for staying “on the sidelines for fear of attack with fabricated and severely distorted information."

Let daTruthSquad tell you about two of those volunteers kicked to da Queen’s curb.

One is a gentleman named Butch Budai. As da President of da Manalapan Republican Club, it was very bipartisan of da Democratic Queen to fire him. Of course, Budai was also Susan Cohen’s campaign manager, which put him at odds with Andy Boy since both GOP’ers ran separate campaigns. Budai also had another person who could pull some strings working against him. Manalapan GOP’s Grand Poobah did not back Cohen but did back Andy Boy.

Budai was not in favor of having to fill out a “job application’ to be a volunteer, but did so anyway because HE WANTED TO SERVE. He has a long record of volunteerism in Manalapan. Budai has also been rumored to be thinking about running against da Queen for Township Committee.

So what is da criteria for being a Manalapan volunteer?

Maybe we should also ask Helene Johnson. She too has a long history, along with her husband of being a Manalapan volunteer. She’s sharing da curb with Budai. Why?

Before we talk about da lovely Helene, let’s chat about her husband.

Steve Johnson has been quite vocal about da controversial synthetic athletic fiend at Manalapan Rec, a $4 million dollar + field heavily supported by da Queen & Andy Boy. Senor Johnson, my TruthTellers report is seriously considering running for Township Committee, and would oppose not only Roth, but da Poobah and Andy Boy too.

So, why kick Helene Johnson, who also filled in da application to da curb? I guess her many years of volunteer service doesn’t count for much.

Both Budai & Johnson are GOP’ers. Again, very bipartisan of you Senorita Queen.

Now don’t think daTruthSquad forgot about that newspaper story. There’s enough Shock Quotes in there to make even Carolina MachoGrande blush.

Roth Shock Quote #1: “I am extremely pleased to be a part of a committee that has accomplished so much last year, and I believe will accomplish more this year.”

DaTruthSquad seriously doubts she’d know daTruth if she took a bite out of it.

DaTruth is, da committee under da Queen & Andy Boy last year raised municipal taxes by 28% - a record for da town! Let’s also not forget a First Amendment lawsuit against daTruthSquad that, as a part of da “land-deal-gone-wrong” lawsuit has “cost over $100,000.

You had da bruhaha over da Manalapan Symphony. If you have any questions, read da editorial from da Snoozer penned by da former conductor.

Roth Shock Quote #2: "This behavior keeps talented and qualified people who would otherwise be willing to serve as elected officials (feeling) compelled to stay on the sidelines for fear of attack with fabricated and severely distorted information,”

Da Queen here is talking about what former Township Attorney Carolina MachoGrande calls “anonymous bomb throwers,” or people who blog or write comments on sites like daTruthSquad or NJ.com.

Now, da last time I checked, daTruthSquad has NEVER fired a volunteer, or raised taxes a record 28%, or forced a symphony conductor to hand in their baton, or spent over $100,000 according to Andy Boy for a land-deal-gone-bad / First Amendment lawsuit. Da Roth Administration can’t say da same.

Roth Shock Quote #3: "We are proud that rather than stooping to this level, our committee has shown the courage, strength and leadership to cast aside or stand up to these bullies and seek common ground with those who are generally considered to be the opposition."

How quickly some forgot da famous words of Manalapan Historic Figure Larry Roth, da husband of da Queen, whose 4 famous words were not “Da British are coming,” but instead were “Because I Hate Italians.”

DaTruth is, it’s very easy to blame someone else.

Of course, one of da best Shock Quotes saved for last was reserved for former Mayor Andy Boy. This of course you cannot make up…

Andy Boy Shock Quote #1: "I know I can go home tonight and sleep well knowing Manalapan is well taken care of" with Roth and Cohen at the helm, outgoing Mayor Andrew Lucas said.

As one of da architects of da single biggest local tax increase in Manalapan history, it’s good to know wherever Andy Boy does calls home, wherever that may be, daTruthSquad is glad he does find a way to sleep at night.

DaTruth is, firing such quality people from being volunteers like Helene Johnson and Butch Budai brings Manalapan down a level. These two people worked tirelessly for da Recreation Committee, among others. They deserve to be applauded. They deserve to be praised. They do not deserve to be told, “Your free services are no longer required here.”

Da fact Budai and Helene’s husband are rumored to be pondering a run for Township Committee means da firings can be considered political. DaTruth is, telling such giving people like Butch Budai and Helene Johnson to take a hike isn’t bipartisan. It’s just mean – and it’s da reason people sit on da sidelines and decline to serve. It has nothing to do with this blog or a citizen’s opinions, no matter what career politicians may believe.

And that’s daTruth.