BREAKING NEWS: Manalapan’s Field of Dreams or Nightmares

You won’t find this in da local Snoozepaper or anywhere else, but apparently CME in da town of Evesham, New Jersey stands for “Contracts, Money, and Elections.”

A daTruthSquad investigation into da issue of Manalapan's "Field of Dreams" has instead uncovered a town in NJ which wants to spend $3.1 million dollars on 2 synthetic surface athletic fields. Please note da price and da amount of fields.

Township residents have filed suit to block da field’s construction. According to da legal database, da lawsuit says da town council adopted a bond ordinance that violated Evesham’s pay-to-play ordinance and failed to comply with an ordinance to bring da matter to da town’s Planning Board for review.

Da bond for $3.1 million dollars was to build 2 fields in da township.

Is that da whole story --- NO.

Here’s da little glitch that Manalapan may not know – da lawsuit also says da town “failed to properly advertise for bids on da $72,000 professional service agreement given to CME Associates in Howell.”

The lawsuit also contends the township failed to properly advertise for bids on a $72,000 professional services agreement with CME Associates of Howell for preliminary planning of the artificial turf field at Cherokee.

Corbett said the council adopted the ordinance to pay for the planning without disclosing that principals from CME Associates contributed a total of $5,000 to the election campaigns of councilmen Randy Brown, John McKenna and Chris Brown.

“CME Associates was awarded a contract that exceeds both the township's and the state's pay-to-play threshold without complying with the open and fair processes,” Corbett wrote in the complaint.

This could raise questions about Manalapan’s “Field of Dreams or Nightmares,” and not just because of any questions of engineering.

Much has been said about da proposed “Field of Dreams” artificial turf field proposed as a part of da over $4 million dollar Manalapan Rec expansion. It’s da crown jewel of da Gang of Three, and you can bet a future Back Page Barratta story about da Mosked Man that it will also be a big talking point in da upcoming Queen’s reelection campaign.

Does this make you wonder if any CME folk have given recently to election campaigns for any Manalapan committee folk? Do you wonder if CME has anything to do in any way with Manalapan’s “Field of Dreams” or da Dreyer Patch?

Maybe this is a question someone should ask of da Manalapan Township Committee at da next meeting? This may also be a very good topic for former Mayor Porky Spodak to investigate, especially since da expansion of da Dreyer Patch is included in da expansion of Manalapan Rec.

Much apparently has also been hidden from view about da Manalapan “Field of Dreams.” It’s time to uncover some of those hidden agendas.

Health Concerns:

If my uncle, Dr. daTruthSquad were here, that would be up to him. However, others have opinions on this. Three members of da Manalapan Township Committee, all not doctors, all believe it is safe since not one child who has played on da field yet to be built has become ill.

However, da same cannot be said in other towns that have synthetic fields – or are thinking about getting one.

In Newark, it has been reported by da NY Times that one synthetic field was deemed by da city “a public health hazard” after lead was discovered at more than 3 times Federal standards. Note, that was an indoor synthetic field.

In New York City, da city is currently reviewing “current scientific research on crumb rubber products,” – da same type of field Manalapan is planning to install.

Also in NYC, several environmental and civic groups are urging da Mayor to halt construction of these types of fields until a proper investigation is done for health risks.

Critics say this type of field -- installed and made of crumb rubber may contain “polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,” according to the NY Times – and important – the Trust for Public Land has already announced it would no longer use crumb rubber infill for the fields it builds in city playgrounds.

In Connecticut, they’ve taken the questions 1 step further. They are concerned that athletes may ingest not only dust particles but the actual rubber pellets that come loose from the synthetic field. There is also a concern that the rubber material could be brought into the home from pieces clinging to uniforms or shoes.

A Connecticut report says volatile organic chemicals released from crumb rubber fields is expected to be greatest in hot, sunny weather.

It is important to note at this time, there has not been any conclusive proof that the fields pose any imminent threat of sickness, and their report concludes that, but also says “uncertainties warrant further investigations.”

The city of Stamford, Connecticut just adopted a plan to spend $5.7 million on 4 synthetic fields - da same type of fields Manalapan wants. However, opponents of da rubber fields cited a recent Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station study which found the tire fragments leached heavy metals into water and released at least four compounds that can irritate eyes, skin and mucous membranes when heated.

On Long Island, they noted "While a number of independent studies put forth by FieldTurf did not find a connection between synthetic turf and existing illnesses, a few studies indicate that the tires are composed of materials that may contain volatile hydrocarbons. The question is whether these carcinogenic compounds can be released in every day conditions."

And here's something else you may not know - in NY, there is actual legislation being discussed RIGHT NOW that puts a six-month hold on the building of these types of fields so a "comprehensive public health study can be done"!

Da legislation - Bill #A09503 in NY says clearly - "The crumb rubber is a result of processing waste tires, which contain numerous components, some of which are known to be hazardous. These contaminants can include arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, vanadium, zinc and acetone. Health effects associated with these contaminants include birth defects, cancer, nervous system damage and immune system suppression."

Manalapan Township Committeeman Mr. Anthony Gennaro brought up topics such as this in a very impressive report, however Drs. Roth, Lucas, & Klauber all believe there is no threat. A study into da field and materials as requested by Committeeman Gennaro has been denied.

Should we ask da 3 "Doctors" on da Committee to put in writing they feel da fields are 100% safe and accept full liability if they aren't?

Again, it must be said that these are only studies that have been done. Unfortunately, da only actual proof from these studies will be long-term health effects, and that we won't know for years to come. However, da heat issue is real, and it does get hot around here in da summer.

Da Issue: DaTruth

DaTruth is, there are a lot of questions that can be asked. Why is it Evesham’s 2 fields are costing less than Manalapan’s? Why are the potential health threats being ignored by Drs. Roth, Lucas & Klauber? Why is it Manalapan’s Queen can ask for a forensic accounting on $400, spend “over $100,000” on a lawsuit for a $15,000 cleanup, but deny a simple request by Mr. Gennaro to temporarily postpone da “Field of Dreams” to do a health impact study? Why is it that daTruthSquad uncovered da Evesham connection and da local Snoozepaper didn’t? Was that because da lawyer for Evesham wasn’t da Mosked Man?

DaTruth is, others, like Mr. Gennaro and private citizens have looked into this very same topic and have been sent to da back of da synthetic bus. Manalapan resident and possible candidate for Township Committee (and he’d make a good one) Steve Johnson has been looking into these fields and what they are made of shows there are questions worth looking into.

Now, it is also important to note that nobody has died using these fields as of this date. But da fact that this whole plan is being rushed through like there’s a synthetic fire attached to it also raises questions. Has anyone connected with CME or any company or group connected with da field give any political donations to any current Township Committee people? Should that question be asked at da next meeting?

Manalapan taxpayers are paying over $4 million dollars for this synthetic field? If Manalapan will look into a symphony conductor and $400, shouldn’t they cross all da T’s and dot all da I’s if they spend over $4 million dollars of YOUR MONEY?

Is there an issue of trust when it comes to da folks on da Township Committee spending YOUR MONEY?

DaTruth is, something seems wrong in Evesham Township, which is why there is a lawsuit now involved, and as we are all aware, there’s enough questions, synthetic and real in Manalapan to fill da East Coast, much less da town.

Should red flags be raised about health issues regarding Manalapan’s potential “Field of Dreams or Nightmares?” Should da town’s leaders be investigated to see if any of them have accepted any donations from CME or any engineering firm doing business in Manalapan? Should da cost of $4.1 million dollars be looked at dollar for dollar?

Should township residents take a page from their friends in Evesham?

Questions – too many questions – for a very costly project that is being financed by YOUR TAX DOLLARS.

There is nothing simple about this, like whether living in Freehold instead of Manalapan cuts down a person's work commute? These are health issues, it's up to those elected officials to look closely when it comes to health - and price too.

And that’s daTruth.