Lakewood, NJ – Despite the fact that non-public school courtesy busses showed up largely empty and thousands of predominantly Orthodox Jewish private school parents drove their children to school on Tuesday, Lakewood officials say the planned school bus boycott had only a minimal affect on daily traffic in the area.
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APP.com (http://on.app.com/1uYyiSL) reports that while many parents answered the call of Iggud Hamosdos, political activists and dean Rabbi Yisroel Schenkolewski to stage a traffic nightmare in response to Lakewood’s proposal to end the courtesy busing service at the end of the year, strategically placed traffic cops and crossing guards kept things moving.
Scott Carter, a supervisor for Lakewood’s Emergency Medical Services Department, who braced for the event, said no emergency service calls came in, but that traffic did appear heavier than normal.
“There was a bit more congestion that we noticed,” said Carter. “Thankfully, the day was uneventful for us.”
However, some local residents disagreed and said the traffic caused them delays.
A local contractor Joe Bolowski said the 9 a.m. congestion was a nuisance for him.
“It’s taken me 15 to 20 minutes to do what normally takes a minute.” Bolowski said.
26-year veteran Lakewood bus driver Anna Nagurka said none of her usual 50 kids showed up for her route.
“I heard a lot of the parents carpooled,” Nagurka said.
Video below: courtesy of Asbury Park Press
For the sake of truth – it was far from minimal. HUGE DELAYS!!! Most people sat for 2-3 times the normal amount of time that it would take on a regular day…. Also, there was an unfortunate incident in which a cyclist was hit by a car.
the issue at hand is the fact that we have tax exempt property that get social services and we have illegal basement that don’t pay taxes that collect social service.
if all the property that don’t pay taxes would not get social services Lakewood property taxes would go down
and there would be enough money for the busses.
In Israel they burn garbage cans
You have to understand the Police were out directing traffic which wont be around next year
the word for it in English is FLOP, ppl wake up and smell the coffee
you will have bussing next year just like you have private bussing on Sunday and legal holiday just you would pay for it.
the major question is what Eged drivers points out were is our tax dollars??
Let them start car pooling or walk their kids to school as the public school parents will do without a flopped protest to call a chillul hashem.
Why is it that Haredim will walk for miles on Shabbos for nothing but a two mile walk is too much for a schoolchild?
Instead of making parents drive there kids to school in protest, have ALL private schools (including Christian privates) close and flood the Public Schools with new kids! They will never be able to handle it and have to start giving more services, including bussing, to private schools!
A huge glop and a bigger Chillul Hashem. Whatever happened to Hisga’arus Ba’Umos? Or that’s only for Tziyoinim?
Can someone explain to me why this was a Chillul Hashem. This is America. Everyone has the ability to stage protest to public policy so long as it does prove to incite violence. The Lakewood Jewish community chose to silently protest in a completely non- aggressive manner. It will be a great problem next year to send children to school in a an area with a lack of safe side walks or public transportation. Contrary to popular belief much of the Lakewood community does work- probably a much greater percentage than the towns minority population that attend the public schools. I am so tired of so many self hating insecure bored people who so quickly jump to criticize before properly analyzing a situation.
Have a great night.