Women’s Club Debate Night

(Reprinted from Amboy Beacon, Oct, 20, 2008)

SOUTH AMBOY — A Candidates’ Debate Night for candidates for Mayor and City

Council in the Nov. 2 election still will be held on Friday, Oct. 22, from

7 to 9 p.m. at Memorial Hall across from Sacred Heart Church, Washington

Avenue, as-planned.

The Debate, hosted by the South Amboy Women’s Club, a new organization

headed by former Councilwoman Beverly Samuelson, will be moderated by the N.J.

League of Women Voters. Sponsors include Amboy Bank and the Amboy Beacon.

In a letter on city stationery dated Oct. 18 to the League, with copies to

Amboy Bank and the Amboy Beacon, Mayor John O’Leary cites “numerous

complaints” received from senior citizens about the facility being

“non-barrier-free” and “not handicap (sic) accessible due to the wide winding staircase

too wide for the use of both handrail (sic) simultaneously,” and “no elevator

to enable a wheelchair to enter the debate,” thereby presenting “a

dangerous scenario for the handicap (sic), and does not afford them the ability to

attend this debate.”

O’Leary goes-on to offer as an alternative “the South Amboy Community

Theater” at the Community School, Hoffman Plaza.

However, Samuelson said that Memorial Hall is being used for Debate Night

because the theater at the Community School was unavailable.

According to Samuelson, the Women’s Club was told by school officials that,

as an alternative, the gymnasium could be used for a $500 fee plus $100 for

insurance. The money was secured from Amboy Bank, but then the Club was

informed that the $500 fee was incorrect, and the fee was actually $1,000.

“We then contacted Sacred Heart because they have a hall to rent,”

Samuelson said. “They gave us the rate of $500 for the hall and $100 for the

insurance.”

As for the issue of handicapped-accessibility, the Sacred Heart facility

has been used for many years to hold monthly meetings of the Sacred Heart

Seniors.

Doors will open at 6 p.m., followed by an introduction of the candidates by

Alicia Vitarelli of News12 New Jersey at 6:30 p.m., and the moderator will

read the League’s rules that will be in-effect for the evening