Jackie strikes back

Apparently fed up after months of derisive and sometimes defamatory comments made about her in the print media and online, Council member Jacqueline Kates wrote a pointed letter that is published in this week's Suburbanite. The majority of the letter is directed at a particularly egregious example of an over-the-top unprovoked attack that appeared in the previous week's edition of the Suburbanite, but the points raised by the former mayor apply equally to all those who have attempted to besmirch her reputation in recent months. The message is pretty clear: put up or shut up!

Most of the time, it is best to ignore the hecklers and let their own idiocy speak for itself. At the same time, a dedicated public servant and enthusiastic volunteer who for decades has contributed numerous hours to many causes in and around Teaneck and carried out the duties of an elected official with aplomb should not need to endure so much abuse. It is unclear why there is an ongoing effort to attack Kates' character rather than her positions, but the gauntlet has now been thrown down. The former mayor has it exactly right: if the critics have something on her, they must put it out there so she can have the opportunity to clear her name. If not, they should pipe down already.