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Residents shouldn't have to write West Keansburg on mail
People living in West Keansburg - a section of Hazlet - should not be discriminated against. They deserve the same privileges as anyone living in Hazlet. No other section of Hazlet besides "West Keansburg" has to change its name for mail. Raritan Valley - which is another section of Hazlet - does not need to change its name for mail. West Keansburg residents should be able to put Hazlet on their mail because we live in Hazlet, not Keansburg.
West Keansburg residents go to Hazlet schools, pay Hazlet taxes, and have all the advantages of other Hazlet residents. So we as Hazlet residents should be called Hazlet. It is unfair that we should change our mailing address to West Keansburg. If we try to find directions on the computer and enter in "West Keansburg," it will automatically change it to Keansburg. Also, all our mail has been changed to Keansburg because 07734 is linked to that town. We are not Keansburg, we are Hazlet!
Although we have the same ZIP code as Keansburg and not Hazlet, that shouldn't matter. Other towns share the same ZIP code and are allowed to put their town's name on mail. When entered into the computer, it doesn't change. Some towns - such as Keyport and Union Beach - share the same ZIP code, but can put their name on mail. Other towns, like Jersey City, even use the same name and have many different ZIP codes. All of Jersey City's residents are able to put "Jersey City" on their mail.
The solution is either going with Jersey City's example and use different ZIP codes with one town name, or going with the Keyport and Union Beach example which is sharing the same ZIP code and using the town name. The only way to make any change is to get this on the voting ballot. To do this, the Hazlet Township Committee should send a questionnaire to the residents of West Keansburg asking if they would like to change their town's name to Hazlet for sending and receiving mail.
Years ago, it was rejected because the elderly in the area did not want any changes. Now however, the elderly have moved away due to high taxes. The younger families who have moved in want this change.
Stefani Kessaris
ninth-grade student
Raritan High School
Hazlet
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