Solve problems with people, not money

Throwing money at problems. Our money. It is how our country, our state, and our county has got into trouble.
Democrat Dan Perez wants to do it again with his new veterans coordinator. This is just a stupid patronage job for one of his friends. The new job is supposed to turn out a newsletter and do other public relations work to make the freeholders look good. It isn't serious about helping veterans only about looking like its helping to get votes.
Republican Herb Yardley has a better idea. Use an existing program that we are already paying for to train young college-aged interns to assist veterans in interacting with government to receive benefits or resolve problems. It will mean valuable work-experience for the students and a personal advocate for individual veterans. Isn't that better than giving a title to some politically-connected patronage employee?
If you have 100 veterans looking for help and just one employee working 40 hours a week, how much time will be available for each veteran? A few minutes, if that. With trained interns, you could have one-on-one availability and focus. A veteran could have a well-trained friend and personal attention helping them negotiate the process.
Herb Yardley has this right. Don't just toss money at a problem. Solve it with people.
Andrew Smith
Hardyston