Anyone involved in governing and administrating a town or county in New Jersey understands the economic problems outlined in The Star-Ledger editorials of February 28 and March 1. The costs of labor, pensions, health benefits and binding arbitration agreements are strangling residents and administrators. Everyone is suffering. We have been addressing these issues in Essex County for more than two years, with limited support, and it is good to hear other governmental entities and public voices, such as the Ledger's editorial board, joining ours. I especially commend Governor Chris Christie, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver for addressing these serious issues, and assure them that we will assist them in every way we can.

On the day of his inauguration, Governor Christopher Christie inherited a gaping $2 billion hole in the state's budget and swiftly set about the people's business in meeting our constitutional mandate guaranteeing a balanced budget. Shortly thereafter, he declared a State of Fiscal Emergency via Executive Order No. 14, effectively freezing most government spending with the intent of ensuring "that appropriations are not used to support waste, mismanagement or extravagance in a time of severely diminished fiscal resources."

Since the pilgrims first landed on Plymouth Rock in the winter of 1620, generations have relied on North American lumber for homes, stores, schools, houses of worship and any other buildings that have helped shape this country.

But in recent years, in the verve of environmental correctness, groups have deemed some lumber to be "certified" through the U.S. Green Building Council and any other lumber to potentially be of lesser quality or questionable source. Of course, this "special" lumber – just like bottled water – is marketed differently and costs a premium.

As far as any member of the New Jersey Building Materials Dealers Association can tell, the only difference that this certified lumber offers is layers of red tape for the supplier and the ultimate increased cost to the consumer.

You won't find this advertised on the state tourism board's website, but it is a well-known fact that New Jersey has some of the purest street heroin in the nation. It is a popular choice among local drug users.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration reported in 2008 that heroin use among New Jersey's 18-25 population is more than twice the national average. Many doctors and addicts are relying on Suboxone – a narcotic that can be taken at home to treat the addictions caused by heroin and other opiates – as a long term solution for the addictions these drugs cause. I disagree.