Sunday, October 9, 2011

A Lesson in Bureacratese

Let’s take the following hypothetical from a board member’s perspective.

The state awards your school district nearly $600,000, no strings attached. Your superintendent insists the school district spend the money “for the children”. Yet, you’re reluctant. Your district is being ravaged by high unemployment and a wave of foreclosures. Your district is among the highest taxed in the county and, even discounting the windfall, the district has already increased spending by 4%.

The superintendent sees your reluctance and quickly outlines a plan for spending the money. Over a $100,000 will be spent on books. For the children. Who can be opposed to books? And, to make it more palatable, he insists it’s a can’t fail, “research-based” program to create classroom libraries.

You’re wondering why, if it’s such a sure thing, isn’t everybody doing it? And how does sticking books in a room really improve language arts scores? And why isn’t this concept, that’s “research-based”, listed in the federal Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse?

But you can’t give it much thought because the superintendent is quickly moving on to the next thing – iPads for gym teachers. The superintendent explains how gym teachers have the Herculean task of writing down everyone who’s absent or late and then entering it into a computer. With an iPad, they could skip an entire step.

And you’re thinking, gym teachers? With all the challenges and financial constraints, do we really need to buy iPads for gym teachers?

Once again, the superintendent leaps to the next item – promethean boards. And, once again, you’re thinking, how many promethean boards have we already bought? Are they making a difference? Do teachers even know how to use them? And why, after all these years and the millions sold, is there still no proof that promethean boards actually improve education?

The superintendent keeps throwing more things at you. Investments in technology. Nook e-readers. Wi-fi hotspots. More teacher training. Surely there must be something you can support.

And you’re wondering, we already spend $62 million a year. If these items are so important, how come we never tried to find the money for any of them?

But then the Superintendent offers his closing argument. “I’m the superintendent. This is what I’m recommending.”

And now you have to wonder – Is this a fight worth fighting? If you deny funding and the superintendent fails, he’ll claim it was your fault. Plus, as a board member, you know you’ll never be able to accomplish any personal initiatives without the friendship and support of the superintendent. And it’s not like his proposals have no merit at all. And it’s not like the taxpayers will ever miss the money because it wasn’t something they ever expected. And you’re not spending all the money so maybe you’ll still be able to offer some tax relief next year. And, given the acrimonious relationship between the board and the teachers union this is a good way to show you’re still willing to invest in the schools. And a lot of the ideas are cool – iPads, promethean boards, Nooks, wi-fi.

You look around. Most of the board members are leaning towards supporting the superintendent’s proposal. Are you really going to take a stand, particularly when it’s probably going to pass anyways and a “no” vote could damage your relationship with the superintendent?

If you’re Ken Aitken, the answer is yes. Otherwise, the answer is no. >>> Read more!

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think I have heard it all. Ipads? Because it takes to much time to enter who is in class and who is not into a computer system? These teachers do nothing but follow the same curriculum every year. Once it's drawn up the first year, a few more years to tweak, and presto career complete. That is one of the worst arguments I have ever heard. That is almost as good as I need my car to respond to emergency calls from my residence because I have an assault rifle in it. That man forgot to mention he lives in another county and not a close one. Its all crap. I have a better idea. Purchase a system where the students have identification cards and must slide the card in a monitor system when they enter or exit the school, classroom, bathroom, office, etc... It will be timed stamped and no teacher will have to take that extra 5 minutes after class to enter it in the computer. What a joke.

Michael T. Vail said...

Maybe the Super should consider upgrading the computer applications curriculm in the high school to include MS Excel and Word 2007 or 2010. The instructor is currently teaching the students the 2003 version of the programs. Talk about teaching something that is the equivalent of obsolete! Although, what should we expect for $62 million?

Aberdeener said...

Michael,

Out of curiosity, how much would you be willing to pay to license the new software, retrain the teacher, and write a new curriculum?

I don't think the class is important. I never had a class on how to use Microsoft Office and I manage fine. Anything I need to know about it I can find on the internet. When the kids are struggling to learn the basics, I think we should jettison classes like these.

Michael T. Vail said...

I think my overall point was that the idea that we are paying for something that is of little, if any value is completely lost here. However, I would be surprised if this would require a large investment for licensing. I am sure Microsoft offers aggressive pricing to schools etc. My impression from the teacher was that he would not require any additional training. On a completely unrelated issue, the football field does look great though.

Anonymous said...

it's crap like this that makes the citizens consistently vote down the budget. kudos Ken, you will always have my vote.

Anonymous said...

It is my understanding that Healy is addressing a systemic issue that has plagued our district in the area of literacy. It's not just about providing the appropriate material but also the training and superivision.

As far as the NJDOE is concerned, three of our schools are considered failing schools for the past two consecutive years where too many of our kids don't know how to read and its no wonder.... The teachers are in the dark ages in terms of literacy and don't have the necessary supplies, training or superivision to enter into the 21st century.

Historically the solution has been to put them into special education rather than help them which has cost the district millions not to mention hurts children and their families. This problem has existed long before Healy arrived and I commend him for identifying the problems and taking aggressive action to fix the mess. The arguments are pretty compelling and the data speaks for itself. Let's wait to see what happens before casting judgement and more children fall further behind. I don't have a crystal ball therefore time and future results will tell.

Anonymous said...

How about paying the athletic director to teach football during his star player's first period as the newspaper confirms today. He is getting a salary to coach football after school, and a big salary to be the athletic director during school. If he has so much time to teach football during school hours maybe he should be paid less. Where is Ken on this?

Anonymous said...

Hey, what is the link for the newspaper article about the atheletic director? I want to find it and maybe ask the board about it. When is the next meeting?

Anonymous said...

You mean the schools were failing under O'Malley? That's right he is the guy along with other administrators whom the board gave BIG PAY RAISES, while people were losing their jobs!

Aberdeener said...

Anon 1:12,

I first learned to read 36 years ago. Why do you assume the techniques used to teach me no longer work?

Dr. John Billings said...

Joey,

Since you always require either a quantifiable or a qualifiable proof to discount your firmly held beliefs, I shall be happy to provide you one.

A critique of Mr. Joey Warren's latest tirade on education:

"The superintendent sees your reluctance and quickly outlines a plan for spending the money."

This sentence is not to be esteemed, but it is passable; there are some verb tense ambiguities.

"Over a $100,000 will be spent on books."

The indefinite article "a" serves no purpose being in front of $100,000, since the amount of money you refer to is a delineated sum you have alluded to earlier in your piece.

"For the children."

Prepositions and their objects do not constitute a complete sentence.

"Who can be opposed to books?"

Wonderful use of an interrogative phrase Mr. Warren. I applaud you for getting at least this right, or for at least having the foresight to edit this sentence.

"And, to make it more palatable, he insists it’s a can’t fail, “research-based” program to create classroom libraries."

This sentence is just terrible: it is confusing, it has a dead metaphor in it and its style deviates from the preceding structure of the entire paragraph. One could possibly forgive you for starting off with a conjunction, but sir, it is just ill manners to use a subjective pronoun with the intent of it being an intensive pronoun. On top of this malfeasance that you have visited upon our eyes with this last sentence, the antecedents for these pronouns are a full paragraph away- bad form my man, bad form.

Perhaps your teacher and his method was not the Silenus you profess it to be?

Aberdeener said...

How entertaining. Someone who's never written anything takes the time to critique my writing.

You remind me of an old English teacher I once had who was all about form and nothing about style. Once I got to college I was instructed to forget everything she had taught me.

So, I'm glad you've confirmed I did.

Wally Stephens said...

Where is NSec on the school stuff. I know Kauff has him under lock and key to not disclose the corruption he must see every single day in town hall. He and others working for the town must hate working under the corrupt Kauff regime and not being able to tell about the Kauff corruption and the pain it inflicts on Aberdeen. I know it was joked about that NSec was supposed to be away. At least when he posts he uses his name unlike the Kauff clones and masked council people who hide their shame as the post the Kauff line of bullshit. I do like the prior post about the Kauff propaganda using the leadership woman angle to get votes. They will go that low for sure. No Kauff about it. Kauff is the lowest of the low.

Kauffie hates the attention said...

Wally time to relax buddy. Kauffie don't care about anyone in the muni building on that side. Not until the FBI knocks. The flood of in the muni building employees lining up to testify will be huge. Right Kauffie.

Anonymous said...

Worry about your own town Wally, you haven't lived here in years. You too Joey. Shouldn't you be covering the Wall St demonstrators or something?

Not anonymous to the Kauff corruption said...

Anonymous please grow up and join the conversation by either defending your Lord and Master Kauff or by at least proving us wrong. Your New York references are so lame. The corruption is real and you are not as you are just an anonymous a hole.

I can't believe it but there it is said...

Reading the newspaper on the train this morning and HOLY SHIT! Finally there it is. I can't believe it they actually put Aberdeen in the Police Blotter section of the Asbury Park Press today. Thank you Jesus! Now maybe our community can be a little forewarned and more informed as to the goings on in our community involving our Police Force and more. Don't get me wrong I am still waiting for the headline that all the Kauff puppets and their puppeteer get swept up by the authorities, indicted and given long prison sentences for the political corruption that masquerades as our community leadership. It cannot happen soon enough.

Alan J. said...

I am also glad that the town is publishing the goings on of our police. I do also think it is about time.

CRIME IN ABERDEEN IS ONLY AT said...

THE ONLY CRIME IN ABERDEEN IS ALWAYS IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS IN ABERDEEN

JUSTICE LANE AT THE CORRUPTION LACED RESIDENCE OF NORMAN KAUFF AND MRS. KAUFF

TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBER OR WORKPLACE OF ALL OF THE KAUFF CONTROLLED CORRUPTION

TOWNSHIP MANAGERS PHONE=CALLS FROM KAUFF

PLANNING AND ZONING KAUFF CONTROLLED MEETINGS

ANY NOT SO SECRET ILLEGAL KAUFF MEETING LOCATIONS UNDER THE GUISE OF THE ABERDEEN DEMOCRATIC CLUB FUNCTIONS

ANY ABERDEEN DEMOCRATIC FUNCTION MEETING

AND OF COURSE ANYWHERE WHERE THAT C.M.E. IS PRESENT AS WELL AS THE KAUFF LAWYERS WHO DO HIS BIDDING AND PAY HIM ILLEGALLY FOR NO WORK


RIGHT NORM?
RIGHT MAYOR?
RIGHT TOWN COUNCIL?
RIGHT PLANNING BOARD?
RIGHT ZONING BOARD?
RIGHT TOWN LAWYERS?
RIGHT DEMOCRATIC LEECHES?
RIGHT THE 2 DEMOCRATIC MOLESTER PERVERTS?

Anonymous said...

Why do the posts always get away from the original topic and to a place completely unrelated to the original post?

Just curious.


And who the hell is Joey and Kauf?

CRIME 2 said...

"KAUFF" IS THE DEVIL HIMSELF IT IS THAT SIMPLE.

"JOEY" IS THE BLOG HOST THAT KAUFF AND HIS CRIMINALS HATE FOR GIVING PEOPLE A DIRECT INSIGHT INTO THE CORRUPT CRIMINAL AND NEW JERSEY POLITICAL WORLD OF DECIET AND DISGUST THAT IS ABERDEEN OR AS WE WHO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT KAUFFERDEEN.

IN OTHER WORDS THE ABERDEEN DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHICH IS DISGUSTING, CORRUPT, PUPPET LEADERSHIP THAT IS ILLEGALLY, IMMORALLY AND CORRUPTLY CONTROLLED BY NORMAN KAUFF ESQUIRE AKA THE DEVIL HIMSELF

NORMAN KAUFF ESQUIRE IS A MAN UNELECTED AND UNACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DAMAGE, THIEVERY AND NEGATIVE IMPACT ON ALL OF THE PEOPLE, STUDENTS, BUSINESSES AND MORE IN ABERDEEN.

THAT IS THE CRIME IN ABERDEEN

Anonymous said...

I see the thug coach's big mouth mommy is deeply entrenched in Norm's corner. Hey Joey how's it working out with all those protesters in your home town? They aren't pooping in front of your apartment are they?

THAT IS WHY YOU IDIOT said...

BECAUSE ABERDEEN IS NOT WELL SERVED BY ITS SUPPOSED ELECTED LEADERSHIP.

LEADERSHIP THAT IS ILLEGALLY, UNETHICALLY AND IMMORALLY CONTROLLED BY AN UNELECTED AND UNACCOUNTABLE MAN WHO SINGULARLY IS KILLING THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH HIS CORRUPT ACTIONS AND POLITICAL GREED.

THAT IS WHY YOU IDIOT.

GO WATCH CNN AND THE DEMOCRATIC BULLSHIT THAT IS KILLING THE USA.



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SOLAR PANEL SAVINGS? REALLY? said...

SOLAR PANELS FOR ABERDEEN MUNI SITES?

AT WHAT INFLATED COST TO THE TAXPAYERS?

TWO THINGS I FIND HILARIOUS IN THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER AS I GOT TO MY DRIVEWAY FROM WALKING HOME FROM THE BUS. I GO IN MY HOUSE GRAB A BEEER AND LO AND BEHOLD SOLAR PANELS ARE COMING TO ABERDEEN.

SO I READ THE ARTICLE TWICE AND I NOTICE

1.) EVERYONE QUOTED IN THE ARTICLE ARE GLAD HANDING EACH OTHER ON HOW MUCH MONEY THIS WILL SAVE TAXPAYERS?

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT SAVING TAXPAYERS $$$?

REALLY?

2.) NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ALSO MENTIONS DAVE SAMUELS OF C.M.E. ENGINEERING AS QUOTED IN THE ARTICLE TELLING US HOW MUCH THIS WILL SAVE THE TAXPAYERS OF ABERDEEN EVERY YEAR GOING OUT 15 YEARS?

LOOKS BELIEVABLE IF I DID NOT KNOW NORM KAUFF

SO I ASK MYSELF WHAT WILL THE SAVINGS *REALLY BE* WHEN THE PRICE GOUGING C.M.E. GETS TO PUT IN THEIR COMPANY *NEVER TO BE CHECKED FOR REAL SUBSTANTIVE COSTS OR FEES* BILL IN TO OVERSEE THIS PROJECT?

LET US NOT FORGET WHAT COST FORMER TOWNSHIP MANAGER STUART BROWN HIS POSITION AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN GALLO HER POSITION IN THE KAUFF REGIME WHEN BOTH DARED TO QUESTION THE C.M.E, BILLS FOR SUCH CORRUPTION LADEN BILLS FOR SERVICES THAT WERE TO SAY THE LEAST HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE BUT NEVER QUESTIONED VERY SIMILAR TO THIS SOLAR PANEL *PERFECTLY TIMED WITH THE TYPICAL NORM KAUFF ELECTION YEAR PROPAGANDA* THAT GETS SPEWED EVERY YEAR JUST PRIOR TO THE ELECTION.

I AM LEFT TO WONDER WHEN THE SOLAR PANELS DON'T GET DONE JUST LIKE THE OFTEN PRESENTED DEVELOPMENTAL PROMISES WHO WILL GET THE MONEY BACK FROM NORM KAUFF AND HIS C.M.E. ?

SO MUCH CORRUPTION AND SO MANY CORRUPT C.M.E. BILLS. IT IS TRULY HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE NORM KAUFF CORRUPTION.

RIGHT NORM KAUFF?

I STAND CORRECTED. THE TWO PEOPLE WHO QUESTIONED THE C.M.E. BILLS ON THE OAKSHADES BASEBALL FIELD LIGHTS AND OTHER PRICE GOUGED OR POLITICALLY PADDED BY C.M.E. ENGINEERING WERE KICKED TO THE CURB OR PRESSURED TO LEAVE BY NORMAN *ABERDEEN IS MINE ALL MINE* KAUFF.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm...Nsec Joe away? Naaw, he's where he has always been. Under Kauff's skirt. And when they do come for Kauff, all those so-called know it alls ain't sayin' nothin'. Ya know why? Cause they knew! They knew for years and never said a word. They let Kauff rob their friends. That makes them accomplices. I wouldn't offer them anything other than the steel bracelets - I'd just lock them all up. So don't hold your breathe if you think anybody is gonna do the right thing - they won't. WEASELS ALL including the town employees.

Ask Big Joe said...

You can be certain of one thing on this blog. Big Joe hates Norman Kauff. You people think that he got his job from Kauff just ask Big Joe and he will tell you what he thinks and why he has that job. Sit back and keep telling yourself you are ridiculing Big Joe you aren't. It won't work cause he does his job and people hate him for doing it. You can bet the political hacks under the spell of Norman Kauff hate it as well when they have to suck up for votes when he does his job. A job you can be sure you would not want to do. Just like the cops it has to be done and it is thankless. Ask him what he thinks of Kauff just once he will tell you. T.O. in the I sec.

Ask all of them about Kauff said...

As a matter of fact why don't you ask any council person all by themselves what they really think of Kauff. They don't respect him they fear him. He is scum and they all know it they are just afraid to say it.

Anonymous said...

Big Mouth has over 60,000 reasons why he does that job. He's no patron saint of the tax payer, he's just another leach on the public's tit.

ENERGY AUDIT QUESTIONS said...

JUST SO THE KAUFFKINS KNOW

THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY HAS COMPANIES THAT WOULD DO A TOTALLY FREE ENERGY AUDIT OF OUR ENTIRE MUNICIPAL FACILITIES

TOTALLY FREE ENERGY AUDIT

SO WHAT IS THE KAUFF CONTROLLED LEADERSHIP DOING TO BRING OUR MUNICIPAL ENERGY NEEDS TO THE FOREFRONT

THEY ARE GETTING THE KAUFF CME ENGINEERS TO OVERCHARGE THE TAXPAYERS FOR SOMETHING THE TOWN COULD HAVE GOTTEN DONE FOR FREE

THIS ELECTION MUST BE VERY COSTLY THIS YEAR TO GET THE KAUFF CME THIEVES TO DO AN ENERGY AUDIT THAT THE TOWN COULD HAVE GOTTEN DONE FOR FREE

JUST CHECKED MY CALENDAR FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING AND I AM AVAILABLE

SEE THE KAUFF CONTROLLED LEADERSHIP THEN WITH A LONG LIST OF QUESTIONS

IT WILL BE EASY TO SPOT ME

I WILL THE ONE REALLY PISSED OFF

Anonymous said...

Big cigarette signs on 34 this weekend. Get on that one code man just like you came after my signs. Who will code man go after when all the businesses in town go out of business because we can't advertise our services like most other towns. Just look at Matawan, Hazlet and Keyport and all of the signs those businesses put out.

Why get it for free Normie? said...

Sure just look at all the signs in those towns. Know what those town look like? CRAP that is what they look like. Love how the code officer who does his job gets lambasted on the blog while many others making far more get not a word. Notice how the million dollars plus that the Normie engineers steal from the taxpayers every year isn't the big problem just the guy who does his job. The public tit really? Normie and his engineers are the ones on the public tit. They are like the most expensive boob job at taxpayers expense. But no the code officer is the really big problem? Keep it up you idiots while aberdeen goes down the drain. Keep amusing yourself while Normie and his thieves rob the taxpayer bank at will. Normie has got the key and the town council lets him use them like an ATM machine for his political corruption. The energy audit post above is just another example. Where are the republicans at the county level? Where are the authorities? Free energy audits while Normie and his engineers get to bill us business owners right out of town. They will never get another dime from my business or another dollar for a sign to keep my business alive.


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SIGNS=LITTER said...

SIGNS ARE JUST LITTER AND THEY DON'T WORK ANYWAY. THE ONLY ONE WHO MAKES MONEY ON SIGNS ARE THE SIGN MAKER. WHAT WAS THE LAST SIGN YOU READ LITTERING THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU OPEN YOUR COMPUTER.

Kaufferdeen SUCKS know why? said...

Government buys stuff at twice the price?

Not in Kaufferdeen.

In Kaufferdeen it is corruption laced government at twice the price plus all of the the corrupt and illegal Kauff percentages and of corse the CME taxpayer gouging.

Democracy aint it great?

Aberdeen is drowning in corruption said...

So will the corrupt fact that Kauffie and Co. are paying the Kauffie benefactors at CME to do an as yet unknown and probablly politically inflated overpriced energy analysis of all of our towns various facilities have a fixed price to not go beyond? Is someone watching the store in town hall? Is the manager doing anything to protect the taxpayers? So many questions when there is so much corruption. That energy audit as announced in the news last week will be done by Kauffies CME instead of getting one done for free like is available from the state? You can bet that will not make it into the Dems political campaign propaganda mailed out just before the latest corrupt Kauffie election? Right KauffMayor Fred and the Kauffcouncil puppets that are beyond dispicable? You have got to be F'n kidding me if CME gets paid for this politically fraudulent analysis? Are they even qualified to do such an audit? The Kauffcouncil and assorted other Kauffcontrolled are beyond corrupt! Governor Christie we are waiting for you to save us as Aberdeen is drowning in the Kauff and CME political corruption cesspool. We are going down for the last time if Kauff maintains his corrupt control. S O S Aberdeen SOS.........................Save us from our supposed political leadership.

Anonymous said...

Best joke I heard all year.

Enjoy it.

What is the one truthful thing about Aberdeen?

Its officials are truly corrupt.


I am laughing so hard I am crying.



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Anonymous said...

This just in..

The thug coach's big mouth, ex convict momma loves Kauff...

But she don't like Powers....

Hmmmmm....

More to follow

Kauff works hard? said...

Kauff works hard. Know why? Cause corruption is hard damn work. Right Freddy Boy?

Anonymous said...

An energy audit that could have been free? What happened to you Coach Fred. Such a disappointment.

Anonymous said...

The parking lot hunter is MIA it seems. I saw two receipts on the ground and threw them into the trash so that my fellow commuters don't get harassed for not taking a receipt. Does the guy do anything else but harass people trying to get to work without a ticket for littering stuck on the car when they get home from work.


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Anonymous said...

Mr Code Man,
On my drive to the train today, I noticed a few houses on Atlantic St with furtnire and trash on the street, which I guess weren't picked up by the trash collectors yesterday. Please drive down there and check it out.

Anonymous said...

I have made appointments for big items like you saw at the curb and they don't go out with regular trash. The pick up is tomorrow I think for big stuff. Nice try though to embarrass the guy. It did not work but you tried. You failed but at least you tried.

Anonymous said...

Who am I embarrassing? The Code Man? This stuff has been out since I went by on Monday, so is it customary to put it out 3 days before pickup? It isn't just one house that has stuff out, so you may be right, but it has been out since Monday morning...

Anonymous said...

Matawan Mayoral Campaign



There’s a rumor that a Buccellato supporter confronted the Democrat candidate outside the Post Office on Matawan Day. It’s alleged he told her he would have her f***ing arrested for trespassing as he objected to her knocking on his door. He supposedly jabbed his finger in her face and called her a f***ing Bitch. Any truth to the rumor? Did anyone witness this alleged match?

Anonymous said...

He got me too when I put out my refrigerator and couch early. Sure I put it out over the weekend even though the sanitation company told me not to put it out until the evening before. Big deal I think that I should be able to put it out when I want. My taxes are over $9,000 a year so a little trash should be no big deal.

Its government you idiots said...

Yeah yeah he does his job. Yeah yeah the politicians use him. Yeah yeah they are all corrupt. Its government in Monmouth County so what.

Anonymous said...

Big mouth ex con momma be hatin on some Aberdeen Po-Po cause they "set her up", but she sure love them Dems!

Dems win we all lose said...

The Kauffy Dems take anybody since they are led by Kauffy, a known numbers runner and convicted felons. Just like my neighbor who I think is one of the two molesters in the Kauffy clutches. I see most of the Dems sign locations and most are either pressured town employees, Vincy Italians or the Gumbsy relatives. They'll win the election because there is no Republican party and us residents and business owners lose. It's the corrupt Democratic way in this town.


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Karen G. said...

How can I get a receipt for parking at the train? No receipt was printed when I paid this morning. I get reimbursed and need a receipt. Please advise who to call.


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