LETTER WRITER OF THE MONTH: Gerald Kamber Optimistic about Asbury Park's future, October 15, 2008 (link below) Gerald Kamber says he's a "local yokel" in the Asbury Park area. Born and raised in Asbury, he graduated from the former Bond Street School and Asbury Park High School. Kamber, chosen as the Press letter-writer-of-the-month for August, left the city after graduation, but regularly visited his parents, who owned Bob & Irving's, a men's clothing store on Main and Cookman until 1981. After serving in the Marines, Kamber immersed himself in education, teaching at the college level. He moved back in 1979. Because Kamber regularly visited Asbury Park during his 35 years living outside New Jersey, the changes to the area weren't a shock. Kamber listened every time Asbury officials would claim the city was on the verge of a comeback. But nothing that's happened in Asbury strikes him as promising as the revitalization taking place under Madison Marquette. Now living in Loch Arbour, something key to the city's progress has occurred to Kamber: No one should be blocked from enjoying the revival. "There was so much done to improve Asbury Park, and they should make it more inclusive," he said. So Kamber wrote a letter to the Press (below). It was published Aug. 13 and judged as the best letter of the month by the Press editorial staff. Kamber walks the boards daily in Asbury and notes the accomplishments: "Madison Marquette has done a very good job. . . . This is the most successful (restoration plan)." He hopes the redevelopers reach out to all in the community because "you can't have an exclusive community." The Letter: LETTER OF THE MONTH: Encourage inclusion in development plan Those of us who have seen the Asbury Park boardwalk desolate and abandoned for 30 years or more are heartened to see its revival due principally to the dynamism and managerial efficiency of Madison Marquette. The overoptimistic among us will have to restrain our enthusiasm, however, until more of the city is brought back or restored. The point is not that the plan for the Boardwalk is largely achieved, but that we establish a community such as we once had, a community in which individuals get to know each other and know what to expect. That is just beginning to happen on the beachfront where throngs of smiling people — black and white, young and old, gay and straight, dressed up and dressed down — stroll along sampling the amenities. Police are much in evidence and unfailingly benevolent. This is the beginning of community. The key word is inclusive — everybody belongs. That's why it's folly to exclude dog lovers with their dogs and bike riders from the boards and "inappropriately dressed" patrons from the bars all in the interest of a fake gentility. They spend money, too. There are limits, and people exceeding those limits can easily and promptly be reminded to cooperate if necessary. But freedom to be oneself and a corresponding tolerance by others are the indispensable ingredients for community. I hope we get more. Gerald Kamber ALLENHURST _LETTER WRITER OF THE MONTH: Gerald Kamber | APP.com | Asbury Park Press_ (http://www.app.com/article/20081015/OPINION04/810150313/1032)
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