Well put, Carol. I will support any public information forum in which citizens want to discuss what they need to know in order to rebuild the whole of Asbury Park in the midst of a recession.
Such a series could be held church-to-church-to-church or by polling districts. As to content, think about a combo of civics and economics. Citizens need to understandhow real estate tax dollars fund government agencies from police to school administrators. Would someone with good graphics capabilities please raise your hand? This endeavor needs good visuals. Helen Chantal Pike, Lecturer Editor, Asbury Park: Where Music Lives Author, Asbury Park's Glory Days: The Story of An American Resort New Jersey: Crossroads of Commerce Member, Eatontown Economic Development Advisory Committee Manager, Pike Image Archives http://HelenPike.com ________________________________ From: Teddi <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, January 4, 2011 10:04:32 AM Subject: [AsburyPark] Re: Here we go again......? THERE IS MORE THAN ONE BUT LIKE WERNER WE HAVE FOUND IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO SPEAK OUT (I'm don't believe that is true today but in the past you definitely were punished for your words)... This is a copy of any email responding to recent happenings in our fair city: Okay, this is probably very foolish but what the heck! I've read the comments and the complaints about the snow removal and the Synasis bar incident and have some opinions. The problem is the same problem we have always had and the solution is the same one that always eludes us. The problem is "us" and the solution is "pride"! Everyone was happy that the state gave us $11 million (25% of our budget) to help us out but I didn't hear anyone express concern that we were so far beyond living within our means. The money was primarily to cover salaries: salaries for police and city public works employees. Yet even with the huge cost of these departments with a larger workforce than cities of equivalent size, we are unable to effectively take care of the responsibilities of those departments. Case in point, snow clearance for the city in a timely manner (see Rahway twice our physical size, half our resources, and clean streets by Tuesday) and police solving the problem of an unruly, if not dangerous bar. We have the same situation with our schools with a "gift" of $50 million from the state to help us education 2200 students. So despite, the kind donations from others we still have an unplowed city, an unruly bar, and student levels at the bottom of the list. I have long felt that these things are connected. We take the money and in return we lose our pride and self-esteem. We become a city that grovels and takes the crumbs thrown our way, including a developer who never met the redevelopment requirements. And, of course, we always blame others for the problems and never put the responsibility where it belongs--on ourselves (collectively the citizens, the council, the police, etc.)! Yes, we are a unique, artistic city that is slowly rising from the ashes. But if you are honest you know we are wobbly and the success is tentative. We need to make sure that along with the happy facade we are building a strong foundation. (NOTE: I have lived in this city for 35 years, owned a bar for 17 years, and love this city in any of its manifestations. It is not negative to search for truth.) --- In [email protected], "2fast4u" <sharon_b...@...> wrote: > > Werner, > I'll say it again, that there is NO ONE in this Community, > that knows or CARES as you do, about what happens here. All > you get for your efforts is a day in HELL from the Powers that be! > > You are the only voice, crying in the desert, for us. Peace > Be With You! > > --- In [email protected], "wernerapnj" <wernerapnj@> wrote: > > > > > > or.... Not learning from history and past mistakes. > > > > > > "...The City of Asbury Park is a seashore resort with a resident population >of 15,000. It presents a familiar picture of optimistic and extravagant >municipal expansion caught in the destructive grip of general economic >depression: elaborate beachfront improvements, costs in excess of estimates, >deficits not annually met by taxation, declining real-estate values, inability >to refinance a disproportionately heavy load of short-term obligations, and, >inevitably, default. Accordingly, in January, 1935, availing themselves of the >New Jersey Municipal Finance Act, creditors applied to the Supreme Court of >New >Jersey to place the state Municipal Finance Commission in control of the >city's >finances."... > > > > http://tinyurl.com/24sgcyg > > > > Happy New Year... > > > > Werner > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
