Tourists outrank residents in Red Bank
It’s very reassuring to see, upon approval of another massive, out-of-place apartment/business complex, this time on Wallace Street, that the horrible condition of the street will be addressed.
Oh wait, I’m sorry, only up to the building’s property line (or nearby). What a surprise: the street needs to be paved, but won’t be until several existing properties are razed and built-over and the developer pays to do the paving.
And there’s Mayor McKenna’s Red Bank in a nutshell: if you live here, and you need something done (sewer upgrades, street paving, etc.), the powers-that-be really couldn’t care less. But if you’re a rich developer or a tourist from Connecticut, this town will bend over backwards for you.
Ten-12 cars were parked illegally on the wrong side of Spring Street during Riverfest on Saturday. One was ticketed (as a token gesture, I’m sure).
Again, if any of us parked on the wrong side of the street, our cars would be swarming with cops. But once again the rule is proven: Tourists > Residents. No arguments.
They come in, double-park their Lexus, and spend big money. So the town caters to them. No tickets, no worries.
See, we’re only the local yokels, who pay the taxes that don’t go toward repairs and improvements. We’re second-class citizens in the eyes of the mayor, the council, the Zoning Board, right on down to the police.
Overly-huge building projects, town events stacked weekend-to-weekend, astronomical rents and taxes, it will only get worse.
Red Bank’s going to hell and the greediness of those in charge, and their typically condescending attitudes toward us, is what’s driving it there.
But as long as rich out-of-town yuppies buy their $8,000 mattresses here, and the majority of residents continue to vote for Mayor McKenna’s misguided vision of gigantic office buildings, traffic jams and crumbling streets, legitimate complaints will continue to go unanswered.
They could have put some little shops in where Dorn’s is, to fit with the character of the town. But the giant brick building with 40 apartments will make the right people more money. That’s the preferred “character” of our town now. Are you seeing the pattern here?
Go ahead, vote for the same tired leadership, the leadership that’s turning our town into a noisy, messy city. The weak-kneed officials that ignore YOU and pander to tourist dollars. You get what you vote for, Red Bank
Jeff Weiner
Red Bank
Dorn’s approval politics as usual
I just read of the approved proposal for the Dorn’s site on Wallace Street. Obviously, just another replay of politics as usual in Red Bank: tear it down, hold hearings, build it anyway!
My first reaction, however, was to laugh at the same old line of garbage from the money men and their “engineers.” They proudly announce they will work with the appropriate commission about shade trees and pave part of a street while, as a resident of the neighborhood, the wrong days can mean I barely feel the water from my shower, I have to park two or three blocks from my home (which has no driveway) to accommodate (whose?) cars clogging my street, and the short drive from my office on Drs. James Parker Boulevard to my home on Linden Place can take eight to ten minutes.
Red Bank has yet to see the impact of the Hovnanian monstrosity, the Monmouth Street project and the Schwartz property construction. And now an additional 75,000 square feet of space which comes complete with inhabitants, cars, garbage, sewage, visitors, customers, litter and congestion.
If we accept Einstein’s definition of “insanity,” doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, then Red Bank residents are insane.
We grumble, we complain, but we elect the same people to power every year. Haven’t they proven by now what THEIR vision is for this once livable town?
Gene Goellner
Red Bank
Prosecutor choice should not be based on politics
In March, Assemblyman Robert Morgan and I issued words of caution regarding the selection of the next Monmouth County prosecutor by urging that the best qualified candidate be chosen in a process that is insulated from politics.
We are firmly opposed to the use of senatorial courtesy to influence the prosecutor selection process to serve either party’s political agenda.
I had the privilege of working in the United States Attorney’s Office in Boston during my legal studies, so I know first-hand how important it is to keep politics out of law enforcement matters.
For that reason, we advocated that the search for a successor to Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye be an open process which yields a candidate with the strongest possible law enforcement credentials, rather than one with the best political connections.
There is nothing to indicate that Luis A. Valentin is not qualified to serve as the new Monmouth County prosecutor. His law enforcement credentials appear to be well-suited to the challenges our county is facing, particularly in the wake of recent corruption arrests. We are also fortunate to have other individuals in Monmouth County who would bring a wealth of experience to the prosecutor’s position.
We urge all parties involved in this process to steer clear of partisanship and focus instead on the real qualifications of the candidates being considered for this very important position.
Michael J. Panter
assemblyman, 12th Legislative District
Senior center thanked for beautiful exhibit of crafts
(Open letter to Freda Terry, director, Red Bank Senior Center)
On behalf of the library and the Red Bank community, I would like to thank you and all the creative senior center members for once again presenting a beautiful exhibit of your crafts in celebration of Senior Citizen Month.
Every May since 1979, the center has displayed the work of talented Red Bank seniors at the Red Bank Library, and every year library visitors enjoy the variety of crafts produced at the center, many of which are for sale the rest of the year at the center to raise funds for activities and programs. The library staff is always happy to see what new handmade items are available, including afghans, quilts, baby clothes, and ceramics.
Red Bank can be very proud of the work you and your fine staff and volunteers do to serve the seniors of this town and proud, as well, of the seniors themselves, who take the initiative to pursue the activities, programs, classes, trips, lectures, and clubs offered by the center. The Red Bank Senior Center is an exceptional community resource that deserves our support and applause.
Jane Eigenrauch
adult services librarian
Red Bank Public Library
Need for affordable housing not being met
I am writing concerning the affordability of housing in New Jersey.Homeowners in New Jersey have benefited from the real estate boom, as skyrocketing home values have provided them with rising home equity.
However, the flipside to this equation is that more and more families cannot find affordable housing in New Jersey, which is now the third most expensive state to live in.
The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that in New Jersey, the average household requires a yearly salary of $42,000 to rent a “fair market” apartment. But the state Department of Labor reports that over a third of New Jersey workers earn less than $25,000 a year. Most new jobs created here in the next 10 years will pay near or under that amount.
Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has not only turned a blind eye to this problem, but has actually continued to cut Section 8 funding for affordable housing on a yearly basis. The federal government’s cuts have offset New Jersey’s attempts to address the need for affordable housing.
New Jersey is one of the few states that recognizes affordable housing as a constitutional right. Unfortunately, the need for affordable housing is not being met. New Jersey must address this problem so that the less fortunate are not left behind by our state’s rising property values.
Concerned citizens can start by contacting their representatives in Congress and asking them to oppose continued cuts in Section 8 funding.
Eddie Konczal
Monroe
Court decision gave women right to privacy
Hard to believe that it’s just a scant 40 years ago that the Supreme Court decided the constitutional right to privacy and secured the right of married women to use contraception in Griswold v. Connecticut.
One would have thought that it’s been much longer that women had this fundamental right to practice family planning, which is a basic healthcare procedure, cost-effective, and beneficial to women, families and society.
Amazingly, however, there are still attacks on family planning, suddenly very strong. Outrageous to oppose abortion and family planning too, which is one way to avoid abortion.
To bear a child or not is entirely a private decision made by a woman, her family, her doctor, her conscience — and is not the business of government or politicians.
Linda Lees
Monmouth Beach
Forrester must focus on issues
I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Doug Forrester for winning a hard fought and spirited primary to become the Republican nominee.
I would now make a plea to him to move away from his rhetoric of personal attacks during the primary and during his victory speech and focus on the significant issues facing the state.
Sen. (Jon) Corzine said before the primary that regardless of who his opponent would be, he would hope the campaign would focus on the issues. I couldn’t agree more, and I hope Forrester agrees as well.
Steven M. Clayton
committeeman
Monmouth County
Democratic Committee
Ocean