I was one of the 300 people who showed up for Sen. Jennifer Beck’s (R-12th District) Fort Monmouth dog and pony show at Shore Regional High School. I walked away from it even more dismayed, disappointed and disenchanted with Sen. Beck and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-12th District) than I was before. How these two elected officials could keep a straight face as they told us that the state of New Jersey is more concerned about and better equipped to redevelop the fort than Oceanport, Eatontown and Tinton Falls is beyond me. Even worse, Sen. Joe Kyrillos’ (R-13th District) arrogance and condescension was exceeded only by that of his ignorance about Fort Monmouth. Any doubt that I had about how bad this legislation would be for Oceanport was removed when Sen. Beck told an Oceanport resident that she absolutely “guaranteed” that Oceanport’s taxes wouldn’t ever go up due to her bill. When I heard this, I put my hand over my wallet.
As disgusted as I was with my state elected officials, my spirits were lifted by the intelligence, reason and civility Oceanport’s residents displayed throughout the evening. As angry as the people of Oceanport are over this proposed bill, this meeting never devolved into an out-of-control free-for-all. Time and time again, Oceanport residents approached the microphone, voiced their objections, offered suggestions and asked incisive questions. I cannot begin to tell you how impressed I was at how educated our residents were about this incredibly complicated subject matter. In fact, in some instances, I would say that our residents were better educated than both Sen. Beck and Assemblyman O’Scanlon.
Similarly, as disgusted as I was with my state elected officials, my respect and admiration for Oceanport’s six council members continues to grow in leaps and bounds as they continue to fight for Oceanport’s right of self-determination. It is especially heartening to see that these six individuals have set aside their political affiliations in favor of putting Oceanport’s needs first. Unlike the borough councils of both Tinton Falls and Eatontown, Oceanport’s “Super Six” refuse to roll over and play dead on the state’s command. Their willingness to hold Sen. Beck’s feet to the fire has resulted in substantial changes to the original legislation, and they look ready to fight for even more changes. Assemblyman O’Scanlon actually had the audacity to complain that our Borough Council keeps “moving the bar” on him as he attempts to make changes to the legislation to satisfy the Borough Council’s complaints. There is a difference between “moving the bar” and “raising the bar.” Our Super Six keep “raising the bar” and, based upon his performance the other night, this seems to be a foreign concept to Assemblyman O’Scanlon.
Sen. Beck and Assemblyman O’Scanlon should stop this bill in its tracks right now.
Joseph Amatucci
Oceanport