Whether the citizens of the City of Long Branch know it or not, the darkest days of our municipality are upon us at this very moment.
The Asbury Park Press is reporting, and our Director of Public Safety is apparently confirming, that on Tuesday night, the Mayor of the City of Long Branch and one of our five Members of the City Council had to be physically separated in order to prevent a so-called “heated exchange” from escalating into an assault.
This is unavoidably, unequivocally, undeniably unacceptable behavior.
Rather than discuss the many varied reasons why this unacceptable, we will leave our analysis to three main theses:
1. The Success of our Republic requires the peaceful exchange of ideas between participants in the process of government.
2. It is not just the right of the people to question their leaders—it is also their obligation. Particularly in a town where we have already seen one of our elected officials arrested, indicted, found guilty and sent to jail for official misconduct.
3. Simply put, both Adam Schneider and Brian Unger know better.
If one or both of these men cannot get a hold of their proverbial horses and start acting like grown ups and individuals deserving of holding an office of public trust they owe it to themselves and to the people of the City of Long Branch to resign.
It is that serious, guys.
We cannot and will not tolerate behavior that is this outrageous from our public officials. People you BOTH consider to be your friends and supporters will absolutely abandon that support if you denigrate our municipal government to the point where police officers are needed to keep the peace between you.
We deserve better. And you damn well know it.
So either get it together right now or resign so we can fill your seat with someone who knows how to conduct themselves in a manner reflective of the sacred trust we the people place in those selected to run our government.
NOW.
Showing posts with label Schneider. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Schneider. Show all posts
Friday, June 13, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Redevelopment: Love it or Leave it.
Today’s Asbury Park Press had an article covering the agreement between the city and the developer down at Pier Village.
Clearly, both the Schneider and Unger teams have their confederates out commenting their little politically active hearts out on the APP.com website for the article. Unfortunately, the recent sideshow events regarding Councilman Unger’s alleged lies and coverup has dragged public discourse from the serious to the ridiculous--where we expect it will remain through the election next May.
So, since the commentators on APP.com seem interested in only attacking the primary actors in our little play and not addressing the serious topics in our little city, the LBA thought perhaps we would take our first foray into the topic of the article, redevelopment.
It is our position that the area flanking the Ocean Place Conference Center was, in fact, blighted before construction began on any phase of redevelopment, and was blighted for at least fifteen years prior. The “Great Pier Fire” of 1987 destroyed one of only two components of legitimate commerce on the entire oceanfront (can you name one other than the Sea Loft?) and even that was honky-tonk. The other area businesses were all related to the pier in one way or another. Immediately outside of the pier vicinity, the housing stock was more or less sub-par, new development was virtually non-existent and it was NOT an area anyone with any legitimate purposes would want to frequent either alone or after dark—and certainly not off-season.
As such, the use of eminent domain was not only justified, it was an appropriate use of the power given the condition of the blighted area.
We do not like seeing people’s property taken anymore than you do, but it was a blighted area in need of redevelopment. To think otherwise requires a revisionist approach to the historical realities of the city.
The city attempted to deal with this near-death blow on several occasions. Credit is due to then-Mayor Phil Huhn and his administration for not only landing the Ocean Place development but also laying the groundwork for a master plan for the beachfront. The recession of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s really brought the fruition of the master plan to a screeching halt but the Ocean Place complex was completed and opened in late 1990. Between 1990 and 1997, very little actual development took place, but much was happening behind the scenes as Mayor Schneider and his administration launched a serious and professional master approach to the beachfront area.
The rest, as they say, is history. The recession ended, the housing market exploded, times were good and people were happy.
Now that the first phases of redevelopment are complete and Pier Village and Beachfront North are now here, along with a new recession and a slumping housing market, the real estate market (not eminent domain) should dictate what properties are sold for and whether they are on the market in the first place. If redevelopment was successful then the area is no longer blighted and no longer in need of city-sponsored redevelopment.
Already, you are seeing signs that the market is driving even the city-sponsored redevelopment off course. The Broadway “arts” district seems to be off schedule, the Beachfront South district is remarkably off schedule and sales of the housing stock in Pier Village are sagging—despite the construction underway on Pier Village Phase II.
In any event, the partisans who are not contributing to the progress of the city and only to the progress of their candidate of choice are fighting on the APP.com.
You, however, have come to the one independent voice for honest discussion of the life and times of the City of Long Branch—the Long Branch Advocate!
Clearly, both the Schneider and Unger teams have their confederates out commenting their little politically active hearts out on the APP.com website for the article. Unfortunately, the recent sideshow events regarding Councilman Unger’s alleged lies and coverup has dragged public discourse from the serious to the ridiculous--where we expect it will remain through the election next May.
So, since the commentators on APP.com seem interested in only attacking the primary actors in our little play and not addressing the serious topics in our little city, the LBA thought perhaps we would take our first foray into the topic of the article, redevelopment.
It is our position that the area flanking the Ocean Place Conference Center was, in fact, blighted before construction began on any phase of redevelopment, and was blighted for at least fifteen years prior. The “Great Pier Fire” of 1987 destroyed one of only two components of legitimate commerce on the entire oceanfront (can you name one other than the Sea Loft?) and even that was honky-tonk. The other area businesses were all related to the pier in one way or another. Immediately outside of the pier vicinity, the housing stock was more or less sub-par, new development was virtually non-existent and it was NOT an area anyone with any legitimate purposes would want to frequent either alone or after dark—and certainly not off-season.
As such, the use of eminent domain was not only justified, it was an appropriate use of the power given the condition of the blighted area.
We do not like seeing people’s property taken anymore than you do, but it was a blighted area in need of redevelopment. To think otherwise requires a revisionist approach to the historical realities of the city.
The city attempted to deal with this near-death blow on several occasions. Credit is due to then-Mayor Phil Huhn and his administration for not only landing the Ocean Place development but also laying the groundwork for a master plan for the beachfront. The recession of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s really brought the fruition of the master plan to a screeching halt but the Ocean Place complex was completed and opened in late 1990. Between 1990 and 1997, very little actual development took place, but much was happening behind the scenes as Mayor Schneider and his administration launched a serious and professional master approach to the beachfront area.
The rest, as they say, is history. The recession ended, the housing market exploded, times were good and people were happy.
Now that the first phases of redevelopment are complete and Pier Village and Beachfront North are now here, along with a new recession and a slumping housing market, the real estate market (not eminent domain) should dictate what properties are sold for and whether they are on the market in the first place. If redevelopment was successful then the area is no longer blighted and no longer in need of city-sponsored redevelopment.
Already, you are seeing signs that the market is driving even the city-sponsored redevelopment off course. The Broadway “arts” district seems to be off schedule, the Beachfront South district is remarkably off schedule and sales of the housing stock in Pier Village are sagging—despite the construction underway on Pier Village Phase II.
In any event, the partisans who are not contributing to the progress of the city and only to the progress of their candidate of choice are fighting on the APP.com.
You, however, have come to the one independent voice for honest discussion of the life and times of the City of Long Branch—the Long Branch Advocate!
One question from the article though: What money is being spent on the rest of town? Roads, sidewalks, improvements, anything? Let us hope the powers that be do not forget that most of us do not live in the redevelopment area. . . and we toughed it out during the dark days of the city. How about a little something for the dedication?
Monday, June 2, 2008
Politicians behaving like politicians
The Link News has a cover story this week that has had all of us at the Long Branch Advocate concerned. The story addresses a very childish e-mail battle of words between Adam Schneider (the Mayor) and Brian Unger (the man who wants to be the Mayor). It seems relatively clear that the much awaited battle of the candidates for Mayor has begun. Having said that, the Long Branch Advocate will make our first political prediction:
Neither Adam Schneider or Brian Unger will be Mayor of Long Branch four years from now.
You read it here first folks. Write it down. Notify your bookies. That’s right, the LBA predicted on June 1, 2008, that neither Adam or Brian will be Mayor following the next election. A yet-unknown third person will run alone, without a council ticket, and will win simply because they are the simple, non-political, alternative to two years of nasty political fighting.
Our elected officials are good people but they appear to have lost their way. In ancient Greece, residents were expected to take the following oath to help ensure that citizens served the best ends of the community rather than their own selfish interests. We urge Mayor Schneider and Councilman Unger to consider this timeless list of the qualities our city fathers SHOULD be exhibiting in lieu of the stupid antics they are currently displaying.
The Athenian Oath
We will never bring disgrace on this our City by an act of dishonesty or cowardice.
We will fight for the ideals and Sacred Things of the City both alone and with many.
We will revere and obey the City's laws, and will do our best to incite a like reverence and respect in those above us who are prone to annul them or set them at naught.
We will strive increasingly to quicken the public's sense of civic duty.
Thus in all these ways we will transmit this City, not only not less, but greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.
Neither Adam Schneider or Brian Unger will be Mayor of Long Branch four years from now.
You read it here first folks. Write it down. Notify your bookies. That’s right, the LBA predicted on June 1, 2008, that neither Adam or Brian will be Mayor following the next election. A yet-unknown third person will run alone, without a council ticket, and will win simply because they are the simple, non-political, alternative to two years of nasty political fighting.
Our elected officials are good people but they appear to have lost their way. In ancient Greece, residents were expected to take the following oath to help ensure that citizens served the best ends of the community rather than their own selfish interests. We urge Mayor Schneider and Councilman Unger to consider this timeless list of the qualities our city fathers SHOULD be exhibiting in lieu of the stupid antics they are currently displaying.
The Athenian Oath
We will never bring disgrace on this our City by an act of dishonesty or cowardice.
We will fight for the ideals and Sacred Things of the City both alone and with many.
We will revere and obey the City's laws, and will do our best to incite a like reverence and respect in those above us who are prone to annul them or set them at naught.
We will strive increasingly to quicken the public's sense of civic duty.
Thus in all these ways we will transmit this City, not only not less, but greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Rumors from City Hall
INITIAL REPORT: A hot rumor from employees in city hall. Reporters have been snooping all over city hall today with talk of a scandal in the Schneider Administration. The Asbury Park Press is involved in the brewing news story, along with other unidentified news outlets.Stay tuned for more, most likely after employees leave work at 4:30.
UPDATE No. 1 - 11:35 PM, Wednesday
Apparently, the net has been thrown wide and both big and little fish have been caught. The only question now becomes, when do the feds haul in the net?
More questions than answers at this point, but the rumor mill indicates that an ordinance was introduced that later inexplicably disappeared from the face of the Earth that would have changed the ability to development a certain piece of land that is/was owned by a member of the city council (current or past, we do not yet know, but we do know that it was done within the last five years.)
Apparently, there is also a component of fraud in the taking/purchasing of this land that involves the Mayor and at least two council members and likely several municipal employees.
Finally, this all appears linked to a topic that has recently been before the Planning Board. The only thing the LBA knows for a fact that has been before the Board is the proposed changes to Strollo's Lighthouse and we only know that because of the hullabulloo caused by Long Branch Planning Board Vice Chairman Edward Thomas. One can only wonder if the ripple effects of a dumb comment will cause huge waves in the Presidential City. . .
Stay tuned. . .
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