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Oceanport Councilman Joe Irace Seeks To Bring Jobs Back To Fort

Oceanport Councilman Joe Irace Seeks To Bring Jobs Back to Fort Monmouth

In a recent email to constituents, Oceaport Councilman Joe Irace suggests that FMERA needs to discuss realistic ideas to develop a high tech campus which would bring jobs back to the local economy, not just build more housing and strip malls at the closed Fort Monmouth property. Citing a New York City high tech campus project as an example, Councilman Irace says “We have the land buildings and the beginnings of a campus” and calls for NJ to be a leader and an innovator.

Oceanport, as one of the local towns with land occupied by Ft. Monmouth, has a seat on the committee but the state and federal government appear to still be dictating the building and development decisions that will impact local taxpayers and voters. Oceanport Mayor Michael Mahon is on the FMERA board along with other local mayors, Gerald Tarantolo of Eatontown and Michael Skudera of Tinton Falls. Also on the board to represent local interests is Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian G. Burry. The Fort was closed in September of this year after Frank Pallone and Rush Holt failed to win support for the Fort following a 2005 BRAC decision to close it.

The news story Irace notes is at: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-27/new-york-may-host-multiple-new-science-campuses-mayor-says.html

Thanks to James Hogan for bringing this to our attention.

Posted: October 29th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

One Comment on “Oceanport Councilman Joe Irace Seeks To Bring Jobs Back To Fort”

  1. JMO said at 3:05 pm on November 5th, 2011:

    I have read several articles recently about our NJ candidates putting Fort Monmouth at the top of the priority list and I understand the difficulties dealing with the federal and state governments. I also understand this should be on the top of the list and will get a lot of media attention prior to elections. Having said that, the Fort was put on BRAC more than five years ago and has been the BRAC “radar” since the 1980’s. Given a mostly civilian population without any active Army training on site, it was only a matter of time. My question is what have the candidates done proactively for the last few years to prepare for this? That will determine my vote, not what is on the current campaign flyers. I am sure there are dedicated hardworking people who have been active in this regard and have been fighting the good fight. What about the other Fort properties in Monmouth county that have been sitting like a ghost town for years with only the rats roaming the halls? Yes, rats. I have seen them.