Red Bank or ‘Wal-Bank’?
In 2012, the Red Bank RiverCenter re-branded Red Bank as “A Cool Little Town.” After the Democrats get done with it, RiverCenter may want to consider renaming our beloved small town “Wal-Bank.”
As a person who is lucky enough to have spent time in over 40 different states of this great country, I am outraged by the “genericization” of some our greatest small towns. When Fredricksburg, Virginia looks like New Iberia, Louisiana, it takes away from the experience of living in or visiting one of these places. If Democrats get their way, Red Bank will become another one of these generic towns . . . or worse.
Can you imagine a day where after finishing up your McRib sandwich on the corner of Monmouth and Broad you take a nice leisurely stroll down the street to Payless to pick up some fresh “Buy One Get One Half Off” kicks? Don’t laugh because this is the Red Bank that the Zipprich, Horgan and Lee Council envision.
I can’t imagine ever getting to the point where I would want to grasp a fledgling political career so badly that I would support a generic big box that is contrary to the culture of our community, presents serious health hazards and furthers the genericization of our small town.
So why are Red Bank Democrats Kathy Horgan, Ed Zipprich and Sharon Lee supporting the development of a Hampton Inn on the Navesink River in Red Bank? Because it’s a tax ratable and these same people who have put our town $30 million in debt have run out of ideas. However, by the developer’s own estimates, the occupancy tax would be infinitesimal compared to our crushing debt load. Horgan, Zipprich and Lee are willing to risk Red Bank’s character, health and safety for tax revenue that would take 400 years to eliminate our debt.
The proposed Hampton Inn site was occupied by a gas station for almost 70 years. The developer’s own environmental expert said the site is not expected to have ground water with allowable levels of contaminants until at least 2016.
I am not willing to risk the health of those working or staying at a hotel in our town for any amount of tax revenue. Please stop and think about this for a moment. The “environmentally friendly” Red Bank Council is about to approve a cheap big box hotel on a contaminated site. They are about to expose pregnant women and children to the water toxins on that location. This is not only outrageous, but it is also immoral. Maybe Zipprich, Horgan and Lee should stop attending political fundraisers and watch Erin Brockovich instead.
Oh, and Ed, Putting a vegetated roof on a hotel built on a contaminated waste site isn’t environmentally friendly no matter how much energy it saves. Talk about lipstick on a pig. This is the way these people think. Complete insanity and incompetence.
From a newly proposed Walgreen’s to the Hampton Inn, Red Bank is at risk of turning into Generictown, USA. More eyesores, traffic congestion and chain stores will not make our town better.
Sound fiscal policy, smart and environmentally friendly growth and support for our local entrepreneurs and small businesses will keep Red Bank “A Cool Little Town.” Please join me in pushing forward these positive ideas and opposing the Zipprich, Horgan and Lee Council’s latest half-baked scheme that puts the character, health and safety of our community at risk.
Sean DiSomma is a Republican candidate for Borough Council in Red Bank
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Red Bank should welcome ANY new business considering how many empty storefronts there are. And I didn’t know anti-business and anti-Walmart was a Republican policy
We don’t assign our own value judgments to what can and cannot move in. This is America and it is called capitalism.
@Here in America – While that is true, people do have the right to prevent something that they feel would lead to degradation in their towns.
Tell me where you live buddy and I’ll open up a Hooters next door.
Is this guy a Republican? I hope not.
What toxic waste? Leaks from the old gas tanks? Soil contaminated by gasoline that is capped with concrete and blacktop is going to endanger children and pregnant women. Seriously?
Oh and before it was cool town Red Bank had a McDonalds on Broad street. I hope they bring one back. I love McRibs.
1ST how long have you and your crazy running mate lived in red bank? so really you don’t know much.
yes the dems have their normal puppets running we all except that. When will the republicans support a real candidate?
So the questions is vote for puppets who can’t do much harm or for 2 person who just learned the zip code and have personal agenda’s
when will the republicans have a real candidate ?
Hope some of you live in and enjoy paying the “harm” of the ever- increasing water and sewer (budget- balancing) rates, increasing property taxes,and burgeoning debt,to pay for a few retirees’ sick days.. These candidates have actually been doing what concerned candidates do: knocking on doors and talking to tired and overtaxed residents, and learning about what’s really bugging actual people who have to live here… While it would be lovely for the economy to get better, and for more people be able to open on Broad St., afford those rents, and succeed there, it is time to listen to those of us who are sick of all the traffic and noise, and who don’t feel we have enough space for a motel right at the entrance to the town that’s packed already, (and yes, located right over the old gas station which may or may not be “clean”enough), nor do most people want a big Walgreen’s pharmacy at the other end of town,at the old car dealership lot!… It is fine to do the old Dem fallback of personally trashing one’s opponents without any new/positive ideas, but we will see if the voters have awakened enough to try some new leaders for a change, instead of the lock- step, tax -and -spend McKenna-remnants.. Let the motel go on over to Tinton Falls- they have more room!.. Thanks for the input, and if you think you can find ” better” candidates to support, and raise enough money for, in “Blue Bank,”have at it- 2014 will be here soon enough!
Everyday there is a new outrage in RB. It is one thing to be a D puppet, quite another to be dumb as well. RB is $30 million in debt and determined to borrow more.
Candidates Sean DiSomma and Cindy Burnham are dealing with years of fiscal abuse and failed vision.
How about the M&C decision to bond money to pay for operating expenses like sick days and vacation?
“…Cindy Burham and Sean Di Somma pressed the governing body over what they called a failure to plan for the exits of employees added to the town payroll before 1994, when a borough ordinance capped cash-outs for accrued “sick” days and vacation for new hires at $15,000 per employee.
Their comments came after the council approved, in a 5-0 vote, an emergency bond for $362,000 to cover payouts to five recent retirees who were exempt from the ordinance.
And the heated exchanges between Di Somma and the council continued after the meeting concluded.
“I don’t think it’s right to borrow to make these payouts, and I don’t think people do, either,” Burham told Council President Art
Di Somma pressed individual council members on whether they knew the town’s stated liabilities for vacation and sick days, as reflected in the budget. None knew the figure, which Di Somma said was $2.4 million.
“If you don’t understand a budget you passed, how can anybody trust you?” DiSomma said.
Yes, businesses are evil. Red Bank should better have an abandoned gas station and a dealer lot in ruins, than a motel and a pharmacy! At least this way the unfortunate homeless would have a place to live, instead of our working class being exploited by capitalists
I think it is laughable that so many conservatives are bashing Disomma and questioning his conservative bona fides. He is unquestionably the most conservative candidate for ANY office here in Monmouth county as well as being politically astute and has a propensity to stir the pot like I’ve never seen done in Red Bank.
This is a guy who I’ve seen eating a private breakfast with Steve Lonegan, Peter Schiff and Rand Paul.
Cut the guy a break.
Well from what Mark Harmon says they sound like great candidates but what he is talking about is not what this article is about. On the subject of this article the candidates position sounds like pandering and is wrong no matter what party he is from.
Hip city — Tinton Falls already has hotels. They are appropriately cited on a State Highway. Just as the Hampton Inn will be. That is the type of building that typically goes on a State Highway. If they wanted to put it on a small residential street I would agree with your objections.
Cindy and Sean are doing their homework, going door-to-door, attending public meetings, talking to the people who live in Red Bank. Clearly development and quality of life issues are important to the residents.
Here is another example of their work from earlier this summer sent out through emails.
Dear Friends,
As most of you know, I am running for Red Bank Borough Council this year. I am trying to stress to people that we must look not at party affiliation, but at who most possesses our values and is most likely to fight for the things we most believe in. I truly believe that if you want to know what someone will do, look at what they have done.
As I have been walking and knocking on the doors of Red Bank residents, they have alerted me to their concerns. Many have stated rising taxes & outrageous water & sewer costs. This can only be rectified by a reduction in spending, borrowing & better use of taxpayer dollars.
Properties that are in need of code enforcement were another concern to residents. There is no excuse to let a building linger for years in disrepair, or have a house occupied by more people than allowed by law.
These properties only create eyesores in our neighborhoods and bring down property values. If any of these properties are owner occupied and the homeowner is elderly, disabled or cannot afford to do the repairs, maybe it’s time to pull a volunteer group together who can do the needed work. Isn’t that what community is all about?
I have been compiling addresses and have written to Mr. Sickels, the Borough Administrator on three occasions: 6/13/13, 6/17/13, 8/6/13 with no reply.
Let me also remind you that my opponent,
Councilwoman Sharon Lee is the Chair to Code Enforcement.
The properties I referenced are:
1) 116 Hudson Ave. – Porch roof being held up by 2 by 4″s for over a year
2) 252-254 Mechanic St – Boarded up
3) 67 Wallace St – Absentee landloard, house in disrepair.
4) 113 Wallace St – A 4 family unit that has been wrapped in TYVAC for at least 3 years
5) 26 Washington St. – Boarded up and in disrepair, for at least 5 years
6) 72 Peters Place – Boarded up & overgrown lot for at least 15 years
7) 43 Linden Pl. – Over grown yard & in disrepair
8) 73 Linden Place – Over grown yard and in disrepair
9) 22-20 Oakland St. – Overcrowding, disrepair & over grown yard
10) 106 Monmouth St. – BOROUGH OWNED & has been in major disrepair for at least 10 years
I just wanted to update you all on what I have been doing before, during & will continue to do after this race and to get your input as to other properties or concerns in Red Bank you feel need to be addressed. Please feel free to call me or email me regarding any of your concerns & check out my Facebook Page “RED BANK CAMPAIGN”
Your humble servant,
Cindy Burnham
71 Wallace St, RB, NJ 07701
732-241-9532
Come on, now, Mike: you need to drive on by again: just because they are lots near main highways, does not mean they won’ t crush us who live here, with already ridiculous snares of traffic: a long stretch into a big town,is very different from a 1.9 sq. mile little village that’s packed to the gills, now! By the way, there are already at least 5 pharmacies,in a very small radius, in and near Red Bank, whose business you say you want to make it, will be hurt by a big Walgreens, in that spot. And, for a town this size to have both the Molly and the Oyster Point, plus a couple of b and b’s- it is not like there’s no place to stay, when passing through, we have multiples of theaters, bars, clubs, restaurants of all types, tons of retail: wait, why aren’t my taxes any lower, with so many ratables? Oh, yeah, back to the original point: too many damn tax and spend Dems! Time for some new blood now in Hip Town, period!….
That spot is a traffic nightmare already.
Definitely NOT a good site for a hotel chain to set up shop.
To the gentleman using my name to post.
The Walgreens may or may not put other pharmacies out of business. Whether it does should not be the concern of the government, local or otherwise.
That is how capitalism works. If you can not compete you go out of business.
A 250 room hotel generates traffic equal to a fast food restaurant or a convenience store with gas pumps.
The proposed Hampton Inn is less the 1/3 that size.
So, again I ask, if they can not put up a hotel what can the property owners do with their property?
You are trying to,on one hand, use government to force more businesses on residents in tight spaces, but don’t care if there are too many in too close a proximity,to close down..(And, was not posting as you, but rather, was simply addressing you, Mr. Att’y.- chill out, and let RB decide if we need all that new rigamarole added to what we already have…
The government not telling someone they can not build what they want on their property is using the government to force more businesses on residents?
Interesting logic.
you keep track of your planning and zoning decisions in your town, and give input on what you think is best there, and we will do the same in our overcrowded, over- developed little Red Bank!
Cindy is unstable to sit on the board. She shoots her mouth off to much and lies about it!
Red bank tax payers do you want to be responsible for her? how many law suite will the town have to bail her ass out of?
how much of your taxes will have to be raised when she breaks the law or worse?
[…] Some do, some don’t. I certainly do not think that putting a Hampton Inn on a contaminated waste site or a Walgreen’s in a high traffic area are bright ideas. We have the right to govern our community as we see fit. However, sometimes there is nothing that government can do. If you would like to read about my views on these issues, please CLICK HERE […]