Ocean Grove Beachfront and Boardwalk May Not Get FEMA Funding To Rebuild

By Art Gallagher

Photo credit: Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association

Neptune Township’s beachfront and boardwalk in the Ocean Grove section of the Township might not get the estimated $3 million in FEMA funding needed to rebuild because the property is owned by the private non-profit and religious Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association (OGCMA), according to an article by freelance journalist Caren Chesler published at NJSpotLight.

Neptune Township Committee Member and Ocean Grove business owner Randy Bishop, as well as Michael Bascom, the Township’s CFO are working with OGCMA to pursuade FEMA to pay for the repairs on the stretch of beach that connects the regional shoreline from Asbury Park south to Spring Lake.

In a press release posted on OGCMA’s website, President Dr. Dale C. Whilden said, “The Camp Meeting is fully committed to restoring Ocean Grove’s beautiful beachfront, a keystone of our community as well as a protection from ocean storms, and we’re on track to implement a comprehensive beach and boardwalk restoration plan.  With God’s blessing and the assistance of our local, state and federal officials, as well as support from individuals and organizations, our beach will open on Memorial Day weekend.”

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

5.7% turnout for school board elections

Marlboro and Neptune Township held school board elections yesterday.   Of the 45,035 registered voters in the the two townships, 2,618 voted.

By far most of those voters were from Marlboro, where over 2000 people came out.  In Neptune, less than 600 of aproximately 16,000 registered voters came out.

As of February 18, there was 24,926 registered voters in Marlboro and 15,865 in Neptune Township, according to Labels and Lists.  The county website says there were 45, 035 eligible voters in yesterday’s election.  Where those 4,244 new voters came from since February could be the subject of a future column.  In the meantime GOP leaders should take note that someone seems to be having a voter registration drive in Democratic towns.

For now I’d like to speculate about why there was a close to normal 10% turnout in Marlboro while only 3% turned out in Neptune.

One obvious reason could be competition.  In Marlboro, there were 7 candidates for 3 seats on the school board.  In Neptune, the 3 seats were not contested.

A not so obvious reason could be campaign spending.  In Marlboro one of the candidates, Bonniesue Rosenwald, mailed out a professionally produced post card late last week which included an endorsement from Mayor Jon Hornick.  Rosenwald, an incumbent, squeaked out a third place finish by 13 votes to retain her seat.

Some in Marlboro were upset that Rosenwald and Hornick politicised a school board election.  I say politicisation increases participation.

With the recent and perennial hubbub about campaign spending and pay to play, few of the critics of the pay to play/PAC/wheeling system are offering alternatives.  No one is talking about the public service campaign spending provides.

If not for campaign signs littering our roadways and lawns and mail boxes filled with glossy advertisements  few people would know when to interrupt their routines to vote.

With the arguable exception of presidential and gubernatorial elections, the media, local and national, does a horrible job of covering campaigns.  The media looks as electioneering as a revenue source,  not a story to be covered as if democracy depends upon it.

Current campaign finance laws thwart participation by limiting contributions and making the process more complicated.  The process is so complicated that only the most motivated and self interested contribute.  Recently, pundits at The Star Ledger, The Asbury Park Press and even the usually smarter than that InTheLobby criticised the John Wisniewski/Middlesex County PAC practices for violating the spirit of campaign finance laws.   Hogwash.  The complex system that reduces transparency is the spirit of our campaign finance laws.

If our leaders really want to reform the system, rather than give lip service to ethics while voting for a bill with “loopholes” intentionally written in, the would create a simple system with full and immediate disclosure required.

• Tweet

WHAT IS SO POLITICAL ABOUT VOTERS ACTUALLY GETTING TO VOTE FOR MAYOR?

Nothing, says Neptune Government 4 All.   It is our core belief that having a vote in who your elected officials are, is basic to democracy.   Right now, the mayor is a one year (virtually) rotating post!   That’s not democracy at its best!  And, that’s why NG4A, a non-partisan group, decided to get together and initiate this effort to put a change of government question on the ballot this November.

Right now, the executive and legislative functions are combined and secretive.  Who is watching the store?  The politicians are in on the deal and the taxpayers are left out.  As it stands now, the Mayor is selected behind closed doors.  Direct voter election of the Mayor should be the right of the people. 

Yet recently, NG4A has seen some disturbing, albeit expected, push back from those same elected officials via comments in the media, in an attempt to keep their system of patronage in place. These elected officials are suggesting this grass roots movement is nothing more than politics,

It’s simply about a change to a better system,” said NG4A’s Luke Tirell. “We’re working to get the question on the ballot and give the voters the right to choose their mayor. We’re already seeing that when Neptune voters learn about the benefits of this change, they overwhelmingly support it.”.

NG4A is also hearing from residents that they would like to have their own neighborhood council members. They would be better able to address the important issues all across Neptune: crime in Midtown, parking in Ocean Grove, speeding in Shark River Hills, as well as development along the Route 66 corridor in West Neptune.  To have only five minutes in front of a podium twice a month at a council meeting does not allow residents the opportunity to fully address those needs.  Instead, having a Council person from their own neighborhood and accountable to those voters allows for more effective attention to local issues, in addition to the big picture issues.

“Is Neptune Township not right for the same style of government that Old Bridge, Piscataway Township, and many other municipalities use?” asked NG4A’s Charlie Demaria, “Neptune, much like Piscataway, is a very diverse community made up of a number of very different neighborhoods, each with its own unique needs.”

On the NG4A website, www.ng4a.net there is a list of nearly all of those municipalities, both small and large, that use the Mayor-Council form of government.

DeMaria continued, “Neighborhood representation in our local government and direct voter election of the Mayor will result in a more accountable and cost effective government for Neptune taxpayers. Change like this will benefit the taxpayers. It’s not about politics, it’s about empowerment.”

The suggestion that the people’s right to vote for a mayor is outweighed by some small financial cost to place it on the ballot is not right. There actually is no great cost in placing this on the ballot.

Most importantly, over the next few weeks, Neptune Government 4 All will be talking about the benefits of this plan, especially how it will benefit the taxpayers. All you have to do is go to our website, www.ng4a.net to find the fact sheets.

No sound bites, just facts.

Visit www.ng4a.net for more information and let us know that you want to sign the petition. Send a message that you support full democracy and the voter’s right to choose on the November ballot.

This Neptune citizens’ plan for a change to neighborhood representation will put taxpayers first.  We can’t afford not to change.

If you are interested in helping this grass roots, non-partisan, initiative, email us at: [email protected].  You’ll see how non partisan we are!

• Tweet

ARE THE UNIONS THE “WIZARDS BEHIND THE CURTAIN” FOR THE NEPTUNE DEMOCRATS?

Just like the famous movie, the “Wizard Of Oz,” one has to look past the curtain in order to see the real story. I had that in mind the other day when I spoke to a voter regarding my opponents website and campaign literature.

I first thought that they were “wizards” trying to hide behind the curtain until the election is over. I said this because their website and literature are devoid of any issues or platform. It’s as if they were trying to “hide behind the curtain” until Election Day is over because of their liberal “tax & spend” positions, which aren’t selling across America.

But I came to find out who the REAL “wizard behind the curtain” really is. You see, NJ Election Funding Reports became available the other day, and that’s where you will find out who is behind the curtain trying to pull all of the levers. Facts are powerful messengers.

The NJ Election Report records show that one of my opponents, Eric Houghtaling is receiving large amounts of Labor Union cash for his campaign war chest. At least 80% of his campaign funding, currently $5,500, is from Labor Union donations to his campaign. And there’s still 20+ days left in the campaign. That’s a large “purchase” of a candidate my friends, but I wonder, are there more barrels of cash to come?

Now, here’s the bigger problem about Eric’s union ties. According to the IBEW400 website Eric is the Political Director of his electrical workers union, so this is sounding like Neptune’s own version of the Louisiana Purchase and Cornhusker Kickback; with the union trying to influence what goes on in Neptune. I have no problem with labor unions as an organization; my problem lies with Union’s attempting to sway political election outcomes.

Are Unions the “Great & Powerful Oz?”

Or, is this for “street money” to help re-elect Frank Pallone? We’ve seen what unions do to help turn out the vote for the Democrats. We don’t know though, because even at this late date, Eric shows no expenses for his campaign.  Now that’s strange, what else is Eric hiding behind the curtain?

What we DO know is that we’ve seen what the Unions did in the 2008 election in order to help elect Obama. We also saw the unions out in great force at the Town Hall meeting across America, trying to drown out our voices. We also know that the Service Employees International and other unions held great sway over the formation of the disaster called Health Care Reform. Taxpayers suffered because of their over reaching influence.

The implications of a Union “purchase” of a Township Committee seat here in Neptune becomes even scarier because, like the Health Care bill, we won’t know what’s in Eric’s “bills” until and if he wins a seat, because he won’t say what he’s for..

Think, Is this what WE want in Neptune?

Elections have consequences and we’ve seen the consequences of the 2008 election. The lack of a platform & the barrels full of union cash must concern you, the voter.

We should be electing people with platforms and plans, not people to put what they are for on paper or can be bought by large donations. My campaign website, www.neptune2010.com does just that, where I actually talk about positions and issues.

You can do something about this. I have established a special election fund in order to defeat the Union Influence in Neptune. You can go to our website and make an online donation to tell the Unions that we don’t want them influencing Neptune from the Township Committee dias.  If everyone reading this article donates just $25 to fight the Big Unions, it will send a powerful message. Actually, no donation is too small.

Even if you aren’t from Neptune, a donation will help defeat Frank Pallone by helping my campaign turn out more voters for our column. I’m not hiding behind a curtain. I can’t be bought off by large donations because most of mine are small donations from families like yours. Tell the Unions to “go home.”

Warren Lapp, Candidate

Neptune Township Committee

• Tweet

Neptune Township Campaign, A Campaign Of Distinction, Sharp Distinctions…

 By Warren Lapp, Candidate for Neptune Township Committee

www.neptune2010.com

Here we are, just about one month out from the Election. While I continue to door knock & greet Neptune’s voters, I’m going to try as much as possible to share my views on issues via the press. If you don’t find them here, you can always find them on my website. Most importantly, you will find a sharp contrast between me & the Democrat candidates.

The first sharp distinction I’ll draw is with regards to my civic activity compared to my opponent Eric Hougtaling. Only recently has Eric been on the scene at a couple of township committee meetings, only since he became a candidate. I’ve been to more than 100 committee meetings over the years and I served 2+ years on the planning board. I’ve been an active member of the Shark River Hills Property Owner’s Association for years as well. Though I do recognize Eric’s long ago involvement in Little League, where has he been lately? You deserve better, someone up on current events and issues.

Another difference is how I want to deal with YOUR money. You see, the Neptune Democrats continue to act as if it’s THEIR money. We’ve seen that with recent tax and fee increases. We’ve seen that with the interest in parking meters and now a hotel tax, which hurts Ocean Grove the most. Yes, I am all for finding new sources of revenues, but not on the backs of residents and businesses who know better how to spend their own money, especially in difficult economic times.

That’s why I propose putting the brakes on a hotel tax while we look at a substantial revenue producing ideas such as red light cameras, which have proven very successful in other towns. Make the bad guys pay, not the good guys. As one voter commented to me recently, “just for the agita they gave us, the Democrats deserve ousting. They think of Ocean Grove as a cash cow.”  

Our township employees have given a lot in cutbacks, yet feel that the Neptune Democrats aren’t listening to them. After all, they are a 5 & 0 Majority. Why bother listening? Instead of just taking away compensatory time for certain administrators, the Committee gave them a pay increase. Rank and file township employees have experienced the belt-tightening. Perhaps it’s time for more from our administrators. 

I’ll listen. Why?

This campaign is about YOU, the voter, not what some politician is going to do for you. We’ve seen from Washington on down, that our elected officials are not listening to the voters. I have a survey up on my campaign website soliciting ideas, and already; we’ve gotten some pretty good ones. Have the Neptune Democrats ever really asked for your opinion? Rather, they would serve to press their ideas on you.

Neptune Residents, visit the website, take the survey & look at my positions on the issues. I’m sure you’ll find a pleasant surprise when compared to my opponents. On November 2^nd, make just one vote for township committee. Vote for Warren Lapp to send a message that others in Neptune deserve a voice. I will be that voice.

• Tweet