The mayoral candidates should absolutely debate. And the letter writer is correct, that Kliens seafood fest nonsense was political theater at its worst. A lame attempt at pandering. And that’s coming from someone who thinks the seafood festival is the dumbest thing this town does.
The other letter has someone, yet again, implying that mayor had 5th Ave paved for himself. Are these people really that ignorant? Or just super lazy? That project was planned long before Buccafusco took office. Please, let’s keep the complaints about the mayor, all politicians really, centered on things they’ve actually done.
No one wants to mention that the administration would not have a meeting or even return an email or phone call from Klein’s restaurant. It wasn’t just Klein’s. It was several other local businesses. This lack of communication caused several businesses not to return. Klein‘s just happened to be the largest name and furthermore deserves the respect of the community. After all, it is a seafood festival!
It is no wonder that the Belmar BA, while being the mayor of freehold and receiving two paychecks, lost two businesses that were over 100 years old during his watch. The freehold racetrack and Nestlé.
Mark O’Neil is spot on. Lays out facts and eloquently states his case.
The other letter accuses the mayor of paving his own street. Which would be quite the accusation if it was even remotely true. Something the letter writer could have known if she spent 30 seconds looking up that DOT grants for the project were obtained in 2022 while Walsifer was mayor.
If these two letter writers debated, it would be a massacre. Facts vs unfounded innuendo.
Again, these letters to the editor are opinion columns and not the facts. For example, an alarmist is suggesting we could have had a 20 story building if not for this Mayor’s push for an affordable housing plan. That would have never happened. It’s speculation.
True, that 5th Ave was in the budget to get paved with the previous administration’s budget along with the water tower getting painted. 3.5 more years and where did the money go to paint the tower?
If you go to the meetings it was already established that the 350k left in escrow at the time of the sale of 12th Ave purchase would have been enough money for the remediation if only this Mayor didn’t let it sit for 3.5 years untouched. Try leaving your own home neglected for 3.5 years.
Listen, you can’t fool the Belmar residents who have lived in this town, worked here, raised kids here and weathered the storm.
What’s not talked about is Donovan didn’t accomplish Verizon alone and nothing great gets done alone. Having a debate would be productive as long as it’s not the raggedy old narrative and arguments of the past. Belmar residents want a leader, we want innovators, problem solvers and most of all honesty. You can write your opinion but in the end it’s just that…. Your opinion.
You mention four things. The only one you claim is opinion is the possibility of a 20 story building. Maybe you’re right about that. The other three things are actual facts. You conveniently left out the fact that the “12th ave project” was purchased for above market value from a relative of Walsifer’s BA. And, since the old auto repair building is closed and no longer in service, the oil that is contamination the property is no longer getting worse. There is no way to know how bad it is until the work begins. Closing on that property BEFORE the remediation work was completed was quite possibly the most a** backward real estate deal in the history of Belmar.
As for Donovan, the letter does not mention that she didn’t fight Verizon on her own. But it also doesn’t say she did. So not sure why you brought that up. Grasping at straws.
As far as a debate is concerned, what are the raggedy old arguments from the past? A debate is a debate. As long as there’s an impartial moderator.
Lastly, this Belmar resident has lived here for over 40 years, has raised children here, has “weathered the storm” here. And you’re right, we can’t be fooled. For me, I see in DeBlasio what I saw in Doherty. Belmar is a means to an end. A checked box on the ego card. It is no surprise to me at all that Doherty (who was worse than any storm) is working hard to promote Mr DeBlasio. For me, that is a deal breaker.
You conveniently left out the fact that the “12th ave project” was a known contaminated property, purchased above market value from a relative of Walsifer’s BA. The property was “needed” (I guess not so much) because of a personal beef the then mayor had with the BFA family.
There is no way for you, or anyone for that matter, to know how much money it would cost to remediate it. That is why, in every real estate transaction in the history of real estate transaction, the seller cleans up the property BEFORE it is sold.
You want to whine about the mayor being rude, arrogant, etc. fine. But in terms of horrendous policies that actually damaged this town financially? He doesn’t come close to the last two mayors. Not. Even. Close.
The mayoral candidates should absolutely debate. And the letter writer is correct, that Kliens seafood fest nonsense was political theater at its worst. A lame attempt at pandering. And that’s coming from someone who thinks the seafood festival is the dumbest thing this town does.
The other letter has someone, yet again, implying that mayor had 5th Ave paved for himself. Are these people really that ignorant? Or just super lazy? That project was planned long before Buccafusco took office. Please, let’s keep the complaints about the mayor, all politicians really, centered on things they’ve actually done.
No one wants to mention that the administration would not have a meeting or even return an email or phone call from Klein’s restaurant. It wasn’t just Klein’s. It was several other local businesses. This lack of communication caused several businesses not to return. Klein‘s just happened to be the largest name and furthermore deserves the respect of the community. After all, it is a seafood festival!
It is no wonder that the Belmar BA, while being the mayor of freehold and receiving two paychecks, lost two businesses that were over 100 years old during his watch. The freehold racetrack and Nestlé.
Please, let’s just speak the truth here.
Mark O’Neil is spot on. Lays out facts and eloquently states his case.
The other letter accuses the mayor of paving his own street. Which would be quite the accusation if it was even remotely true. Something the letter writer could have known if she spent 30 seconds looking up that DOT grants for the project were obtained in 2022 while Walsifer was mayor.
If these two letter writers debated, it would be a massacre. Facts vs unfounded innuendo.
Again, these letters to the editor are opinion columns and not the facts. For example, an alarmist is suggesting we could have had a 20 story building if not for this Mayor’s push for an affordable housing plan. That would have never happened. It’s speculation.
True, that 5th Ave was in the budget to get paved with the previous administration’s budget along with the water tower getting painted. 3.5 more years and where did the money go to paint the tower?
If you go to the meetings it was already established that the 350k left in escrow at the time of the sale of 12th Ave purchase would have been enough money for the remediation if only this Mayor didn’t let it sit for 3.5 years untouched. Try leaving your own home neglected for 3.5 years.
Listen, you can’t fool the Belmar residents who have lived in this town, worked here, raised kids here and weathered the storm.
What’s not talked about is Donovan didn’t accomplish Verizon alone and nothing great gets done alone. Having a debate would be productive as long as it’s not the raggedy old narrative and arguments of the past. Belmar residents want a leader, we want innovators, problem solvers and most of all honesty. You can write your opinion but in the end it’s just that…. Your opinion.
You mention four things. The only one you claim is opinion is the possibility of a 20 story building. Maybe you’re right about that. The other three things are actual facts. You conveniently left out the fact that the “12th ave project” was purchased for above market value from a relative of Walsifer’s BA. And, since the old auto repair building is closed and no longer in service, the oil that is contamination the property is no longer getting worse. There is no way to know how bad it is until the work begins. Closing on that property BEFORE the remediation work was completed was quite possibly the most a** backward real estate deal in the history of Belmar.
As for Donovan, the letter does not mention that she didn’t fight Verizon on her own. But it also doesn’t say she did. So not sure why you brought that up. Grasping at straws.
As far as a debate is concerned, what are the raggedy old arguments from the past? A debate is a debate. As long as there’s an impartial moderator.
Lastly, this Belmar resident has lived here for over 40 years, has raised children here, has “weathered the storm” here. And you’re right, we can’t be fooled. For me, I see in DeBlasio what I saw in Doherty. Belmar is a means to an end. A checked box on the ego card. It is no surprise to me at all that Doherty (who was worse than any storm) is working hard to promote Mr DeBlasio. For me, that is a deal breaker.
Hold your thoughts about Doherty and DeBlasio because you are incorrect
Why would Doherty have planned an event on the same night DeBlasio is having a campaign fundraiser?
Seems Doherty is supporting Donovan
You conveniently left out the fact that the “12th ave project” was a known contaminated property, purchased above market value from a relative of Walsifer’s BA. The property was “needed” (I guess not so much) because of a personal beef the then mayor had with the BFA family.
There is no way for you, or anyone for that matter, to know how much money it would cost to remediate it. That is why, in every real estate transaction in the history of real estate transaction, the seller cleans up the property BEFORE it is sold.
You want to whine about the mayor being rude, arrogant, etc. fine. But in terms of horrendous policies that actually damaged this town financially? He doesn’t come close to the last two mayors. Not. Even. Close.
The property value has only gone up even in its demise
Would LOVE to see a debate.