Editor, the Asbury Park Sun, Some of us remember the Broadway musical, “West Side Story.” It was inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The Jets and the Sharks were two teenage gangs on the West Side of New York City. Tony was the leader of the Jets, and Maria was the sister of the leader of the Sharks. They […]

Editor, the Asbury Park Sun, The recent attempt by State Monitor Carole Morris to reverse the decision of the school board in appointing Mr. Gregory Allen to the position of superintendent is another example of the state controlling  urban districts. Let’s put some cards on the table. Ms. Morris was interested in being the interim […]

Editor, the Asbury Park Sun, I will vote YES on Tuesday’s ballot question for Asbury Park to adopt a modified form of government. 1. STAGGERED TERMS. Nobody seems to be against them, yet no sitting council seems likely to adopt them. With a “yes” vote on Tuesday voters can take the matter directly into their […]

Editor, the Asbury Park Sun: The charter study commission’s suggested referendum moves Asbury Park into the 21st century and I congratulate them on a job well done! They worked diligently, compromised and came up with a logical structure that carries Asbury Park forward from the antiquated 1923 form of government we currently have. There are only […]

Editor, the Asbury Park Sun, People have been asking my opinion regarding the ballot question to change our form of government. I realize that the charter study commission has worked long and hard and I deeply appreciate all of their efforts. Although I do not agree with some of their findings, I applaud and thank […]

Editor, the Asbury Park Sun, The Deal Lake Commission [DLC] would like thank the 200 plus folks who attended our Oct. 26 cleanup.  The Deal Lake cleanup was the biggest and best in recent memory. We removed tons of debris not just from the main lake but from Sunset Lake and Fireman’s Pond, which are […]

[Editor’s note: “The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross” is a six-part, six-hour documentary series by Henry Louis Gates Jr., a Harvard professor, author and critic. The series explores the 500-year history of Africans in America. It is being aired on PBS Tuesdays at 8 p.m. from Oct. 22 through Nov. 26.] Editor, the Asbury […]

Editor, the Asbury Park Sun: As the plaintiff in the recent attempt to have ballots counted in the Asbury Park city council election, I am very disappointed with Judge O’Brien’s decision. I am also upset with the conduct that he displayed from the bench. His interruption of Ms. Howard’s final summation was totally out of […]

Editor, the Asbury Park Sun: Some people are trying to inject race into what happened on July 1 at the swearing in of Asbury Park’s new city council and mayor. But race has nothing to do with it. Nothing, that is, unless those responsible for the coup d’etat succeed at changing the subject. I was […]

Editor, the Asbury Park Sun: The recent events in Asbury Park — the election of Myra Campbell as mayor — and the anger that followed her election, expressed in what some would call “verbal violence,” brought to my mind the writings of William Shakespeare and a song sung by the late Etta James. Shakespeare in […]