Editor, the Asbury Park Sun,

While attending Asbury Park City Council meetings I have seen the gap between the East and West sides of town grow. As a new member of the zoning board, I enjoy the experience and the present members have been very helpful. I also thank the present council for voting me in.

But let us look at the tale of two cities in our 1.4 square miles. The North Beach complex, the Vive townhomes and Wesley Grove are well-planned projects with an urban flare one block from the ocean. They are surrounded by restaurants, entertainment venues, art galleries and chic shops all within walking distance from one’s front door.

On the West Side we have new houses next to boarded up houses or vacant lots. Could the nonprofit organizations have worked closer with the city using code enforcement officers and underused RCA funds? We still have two million dollars in unused RCA funds. That would help the neighborhoods on the West Side.

In six weeks we have paid out over $250,000.00 to retiring city workers. Many municipalities, county agencies and boards of education cap retiree’s money between $15,000.00 to $25,000.00. The city could have saved between $175,000 to $205,000.00 by instituting a similar policy. Our lawyer says we can only do that for new employees. I retired eight months ago as a in New Jersey teacher after 32 years of service. My money was capped at $15,000. Who is our lawyer working for?

The fireman’s recent contract has nine steps. An employee can go from $30,000 to over $90,000 in nine years. Teacher’s contracts have between fifteen to twenty steps with only one $6,000 bubble. Our fireman get $6,000 raises every year. Where is the fiscal responsibility on the part of our administrators, union and the city council?

Crime is out of control on the West Side. We need a bi-weekly report by the chief of police at every council meeting. Then both sides of town will see where and what type of crimes are being committed. While we may need more officers; we need a better utilization of the manpower that we have. But we need to know the truth. Parking tickets need to take a back seat to dying youth.

Finally, the tax abatement ordinance needs to be voted down. My property taxes on the West Side are higher that a friend of mine in Spring Lake. Carpetbaggers and investors have been given a free pass for ten years. If they want to come to Asbury Park and make money they must bear part of the tax burden. If this ordinance passes, those who voted for it will be voted out in November.

Asbury Park needs real answers now. As The Who said, “We won’t get fooled again.”

—Daniel Harris, Asbury Park