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Editor, Asbury Park Sun,

We strongly favor a no vote on all three local ballot questions this November.

Wards.

Breaking the city into wards would harden not soften divisions. This Council weighs every decision with mindful deliberation about its effect on the whole city, not one area over another. Look at the reality of development on Springwood Avenue. For decades there was so much talk about it. We got it done. The loudest voice does not necessarily get things done. Vote no.

Partisan elections.

More partisanship is the last thing we all need. Currently candidates run on their reputation of service to our community. Loyalty to a party is not a factor. In turn that enables us to work across party lines with county and state officials to achieve what’s best for the city. A partisan system would favor back room selections over door-to-door campaigning, lure outside political machines to get involved, and potentially foster corruption. We don’t need that. Vote no.

Short-term rentals.

Our Council got out ahead on this issue. We acted decisively to preserve affordable housing and protect neighborhoods from filling up with unlicensed hotels. The ballot question seeks to reverse our decision. It would drive long-term rentals off the market and push rents higher. Vote no.

It’s notable that the ward and partisan proposals were put forward together. We believe that this agenda is not good for our city. It’s also notable that at the other end of the spectrum is an effort to reverse our protection of affordable housing. Navigating widely divergent viewpoints to decide what’s best for this city is a delicate balancing act. We work hard at it every day. That is why we encourage you to vote no on all three referendum questions, and also to re-elect us on November 6.

John Moor and Jesse Kendle

Amy Quinn, Yvonne Clayton, and Eileen Chapman

[This letter represents the opinion of its writer and is not representative of any opinion of the Asbury Park Sun staff. All readers are welcome to submit Letters to the Editor to news@asburyparksun.com for our consideration. For guidelines on letter-writing and submission, click here.]

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