Unless you can say “enough is enough” we will enlist an ad hoc OG committee to have you committed to the nearest psych ward!
Currently we have one party (Democrat) rule at the Neptune Township Committee and they have been dismissive regarding the issues in the Grove. Ocean Grove doesn’t have a chance in the future without an opposition party on board.
If our recent post “The Perception of Impropriety” didn’t convince you that a change in elected leadership is required, then there is no hope for our town.
We have received word from the Neptune Township Republican County Committee that they will nominate two candidates to lead a “Turn the Tide” campaign in Neptune Township.
Jim Granelli of Shark River Hills and Dru Reynolds of Ocean Grove will turn their attention to concerns of crime and “always higher taxes” in Neptune. They say that we need “a fresh set of ideas and leadership at the Township Committee.”
Candidate Reynolds said, “I was motivated to stop talking about the problems of our community and start working for change. I am asking the voters in Neptune/Ocean Grove to support my vision of leadership which puts ALL of our residents ahead of politics.”
Granelli and Reynolds say that they “believe that Neptune voters want to have elected officials who care about their neighborhoods (there are 21 districts in Neptune) and know and understand the problems each district residents encounter. Jim and Dru are inviting all to join their campaign no matter their political party registration”
The only way that we can see a change in that miserable Committee is for fair-minded voters to cross political lines and vote for change–and that especially means every registered voter in OG.
Blogfinger doesn’t normally take sides in elections, but Jack and I have gone cross-eyed trying to expose the mishandling of our own town by elected politicians, and none of those so called public servants will show even a modicum of sympathy for us Grovers, except for Carol Rizzo, but what has she accomplished? It’s time for a change!
We will not be an arm of the Republican Party in town, but we will place our concerns about governance in Ocean Grove at the top of our priority list, and we will want to hear what these new candidates have to say about the Grove specifically.
We will present and discuss new ideas that are floated our way, and hopefully the new candidates will contact you and meet you to make their points about OG.
During the last local election, the Republicans wanted Blogfinger to help their cause, but none of the candidates could step forward with any specific ideas about Ocean Grove, so we offered no support. We’ll see if they have anything substantial this time.
Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.
JOEL GRAY FROM CABARET:
I was a Democrat and voted straight party line for many years, from national to state to local candidates.
I changed my party affiliation to Independent several years ago. One of the reasons for this was seeing these feckless Democrats on the Township Committee. Holding all five seats, I foolishly thought they would accomplish great things.
“Turn the tide” is an apt metaphor. The tide we have now is dirty, fetid water.
Hopefully, Jim and Dru can clean things up!
A follow up personal note: I am so appreciative for the comments here – it’s important to me to hear all voices so Jim and I are not operating from an “echo chamber” mindset.
We too want the kind of change which can only come from a fresh point of view. Although this is our first run for public office, we have lived and worked in Neptune Township for more than 20 years. I moved to the Grove in the ’90s.
Watch for us around town! We’d love to meet you.
Dru Reynolds
Candidate for Township Committee
Just a short note because this isn’t the place for in depth discussions on the issues. However, we will be knocking on doors in Ocean Grove pretty regularly over the next weeks. We’ll also be announcing a meet and greet in Ocean Grove very shortly. We’ll send that info to Blogfinger post once we confirm details. We especially look forward to meeting Democrats & Independents from the Grove.
Likewise, we look forward to your questions at the Ocean Grove Candidates forum. We want to hear all of Neptune’s residents.
Meanwhile, if you have immediate questions, please feel free to send them to us via turntheneptunetide@gmail.com
All the best,
Jim & Dru
Wisher: You only get to vote for 2 of the 5 Committee members in November. Up for re-election will be Nicholas Williams (current Mayor) and Michael Brantley.
So putting two outsiders in will add balance and oversight, so desperately needed on that arrogant and incestuous body—-entrenched, out of reach, in the Mother Ship.
Paul @Blogfinger
It is too tempting to do a straight-party line-vote. But Ocean Grove is in the headlights, literally, of being overrun by tourist opportunism and greed: the stealing of a Neptune natural resource – land (parking), and causing all of us to pay in road repairs; and the deep inconveniences policing due to the gobbling by Asbury Park businesses and renters.
And the blithe attitude of the Neptune Committee is, at the least, distressing. Good Republicans are just people. And in our unique situation, with the pique, blurr, arrogance and negative attitudes of the Democratic committee, change would be highly justified. And I am a Democrat. A good slap is worth it.
Joe: You are right. Although I mentioned that an ideal candidate should have specific ideas to solve problems, the hole we are in, governance-wise, makes it essential that we find new committeemen who are honest, whose priority is to represent the electorate, who are transparent, communicative, inquisitive, bold, principled, and who will peak under every rock at the Municipal Building.
Specific cures for issues become secondary until we have a Neptune government which can be trusted.—Paul @Blogfinger
Here is an example of what we are up against:
I suspected a problem with the special zoning approval granted to Mary’s Place.
At the Municipal Building I asked Haney, the man in charge, about it, but he insisted I talk to an underling. That guy was abrupt and very nervous during our “conversation.” He did not want to have the discussion and he gave me a feeble explanation.
I then went to Vito Gadaleta, the Township Business Manager, and I said, “Some people in Ocean Grove suspect that there has been favoritism in granting this approval.”
Our conversation ended after he said two words, “No favoritism.”
The key issues of crime, which is down 33% since 2014 and a 1.5% decrease from 2016, and taxes, which most of our tax dollars go to the school district and less in control of the committee, seem to be not the most important issues this election.
The problem is accountability and transparency within the committee and the township upper administration
Question for those of us who own in OG as a secondary residence. We pay the same taxes as primary residents, yet have zero voice because our votes must go to our primary municipality. Is this what Neptune wants more of? Cash cows without a voting voice?
Our primary NJ town is also seeing significant tax hikes. We are being squeezed at both ends, yet can only speak up on one side. Yet we keep funneling dollars into improving our OG property in frequent zoning form fees, HPC fees, etc. The current tax system punished those of us who are improving OG and simultaneously strips us of our voice to request better representation. Would Neptune prefer derelict properties? If not, why not grant OG a council ward?
Throw the bums out time.
There is bias against Ocean Grove. And I’m a life-long Democrat. There is time for change, people, where vampires don’t rule the roost. Like the wonderful Wesley Lake Commission. So, yea, bring on the GOP.