Sunday, September 07, 2008

The question that is driving Monmouth County Democrats crazy

Where in New Jersey are Democrats doing a better job governing than Republicans are doing in Middletown and Monmouth County?

With partisan control of both Middletown and Monmouth County at stake for the the first time in decades, it is a fair question. It is an important question for all voters to consider. Nothing less than the quality of life here is at stake in this election.

But the question seems to be driving Democrats crazy and interrupting their giddiness.

It seems they would rather talk about 3 year old scandals and ignore the reforms Republicans have made. It seems that they would rather ignore the fact that Trenton Democrats, those funding their campaigns, past and present, have launched an all out assault on Monmouth County's quality of life.

Can anyone name a town with a population of 60,000 or more in New Jersey where Democrats do a better job of governing than Republicans are doing in Middletown?

Can anyone name a county in New Jersey where Democrats are doing a better job governing than Republicans are doing in Monmouth?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

art,

do you think the roads in middletown are maintained? take a long hard look at that question before you answer it. do you think the code enforcement has been through a number of the seedier areas of middletown, again think about it first or drive around. take a drive down 35 or 36. is this attractive to you as a person? where is the vibrant retail before this recession, the creative zoning programming that would bring vitality (forget town center i mean generally) again, think about it. forget the democrat republican thing, middletown is either to big to be run well or simply isn;t run too well.

Art Gallagher said...

forget the democrat republican thing

Hmmm. Why would you want to change the subject?

I like this subject, I think I'll stick with it.

do you think the roads in middletown are maintained?

Compared to where? The roads I travel in Middletown are well maintained. Which ones are being neglected?

do you think the code enforcement has been through a number of the seedier areas of middletown

What area's are you calling seedy? When renovating my property on route 36, the building department was very throrough and professional.

A neighbor of my 36 property recently was compelled to do a major clean up as a result of a complaint. Code enforcers are not facists or big brother spies. In my experience they are prompt and fair when responding to complaints.

take a drive down 35 or 36. is this attractive to you as a person?

Compared to Routes 4 and 17 in Bergen County, you bet they are. Route 1 from Mercer to Bergen? Hands down 35 and 36 are more attractive. Route 70 and 88 in Ocean? I'll take 35 and 36 any day, and my money is where my mouth is.

Route 3 in Essex, Bergen and Hudson? God forbid.

Shall I go on?

where is the vibrant retail before this recession?

On Route 35, Route 36 and in Campbell's Junction. On 520 and 50 in Lincroft.

middletown is either to big to be run well or simply isn;t run too well.

You don't get around much. Do you?

Anonymous said...

The main road through Lincroft ,Route 50 is a MESS because of construction and that's a big problem.DO you ever get anywhere but Hwy 36 to Highlands because there's lots that NEED attention in this township.Furthermore dissatisfaction is not always political,it's DISSATISFACTION with individuals and I don't give a damn what party they represent..Middletown has a bunch of political animals that need to be replaced if this town wants improvement and progress because that bunch can only see their own agenda. They drive our youth OUT with lack of opportunity ( our kids are our future ) .They drive the senior population out (these people have paid their way for years) and they feather their own nests (look at the what serves on the sewage authority,political patronage with benefits ) Bullshit,..mr.know it all ,smell the coffee,the tide of change is coming and that will certainly shake things up . Maybe even for the better !!! As for at the state. level...we need legislation so the beekeepers pay their fair share of taxes.

Art Gallagher said...

DO you ever get anywhere but Hwy 36 to Highlands

Yes I do. That's why I know so much. :-)

Road construction? That would be an improvement. no? I traveled that road on Friday. No problems.

Drive our youth out with lack of opportunity? The municipal government is doing that? Please angry person, get real.

I'll be doing a post soon about youth and affordable housing. Here's the jist....living in a upscale area is not a birth right. It is earned. The parents of the youth you are talking about came here to give them a better childhood and education than they could have had other places. Now some whiners are upset that they can't graduate from school and afford to buy a house in their parent's neighborhood. Silly socialists.

Drive the seniors out? That would coming from Trenton and the Abbot districts.

I agree the Sewage Authority is a problem. It burned me to pay the sewage hook up fee after I renovated a building with an obsolete septic tank. But I don't hear the Democrats proposing to eliminate the Sewage Authority like Hazlet just voted to do.

I would support eliminating the Sewage Authority and have the township take over its operations.

What political animals are you talking about? Gerry Scharenberger? Pam Brightbill? Tom Wikens? Tony Fiore? Do you know them?

Playing politics, on both sides is part of the process. Short, Byrne and Walsh do it too. But the proof is in the pudding, which is why I ask, Where in New Jersey are Democrats doing a better job governing than Republicans are doing in Middletown and Monmouth County?

Oh, right. You'd rather I forgot that question. Sorry.

Art Gallagher said...

Here's a plan for those seedy areas you don't want to name:

The spoiled brat youth grow up are realize that Trenton imposed "affordable housing" will ruin the area they grew up in and love so much.

They work hard and smart, save some money and buy a house in the seedy area and fix it up. In ten years it is not a seedy area.

Anonymous said...

Yes I know them and the only one I have any respect for is Wilkens...You must have been under the influence of something or someone. Route 50 in Lincroft has been under seige for months with more to come...did you notice the 36" water pipes along the road along the southern end near the reservoir. And did you notice all the poor restoration of the end of Route 50 from Oak Hill to Church St.Route 50 is residential except for the small cluster of 2 gas stations,2 banks, Cat Hospital and the Inn at the crossroad with 520. Get real...the republicans are not anywhere near perfect in Middletown....never have been and this resident has been observing a long time and here's a wake up call for you....this person is not a democrat!!!! And yes, I'm angry at some of the bullshit.Hey...what about the beekeepers???

Art Gallagher said...

Who said anything about perfect?

There is plenty to improve, but turning it over to the Democrats is far too risky, in my opinion, especially if you observe what how they are governing elsewhere (and it one of the Dem candidates case, how she has served here on the Board of Ed..specifics coming soon)

I've been a vocal critic of the bee farms. Read the archives from October of 2007.

I had no problem navigating 50 on Friday and I wasn't under the influence of anything or anyone, thank you.

Do you know of a way to make road improvement without inconveiance? If so, you should be able to set your kids up on Navesink River Rd.

Get involved and stay involved to bring about the changes and improvements you see as necessary.

Try not to be strident. People who put in long hours for their community for little or no money tend not to like that.

Anonymous said...

Road improvement???? This construction is to improve water pressure in the Bayshore and gas service in Holmdel. It's not just an inconvience....it's an injustice to the people it has greatly imposed on without any concern for their welfare as they are sent miles out of their way for essential services and now their kids are put at risk crossing a county road without crosswalks....they have them on County Road 537 going into Freehold !!!

Anonymous said...

On the 36 from Highlands to Hazlet/Keport...where are all the businesses again? 36 in Leonardo floods if more than 3 people sneeze at the same time. There's the booming CVS plaza in Navesink of course, (with 4 or 5 empty stores tho..), but otherwise 36 is pretty desolate, businesswise.

Anonymous said...

Is that you choking on the foot you always have in your mouth????

Anonymous said...

art,

i posted the first response. the issues in middletown are not brightbill issues or wilkens etc. the issues of a blighted looking middletown are from ages ago - it is the fault of carton and ogrady and kyrillos and handlin and even gin swillin planning board chairs. it didn't happen overnite. i do not know who should control and dont care

Art Gallagher said...

Many look down on Rt 36, because it is not Route 35.

However, that is not to say that it is not vital economically. It is a mix of retail (auto and stip malls), industrial (Guttenplan's and small industry/services on Railroad Ave),residential and open space. It is a unique highway. I like it.

Unfortunately, due to the new COAH/RCA requirements, if not overturned in court, there will very likey be more housing along 36, putting additional strains on infrastructure and the schools, and cost a great deal more in taxes.

Thank Trenton Democrats for that.

Anonymous said...

No.Art,thank Middletown for not providing a mix of housing all over the township.Instead they have concentrated housing in the lower cost catagory all in the bayshore or it is non existent.Don't give me this shit about a socialist society either....what we need is fairness and justice not a society using income levels to secregate.The haughty attitude that prevails would drive all of our kids from the region,not just Middletown. This county has concentrated all lower income housing in Asbury Park,Long Branch (Bet Adam Schneider loves that now)Keansburg etc. and we complain about the crime rates in these towns that can affect surrounding areas. Equal opportunity is usually presented as hard work and nobody is looking for a hand out.They are looking for a HAND UP.You were young ONCE,did your parents tell you to get the hell out and don't look to them for help.If Middletown had not evaded it's responsibility every chance it got ,we would not be in the predicament we are and the liars would not be lying because they do not know how to fix the long overdue obligation.Blame will not fix it!!! And that's not to say the rules are O.K. either.It's a complicated mess but cry babies won't fix it either!!!!

Art Gallagher said...

No.Art,thank Middletown for not providing a mix of housing all over the township.

Who said they were?

Instead they have concentrated housing in the lower cost catagory all in the bayshore or it is non existent.

And that's a problem because?

I say its a problem that they are doing it at all. Leave it to the free market.

Don't give me this shit about a socialist society either....

OK, get off your ass and make something of yourself.

what we need is fairness and justice not a society using income levels to secregate.

When I was in Little League, there was actual winners and losers to the games. When everyone is a winner everyone is a loser. You, young man are a loser. You don't have to stay a loser, but only you can make you a winner

The haughty attitude that prevails would drive all of our kids from the region,not just Middletown.

No it won't. Many will leave, many will stay. Many will leave and come back later.

This county has concentrated all lower income housing in Asbury Park,Long Branch (Bet Adam Schneider loves that now)Keansburg etc.

And that is a problem because? If left to you, it will all be low income. Those who can afford to leave will. And not just the wealthy. The middle class will flee, just like they did from Newark. Monmouth County in 30 years will have the income level of Newark and Hudson today. What was Newark and Hudson like 60 years ago?

and we complain about the crime rates in these towns that can affect surrounding areas.

That's because they have higher crime rates.

Equal opportunity is usually presented as hard work and nobody is looking for a hand out.

Right.

They are looking for a HAND UP.

Wrong. HAND UP was what school was for. You graduated, get to work. You don't get to start at the top.

You were young ONCE,did your parents tell you to get the hell out and don't look to them for help.

Yes. They didn't say "hell," but they did say No. And I am forever grateful.

If Middletown had not evaded it's responsibility every chance it got ,we would not be in the predicament we are and the liars would not be lying because they do not know how to fix the long overdue obligation.

Wrong again. If the socialist judges had not wrongly decided the Mt. Laurel and Abbott cases, New Jersey would still be a state of great opportunity.

will not fix it!!!

It might be beyond repair, but I'm still hopeful.

And that's not to say the rules are O.K. either.It's a complicated mess but cry babies won't fix it either!!!!

It is only complicated because socialists are interfering with the free market.

Stop crying already and get to work. Save your money

Art Gallagher said...

By the way, do you know of any place in New Jersey where Democrats are doing a better job of governing than Republicans are in Middletown or Monmouth County?

Trenton? Newark? Edison? Camden?

Lot's of cheap housing in those places.

Son of Liberty said...

Typical of our selfish society. People rail about improvements to our infrastructure because they are inconvienced for 6 months.
Pathetic.

BTW I am one of the people who are inconvienced by that construction as I have to drive that road fairly regularly.


Another interesting comment was about driving out seniors. As I recall middletown has 3 or 4 affordable senior housing complexes that were built by the town and are now managed by housing authorities.

As to highway 36. I grew up in the Bayshore and I always liked Highway 36 more then 35(not that it is easy to like any retail highway) 36 always had a unigue charm.

While republicans are not perfect Arts point is well taken. Very few large democratic towns, cities or counties are as well run as the republican ones. It is one of the reasons all those people from Hudson, Bergen and Staten island move here.

Anonymous said...

For your information.I'm not a young man .I'm an elder female citizen who HAS MADE it BY HARD WORK and never asked for anything from anybody.I was taught to work and save and be involved!!The system never gave me anything I didn't work for. Have lived in New Jersey a lifetime and here many years and I see our youth as more than a LIABILITY. I see assholes with big mouths as just what they are and cry babies for who they are and politics is the vocation of many of the FREELOADERS (regardless of party affiliation ) that COST US QUALITY of LIFE because we can no longer support them and ourselves. SO, holier,big mouth,who has to go ????

Art Gallagher said...

SO, holier,big mouth,who has to go ????

Not you!

If you are who you say you are, we have more in common than not.

Anonymous said...

"I'll be doing a post soon about youth and affordable housing. Here's the jist....living in a upscale area is not a birth right. It is earned. The parents of the youth you are talking about came here to give them a better childhood and education than they could have had other places. Now some whiners are upset that they can't graduate from school and afford to buy a house in their parent's neighborhood. Silly socialists."

Please, I would love to hear a nice rant on the misguided policies and the political manueverings of the Bayshore Young Democrats (a group not-so-subtley manufactured by Azzolino & Co.)

As you must know, the leader of the group (who exist only to irritate Gerry, Pamela and the crew) is a wannabe-diehard politico who plays a dirtier game than any Republican on the committee, ghostwriting letters to papers, spending time with likeminded allies and crooked publishers deciding how to derail constructive efforts, looking forward to weekly meetings, posturing before accomplished leaders who would call the blatant bluff of a untried nubile if they recognized a legitimate threat. Unfortunately, every meeting a Middletown college kid gets up and begs for a COAH housing handout, the Middletown Democratic party is exposed, as is their strategy. Worst of all, the leader of Brookdale Dems has no experience whatsoever (unless you consider being an undercover agent of the Caliendo Crier sufficient experience.) The only compelling aspect of his arguments would be the extrordinary ability to humiliate oneself while grandstanding before a gallery of sympathetic partisan rogues.

Middletown Dems: until a strategy confronts the strength of your own candidates (instead attempting to exploit the weakness and amorality of their opponents) you will be like the Crier: the biggest loser in town