Lt. Gov. Offers Help to Point Beach Businesses
Grants and referrals for Sandy-battered businesses
Photos
Pdfs
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno liked it when Point Beach shop owner Marla Lengle walked up to greet her at her store, but she liked it even better when she walked away.
That's because Lengle walked away to make a sale at her women's clothing store, Lola's Boutique, on Bay Avenue in Point Beach.
"I have to go take money," said Lengle, rushing off, to ring up a customer waiting at the cash register.
"Great, great," Guadagno said, laughing, as Lengle strode away.
Helping businesses in Point Beach and throughout the Sandy-battered Jersey Shore to make money was at the crux of Guadagno's visit to the downtown shopping area on Tuesday afternoon.
So every time customers came into the store, and especially when they ponied up for a new blouse, jacket or piece of jewelry, New Jersey's second in command was delighted.
Guadagno was greeted at the store by Mayor Vincent Barrella who told her that what will really help local businesses is to get the year-round residents back in their Sandy-flooded homes east of the railroad tracks and to get the part-time residents convinced that Point Beach is going to be open for business this summer.
Barrella said the boardwalk and businesses will be ready for Memorial Day weekend and invited Guadagno to cut the ribbon on what will be the new boardwalk at the start of Memorial Day weekend.
"Oh, we'll be here for more than the ribbon cutting, you'll be sick of us, mayor," Guadagno said, laughing and nudging his shoulder.
"How is the boardwalk?" she asked.
"We're ahead of Belmar," he said, smiling.
"Oh, you are ahead of Belmar," she replied, smiling back. "That's good, competition is good."
Getting back to the topic of residents and taxpayers, Barrella said he's concerned that property owners who live year-round elsewhere may not believe the Beach is on its way back.
"If a resident of Bergen County who owns a home here, thinks we won't be open this summer, they may not fix up their house," Barrella told her, in the middle of the store, surrounded by the owners, employees, Guadagno's state police and staff entourage, other business people and the media snapping photos and scrawling notes.
"We can help you notify them," Guadagno said. "Give us a list, you can write the letter, we'll send it out."
Barrella told her that the town already has a committee of non-resident taxpayers and a data bank of at least 500 email addresses of non-resident property owners that he can make available to her office, and that the town can make additional addresses available, drawing from their tax records.
"Great, give those to us, we can do that, that helps everybody," she said.
The idea would be to email non-resident taxpayers whose email addresses are available and to send letters through the postal system to other non-residents.
The state can also help businesses through its Business Action Center, led by Donald Newman, who was also at Lola's. (For more information about the center, see attached PDF or call (866) 534-7789.)
"Don is the person to call," Gaudagno said to Lengle, her co-owner, Carolyn Freeman and other business owners who had walked in from their businesses on Bay Avenue, including Sarah's Kiddles next door.
She said Newman can help businesses get answers and cut through red tape in their efforts to renovate, attract business, hopefully receive grants and get back on track.
Freeman and Lengle opened the store nine years ago, had no power for about eight or nine days after Sandy, and then re-opened about 10 days after the storm.
"We had a few shingles down, but we were very lucky," Lengle told Guadagno, just after showing her some of the latest fashions that were new arrivals.
"How has business been, how was Christmas?" Guadagno asked.
"Not good until Black Friday weekend, that was great, then it got slower and then it got great just before Christmas," said Lengle, a Howell resident. "There were residents who had been flooded out of their homes, who couldn't go back, who came here to shop. They said, 'This is our town and we want to shop here.' "
Lengle and other business owners said January has been slow, even slower than it is most years.
Guadagno asked Donica Storino, wife of Vincent Storino, one of the owners of Jenkinson's and Casino Pier, how Jenkinson's is faring.
"It's coming along," Storino replied. "The septic system is filled with sand, there's a lot to do, but we have a great crew and they're working hard."
Guadagno said that just after the storm, she had a state trooper call Jenkinson's to see if the animals in the aquarium were OK.
"When we heard you had no gas, we were worried about the animals, so we had a trooper call," she said. The animals were OK.
Storino had come to the shop to talk to Guadagno at the invitation of Lengle, who described Storino as her "best friend."
Guadagno said that state grants will hopefully be available soon for businesses struggling to come back full strength and encouraged the business owners gathered in the shop to keep in touch with Newman to get the updated information.
When asked why Point Beach was the town she picked to visit on Tuesday, Guadagno said, "Because this is one of the towns where the mayor has asked us to come and help show people the good section of town, to show that it's open for business. We've done several towns, including Belmar and Bradley Beach, where the governor visited, the governor will be in Manahawkin tomorrow and we'll continue."
It wasn't quite clear why Lola's was picked for Guadagno's stop. She and Newman didn't know.
"It may have been a combination of information from the Chamber of Commerce and our own marketing team," Guadagno said, indicating she was there because her staff asked her to be and included it on her daily schedule.
But before Guadagno had even arrived at Lola's, Lengle, a member of the Point Beach Chamber of Commerce Directors, was quick with an answer when asked why the state's second highest head honcho was making a stop at her store.
"Because we're awesome!" she replied.
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Jenkinson's Boardwalk
300 Ocean Ave, Pt Pleasant, NJ -
Jenkinson's Aquarium
300 Ocean Ave, Pt Pleasant, NJ
Chief Wahoo
7:49 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
thats some funny stuff , right there
Gimmie Shelter
8:09 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Barrella in a fashion botique. That's even more funny.
Vince Barrella
9:40 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Shelter: You're not going to get an argument from me.
outofthebeach4now
7:38 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
This is the same mayor who, along with his bloc of "un sober" Corbally, "Barrella mouth piece" Tooker and PFC Gordon tried to destroy the Boardwalk. What a disgrace he is and will always be.
Vince Barrella
9:50 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Thank you for expressing your opinion. Although is it "your" opinion when you hide behind a fake name.
Your attempt to insult 3 council members who have looked only to serve the community without any personal gain reveals much about your "character."
Mike Corbally
1:27 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Your uneducated slur towards me is why their is a stigma with people who suffer from a variety of physical and mental diseases. You aren't hurting me, but try thinking about others for a change.
outofthebeach4now
2:22 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Wow, I finally got a rise out of the peons that inhabit 416 NJ Ave. every 3 weeks. I notice that the Mayor did not refute my "opinion" about trying to destroy the Boardwalk last summer. And as for Corbally, your response sounds like you have had one too many. Hopefully, you will take your own advise and not run for re election this year. Too bad PPB is stuck with Brooklyn Vinnie for 3 more years however, I am confident that he will lose his power base next November with the defeat of his minions...........Corbally and Tooker.
Vince Barrella
3:41 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Just like the fictional Nick Carraway, you are another alias falling victim to your own propaganda. Just because one is concerned about rowdy drunken behavior does not mean that one does not support tourism. In fact the best thing for tourism in Point Pleasant Beach is well behaved tourists.
Quaghogdigger
9:43 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I guess we now know were the "good section of town is".
Nick Carraway
9:52 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Lola's is a lovely addition to PPB, and I mean absolutely no disrespect to Lola's or any one of our local businesses when I say this but...what a wacky list of priorities we have going on in this article. Of course, the State wants to see businesses up and running. They need State sales tax! The Mayor makes one comment about needing the full-time residents back but where does his focus go..to the part-time residents. Why? Because those second home owners are probably filing tax appeals like crazy, and as long as their homes are in disrepair, they will continue to get a tax break. Follow the money, folks. The plan laid out in this article will land us with a town full of tourists and summer residents this summer, while the full-time residents are still displaced or living in the second stories of their homes. The people who care the most about the town, the full-time residents, won't be here to help keep order. But, since those part-time residents are the best deal the town has, since they pay property taxes but only use a small portion of municipal services as compared to the full-timers, we can see why the Mayor cares so much about them. Oh, and that's great that we're "ahead" of Belmar. We're ahead of Seaside, too.
Vince Barrella
10:33 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
There you go again! You have the same talent for fiction as your creator F. Scott Fitzgerald. The focus of the Lt. Governor's visit was on promoting business. I simply said that the best thing for local businesses and the Beach is to have our full and part-time residents back in their homes as quickly as possible.
Do you think it would be a good thing for the Beach if either group does not fix their homes up as quickly as possible? The best way to restore property values to the asset that is the most important one owned by full-time residents is to have the Beach up and running as quickly as possible. What do you think will happen to property values if we have a bunch of boarded up damaged homes sitting vacant for an extended period of time?
I have to laugh at your new found "concern" for the full time residents who live east of the tracks. For months you and your anonymous band of fellow posters have been saying that the council only cares about the concerns of those full time residents living east of the tracks.
Who do you think will pay the price for those tax appeals you are worried about?
The fact is that those taxpayers who will be most hurt by the tax appeals you refer to live west of the tracks since their homes were largely not affected by the storm and they will end up shouldering more of the burden.
Yes we are ahead of Belmar and yes Seaside too. We are ahead of many shore communities and to me that is a good thing not a bad thing.
Gimmie Shelter
10:46 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Is there really a committee in town that has 500 members ? If you have their e-mail addresses why would the Lt. Gov need to send them a letter ?
Part Timer
11:40 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Gimmie Shelter, we have a committee called the non resident taxpayers advisory committee (NRTAC) made up of about 10 individuals from different states and different political parties. The 500 e-mail addresses are those who are part time residents so that we can get information out to them about the ongoings of the the town.
Part Timer
11:58 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Nick Carraway,
For your information, the part time residents make up between 46% -49% of the tax payers in PPB, so yes there should be a concern if they will be fixing there homes or taking the insurance money and walking away. I myself pay $8200 in annual taxes.
I ask you, why do you think the full time residents will still be displaced longer then the part time residents. If I can ride 120 miles round trip at least once a week to check on the progress of my contractor then why can't a full time resident be doing the same.
Do not assume that the part time residents do not care about the town. Alot of use part timers are in town most of the year and do not rent. My children have grown up in PPB for the last 15 years spending every and all summer there and even working in the summer months at Jenkinsons.
One last word... do you and the rest of the full time residents think you could afford the tax increase if all the part time residents were to stop paying there taxes
Mr. Happy
10:12 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
"The Mayor asked us to come and help." So, at the mayor's request, the Lt. Governor comes to town and personally vows to help. And the mayor gets criticized by some here on the Patch. This same mayor saved the taxpayers $1million dollars and gets criticized. It's now a simple equation: The more positive you do + the more they criticize = 0 credibility for the critics. It pretty obvious to see now. Keep up the good work!
Nick Carraway
11:56 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Mr. Happy, how is it that the "Mayor saved the taxpayers $1 million dollars"? He's not paying that money. Jenks is paying the $1 million, and as much as I'm grateful, let's be honest: It was a business decision. Jenks needs that boardwalk, so it contributed money to move the project along. Someone comes along and says "hey, I want to give $1 million to this project" and you accept it, and we're supposed to applaud you for that? What did the Mayor concede on his part? He got his bloc to agree to repeal the early bar closing ordinance. You know, the ordinance that hurt all of the bars in town AND one which the State wouldn't let the town enforce. Here's what I think: We could've accepted the $800K ($800K over 3 years versus $1 million over 20 years) offer last Spring, skipped all of the bar closing & parking plan bad publicity, saved the town the litigation fees and, post Sandy, the boardwalk businesses might've still offered the town money towards reconstructing the boardwalk. Why? Because the boardwalk businesses need the boards as much, if not more, than the town does and, in my opinion, the boardwalk businesses have always been generous about helping the town especially when it benefits their businesses, too.
Vince Barrella
1:19 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
The bar closing ordinance and the parking ordinance addressed quality of life issues. The parking plan worked so therefore there is no need for early bar closings. That is the reason why I indicated my support for the repeal of the bar closing ordinance weeks before Sandy hit.
Chief Wahoo
3:41 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
SPINce Barrella
Chief Wahoo
11:35 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Lt. Governor Pantsuit, should have the double dipping sheriff, come to town and spend some of that extra taxpayer money she helped him grab
gg
11:42 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I have to agree this article oozes the greed of the local and state politicians. All they are focused on is getting ready for the summer because of the money. How about having a concern for our school system that is slowing deteriorating. Families have been displayed and are moving out of the Beach. The population of illegals is growing though. How about a concern for that mayor? This town should forget about the boardwalk and focus on other priorities. Mayor, it would be nice to see you care about the residents and then the boardwalk. Why do we need to rush the tourism industry back for the summer and why do we need to be a playground for people who don't behave. The time is now to change the culture of this town into something better. Yes, in turn the town won't need as many employees but other towns are adjusting and cutting costs so why not us. Please don't let us down Mr mayor and remember who voted you in.
ff
7:22 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Agreed...A political photo opt!
Vince Barrella
1:21 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
If you have any question about my commitment to the residents and homeowners of Point Pleasant Beach, you have been out of the country for the last five years
Nick Carraway
11:45 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Mayor Barrella, I find it interesting that in your response to me, your focus in on property values, and you make comments regarding east & west of the tracks. I think what matters most to the people whose full-time homes were damaged by Sandy is that it was their full-time home. Property values are a factor for two things: property taxes and the sale of a home. If you have no interest in selling your home, then it's value relates only to how much you pay in taxes. Do you really think that someone who cannot live in their home wants to have to pay more taxes on it? These people just want to be able to come home, and live their daily lives. I never made a distinction between East & West of the tracks in terms of Sandy damage because people on the West side of the tracks, in the library section of town, also suffered damage, so why are you making that East-West distinction? I find it ironic that you're trying to publicly promote tourism in this town, when in the past, you've done so much to try to discourage it. In my opinion, perhaps if you hadn't done so much to hurt tourism in the past, you wouldn't have to focus so much on it now when, in my opinion, more of your time should be devoted to helping the full-time residents who can't live in their homes. It's about priorities, in my opinion, and your priorities seem askew. As for the boardwalk, it was the right thing to do. Do you feel you deserve praise for it because, in the past, you didn't do the right thing?
Part Timer
12:03 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Nick,
How is it that the mayor is responsible for getting the residents back in there home?
The town is open to all residents and contractors, unlike some other towns.
Vince Barrella
1:40 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
You are correct that the library section of the town also suffered flooding damage, but I am sure you are aware that the vast majority of the damaged homes -- both full-time and part-time -- are east of the tracks. Thus, the cost of property tax appeals because of Sandy related damage is going to fall harder on those on the west side of the tracks. That is simply a fact. You and your fellow anonymous posters have sought for months to pit those west of the tracks against those east of the tracks. Your "outrage" is laughable.
You are also falling victim to your own propaganda. Just because one is concerned about rowdy drunken behavior does not mean that one does not support tourism. In fact the best thing for tourism in Point Pleasant Beach is well behaved tourists.
I can assure you that our efforts have been directed to helping people get back into their homes. Having been out of mine for some time after Sandy, I know from first hand experience how unpleasant that is.
Finally, I don't believe I deserve praise for doing the right thing, because I can assure you that I have never done anything that I did not believe was the "right thing." The fact that you and your band of anonymous posters may not have agreed with my position does not change that.
I Don't Drink the Koolaide
3:26 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Talk about believing your own propaganda. You have got to be joking Vince. It is NOT just Carraway and a few posters who disagree with you. The overwhelming majority of voters in PPB disagree with you.
That is why each candidate you have publicly supported and who has espoused agreement with you has been crushed at the polls in the only two elections held since your ill-fated bar-closing ordinance and parking plan and the despicable way you went about pushing them through against the will of the voters.
You are finished. No one is listening to you and no one cares about you any longer. Please be sure to endorse Mr. Corbally and Ms. Tooker so they may share Mr. Loder and Mr. Davis’ fate at the polls.
Vince Barrella
3:42 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
You are entitled to your opinion, but November will tell
Spooner
4:28 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Mayor- according to Star Ledger your property taxes increased 4.7% last year, that's almost 300% more than the state average of 1.7%. The Boro's increase was just 2.7%. Now with even more property tax appeals, the burden will fall more on the rest of the town...
I Don't Drink the Koolaide
5:22 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
What I think will happen in November is an opinion, but what happened in November 2012 is fact. If the crushing defeat of Davis was not a wholesale rejection of the Barrella bloc's policies, what was it?
gg
11:52 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Did the lt governor visit spring lake? How bout point boro? Any town that doesn't have major influx of tourists? Follow the money. They all follow the money to spend instead of limiting their spending. From the white house right down to the local level. Shame on all of you.
ff
7:42 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
All these politicians don't have a conscience. They all have their own reasons why they are wheeling and dealing. There is no such thing as no personal gain. Always is, even if it is down the road a bit. They have no shame.
Vince Barrella
1:42 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Let me see if I understand this -- your criticism of the Lt. Governor and the Governor is that they have not visited every town in the State? That is remarkable even for someone who calls themselves "gg"
gg
11:55 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Well said Nick
gg
12:25 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Part timer
Let's get real. The only reason why a part time homeowner is concerned about getting their home ready by summer is because of the money that they make renting these homes out. Maybe those homeowners who are part time residents should do the full time residents a favor and start renting to families year round. This way the full time residents wouldn't have to put up with the part time residents tenants all summer just because of the all mighty dollar. Are you aware that just down the road in mantoloking (who send their kids to our school district), people can't even find their homes and belongings? Shouldn't people who lost their primary residences come before secondary homes and businesses? It's all about the money!
Part Timer
12:41 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Primary residents should and do come first with help from FEMA. Next, it is up to the homeowners not the Mayor to rebuid there home.
Again, if I could travel 120 miles round trip at least once a week to check on the progress of my contractor and make sure I have a place to enjoy this summer then why can't a full time resident do the same.
As for people who rent... why not complain to the local owners of the realestate companies (Ward, Barefoot, etc) that rent to these groups. I myself complain and would like to see more enforcement on the animal house occupancy laws.
Part Timer
12:52 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
People have insurance on the cars...
People have insurance on there iphones...
But when it comes to the most valuable types of insurance:
Life and Home (Flood) people say they can not afford it.
Maybe they should stop upgrading there iphones and ipad every year or maybe keep there 42 inch TV for a while and not upgrade to a 60 inch so that they could afford the insurance that really matters.
Sorry but the truth hurts....
Part Timer
12:54 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Point is... stop relying on others for something that is your responsibility.
Nick Carraway
1:29 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Part Timer, there are A LOT of people in Ocean County who have flood insurance, good amounts of coverage, and haven't yet received a dime to rebuild their homes, their full-time homes. If you've managed to get money from your insurance company for flood damage, consider yourself truly lucky rather than try to suggest that other homeowners did something wrong to not have received payments.
Part Timer
2:28 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Nick,
In New Jersey, where the monster storm made landfall, there are more than 2.2 million single-family homes in the state’s 20 coastal counties, according to Census data. Of those, only 231,000 – or about one in 10 – had a National Flood Insurance policy as of September 2011, according to FEMA data.
One big reason: While flood insurance typically is required by mortgage lenders, more than half a million homes in those counties don’t have a mortgage.
never suggested they did something wrong except that they spend money on the wrong things...
The numbers:
Part Timer
2:39 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Also,
People who have flood insurance were not properly insured, meaning they might have had Structure but no contents and vice versa. If you turn your house upside down, whatever falls is content, whatever sticks is structure.
Max insurance for flood:
250k structure
100k contents.
Reason for people not receiving anything is because the do not ask.
when the adjuster inspects the home you have to TELL him, not ask him that you need emergency money up front to get your electric, heating etc, up and running to make the home habitable.
Nick Carraway
1:27 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Part Timer, I'm not really sure what I did to invite the comments that you left to me. Many homes in PPB were damaged by Sandy. Some of these homes were "summer homes," meaning that the people who own them have some place else to live. Some of these homes were full-time homes, meaning that the people who own them don't have some place else to live. Those people are currently living with family, renting homes while still paying their mortgages on their permanent residences, or maybe they're put up in hotels by FEMA. If your house in PPB is not your full-time residence, but rather, it's your "summer home," then you have some place else to live, some place that you call "home" that has your stuff. You may have lost stuff in the flood, you may have had to move stuff in the flood, but you weren't "displaced." You were not left homeless by the flood. That was really my point. It was not designed to diminish your loss or to make you feel that you are somehow second-rate here in this town. But, there is a difference between having a home and being homeless, don't you think? And, honestly, I do appreciate the contributions that our second-home owners make to this town, especially in terms of property taxes and our municipal budget. And, I'm glad that you feel so attached to this town that you're rebuilding your home so that you can enjoy it again. I know that many second-home owners are already discussing selling theirs.
Michelle B.
1:53 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Part-Timer, I don't really understand how a part-time resident, like yourself, isn't outraged after reading this article. According to the Lt. Governor, she was invited here to see and show the "good section" of town, I guess meaning the part of town that wasn't damaged by the storm and is operating as it should. The Mayor's comments are that he is afraid that if the people of Bergen County don't think that the town will be opened for business this summer, then they won't come down and repair their summer homes. I read those comments as them trying to pull the wool over your eyes (you, part-time residents) by making you think that things are better here than they really are. Recently, in the Asbury Park Press, there was an article about the owners of Daniel's Bistro and Daniel's Trattoria, both nice restaurants on Broadway. Well, because those owners haven't received sufficient insurance money, those restaurants remain closed for who knows how long. Waffles & More is one big hole! And, yes, many of the full-time residents are still out of their homes. So, really, will PPB be up & running by summer? Who knows. I guess that depends on what you enjoy when you come to PPB to spend your summers. Personally, though, if I were a part time resident, I'd be offended by this article, and would not be defending the Mayor.
Vince Barrella
1:46 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
It is unfortunate that the businesses you mentioned may not be open this summer. They will be missed if they are unable to do so. But what about all of the other businesses and property owners in town -- should we just forget about them and allow everyone to think that Sandy has beaten us? I'm sorry, but I don't think so and I think the majority of the residents of Point Pleasant Beach agree.
Denise Di Stephan
2:22 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Pants suit? The Lt. Gov. was wearing a suit consisting of a skirt and jacket. The blue was a great color for her, by the way!
Gimmie Shelter
3:45 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Part Timer: I know what committee you chair. Did you read the article ? It qoutes the mayor as having 500 members. And why would anyone offter to mail a letter to people when you have their e-mail address. Sounds like a ploy to grab a headline with the first thing that came into her head.
Denise Di Stephan
6:28 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
I revised the part of the story about the emails and the letters. There is a committee of non-resident taxpayers and there are also 500 email addresses of non-resident taxpayers. The idea would be to email residents whose email addresses are available and to send letters through the postal system to the others. I was standing right next to the Lt. Gov. and mayor as they spoke and I did not get the impression that Lt. Gov's offer to send emails and letters was "a ploy to grab headlines." She came to town to promote business, this is a way to do it, and she said several times it will be done. As for the sales tax the state wants to collect, that's a valid point. However, there is also a strong local interest in the businesses staying afloat because if businesses close in Point Beach, as in any town, it lowers the tax ratable base, which is bad news for all residential and commercial taxpayers.
Son of Sandy
3:28 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Thank you for the correction. I was wondering where they would meet. I would never like to seee any business close. However, if a business fails it has nothing to do with the ratable tax base. Someone still needs to pay taxes on the property and improvenents. The only revenue loss to the town would be the meager $100. mercantile license fee the business is required to pay each year. Further, the majority of downtown businesses do not own their stores or the property they sit on. Business or not, the town stays in the business of collecting those taxes. Think a business like the hardware store would have been a more fitting place for Kim and Vinny to grip and grin. Those people rescued a business and served their customers very well through the good days and bad.
Vince Barrella
4:55 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Neither the Lt. Governor, nor I, had input into where her appearance would be. There are a number of great businesses in the Beach where she could have stopped, including the one she stopped at.
Son of Sandy
5:42 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Right Vinny. But one of your few remaining supporters did. There IS a trail.
Nick Carraway
10:45 am on Friday, January 18, 2013
Mayor Barrella, my own "propaganda"? I think you're engaging in what psychologists would call "projection." It wasn't me who divided up the town. That came when you and your 3 bloc members chose to adopt a parking plan that segmented District 4 from the remainder of the town. It also happened when you and your bloc members chose to adopt an early bar closing ordinance that affected all of the bars in town when the alleged problems were created only by a portion of those bars, those in District 4. So, you now think that the early bar closing ordinance was unnecessary because the parking plan worked? That's news to me, but I'll play. How is it that you're certain that it was the parking plan, and not the added police, or some other factor like the bad publicity, which provided the relief you and your cronies so desired? In my opinion, you simply cannot help yourself. You are a divisive person. Your posts on this article, about east and west of the tracks, prove this. If there is one positive thing that came out of Sandy, it is that many of the people of PPB came together to help each other, after years of being pitted against one another by the political propaganda espoused by your political party, the "Independents." I hope that everyone is able to keep it up even if you, our Mayor, continues to talk about the people East & West of the tracks, the people of Districts 1, 2, 3 &4, the full-time residents and the part-time residents.
Vince Barrella
12:56 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Your reference to well documented quality of life issues that plagued the residents of District 4 as “alleged problems” is not surprising. Your approach and that of your fellow anonymous posters has always been to deny the existence of the very real impact on resident’s quality of life as a result of out of control alcohol fueled behavior.
The majority of the governing body acted decisively to address those problems. Sadly you and your fellow anonymous posters sought to portray the steps taken as preferential treatment for those affected by the very real impact on their quality of life. It was you and your fellow anonymous posters as well as some members of the governing body who sought to drive a wedge between the residents of the Beach. One councilman actually made the absurd argument that those outside of District 4 were being penalized because he could only get one permit to take his car AFTER midnight from his residence to park in the areas covered by the parking ordinance.
I have never said that additional enforcement did not help address the problems we were confronted with, but I believe that additional enforcement ALONE was not and is not the answer. The restrictions on late night parking were an integral part of solving the problem, and to abandon them would be irresponsible. It would also be irresponsible to leave in place an early bar closing ordinance when something else worked, which is why I am supporting the repeal of that ordinance. (continued)
Vince Barrella
1:16 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Sorry earlier post got jumbled.
(Continued) You say I am divisive. You are entitled to your opinion, but it is hard for me to take serious the opinion of someone who lacks the courage to post under their own name. But in any event, I do not consider representing all of Point Pleasant Beach, not only the politically connected, to be divisive. Rather, I consider it my sworn responsibility. A responsibility I have always taken very seriously. Sadly, it is you and your fellow anonymous posters who continue to seek to pit residents against residents. Nothing illustrates this more than your outrageous claim regarding my reference to the impact of Sandy’s devastation east of the tracks. Leaving aside the human reasons why we need to get all our residents back in their homes and our businesses up and running, it is imperative from a financial perspective that we do so. It is a simple fact that those areas fortunate enough to have largely escaped Sandy’s devastation will bear the brunt of Sandy related property tax appeals. Your willingness, for political advantage, to ignore the impact of the devastation east of the tracks on the property tax bills of those in other areas of town that were generally fortunate enough not to suffer that devastation speaks volumes as to your “character,” not only that of your alias.
Spooner
2:47 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Gee Mayor- wasn't it Nick Carraway who said: We could've accepted the $800K ($800K over 3 years versus $1 million over 20 years) offer last Spring...
...not to sound too sanctimonious, but I have to respect Councilman Corbally. . .at least he stood by what he believed.
Vince Barrella
5:00 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Spooner: You are correct the fictitious Mr. Carraway does say a lot. I have to admit you are right about one thing -- Councilman Corbally has the courage of his convictions. Kind of wish you and your fellow anonymous posters had the same kind of courage and used your real names instead of hiding behind a computer keyboard and an alias.
Part Timer
1:25 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Nick,
If I may, being the my home is located at the eastern end of Central ave, I can tell you first hand that the parking plan worked. There was/is ALMOST no need for the extra police being that the crowd was/is forced like sheep down the boardwalk and into the Muni lot. My wife and I can actually count the amount of people walking by after midnight and for the first time in a long time we actually kept our friends and family on the front porch instead of retreiving to the back yard.
What I do not understand is why the Mayor and Council are looking to move the time from 12 to 12:30?
One thing I agree with is the divide in this town has to stop.
You, the full timers should vote on removing the districts from within the town. It is one town not four.
Nick Carraway
10:20 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Part Timer, I appreciate your thoughts on the parking plan. I guess I'm confused by the fact that, in Spring of 2011, certain Governing Body members tried to get money from the BW businesses to hire additional specials. BW offered $50K, but that was rejected as an alleged "bribe." Bad behavior reports skyrocketed, with the Mayor and his supporters claiming that it was due to lack of police. By August, the Council invested emergency appropriations to get more police for 2011 and 2012. Now, the parking plan put on the ballot that year was for a townwide plan, and the town voted it down. However, certain Council members relied on the voting results, the fact that one district (we're divided into districts for voting purposes, and I think that's done by the County. I don't think we have any control over that) had approved the question, to impose the parking plan in that portion of town. The fact that those Council members decided to make it a plan that encompassed that whole district (not the "northeastern part of town") should show you how much politics (districts = votes) played a role in all of this. I don't really think that all of District 4 needs a parking plan, and the County roads didn't have it. But, if you think that the parking plan is enough, and we don't need the extra police, please get the Council to agree. I'd be happy to save those tax dollars. I'm with you about changing the starting time. The last thing residents need is more changes to the rules.
Vince Barrella
9:03 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Who were those council members who allegedly sought to get money from the BW? In 2011, Dyer, Rizzo, Hennessy and Lurie. No one who is the least bit honest would claim that these 4 were political allies of Corbally, Tooker or myself. In fact, they were adversaries, if not out right political enemies, as we had broad based differences of opinions on virtually every issue. It remains, however, that those 4 controlled the council. If there was a legitimate offer on the table that our borough attorney (and before you haters start in, the borough attorney in 2011 was not Mr. Gertner) felt comfortable with the town accepting, why didn't they do so. It is simple math, all they needed to accept an offer were the 4 votes and they had them.
There was no possibility of getting more police in 2011 as we don't have the luxury of picking them off trees, they need to undergo training. You think additional police alone is the answer, I believe that you are wrong. The combination of additional police and parking restrictions is what worked, and there is no reason to change that.
Councilman Corbally did seek to word the question as whether you were in favor of restricted parking in your district, but the aforementioned council majority at the time would have none of it, insisting that it be worded as a town wide plan or not at all. Your will recall that Councilman Corbally's efforts to put the question of early bar closings on the ballot were defeated by this same group.
Nick Carraway
11:16 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Mayor, this is why I believe that you are a divisive person and simply cannot help but be one. Let's read my response to Part Timer. Do I name anyone in my post? No. I don't. But, we both know that it was Corbally who attempted to enforce the special events ordinance in ways it had never been enforced before to try to get more fees from the Boardwalk. (Did the town ever collect those fees?) Jenks made that argument, but offered $50K for additional police. Corbally, Chief O'Hara, Ed McGlynn were in those meetings. Corbally came back and said that it was a bribe. Now, how the heck could any of those Council members you named, your sworn opponents, vote to accept the $50K when Corbally said it was a bribe? No way they could do that without you dragging them through the mud. Since you've decided to involve yourself in my comments to Part Timer, how about you respond to the substantive issues, the ones currently facing the town. If you notice, I was willing to accept Part Timer's opinion about the parking plan. Part Timer says that, with the parking plan, "there was/is ALMOST no need for the extra police." So, what do you think? If you put the parking plan back in, do we still need the extra police? And, what is the deal with the time the parking plan will start? Is it your plan to move the starting time from midnight to 12:30 and, if so, why?
Nick Carraway
11:35 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Please disregard my request for an explanation about the change in parking plan times. I see that you answered that in another post. But, I am curious about your comments about adding more police in 2011. In the late summer of 2011, the Council unanimously agreed to award emergency appropriations to help fund more police that summer, didn't they? If we couldn't pick more police off the "tree," then where did all of that money go? Oh, that's right, that was the year that Lt. Dikun made $50K in overtime. Wasn't Tooker the Council liason to the police department that year?
Nick Carraway
10:06 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Mayor Barrella, I find it interesting that you like to refer to me as an "anonymous" poster. What you really mean is that you don't know who I am. And, you're right, that I prefer to keep it that way. You see, I realize that at some point, I may need to use public property and, after Martell's request to use the Risdens property to rebuild their damage pier, you've made it pretty clear that it's not a good idea for someone to express opinions that don't support you and then expect to get fair treatment from at least some of the members of our Governing Body. I had to laugh at this part of your post: "I do not consider representing all of Point Pleasant Beach, not only the politically connected, to be divisive." Trying to use the Jedi mind trick, are you? You have repeatedly demonstrated that you are only willing to represent those who support you and your cohorts. Now, what I find particularly interesting is that, during the last three years, you and the candidates you have publicly supported regularly accuse others of being "in with the Boardwalk" and, as such, not pro-resident. Ironically, you are the one who sat down with the Boardwalk businesses and orchestrated this $1 million deal over 20 years in exchange for repealing the bar closing ordinance and, if Part Timer is correct, moving the time of the parking plan from midnight to 12:30 pm. We all know what you would've said if anyone but you or one of your Independs had made this deal, don't we?
Vince Barrella
9:19 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
There you go again! I get it, you want to tie the money Jenkinson's graciously offered to contribute to our recovery efforts to the repeal of the early bar closing ordinance because that serves your political agenda. The trouble is that the repeal of the bar closing ordinance was tied to one thing, and one thing only -- the dismissal of the lawsuits. That is the framework I outlined in early October long before Sandy hit. Had Jenkinson's simply agreed to that, without extending their offer of financial assistance, that would have been fine.
Your attempt to persuade that you continue to hide behind an alias "out of fear" is laughable. By hiding behind an alias you deprive those who read what you spew forth of any context, because it is impossible to determine what political or personal agenda you may have, beyond your obvious dislike for certain members of the governing body. Sort of like having someone say an object is heavy -- knowing whether the person making that claim is a professional football player or a third grader is important in evaluating the statement.
Finally, in those discussions that led up to our reaching an agreement, the Beach was represented by not only myself, but by our non-partisan Borough Administrator/CFO, Christine Riehl, and yes we agreed to 12:30 instead of midnight, because it will still keep the late night bar crowd out of the residential neighborhoods while giving families enjoying the boardwalk a little more flexibility.
Spooner
2:34 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Mayor Barrella- more of your back tracking... why it wasn't even six month ago that the 'patch" reported: Point Pleasant Beach was going to compel the BW businesses to pay for repairs and upgrades to the boardwalk... and I know you weren't at that meeting...
http://pointpleasant.going.com/articles/point-beach-may-compel-businesses-to-help-pay-for-boardwalk-repairs
PS: just love how you keep spinning the bar closing ordinance. . .Mayor, it was always all about the "money"...The reason last year the Council voted down the first bar closing ordinance, was because of the BW's proffered $800K offer and your Council's "pay to stay open" ordinance.The BW attorney stated they would comply with either one...Do I have that right? Maybe you could provide the 'patch' link to their attorney's letter.
...and I would have loved to have been there listening to your attorney and you explain the Council's "pay to stay open" ordinance before the ABC Commissioner.
Nick Carraway
11:31 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Oh, poor Chris Riehl. Chris Riehl is a lovely woman and very capable in her job, but it is a job, and I'm sure she'd like to keep it. Are we really supposed to ask her what took place in that meeting? She keeps her job at the pleasure of the Governing Body, and you and your allies control the Governing Body. If all of those recent negotiations solely pertained to the dismissal of the law suits, then why did it take several weeks in November for you to reach that agreement? Remember all of those consecutive weeks of Council meetings, each with the promise that you would announce a deal with the BW? Speaking of getting money from the boardwalk businesses and tourists, how are things coming along with those local option taxes you keep promising? Have you made any progress on that front?
Spooner
2:22 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Mayor- I find your repeated "anonymous" pleadings...nothing more than flagrant defensive anotees for political ineptness. . .
...when you and your Council, with the exception of Councilman Corbally voted(I know you don't vote) to withdraw your first early bar closing Ordinance. . .only too reintroduce and vote for it again. . .would have made for some fancy explaining before the ABC Commissioner?
...and with all of that legal education and teaching background, maybe you could shed light...and make the connection with us "anonymous" posters"... as too why and how it came about, and what surrounded the flip-flopping of those bar closing Ordinances...
Vince Barrella
9:46 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
You are entitled to your own opinion, but how is anyone to know if Spooner and Nick Carraway are not one in the same. Also, how is anyone to have context -- we know you don't live in the Beach, but yet you seem to have a lot of interest in it. Why?
I have to admit that the lawyer in me is somewhat disappointed that the legal arguments on the bar closing ordinance will not get made, but that is no reason to leave an ordinance in place when the problems it was designed to address have been solved by other measures.
Randle McMurphy
11:55 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Funny how the Mayor complains about anonymous posters when they dont agree with him or set the record straight after he tries to spin one of his and the Blocs screwups into a positive action. You never see him complain or insult an anonymous posters when its one of his followers being anonymous. As far as the 12 o clock bar closing fiasco went, the Mayor is only doing damage control,he knows this killed him and his bobbing head Bloc politcally ,plus he and the Bloc were very nervous heading into the deposition stage of the case where all the dirt would have come out on their vendetta against the Boardwalk businesses. He saw how his guys did in the last two elections and is already trying to get the residents to forget his Blocs screwups for the upcoming election. Beach residents dont forget and be fooled by the Mayor .
D
1:39 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Who cares already, There is always going to be a different "bloc" on council. Let's all start over and get along for all the residents and businesses sake. The parking plan worked, get over it. We will save money as a town. We shouldn't need as many police or the cost of training them. We can all continue attacking each other, blaming each other who started and changed PPB. Lets face it, some will agree on some issue and not on others. That is the way it is. Some will support and agree on certain council members and not others. That is the way it is. Just because someone might support a Mayor or council member the opposite of who others. Get over it already. The town residents and businesses are getting sick of the back fourth nonsense already. This town was hit, but other towns were hit harder. Is that what you would have rather. Maybe next time it will and then what?...You will still be arguing about the same crap that is old already.
Vince Barrella
11:37 am on Monday, January 21, 2013
I appreciate your views. I will be forming two committees at the next council meeting to consider flood mitigation and zoning changes in light of the new FEMA flood maps.
When you examine the contents of this article, and then the direction and tenor of some of the anonymous posts, I hope people will understand why I post. For example, the suggestion that Chris Riehl would not tell the truth because she fears for her job is insulting and reflects an ill-informed opinion. Chris was appointed borough administrator by a Democratic administration in 2005. She has continued in that position regardless of who was in charge since then. More importantly, the administrator's job is only part of what she does. She is also our Chief Financial Officer. The CFO position is a tenured position, meaning she cannot be dismissed because of a change in the make-up of the governing body. She has worked for the Beach for more than 25 years, and I value her opinion and knowledge. I cannot in good conscious stand silent when someone questions her integrity.