does this mean someone who owns 3 houses in AP is more "vested" than someone who owns 1, rents, or does business in the city???
the real estate argument is laughable, it is like giving credit to the rooster for making the sun rise. if you've been listening to people besides the AP City Council, you would see that property values & ratables are increasing throughout Monmouth County. A couple of baseline factors to compare this council's job to the job a semi-trained seal would be able to accomplish here. (From the Monmouth County website:) http://www.co.monmouth.nj.us/ecois_strong.asp *The ratable base in Monmouth County grew this year at a record pace - 16%. *Between 2000 and 2004, Employment rose by 8.1%, as opposed to the state-wide average of 1.0% and 2.0% nationwide. *The Office Vacancy Rate in Monmouth County is a relatively low 16%. 4th lowest in the state. Somerset County is highest with a 40% vacancy rate. *One of the factors driving the low vacancy rate in Monmouth County is the relatively low rental rates. Monmouth County is 3rd lowest of the northern counties with an average rate of $22 per square foot of office space. Hudson is highest with a $28.50 rate. *Incomes in Monmouth County continue to rise faster than the state and national averages. The median household income here is about 17% higher than New Jersey and 53% higher than the national average. *Population increases fuel increases in local construction, especially residential housing, and retail employment. *The appreciation of real estate values in Monmouth County remains above national averages. Retail sales are at record highs, with building materials, furniture and auto sales being exceptionally strong. Rather than giving your vote to whomever was in charge when the market boomed, why not look at who will protect your investment most if something should go awry? Has this council demonstrated adequate skills to protect you if something should go wrong with redevelopment? --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Following are some remarks sent to the GLH group and my response to them. > Jeannie has granted me permission to forward her remarks here: > ================================================ > ...The same people who complain the major landmarks were "given" away are > the same people who have seen sizeable appreciation in their homes and > investment properties over the last 4 years. Although I am not a "long time" resident > as some of our favorite local pundits love to say, I have seen appreciations > in my investments and home beyond my wildest expectation. Same goes for the > redevelopment areas. I do remember when NO ONE wanted to bid on the casino, > and other "beloved" properties. That was then . This is now. The reason it now > seems these properties that no one would touch are worth something, is > because we have ACTIVE development plans down at the beach. And we should thank > the current council (and Kate Mellina) for that. Is it perfect? Maybe not. > Eminent domain is a big problem. But that can be corrected and should be. > Otherwise, that area was depressed and hopeless. And yes, I believe the tax rebates > are the cost of doing business. Am I unhappy my taxes are going up? Yes. But > as more businesses and homes come in with better rateables I hope things will > get better. CAFRA, Historical implications of buildings, zoning, > architectural rendering agreements, have delayed the water front as much as anything > else. How can the developers start when we won't approve a rendering for the > project? The developers carrying costs must be tremendous on property they > have been delayed on improving. > Finally, I beleive a council member should be a homeowner. Not just a > resident. I also believe that while I will listen to any perspective, I weigh > more heavily if a person votes here, and resides and owns here. > It is with these criteria that I can not listen too seriously to any > candidate or "pundit" who lacks the requirements. They in fact, are not vested > like me. I believe the current council is as vested as I am. I back the APAC > endorsements. And I will vote for those candidates. Not because APAC says that > is the right vote. But because it is the right vote. They did their > homework. I did mine. > > Jeannie > 508 Monroe #3F > 516 Sewall Ave > 1304 3rd Ave > (vested in AP for the future) > ========================================================= Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/