Dear Constituents,
Below is an Op/Ed of mine that was published on Thursday in the TriCity
News. It is a response to Mr. Jacobsens recent piece about me titled,
Idealist Becomes the Demagogue.
I have posted it on my blog at www.keadyreport.blogspot.com and I welcome
comments there.
Peace,
James W. Keady
Councilman, City of Asbury Park, NJ
GET THE FACTS BEFORE YOU WRITE
By Councilman James W. Keady
In the November 16th issue of the TriCity News, TCN Publisher, Dan Jacobson
authored a story titled, Idealist Becomes the Demagogue, commenting on an
event that took place at the November 13th Asbury Park City Council Meeting.
He called me a slew of nasty names and leveled some serious charges against
me. What he failed to tell his readers is that he was not in attendance at
the Council meeting in question.
In fact, all of Mr. Jacobsons information from that evening came from
secondhand sources. Unfortunately, I am not surprised by this because Mr.
Jacobson rarely attends City Council meetings and he usually reports the
majority of his news from secondhand sources.
Ok, so Dan could not make it to the meeting. He heard about what happened
and thought it worthy to write about. Given this, did he do what any
fair-minded journalist would do and reach out to me to confirm his facts
or to seek comment or clarification from me on what he was reporting?
No.
What Mr. Jacobson did was print false information and extrapolated his
lengthy opinion from it, misinforming and misleading his readership in the
process.
When I read the article, I called Dan and asked him why he did not reach out
to me to confirm that he had the facts correct given that he was not at the
meeting. And he said:
My deadline was too tight for me to call you.
His deadline was too tight for him to call me.
Let me give TCN readers a little background here. Dan Jacobson and I have a
fairly good rapport with each other and we have an ongoing dialogue on a
range of local and national political issues. He has my home phone number,
my cell phone number, and my work phone number, all of which he has used in
the past to call me about stories he is working on. Dans office is about
50 feet from mine same building, same floor - and he stops by our office
regularly. And if I do not see Dan in the office, one of his favorite hang
out spots is directly across the street from my home.
Despite all this access and the fact that Dan was writing a story that was
focused on me and my statements at a City Council meeting, he never said a
word to me.
Now, do I expect Dan Jacobson or anyone for that matter to agree with
everything I say or do in my role as a Councilman in Asbury Park? Certainly
not, but what I do hope for is simple fairness and accuracy in reporting.
What would have been fair in this situation would have been for Dan to call
me and ask me direct questions about what transpired at the November 13,
2006 City Council meeting.
Here are my thoughts on how such a phone call might have gone.
BEGIN INTERVIEW
DJ: JIM, WHAT EXACTLY DID YOU PROPOSE AT THE COUNCIL MEETING REGARDING THE
WEST SIDE COMMUNITY CENTER?
During the public portion of the meeting, a significant number of residents
and community leaders shared their frustrations about the violence in our
streets and its impact on our young people. To combat this problem, they
asked for the City Council to offer greater support to the West Side
Community Center.
In light of the issues they raised, I put a motion on the floor requesting
that the governing body earmark $100,000 in funding from our Community
Development and Affordable Housing Fund that could be made available for
infrastructure upgrades and programming at the West Side Community Center.
I also stated that in order for this money to be released, the West Side
Community Center would submit proposals to the City Council on how the money
would be used. The governing body would subsequently vote on which
proposals they would like to support.
Again, to be clear, I was not saying the money should go to the West Side
Community Center that night. I requested a firm and measurable commitment
of resources on the part of the City and a process by which those resources
could be allocated.
I was unable to garner a second for this motion.
DJ: DID YOU TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH ANY OF YOUR FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS
PRIOR TO THE MEETING?
There has been the charge that I blindsided my colleagues with my request,
that I had never discussed this issue before. On October 18, 2006, the day
that Tylik Pugh was shot, I discussed earmarking $250,000 in funds from the
Community Development and Affordable Housing Fund for community programs
with both the City Manager and the Mayor. My proposal was similar to the
one I made on Monday night, that the funds would be set aside and that
community organizations like the West Side Community Center, the Boys and
Girls Club, the Salvation Army, etc. could apply for money for programs
specifically focused on getting our young people off the streets and
involved in positive activities. At the request of the Mayor, I did not put
forth this proposal publicly that night and I deferred to his desire to have
some time to speak with the folks at the West Side Community Center.
DJ: SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT YOU SET THIS WHOLE THING UP AND
ORCHESTRATED HAVING THESE PEOPLE COME TO THE COUNCIL MEETING.
There have been some detractors of mine that have suggested that I met with
these citizens at a Sunday night meeting prior to the Council meeting and
set the whole thing up. Not only does such a charge show complete
disrespect for the initiative of these West Side residents, it also is
false. On Sunday evening, when the community members were holding their
meeting, I was at home with my wife, Leslie.
There are others who say that I set this up on Saturday afternoon because my
wife and I participated in a Stop the Violence vigil and march organized
by Mrs. Laura Henry, a Bangs Avenue Resident. This is false as well. To say
that I orchestrated what these people said at the meeting is to disregard
them as living, breathing, thinking human beings with their own minds.
Clearly, those who want to redirect the focus back to me are missing the
content of these residents statements which was exactly their point
they feel that no one seems to be listening to their needs.
DJ: SOME PEOPLE IN ASBURY PARK HAVE ACCUSED YOU OF GRANDSTANDING LATELY, HOW
WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THIS CHARGE?
My actions have not changed. What has changed is the reaction from certain
Asbury Park citizens. I stand up for what I believe is right. I stood up
for protecting the Baronet from the specter of eminent domain. I stood up
and demanded a greater level of performance by Asbury Partners on our
Waterfront. I stood up for more attention and resources to be focused on
the Downtown. I stood up to appropriate funds for a summer youth jobs
program. I stood up for the gay community when they were unjustly attacked
by the Concerned Christian Coalition.
At the November 13th meeting, I stood up and requested that we take official
action to earmark resources for the needs of the West Side Community Center
and all of a sudden, Im demonized. I wonder why it is that when I stand up
for private property owners or for historical preservation, I am
appreciated, but when I stand up for residents on the West Side who deal
with violence day in and day out, Im grandstanding, Im a demagogue, and
Im playing the race card.
DJ: IF YOU ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT HELPING THE WEST SIDE RESIDENTS, WHY
DONT YOU ADVOCATE FOR THINGS LIKE RENT CONTROL?
I have. I wrote back in May of 2006 about my actions on this issue. The
complete blog entry can be found at www.keadyreport.blogspot.com. Click on
May 2006 under Archives.
DJ: FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD, THE MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT SPOKE AT
THE COUNCIL MEETING WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF YOU AND VERY CRITICAL OF YOUR
FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WAS THE CASE?
Since my election to office, I have made the West Side a priority in my
life. I spend time every week walking through the neighborhood listening to
concerns of West Side residents and business owners. I also attend a lot of
events on the West Side, from community vigils to football games to social
events. I have tried, by my actions, to let the people on the West Side
know that I am as concerned about their lives and future as I am about folks
on the East Side. As for the attitude of those who spoke at the Council
meeting towards my colleagues, I would encourage you to do what you did not
do in your November 17th issue - get your own first-hand information.
DJ: SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE SAYING THAT YOU ARE TOO FOCUSED ON THE WEST
SIDE, TO THE DETRIMENT OF OTHERS IN YOUR CONSTITUENCY. BASICALLY, THERE ARE
PEOPLE THAT SUPPORTED YOU WHEN YOU RAN, BUT NOW THEY ARE UNSURE IF YOU STILL
SUPPORT THEM AND THEIR CONCERNS. HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THIS?
I think at the moment, my supporters among the homeowners and business
owners are generally frustrated about the pace of redevelopment in Asbury
Park. This frustration has been bubbling below the surface for some time
now.
Here is a short list of what I believe are the root causes of their
frustrations.
1. Despite all the hype about the redevelopment of Asbury Parks waterfront,
Asbury Partners has not created one new residential ratable in four years.
This lack of progress occurred despite the fact that we just experienced one
of the largest real estate booms in American history. The lack of new
ratables means two things - no new customers for business owners and no new
tax revenue to lighten the burden on homeowners.
2. Despite all the hype about the redevelopment of Asbury Parks waterfront,
Asbury Partners has not rehabilitated one pavilion, nor have they
rehabilitated Convention Hall or the Casino. Because of the way the
redevelopment deal was written, there are almost no penalties against Asbury
Partners for their slow movement on the waterfront and no carrot that the
Council majority has agreed on to make the process move faster. Further,
the Council has not been public enough about its disapproval of Asbury
Partners lack of progress.
3. We have had multiple murders in Asbury Park this past year; 102 reported
shootings; 50 guns taken off the streets by our Police Department; thousands
of arrests; and a growing gang problem in our city.
4. The downtown streetscape has not even started. The rehabilitation of the
Steinbachs building, while underway, has dragged on for years.
5. It does not seem that we have a clear plan for marketing our most
tangible assets Asbury Park as a brand name, Asbury Parks music and
cultural history, and Asbury Park as a summer (and beyond) tourist
destination.
6. A concentration of poverty and unstable family situations that lead to
crime and a drug trade continue to undermine any efforts made by our school
system, our Police Department and our City Government to create a safe and
secure city.
DJ: YOU ARE ONLY ONE PERSON ON THE COUNCIL AND YOU ARE IN THE MINORITY. SO
WHY ARE PEOPLE SO UPSET WITH YOU?
With people generally frustrated about the progress of redevelopment, you
have both new business owners and new homeowners questioning whether or not
Asbury Park was a good investment. People are not seeing the progress that
they were promised by the re-elected majority of Mayor Sanders, Deputy Mayor
Bruno and Councilman Loffredo. Some people are starting to panic that their
investment is going to tank and that they are going to lose everything they
have risked. This is a tangible fear for people and something the Council
needs to take very seriously.
Having said this, I do think there are two issues that people are concerned
about specific to me and that may have offered them a channel for their
greater frustrations.
First was my nuanced position on the Market Street Mission. A lot of
homeowners are upset about this organization setting up shop in Asbury Park
and I have heard people placing the blame on me that they have come to our
city.
I have been very clear about the facts and my position on this. I did not
seek out the Market Street Mission or vote to have them come to Asbury Park.
But given the fact that they bought the building and received the
appropriate permits to come, I am not going to bury my head in the sand. I
am going to engage them and the County on both the Market Street Missions
policies and the Countys greater responsibility to dealing with problems of
homelessness.
I strongly agree that Asbury Park should not be the only town to provide
social services for Monmouth Countys homeless. And so I am in the process
of engaging the County and State Offices of Human Services and Social
Services to designate a clear plan of regionalizing the responsibility for
homeless people. If you would like more information on my position, please
visit www.keadyreport.blogspot.com. Click on July 2006 under Archives.
This work is currently underway via the newly created City Subcommittee on
Homelessness, which I co-Chair with Councilman Loffredo.
Second, after two non-fatal shootings on the West Side, I truthfully
answered questions from a reporter from ABC News about the gang presence in
Asbury Park.
The statement I made was on October 17th, the day before Tylik Pugh was
fatally shot at 11:30am in broad daylight within 100 yards of our middle
school. This was the day before our school board made the decision to close
our schools for two days. This was a day before the media descended en
masse to cover these events. You had four days worth of regional and
national negative media coverage that ensued and I think it just pushed
people over the edge.
Some people felt that I could have spun or massaged my comments to not
make the City look bad. My response is that I was elected to proactively
attempt to find solutions to the problems our city is facing. We can only
solve our problems by facing them honestly.
DJ: OK. SO NOW WHAT?
I believe that a number of things must be done to keep Asbury Park moving
forward in a positive direction. I have outlined above a short list of
issues that the homeowners and business owners are concerned about. We must
couple these with the top three issues from folks on the West Side job
creation, affordable housing and increased recreation opportunities and
get to work solving problems. I have done the analysis and have a number of
changes I would like to see made, but I need three votes in order to get
anything done. It has been difficult for me to get the support of two other
votes since I have been on the Council, and a number of initiatives that I
have put forth have not made it because of this.
What we need most is for more Asbury Park residents to get involved by
coming to City Council meetings and by joining Boards and Commissions to do
the work which needs to be done. The TriCity News could help us in moving
the city along by doing real reporting on these issues so that citizens are
fully aware, rather than subjective, fact-less rants.
Here are a few questions you could start digging into, to create the
dialogue necessary for forward movement:
1. How do we attract light manufacturing into the Memorial Drive corridor to
create good paying entry-level manufacturing jobs for West Side residents?
2. Given that Asbury Partners has not delivered any new ratables on the
Waterfront and as such, we have a short-term budget gap and a mid-term
financial planning problem, how can we fund the programs we need to deal
with the roots of crime and gangs in our city with a goal of preventing
further violence?
3. How hard of a line should we draw with Asbury Partners at this point in
the process? Given their lack of performance on delivering promises made to
the community, should we consider more drastic actions for the long-term
good of the city?
4. How is the lack of new residents on the waterfront affecting downtown
business and overall investment?
5. What is the best way of marketing Asbury Park in a way that maximizes our
key historical, musical, cultural and tourist assets?
6. How much affordable housing do we need and what exactly does affordable
mean in Asbury Park?
7. What vision for Asbury Park will best serve the economic and social needs
of its current residents?
Now Dan, I do not want you to tell me what you usually do - people dont
want to read about all that stuff its too boring for them. They dont
care. People do want to read about this, they do care, and you need to
report on it. Even those people in the suburbs that you consistently harp
on know that finding answers to questions like these is critical if Asbury
Park is going to redevelop in a way that is sustainable both economically
and socially. I am doing my part by trying to find policy answers to these
questions. It is where my energy has been and will continue to be focused
during my term in office.
We know that you want Asbury Park to be just like Berkeley, Madison or
Asheville. Something that those towns have is an independent, alternative
newspaper that reports in detail on the issues that the mainstream news
agencies miss. We need you to do your part research issues first-hand and
report.
Why? Because you are the TriCity News and youre here to help.
END INTERVIEW
Councilman James W. Keady
1 Municipal Plaza
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
TEL: 732.502.5196
EM: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.cityofasburypark.com
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