All, I agree that Asbury Park is having a rebirth of tourism. The numbers of people on the boardwalk, last weekend's gridlock; yes, tourism is coming back. This is good, but I still have reservations with regard to the City as a whole.
I should place a disclaimer here, lightgrw, that this post is a "general post" and not intended as a rebuttal to your post. We have all heard Werner (and others) drone on about rateable's. Why do you think that is? Well, I am a tourist. I visit your City because all of you take time from your lives to show me about and make my "vacation" enjoyable. Why should I care about "rateable's"? I DO care about the rateable's. Why? Because when I visit your fine City and spend time with all of you, I am also spending money. Where is that revenue really going? If I spend money on Cookman Avenue, I am helping a rateable. If I spend money on the Boardwalk, I am helping a group of developers. Well, now, that is a give-and-take, isn't it? The development is bringing people in, I suppose that helps the big picture, but the picture is stained in my opinion. Those chicken fingers that I bought at Biggies (and tried to walk over to O'Tooles to eat and was denied) made no money for the Little League, the Bike Church, or the School District. Those Biggie chicken fingers made money for the same entity that is making money at O'Toole's where I was turned away. This makes sense how? I watched a very enjoyable Independence Day parade in Asbury Park. How many of the Parade marchers did I see on the Boardwalk after? I am sure that there were some, but I was not able to identify ANY. Tourism will bring in money, most of it for developers, the CITY needs money!! The KIDS need to feel wanted and accepted. Whitey Houston: "The Children are our Future" It's TRUE! I agree, things are looking up, I personally would like to see an effort by the City and the Developers to include EVERYONE!! One thing that might help with that is for the City to wake the Tax Assessor up and send him out to re-assess the value of the renovations. THAT would increase the rateable base and show the City some money! (Assuming that the developers use my chicken finger money to pay their taxes!) Symmetry, diversity, "A team". Best wishes, Glenn --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, lightgrw <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Downtown is definitely a big part of it, but one thing that many people > doubted is also true. People simply didn't believe that Asbury Park > could be a tourist destination again. Let's be honest here. How many > people on this board said things like people have given up on Asbury for > Point Pleasant or other places? In fact, one of the biggest supporters > of Asbury Park used to say that he didn't believe Monmouth County could > be a place for tourism anymore. > > I never believed that. I knew that Asbury Park was special to a great > many people - both because of the music history as well as the overall > boardwalk (and Palace/Casino) experience and memories. > > Now that the city is slowing looking better each year, the people are > coming back. And there's no doubt in my mind that Asbury Park not only > could have crowds like last weekend every weekend but someday will. It > shouldn't be that hard to understand. Asbury Park is not in the middle > of nowhere. It's surrounded by towns that regularly get tens of > thousands of visitors each weekend and Asbury was the biggest of them all. > > The biggest mistake was having people forget about Asbury's tourism > potential... ten years from now people will scratch their heads and > wonder why the city demolished everything for condos rather than use > what is already in place - a beautiful boardwalk, ocean, and music history. > > > jandlinap wrote: > > > > --- > > > > There is a huge reason why AP is coming back... and noone wants to > > say that its the people who have in recent years made an investment > > in buying homes... its those that have gone to the downtown...and > > made an investment. The beach and the boardwalk have always been > > here... 3 years ago it wasnt safe to walk Cookman... now its a dining > > at arts center. So when we talk about whats really bringing AP > > back.. lets think about those that own homes...have fixed them up... > > pay taxes... shop in the downtown stores..(although not that many .. > > but more coming ...) eat in the restaurants... have a cup of > > coffee... have a drink... this is truly what is bringing Asbury Park > > Back... so yes.. support the boardwalk..its an exciting place to be.. > > (and ralphs is great...and next season he will be DOWNTOWN too)... > > but dont forget the downtown.. that is what will keep AP strong! > > > > In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com <mailto:AsburyPark% 40yahoogroups.com>, > > "oakdorf" <oakdorf@> wrote: > > > > > > My wife actaully stopped with me twice on Sunday in AP. > > > > > > REd Rasberry Ralph's Ice (at 1pm) and Peanut Butter at 10 pm. > > > > > > If anyone could top that, let me know. Now that's one for the > > record > > > books. > > > > > > A sunday morning bike ride from Ocean Twp and down the boardwalk. > > > Stops along the way - Motif, Style Rocket (she's buying the checker > > > shorts this week...), etc etc. > > > > > > Thought we'd turn around at OG, but she was on a friends bike that > > > semed to ride itself. Wound up at Avon Pavillon for breakfast - but > > > the nuts there stopped breakfast at 11 am (sunday go figure). So we > > > rode to Kleins Fish market in Belmar. Great lunch. > > > > > > Way back stoped in OG ahd napped on the pier, then back through AP. > > > Ralph's for her first of a lifetime ice from Ralphs.,,, > > > > > > Stopped in Posh Den and I bs'd with (I forgot his name) but we're > > the > > > same age and remembered "driving through AP" to get to Belmar.... > > > > > > It may be slow going - things will fail and things will succeed. > > > > > > It's 11 now. I have a meeting in AP around 1. > > > > > > Just wondering what flavor ice I'll get today. > > > > > > The weather has been amazing. > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> 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/
