--- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "sandpiper15" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
Interesting observations, sandpiper. Let's see if we can keep this
one going:
> I hear what you're saying, but just to play devil's advocate here:
> Wouldn't that reinforce the balkanization of a town that shouldn't
> naturally have distinct neighborhoods? By that I mean the current
> division between east and west is a stubborn legacy of the Bradley
> era, when certain people were allowed to work near the ocean but
>not
> live there, yes? One might presume (erroneously perhaps?) that the
> city would want to move beyond that and work toward eliminating the
> stark demographic differences between each side of the tracks.
>Would
> cutting up a 1 square mile town into wards do that?
Since Asbury has had demographic regions since its inception more
than a century ago, there is no quick fix to integrating it now.
At least the ward system would give immediate results - citywide
representation on the council.
Also, wouldn't the first step toward getting rid of the balenization
be to give the disadvantaged a voice in the government so they will
have the power to effect change?
> Also, is there in fact a system, written or otherwise, that
> doesn't "allow" someone from the southwest portion of town to run
for
> office?
The middle class runs every town. The rich are having too much fun
to care, the poor dealing with too many problems to care.
The southwest of Asbury Park is the poorest neighborhood in the state.
> I just looked up each of the council members' addresses on
> WhitePages.com. They all live in the north end of town, where the
> properties are predominantly owner occupied houses. The south end
>of
> town trends a little more toward apartment complexes and rented
> houses, right? Might that have something to do with it? I don't
>know
> the details of each council member's living arrangements,
>obviously,
> so this is all very unscientific, but might it be that property
> owners tend to be more compelled toward public service? I emphasize
> "tend" there. I'm sure there are plenty of apartment dwellers
working
> for the city. But it stands to reason that if you've taken out a
> mortgage and accepted the responsibility of property maintenance
>and
> the like, you're more inclined to invest your time and effort into
> city government. Whereas, if you're in an apartment that,
> particularly in this economy, you may have to leave at any moment
>and
> move to another town, you might not be as compelled to invest the
> time and effort required to run for office.
Excellent observation about homeowners vs. residents.
On the present counsel I believe only Mr. Keady is a renter. I think
that proves your point, because I've always heard the renters in AP
outnumber the homeowner residents (don't know if true).
Interesting note: Looking at the present counsel, a ward system
would create some interesting run-offs, since Loffredo and Bruno live
in the northeast and Johnson and Sanders live in the northwest.
They could all still end up on the council though, since many ward
systems are a mixture of ward representative and at-large (city-wide)
representatives.
> Certainly the residents of the southwest side deserve equal
> representation, and from what I've read here and on Maureen's page,
> it seems like Keady and Johnson are both trying their best to
>provide
> that. Maybe someone who lives in that area can speak to that more
>in
> detail.
I know they chaired the Springwood Avenue Redevelopment Committee.
Besides that what do you mean?
>But if a ward system was implemented, isn't it possible you
> might wind up with council members by default? e.g. "Well, one of
>us
> has to do it, so, alright, vote for me, candidate A." But you
> wouldn't be getting a candidate as personally invested in the job
>as
> someone who ran with the idea of representing the WHOLE town,
> regardless of what street he or she lives on.
>
> Again, I don't really know. Just throwing that out there.
On the other hand, maybe a person from the west side who feels they
don't have the connections or money to run city-wide so they get
discouraged and don't get involved, decides that know that they can
win they will get involved.
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