[AsburyPark] Keady Letter in TriCity News - In case you missed it

[JWKeady]

(TriCity Note: With about 20 candidates running for the Asbury Park City Council, we cannot give space to everyone who requests it.  Thus we have to play favorites in that regard, and a candidate must have an interesting story to tell.  Although this newspaper has not endorsed Jim Keady, we provide him such space this week because of his well-recognized commitment to social justice.  Along with his wife, Leslie Kretzu, the two have gone up against some of the largest corporations around the world as they've effectively fought for workers' rights and other issues of social justice both at home and abroad.  It's quite an interesting story indeed.  Their non-profit, Educating for Justice, also located its offices in Asbury Park about four years ago, and we've always considered them a great addition to our downtown.)  Activist for Social Justice Speaks Up on Asbury Candidacy by Jim Keady, Asbury Park City Council Candidate   In past weeks, Dan Jacobson, the publisher of the Tri-City News, has endorsed four incumbents for Asbury Park City Council.  He has dismissed others running as âcraziesâ and has abandoned his responsibility to his readers to even let you know the names of the other candidates.    Who am I? My name is Jim Keady and I am running for Asbury Park City Council.    I live and work in downtown Asbury Park with my wife, Leslie, and together we are the Co-Founders and Directors of Educating for Justice, Inc. (www.educatingforjustice.org).  EFJ is an educational nonprofit organization that provides programming and content on issues of social justice to colleges, high schools, churches and community groups.  My sense of duty to social justice work overflows into my civic involvement in Asbury Park.  For the past several years, I have been an active voice in city politics on issues ranging from eminent domain abuse to affordable housing to responsible redevelopment.    Why am I running for City Council?    Over the past four years, Iâve watched as the council has made bad decisions because they donât do their homework and gather all of the necessary information.  This is the council ânamely, Sanders, Bruno and Loffredo - that Dan Jacobson endorses.   For example, our current council sold all of Asburyâs oceanfront public assets for pennies on the dollar without putting them out to public bid.  They sold Convention Hall, the Paramount and the Casino complex without getting independent appraisals done on these public properties, which may have been illegal.  If you were selling your home, wouldnât you first find out what it was worth and then try to sell it at the best possible price?    We need a council that stands up for the interests of the citizens and does not passively allow redevelopers to take advantage of them.   During the public comment period at a recent council meeting, I asked John Loffredo to name 5 things that Asbury Partners has completed in the past four years.  Silence.  The next week, ads started popping up in the Coaster and Tri-City, paid for by Asbury Partners, LLC.  One is titled, âAccomplishments of the Waterfront Redevelopment.â  Most of these 10 âaccomplishmentsâ are just unfulfilled promises and commitments.  What is most glaring is that in four years, not one new ratable has been built on the oceanfront to help lower your property tax burden.   A rare few (who back the current council) may say that I am against the redevelopment of the oceanfront.  Thatâs a lie.  No one is against the redevelopment. Iâve never met a single person who would argue that position.  So what is the solution?  We need to hold Asbury Partners accountable.  When they are late on payments or promises (like when they were late on their tax bill, late on their payment to the City for affordable housing, etc.), we need to ensure that we enforce our position to the maximum extent.    Aside from redevelopment, how hard is this council working for your everyday needs?  Despite paying some of the highest taxes in the area, are you getting what you pay for regarding things like snowplowing, police response, and good service at City Hall?   I believe you deserve better.    You deserve a City Council that is going to: 1.) get tough on crime and make our streets safe   2.) manage your tax dollars wisely  3.) protect our historical assets 4.) fight against eminent domain abuse  5.) attract business to all parts of town to create jobs  6.) honor our seniors and provide recreation for our children. 7.) equip our police officers with the technology that they need to get the job done     I know we have momentum building in Asbury, and I know that this momentum didnât come from this council.  It came from you.   You are rebuilding Asbury Park brick by brick.  You are establishing new small businesses, renovating homes, reinvigorating our civic institutions, recommitting to our schools and revitalizing our neighborhoods. It is the black, brown and white, straight and gay, who truly have a stake in the community, that have moved the revitalization forward to date.  It is your hard work, your creative entrepreneurial spirit, your risk-taking, your desire to make Asbury Park great again that has fueled the cityâs comeback.    Elect a City Council that supports your efforts, that delivers on promises, that holds contractors and city employees accountable and provides you the leadership that you deserve.    Elect me on May 10th and together, letâs make it happen.    Peace, Jim Keady   www.keadyforcouncil.com         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 the Yahoo! Terms of Service.