This version of Mr. Grenafege's letter is much more hard hitting than what appears on the APP. Compare the two and let me know what you think, this newer version is much more hard hitting and has more specifics.
In his October 18, Atlantic Highlands Herald letter, “Real Solutions to Real Problems Needed to Put Middletown on Right Track”, Mayor Fiore admitted that Middletown government is derailed. I could not agree more.
True to form, he falsely blames years of excessive spending; unnecessary bonding; escalating taxation and debt, all cradled in Republican mismanagement, on the Middletown Democrats who somehow magically made elected Republicans spend our tax dollars. This is just more empty rhetoric to go with decades of empty promises, failure to openly communicate and thwarted taxpayer dreams: no flood control along the Bay Shore; no turf fields; a lake yet to be dredged; a $400 thousand master recreation plan gathering dust; high density housing zoned in Lincroft and planned development of open space at Bamm Hollow.
After Mr. Fiore strong-armed $500 thousand from library funds; took $350 thousand, for the second year in a row, from sewerage authority fees; used $1.3 million in public education funds; his so-called fiscal discipline required a 12% tax increase to cover $45 million of a $62 million budget. This lack of incumbent Republican fiscal discipline has Middletown looking at a projected $2 million shortfall for the 2012 Middletown budget.
Ask Mayor Fiore if he has a real solution. Past Republican practice points at raising taxes. During his term, he has contributed 22% to a 40% increase in taxes over the last five years. Past practice also points at adding to our $70 million in debt, which has increased 66% over the same five years.
Finally, at least $2.4 million of $4 million in “cuts” claimed by Mayor Fiore was onetime nonrecurring expenses that were never part of the 2011 budget.
In closing, Mr. Fiore notes that Middletown has been repeatedly named one of the Top 100 Places to Live by Money Magazine; but, Fiore fails to note that Middletown’s standing in the Magazine’s quality-of-life survey has eroded by 39% during the last four years.
Put a stop to over 30 years of poor fiscal policy and borrowing, empty promises and unfulfilled expectations. Please help our community get back on track: vote Grenafege and Fowler on November 8.
James Grenafege
Middletown Township Committee
20 comments:
Someone needs to have T shirts made up:
"I "Gave" The Middletown Township Committee $500,000 and all I got was an old copy of Money Magazine"
-From the Middletown Township Public Library
Excellent letter.
The true to form paragraph should be an eye opener.
These are the quality of life issues that need to be addressed. Hearing it (empty promises) and seeing it are two different things.
Just a question based on the spending increases Mr. G raises in his letter (that is, leaving aside the lies and the bull), where do you suppose the money will come from for the "flood protection" and his apparently new and enhanced "recreation plan?"
Seems to me you can't cut taxes when you plan all that new spending, and with the new tax cap, you'd have to lay off all town employees to pay for the bond payment for the flood protection - if that covered it...
How typical of someone who is just trying to garner votes to promise guns AND butter.
We'll find out if it works, but don't be too surprised is lying doesn't convince citizens who are registered Republicans to switch allegiances.
Legion, Did you ever think that if the flooding was fixed in the Bayshore area, it would revive their economy? Home values would increase and businesses could flourish. I frankly think it's a quality of life issue first and foremost.
Same with Shadow Lake, clean it and the area becomes more desirable.
The township used the $2.7mil turf bond to pay down our debt last year, so building turf fields isn't going to happen any time soon.
These things are called investments and add value to our community.
Do you question the solar initiative? That costs us money upfront but is supposed to save in the future. I question if Mr. Settembrino has a personal interest in that plan.
For the last 10 years the Republicans have invested in an Arts center and swim club to the tune of $10mil which are still not self sustaining.
The town center debacle cost us millions in legal fees.
Due to the negligence in fulfilling our COAH obligation we were forced to select inappropriate sites and then faced a law suit from Bamm Hollow. Again costing us millions in legal fees. Where in the budget do we see those fees? Are we bonding for them?
Maybe you can tell us, since you seem to be so knowledgeable.
Legion'
Go back to your kennel on Majestic Avenue. Tired of your constant rants under multiple screen names,here and on the APP. The rant is always the same.WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU,mutt???
No tax board work these days or is business so slow in real estate you haunt houses now???
Good point Legion. It's going to be very difficult to unscramble the eggs after they've already been scrambled, for decades. Mr. G is going to have his work cut out for him. It's not going to happen overnight. You can only rob Peter to pay Paul for so long before it catches up to you.
The flooding problems that many experience aren't new although they've worsened, they've been around for 2 to 3 decades. It's poor planning, perks prioritized over necessities.
Next time you're in the vicinity of the township offices why not stop in and see Mr. Greenspan, ask him to show you the drainage maps from Oak Hill on down. Look at the rivers, streams, etc. Upstream drains to downstream.
Are you aware that downstream flood protection specifically in the Bayshore involves infrastructure improvements? Improvements to failing, deteriorating, old undersized drainage systems?
Hubbard Ave. and Navesink River Road repairs from flooding were repaired in a very timely manner, weren't they? Imagine if those repairs to the infrastructure took 20 or 30 years. I imagine the conditions would have worsened, more and more of the roadway would have caved in, larger wider areas of destruction; thus increasing the cost of the repairs down the road some 20 - 30 years later.
Stormwater management is the municipality's responsibility just like the roads and the parks.
Planning, prioritization and accountability and responsibility to ensure that we're getting the best bang for our buck.
Enough said, if you want the opportunity to enlighten each other cordially on relative issues, my house, coffee or tea, any day, any time.
Perhaps both of us will have a better understanding. Mike, an email with my name and contact info is coming your way, if you hear from Legion please pass it on.
ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOR GOVERNMENT IN MIDDLETOWN TODAY !!!
ANYTHING!!!
anon 10:33 I agree with your statement "you can't unscramble the eggs after decades" Right on. Decades of poor planning and mismanagement. Also correct, we can't rob Peter to pay Paul forever.
That's what we've been doing for decades.
Anyone else get the ridiculous letter from Fiore and Murray (dated Nov.1)to Lincroft residents? On the front of the envelope is a cryptic stamp: "Important Information Regarding Avaya Enclosed".
They open the letter bashing the "liberal Democrat" majority in the State Legislature, but then reassure us that they are part of the COAH lawsuit soon to be heard in front of the NJ Supreme Court!
Since the governor bashes the Supreme court for its so-called liberal "activist" judges, one wonders who concocted this brilliant strategy. But it isn't really a strategy is it? It's a way to blame the "liberal Democrats" either way without taking responsibility for coming up with a fair plan. We're fighting, but if we lose, it's the Democrat activist judges or legislature to blame.
If this is the best we got, start adding the desks to Lincroft School.
Jeff and Anon at 10:33 your comments illustrate at least part of the problem.
Anon, you mention that the problem with flooding has been around for decades. Jeff, you indicate that improvements would raise the value of the homes there.
When people purchased their homes knowing that they were located in areas that are prone to flooding, they paid discounted prices for those homes precisely for that reason.
While there may be some things that it is the Town's responsibility to fix, the bulk of any increased flooding is caused by things that are not, and undertaking them would cost tens of millions of dollars, and every taxpayer in town would be paying to increase the value of the homes in the flood plain areas.
If the town assumes responsibility for doing that in those areas, why not in others? A very sticky question.
Jeff your facts are wrong on the solar initiative. Zero dollars from the town go into this. The private company that wins the countywide bid will pay to build and operate the solar panel project. We simply agree to buy the electricity at a cost that is way below what we pay now.
As to the investments in the Swim Club and the Arts Center, well, you wanted investments to improve quality of life, right? So long as incomes and property values were climbing steadily, no one really minded making those investments. Now? Well, because there are bonds requiring debt payments for both of those properties, both of those would be hard to get out from under right now - especially with the market as bad as it is. The Arts Center will be helped greatly by the solar project because it will utilize the power generated at the train station, it might pay for itself in the near future. The swim club? That remains to be seen. Both improve our quality of life without question though.
Again Jeff, your figures are a bit off when you talk about "millions in legal fees" for the Bamm Hollow litigation. In the budget, which is on line at middletownnj.org, these fees are covered under "Legal Services and Costs, item #20-152-2, on Sheet 13. For 2011, $371,000 was budgeted for all legal services for the Township. A part of that went to the Township attorney for Bamm Hollow.
Anon at 10:33, I'm sorry that you have flooding problems, but it really isn't all the responsibility of the town. I prefer to maintain my anonymity, but thanks for the offer to stop by for coffee anyway.
Legion,
I'm anon @ 10:33 and I'm finding some of your comments quite amusing. Seriously I needed a few good laughs today, thanks. No sarcasm intended.
In regards to your comments in paragraphs 1 - 4 Are you aware that with the township reevaluation the property assessments in the Bayshore were drastically increased 200% in many instances due in part to their waterfront, waterview locations and proxity to the bay. That's tax $ to the town. Many of those homeowners, some with million dollar assessments filed successful tax appeals based on flooding conditions. More often than not the flooding experienced in the Bayshore is due to the towns infrastructure not the waterfront locations. Flooding conditions are a quality of life issue like Jeff said and if adequately addressed would once again raise those property values.
Yes, flooding has been occurring for decades and has worsened due in part to the towns neglect to address some of these issues in a more timely manner, yes decades.
The municipal drainage systems are part of the towns infrastructure and it is the towns responsibility to maintain them regardless of where in town that they are located, upstream or down.
Not all of the flooding that occurs in the town is in areas that are prone to flooding. And by prone to flooding you're implying what, floodplains, the Bayshore? I specifically mentioned the Bayshore as one example. Upstream flows downstream anywhere, not just in the Bayshore. Refer to Middletown Matters Newsletter Fall 2011 page 8, 1) Everyone lives in a flood zone. Floods are caused by storms, hurricanes, etc.
Development increases impervious surfaces, impervious surfaces increases storm water runoff, stormwater runoff when it's not adequately addressed and/or inadequate drainage systems increases flooding. The township website has their stormwater management plan online, read it.
Although a word of caution, it does state that there is no roadway flooding in the town.
Exactly where did I say that I had flooding problems? Regarding your comment that it really isn't all the responsibility of the town, please elaborate on that comment specifically ALL.
Simple enough Anon.
Is it really believable that in a state as litigious as New Jersey that no one would have successfully sued the township if it had failed to correct flooding that it as responsible for correcting?
Please.
Property values rose everywhere in the town, and the Bayshore increased despite flooding issues.
If you live at the bottom of a hill in a flood plain, you really can't expect taxpayers to pay to keep your house totally dry - can you?
You don't need to tell us that you have flooding problems, unless you study it as a hobby...
And is it really believable that in a country as litigious as the United States, no gang of local committeemen would have successfully challenged mandates handed down by the federal government as it relates to the Fair Housing Act of 1968? The protections handed down under the act have only gotten STRONGER over the years. Do you think the Stephanie Murray and Tony "Quixote" Fiore braintrust have the intellectual weight and fortitude to stand toe to toe with dedicated civil rights attorneys and the NJ Supreme Court? And even if there was a battle won, does anyone think it would not be reversed given the decades long trend toward strengthening the protections under the Act?
Middletown v. NJ,, Middletown v. the USA- are you ready for the battle, and the legal bills?
Legion,
It appears that you're intentionally missing the point; perks prioritized over quality of life issues, for decades.
I'll give you the benefit of doubt. Perhaps I am mistaken. Since you appear to have a level of knowledge that I apparently lack, please enlighten me.
If infrastructure isn't the towns responsibility then what exactly are capital improvements?
Why do we need them?
Why do we (the taxpayers) have the responsibility of paying for them?
Legion, your response to these questions indicate the fundamental differences between those who have been in charge running this town and those that want to improve it.
Your feeling is, well if they bought a house in a flood area, that's their problem. Our local government assumes no responsibility when it comes to the welfare of its' residents.
That attitude is why Middletown is declining and will continue to decline.
No Jeff, not at all.
There obviously has to be a threshold decision about what we collectively will pay for and what is our own individual responsibility.
I am a liberal Democrat, so I really go far into the realm of the "we're all in this together" philosophy, but local government has constraints on it that are fairly hard to surmount.
Believe it or not, the costs of providing the "fixes" for flooding in the Bayshore are well beyond the ability of the town to raise funds - way beyond. Heck, we don't even have enough dollars to fix the road paving the way it should be done, let alone put in pumping stations.
The federal government and the state government would need to do those kinds of things - and they're pretty broke now too.
This is just not something the town can do alone.
Anon, your "perks over infrastructure" makes a good soundbite, but it doesn't really help anything.
There are no real perks out there right now. Maybe there were in the past - I can't speak to that, but the budget is tight today and for the foreseeable future.
People need to vote based upon the decisions made recently, not what someone else did decades ago.
We have to play the hand we are holding now, to try to build a better life for the town from where we are now.
That's where the focus should be, and I think everyone in town can be a part of that.
Too bad so many want to just act like political partisans...
Legion, you are all over the place.
I'm not a liberal Democrat, so I don't have to argue with any of your earlier comments. But I'm pissed at those who have been in charge.
Something is very strange with your comments. You may have a multi personality disorder, because you contradict yourself.
One minute you're defending the Republicans and now you're claiming you're a liberal Dem.
Come on, if you're going to engage in a serious debate, be honest for a change.
"Political partisans"....are you kidding us......just start by checking out the perks given to the political hacks that serve on the Middletown Sewage Authority....a total waste of money unless you are one of them!
Legion,
A liberal Democrat, really? LOL
You're posts are somewhat revealing as to your identity.
BTW, you're not posting on our dime are you?
Rino.
You are absolutely correct about Legion.
Has a multiple personality disorder and as many names as personalities. Not an honest bone in that body and you cannot trust one word it spouts,as changing as a chameleon. Rep on day,Dem the next. Stop insulting our intelligence.
Call it Sybil or Simon or whatever today's slant is but put no trust in a word that creature says.
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