Before you vote this Tuesday think about this....Isn't it time we made it about people, NOT political parties?

"For almost a year, our residents had to wait for the Long Beach swimming pool, ice arena, West-end Community Center and the Magnolia Community Center to open. When they finally were re-opened, all within a few short weeks of Election Day, it was with much fanfare and candidate speeches all pointing out what a wonderful job the party in charge was doing...."


October 29, 2012 changed the face of this City forever. As the waters receded they left in their wake a total devastation of our way of life. There was no question our municipality was overwhelmed; thank goodness, we had kind and caring neighboring towns that came to our aid. Our police lost most of their vehicles; fortunately we were backed up by the National Guard, State Troopers, Nassau County and others. In the six weeks it took to get our garbage collection started again neighboring towns sent their trucks in to help us out. Eventually, weeks after the storm, our water was turned back on and we were allowed to flush our toilets. We figured life would soon return to normal.

Here we are a year later. The towns in New Jersey rebuilt and reopened their destroyed boardwalks six months ago. Our local schools (and its swimming pool) started reopening within 2 weeks of the storm. People moved back to their houses and rebuilt. The city itself wanted to come back to life with the advent of spring. Unfortunately that just didn’t happen.

The city decided that the most important project that needed to be undertaken was rebuilding our boardwalk. Without second guessing that decision, it must be noted although input was sought, only one city council hearing was held with many, many unanswered questions. This $44 million project was passed without any idea what the FEMA reimbursement would be. While everyone admits that this Boardwalk is beautiful, the present administration also admitted that they had no contingency plan to finance any shortfall. However, the one certainty seemed to be that while the Boardwalk was not opened for the summer it would reopen the week before the election.

The Boardwalk was not the only thing the residents waited for. For almost a year, our residents had to wait for the Long Beach swimming pool, ice arena, West-end Community Center and the Magnolia Community Center to open. When they were finally re-opened, all within a few short weeks of Election Day, it was with much fanfare and candidate speeches all pointing out what a wonderful job the party in charge was doing. Do most of us realize that these “close to election” re-openings could build their political capital in a possibly close race? The people wanted their facilities as soon as possible; the party wanted its election fanfare. Guess who won?

So here we are a year after the storm. The party in power keeps publicizing what a great job they are doing. However, when we look around we see a devastated sewer system, pumping stations being repaired without raising them, a water tower so badly in the need of repair and streets that are worse than ever. The dunes are still not all replaced on the oceanfront and absolutely not one project has been started to relieve the flooding from the bay. If Sandy visited us again one year later the only improved protection would be for the people who took upon themselves to raise their houses.

Isn’t it time to leave the party behind and start thinking of the people? The people shouldn’t have to wait endless months for their facilities to reopen so the party can have an election eve photo op. The people should be able to ask questions at city council meetings and not have to guess where the millions of dollars borrowed and given to the city has gone. The people should have the right to vote for their judicial candidates without orchestrated appointments. The people should be able expect appointments to be made by merit not by party loyalty. The people should not have to pay for the sweethearts deals made when city unions endorse city candidates. The people should be able to drive down roads without having to worry about breaking an axle.

We need candidates that are committed to the people, not to a political party. It is not hard to figure out where a candidate’s loyalties lie. As we learned in 1st grade, actions speak louder than words.