Sunday, October 4, 2009

4 years of Tricky Manuevers

From where I sit, well, stand actually because I'm always on my feet, I get into the "Asbury Conversation" a lot. It's the one about remembering the past, expectations of the now and the "what I think?" of the future of our Little Apple.

Ok, the past: things I remember- the Albion Hotel (would of made a great south beachesque hotel), the Mayfair and St. James (what were they thinking tearing them down, we would of had the best performing arts center in the state), The Paris Cinema (Red Bank Cinema anyone?) and the obvious- the carousel, the Ferris wheel (yep, I'll keep on nagging about it)...the Savoy ( check my last posts)....the list goes on.

The present: that part of the conversation is tough. Expectations are high. What did we get? A solid reality that the Little Apple is moving (organically) forward and it isn't going backwards (unless we get our own Katrina and acts of god are forgivable). I said last year that you wouldn't see the "New Little Apple" for 5 years and I still believe that we have 4 more years coming. No, it won't be finished but it won't be a desert of empty eminent domain lots either. (For better or worse as the Reverend says).

A Past, present and future moment: The powers that be, The City and the developers. That reputation of corruption and lack of visionary leadership that haunts us here. With the new Mr. Mayor Man there is an expectation, cynical albeit, that there will be change. In my experience there is no change just a progressive, and hopefully, transformation to a better city. It's out job and duty to make that happen not the politicians and developers. We are the check and balance of the city.

Side note: Parking.....ask the powers that be and they can't give you a straight answer. HELLO!!!

Ok, the Future as Big D sees it. The powers that be will slowly get it because of OUR relentless castigation. We will see movie theatres, more businesses, yep, more condos, we'll see that the owners of the Berkeley actually took charge of the mammoth and made it to a interesting hotel, that functions, there will be my Ferris wheel and I'll move here from Ocean Grove and run to be the next Mr.Mayor Man..........

VOTE Big D!!!!