End the Madness #1 duh Parking?

What the ham folks! Parking is a problem?

When will the word, concept and or debate ever end in our Lil' Apple? Like, we didn't know beforehand that the opening of new restaurants and residential buildings was going to be a problem before it became one? Really?

The City of Asbury paid these guys big bucks to tell us what we already know and then some.

What we already knew-
1- more parking spaces
2- enforcing parking
3- more lots
4- make the Bang's Avenue Parking Garage actually work efficiently
5- have seasonal parking to encourage off season business

Things we knew but didn't want to-

1- raise fees
2- have variable fees for special events like July 4th and big concert
3- have a parking czar. What's the pay? I'm game to take it on...hah
4- raise the parking permit fees to offset the loss of daily parking income

Things they didn't consider (granted I've only seen the highlights of the report)-

1- Enforcing the law that new residential construction has parking rather than paying the city a fee to not have it
2- Eminent Domaine the empty lots between the downtown and waterfront and build a parking garage or force iStar to build one
3- This one is from Ernesto What's his name, conservative ranter in the Tri City News. Tear down the ugly police station and city hall and put a parking garage there. His idea is to move City Hall over to Springwood Ave. I like that. Actually i think this was the first article by him I actually could get past two sentences.LOL

I'd add move them for sure and build not only a garage but a performing arts center and a cool train and bus station.

The problem with the Lil' Apple is the lack of visionaries whether it comes to parking or urban design.
Maybe we should higher a Visionary consultant....oh, OH, I want that job...Please...PLEASE!

Force Majeure

Force Majeure-"A French term literally translated as "greater force", this clause is included in contracts to remove liability for natural and unavoidable catastrophes that interrupt the expected course of events and restrict participants from fulfilling obligations." Super Storm Sandy brought to light in so many of our lives the thought that the "Status Quo" is over. It's time for rethinking so many of our priorities in the way we live. Having spent some time in Ortley Beach, north of Seaside Heights, just after the storm, I stood there and thought do we need so much stuff in our lives? Here in the Lil' Apple the term Force Majeure came up at the City council meeting the other night. I was there to hear the discussion of parking and the Convention Hall closing and how it will impact our world here. We took a big hit from the storm and I want to invoke Force Majeure with the city. 1- Suspend fees for outdoor seating permits. 2- Don't add or increase fees for signs, permits, etc. 3- Stop the craziness of taking over private parking lots. We have our agreements with our landlord that will be voided. Is that legal? Which brings up the question is it legal for government to take control of private property? Just sayin'. 4- Force Majeure- come to terms with Madison Marquette on getting Convention Hall up and operating. Put all your egos in a box and float them out to sea. We have bigger fish to fry! Let's not make the Lil'Apple into Lil'Washington. No programming in the Paramount and Convention Hall is a disastrous thought for the season. I like the idea the Werner guy brought up of talking with IStar about using one of those empty lots near Wesley Grove for parking. How about for employee parking instead of the crazy idea of having staff parking up at Bradley Cove. The thought of my staff leaving work late at night and walking to up there, oh boy! Haven't we all taken enough of a hit that agreement can't be found in the short term at least to have a great season?

Well, hello Guv'ner

Can you believe it's March and i haven't written a word here since New Year's. Ma bad.

So the other night we catered the Governor's Cocktail Fundraiser. At work we don't do politics. Actually we catered the Green Party on Sunday and Congressman Pallone's soiree a few weeks ago before Bruce's Ranney School benefit at the Pony. So, I feel we are an equal opportunity caterer...lol. Have to say it would have been fun to do one for Ann little and the Tea Party just to get a better perspective on it all.

The Guv was nice. He came through the kitchen at the Berkeley posed for pics and chatted while he waited for his speech. Seemed pretty down to earth and I think he's slimming a bit too. National Media and overweight don't mix well.

Then the Guv gave his speech. He's a good speaker when preaching to the choir. Made a few jokes about the blizzard and Florida, how Jerry Brown in California is following his lead and how Andrew Cuomo must be his brother, albeit separated at birth, because the Guv said he would do something and then Guv. Cuomo would do the same..it was cute...at least. The referencing to Walker in Wisconsin and unions....hmmmmmmmmm

I usually joke that I am going on a union break at work. I was nervous to use the "U" word around the GOP but I couldn't help myself...hehehe

I even got a pic myself being hugged by our Guv. Sweet!.....Maybe same-sex marriage will be back on his agenda..LOL
Ahhh...I don't think so

Yeah, it's been awhile....must be Cabin Fever

I was hoping that Gov. Christie would do a George W. You know take a fly by of the state and then head back to Disney World. There is comfort sometimes when history repeats itself. LOL

I mean what was he thinking? And then the LT. Gov is in Mexico? I'm sorry it isn't like the blizzard was a surprise. And I wouldn't mention it if the State did a decent job. It took days for the state to plow 35 (and that's an emergency evacuation route for some parts of the shore) and 71/Main St. Even if you could get your car out you couldn't get more than a few blocks until yesterday. Even here in Ocean Grove hardly any streets besides the major ones have been plowed. Luckily I park on Broadway and they plowed that Monday but forget about all the people on the side streets. My partners car just around the corner has no chance of getting it out...yet!

I was downtown in Asbury last night and there were businesses with mountains of snow in front of their shops. It's wrong!
It took the city there 3 days to get Ocean Ave. Plowed!!! What's up wit dat? (my favorite segment on Saturday Night Live)

Guess there is going to be a whole lot of reckoning after this. Lots of finger pointing. Not that I would ever do that...hehehe

My only worry is what happens the next time we get a storm?

Will history repeat itself?

Ahhh...The Gay Apple Life and it's not about sex

Gay, Metro, Lil' Applesse

Years ago there used to be this discourse on the difference between being gay and being a homosexual. The conversation was about lifestyle vs sexuality. There were many homosexuals who felt they weren't gay because they didn't participate in was known at the time as Gay Culture.

Then came the time of Metrosexuals, who were straight people, mostly men, that embraced many of the facets of what mainstream considered gay culture. Facets like design awareness, fashion consciousness, personal beauty and fitness and living a life that was different then the "normal" of getting married and having kids.

Now I see the reversal. Where same-sex partners took on the facets of the straight lifestyle. Creating homes, unions that are almost marriage and having kids, letting there gym memberships expire, spending their money on investing, cars, buying those homes and improving them and in the Lil" Apple creating a suburban lifestyle.

Also in Asbury I see a whole accepted culture of straight people living what you might call a gay suburban lifestyle. Partners in living together but not legally married, not interested in having kids, at yard sales collecting, more into decorating their homes than investing in them, at the gym taking care of themselves and striving for personal beauty and reading the NY Times Style section on Sundays.

I love it! And that's why I call our city the Little Apple.
It's great to see the that every year there is an higher acceptance level here of the diversity of lifestyles. Go Lil' Apple.

It seems to me that at least on the local level there is a unforced but effective grassroots change in thinking. Hopefully it will bring about some changes in law that would allow equal civil rights to all our citizens.

I even know many a Republican here who would agree. Now that's great too.

Wow, really?

Damn, I haven't posted since before New year's. Bad Big D, Bad Big D!!!!....Ok Jake, come over and spank me.

Speaking of spanking....and though I should be first in line....I think Big D needs to give his first Big D's Big Spank Award today.

The envelope please......(music)

Big D's First Big Spank Award goes to ......The City of Asbury Park's City Council...tadah!

The award is given in recognition of the continuing advancement of creating the most warped legacy.
I though their legacy for the beginning of the new decade would be about Parking but they have topped that with Trees.
Maybe it's premature to give them this award because of the saying that "all comes in threes" and they could very easily top the last topper.

Good thing I decided my Spank Award isn't an annual thing but issued only when deserved. Like spanking your kids. (Can you still do that legally? I'm not a parent, well, I do want to spank my staff at times and not for any ones pleasure, LOL)

The City council gets this award for acting like kids. Then pretend to listen and care and then just do what they were going to do in the first place. And like a kid who sometimes leaps before they look, the Council gets this stubborn idea in their heads and doesn't look at possible alternatives and consequences.

So here's to the Asbury Park's City Council, et al

Spank, Spank, Spank, Spank, Spank.......and spank for the et als

Congrats!

End of decades....

Cleaning out the clutter needs to be the top of any one's New Year's resolution list. I have begun mine. And Mother Nature did her job today by clearing away the snow that the Little Apple's snow plows barely got to. Thanks MN, only you could get it right!

Now I'll clean up some TCN clutter. Left vs right stuff.

I find it funny that the "progressives" are hitting hard on Obama and the J Right has calmed down a bit. Personally I was a Hillary fan until her concession. I just like smart, pragmatic and progressive thinking politicians. Just because Barack is mixed race and young for a president didn't make min a liberal or as some wacky people have thrown on him a "socialist." Never got that and still don't. The guy has always been a moderate in my eyes. And with his world view as a facilitator, the role of compromiser goes hand and hand with that stature. I think we got what we paid for. We knew with him and Hillary we were going to get out of Iraq and deeper into Afghanistan. We knew that it was going to take a long time to put the economy back in shape along with some deep Wall St. cultural changes. I knew that health care reform was going to be a beginning not and end. Like Social Security and Medicare were in the beginning. I knew the guy wasn't really into same sex stuff and wouldn't do much for awhile. Look at the toll Bill took with that in the beginning of his presidency. Actually I find Barack and Bill closer in moves than Barack and Hillary.

I guess my point is get rid of the rhetorical clutter and push your people whether you voted for them or not to move on the issues you care about. Big D always says there are no miracle answers. There are a lot of micro answers.

This year i have to decide if I am going to switch my residency from the Big Apple to down here. I have lived in the city most of my life but was born and raised down here. Now, that my life in this moment has shifted me back here, it's a dilemma.

When it comes to politics if I start to vote here I got these great battles ahead. Like get rid of the silly guys Kean and Christie. I was an independent most of my voting age life until I became a registered Democrat to be able to get some say in the primaries. Big D is not a two party system kind of guy but I'm pragmatic when it comes to politics. I'd much prefer multiple parties and governing by consensus. For Big D the independent guy for governor here was the best candidate but I was in NYC that day voting to unseat Bloomberg. We almost did it, hehehehe

After or before my resolution of getting rid of clutter, Big D wants to do something really good for the world this year. No, not world peace. I'm too pragmatic for that, it's not in our nature. I want to do something a pushes the world a little further in the direction of tolerance and understanding.

Any suggestions? let me know

Merry, merry and Happy New Decade!
Big D

To State Senator, Sean Kean, You know in your heart....

It's the right thing to do. Make jersey proud and throw politics to the wind and throw your support S-1967, the Marriage Equality bill.

remember some very smart and married men wrote this:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," plain and simple and what this country needs and really is about.

Thank you,

Big D

I sent mine, now send yours to Senator Kean

senskean@njleg.org

Dan the Man

Have to say that Dan Jacobson of the TCN can write a good explanation of what is. Well, unless he's on one of his APP rags. I mean his tirade on Asbury Partners come to mind.

But his recent articles on Sandy Hook and Red Bank's parking were on point and made it all so clear about the whys and wherefores. Loved his strategy of using Republicans to save the day. That's novel in this day and age. Can a Republican actually say yes? That is a good question. Obviously Sarah said yes too many times. LOL

So, Dan no worries about the APP. They'll either die or move on to the resting place of worn out ideas. I.E. the newspaper junk yard.

Checking in...ma bad

Yeah, ma bad. It's been two months since I wrote anything here. But now I got some things to say.

Just seems there is turn in the air here in the Little Apple, in the state, country and the world. I mean look, The City finally, yes finally, got decisive and suspended metered parking for the holidays. Yahoo! And that's more for the decisiveness of our elected leaders than for the result.

Then there was the collapse of Asbury Partners, another yahoo! If you are going to control large masses of anything you need to be visionary and those guys were surely not. How it will play out only the Guardian Angels of the Little Apple know, or not. I've said it before and hopefully my dream for Asbury will come true that there shouldn't be one big developer but many. Each having their own take and voice on transforming those barren lands taken from the Partners control.

Hopefully the City will see the opportunity to step up to the plate and encourage positive progress rather than letting some investment group have their way. Did you ever look at the book Lost New York? You could cry seeing all the great buildings lost to idiotic thinking. Now think of Lost Asbury Park and all those empty spaces allowed by idiots of days gone by. Don't cry, fight for your city.

Now lets chat about some other things going on. I read today that there is a push to legalize same sex marriage in our state. It lost it's momentum but it's coming back. Personally I believe government should stay out of the marriage business. But like Tom Duane, NYC politician, said on NPR in response to question on why the government needs to be involved. Basically he said to make it fair and right straight people would have to give up their government sponsored marriage to make civil unions equal to all. And I agree with him there is no way that would happen and the only way is to equalize it all by law.

Equal rights is what this country should be about. Don't you get tired of racism and sexism? Even though it's built into our culture we need to stand up and fight for the rightful needed change. With a 53% divorce rate in this country, i think it's only fair that everyone gets their chance to be part of the statistics...lol..Ok, ma bad again. Truth is the more progressive states have a lower divorce rate, what's that about? hmmmmm.....

But for our Little Apple, marriage by all is a great commodity to be resourced here. One weekend I saw three marriages performed on the beach. Just imagine the joy and income it brought to our city. Asbury the marriage capital of the world! Sweet. Lets get it done! Call your people in Trenton today!

On a lighter note. Saw the Mayor at Langosta's anniversary and benefit for the Hispanic Resource Center. He asked me if I could fluff his glass of wine. I said I'm going to put that on my resume....

Big D, Fluffer to the Mayor
Only in the Little Apple Kids

Ma bad, Big D will try to mo better here.....

Oh check this out:
http://ridavio.blogspot.com/2009/11/making-of-aranea.html

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!!!!

The Politics of Dancing @ Big D's B'day Bash

Last night was the Mayor's Ball but I absconded with it and made it my birthday bash. Nice crowd showed up and we wined and dined and danced the night away. Though I couldn't get Mr. Mayor Man out on the dance floor. I got the feeling he's got higher sights that keep dancing low on his priorities. Oh well, maybe he will at the Governor's Ball in a few years.

Thanks Jake

Thanks for the shout out in the TCN Jake and sorry about the bed bugs...uuuugh. Don't know if we ever met but maybe I'll see you at the Mayor's Ball Saturday. Say hello sometime.

I was biking around downtown Little Apple yesterday, beautiful day. Sounds like there new and interesting things in the works. I don't want to jinx them so I'll hold my tongue.

In my travels I was eyeing this building on Bond. There was this alley next to it and I drove in. I totally forgot about the Savoy Theater that sits behind the building on Mattison. I kind of remember from when I was a kid that there was a community theater in there years ago. my brother did lights for them. I also remember being told that the Savoy has very rich history. One thing I was told years ago is that it was part of the Negro Vaudeville Circuit in the early part of the 20th century. Don't know if there are ghosts there, they should have Kathy from Paranormal check it out, but I'm sure its got a lot of memories that shouldn't be lost.

The Little Apple needs more places for art and culture and the Savoy is just sitting there. Damn if the powers that be let me have it ...............

Have a great day!
Big D

Wow, it's been a month!

So, me and 60 other people were naked in the Convention Hall arcade this past Saturday night. Now that was an Asbury experience! We all gathered to be a part of the Angelo Musco photo shoot. Only in the Little Apple can an event like this really work. There were men and women of all shapes, ages, colors and sexual orientations. After ten minutes of being in all of nothing you could feel everyone start relaxing because we all felt we were part of a monumental artistic event.

Having been a performer, I have been on stage and screen in the all buff, so, it wasn't a weird experience for me. I think if this was in the Big Apple there would be some competitiveness to "be seen." But here it was a real lets make art atmosphere. I think everyone left feeling they were not only part of a historical artistic moment but an essential part of it.

I believe that being essential is what you get from the people here and it is what makes the Little Apple unique and wonderful.

Now, if only Mr. Mayor Man was there! Naked!

Where's the ferris wheel?

I keep asking for one but.....
We don't need a theme park just one little really huge ferris wheel. It should be housed in a little green building that says Palace Amusements on it. Ok, ok put Tillie on the side too.

But I want it that the gondolas on the ferris wheel come up out of the building. And they have cool weather gondolas so the wheel can turn all year round.....yippppeeeeee!!!

Feeling Guilty

I saw Julia and Julie last night and felt a bit guilty about not posting enough. There's always an excuse but then it's always an excuse.

Well, we just passed mid summer here in the Little Apple. Finally the fish are a jumping and the cotton (tomatoes) are high.... Had our first mini heat wave...Monday was killer. The boss decided we would have our weekly manager meeting on the beach. I got fried, looking like a steamed lobster. Be nice if summer lasted to October.

As we unwind our way out of this quagmire of an economic downturn it looks like there's a bit of action heating up here in the Little Apple. A couple of new restaurants are getting built. Now if we could get Apple to open an East Coast office and start a little silicon beach here the tides would really turn.

Anyone see USA Today yesterday? Interesting, Front Page no less, article on AP.

now, if it was up to me I'd make half the Esperanza hulk into a hot club and banquet hall. The other half I'd make the hottest performing arts center on the East Coast! Just leave it as is and light it well. Ok, and add windows and bathrooms. Ok, ok...heat and A/C too. That's it!
Oh and then add a ferris wheel and it would be great. I need to talk to MM (Mattison Marquette) and MMM (Mister Mayor Man) about this. Eminent Domain anyone?

Talk soon,
Big D

WOW, Health Care reform

I am so amazed that the right can railroad this important conversation on health care....again. Got to admire them. Look at the wacky guy in the TCN. He'll say anything to be read. It's the same with these anti-health reform guys. They are so so so organized. If Obama gets some semblance of health reform passed, I think we as Americans should shout out big time about his unbelievable ability to make change in this country.

If he fails, there's not much to lose accept our health. You have got to admire the health insurance industry for their seemingly sincere support for reform when you know they are funding the crazed misinformed demonstrations at these town hall meetings.

It's kind of a paradox that obviously poor or out of work people are being paid to fight the programs that will help them. It's all about the cash i guess.

All about the cash

Richard

Wow, it's been a month since i posted, ma bad..but Mr. Mayor Man......

So, I get my first parking ticket. I had pulled in front of a cop car giving tickets and went to pay at the machine. later I came out and had a ticket on my car. The ticket was issued at 5:20 pm and I had my receipt for the space that said I paid at 5:20 pm. What gives? Like he didn't see me pull in and and see i went to pay for my space? Hmmmm......awareness is so important in the job description of a cop, isn't it?

So, i look at the ticket and say that's wrong. And I figure I'd make a photo copy and send it in so the ticket would be dismissed. Ahhhh...problem is they don't allow you to plead not guilty with evidence down here. Okay, I'm from the city and that's the norm there. i.e. you can send in a not guilty plea.

But i was on a mission. My ticket said I had a court date at 1:30pm...cool. I could go before work...Uhhh not so easy. I called and was told the court date has to be at 8am on a Friday. 8AM!!!
FRIDAY!!!! ROAD TRIP WEEKEND!!!....Damn, I'll be working 14 hours Friday, Saturday and Sunday...uuuughhhhhh!!!!!!!!

So, out of principle, I went to court. Had to wait 2 hours for the judge to dismiss it. Which took like 30 seconds. Mr. Mayor Man, it's wrong. We should be allowed to plea not guilty by mail as long as we have good evidence (or not) like in the Big Apple.

Richard

Summer in the Little Apple

Summer is a concept that all this rain is making just a hopeful wish. Here's my wish list for the moment. (not in any priority order and ever changing and growing)

1- More businesses that aren't foot traffic based like software companies, design firms, etc.
2- (Though I prefer other people having children then me) More kid friendly spaces, events and activities.
3- A six-plex movie theater with two screens devoted to independents like in Red Bank.
4- A real Arts Center for theater, music, dance and the visual arts. (because I'm a theater director and want to learn to play the cello..hehehe)
5- Parking that makes sense for the Little Apple this year. Get people to come and charge them down the line. Find a way that all the employees have safe and affordable parking so they don't worry about it and can do their work.
6- More diverse development and developers so the Little Apple gets a non-cookie cutter look.
7- Sunshine 82% of the time

What's on your list?
Big D

MMMM part #3

Yeah I guess I was getting harsh again so....I'm going to do the Michael (named after my friend who has codified the WASP rules) like Rule#3- Ignore the situation and it will go away. or Rule#5- Don't get emotional go in the bathroom.

So, I'll just do the Michael when it comes to those guys, it goes like this......................................................................................................................



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that's it...hehehe