News From The Long Branch Condominium Coalition
June 1 , 2017
Open Letter from Dennis Sherman
Hello Everyone, hope you are doing well,,,,,,,,
Your phone calls, letters, concerns, ideas, going to city council meetings and speaking out, is making progress. The effort needs to keep up .Even though all the traffic lines have been painted on Ocean Avenue at Brighton,as of today traffic has not been let into the Green Acres Park.
We are talking with senators, assemblyman ,freeholders. etc. to gain more support and are talking about having a public meeting with them. More news to follow
Following is a letter we are submitting to the newspapers to raise public awareness. Your continuing efforts are greatly appreciated and your voice counts. Please keep up your efforts to save the open space green acres park.
Thank you,
Dennis Sherman
Chairman, Save Ocean Avenue
Vice President, Long Branch Coalition of Condominiums Association
Long Branch Mayor Still Putting Cars in the Green Acres Park
Common sense dictates that when you put cars and traffic in the same space as people, it becomes a more dangerous place to be. This is especially true when there has been no safety study done, only a goggle picture of the streets involved. No cars or traffic have occupied this space for at least the last 50 years and it is being done during the three busiest months of the summer. New traffic mixed with walkers, joggers, skateboarders, roller bladders, dog walkers and bikes just doesn't make sense. It is the mayor’s plan, quietly put forward at a workshop before the council meeting and hardly discussed with the public or by the city council which voted against the plan last summer.
At last week’s council meeting, May 23, three members of the city council listened to people who spoke, since the Save Ocean Avenue Committee accidentally found out about the mayor’s traffic plan at the city council workshop meeting May 9. Green Acres and the mayor and city have received many letters, complaints and phone calls leading up to this second council meeting. Many people have been saying no, to new traffic in the Green Acres open space park at Brighton Avenue. When the council was asked to vote on the traffic proposal at this meeting from the audience, only one council member voiced his concerns about the mayor’s plan. The only other two members who were there, sided with the mayor’s plan, and said they would think about the public’s comments and could always change their minds if the plan didn't work. One audience speaker asked, Isn't it a high price to pay if one child or person is hurt to consider changing your mind?
This new traffic plan was never announced and there was no public input, comment or explanation of where those not allow on the boardwalk could walk or go. There is no sidewalk at Brighton Avenue to West End Avenue. There will only be cars stopping and going, doors opening and closing, where no traffic has been allowed for many years. The Green Acres open space linear park is for recreation and conservation of outdoor areas and is intended for public use and enjoyment. Thus summer It is being taken away by the city during the busiest and most dangerous time of the year for pedestrians.
Last year people and cars easily and safely had beach assess at the ends of each street with ample handicap parking and safe cross walks to cross the 12 feet to each beach access point and handicap ramp. They now would have to walk further to get to the beach access points with the new plan. There were few if any beach access problems last summer and beach revenues increased. Why does the city want more beach revenue this summer at the expense of putting people in harm’s way with cars and moving traffic? This badly conceived plan does not justify a greater risk to the public and will put more cars into the Ocean Boulevard congestion.
Adding additional parking on Second Avenue at the old school is a good idea, but at what price to the safety being paid by beach goers? The boulevard with its four lanes of heavy north and south bound traffic at high rates of speed is already very dangerous to cross. The added traffic going north will only increase traffic congestion and create more danger for pedestrians crossing Ocean Boulevard. Instead of wasting city resources and taxpayers dollars on taking away a park, the city should work to make Ocean Boulevard safer to cross.
It doesn't make sense to put cars and traffic with people when you don't have to. The public is needlessly being put in harm’s way with more cars and traffic in the Green Acres linear park. Don't mix cars and traffic with people. It’s a bad idea. The city has already painted the traffic lines for traffic to start in the park and is still intent on following the mayor’s decision.
Your voice counts, call the mayor with your opinion and concerns.
Dennis Sherman
Chairman Save Ocean Avenue Committee
www.saveoceanave.com
msirianni@longbranch.org
Open Letter from Dennis Sherman
Hello Everyone, hope you are doing well,,,,,,,,
Your phone calls, letters, concerns, ideas, going to city council meetings and speaking out, is making progress. The effort needs to keep up .Even though all the traffic lines have been painted on Ocean Avenue at Brighton,as of today traffic has not been let into the Green Acres Park.
We are talking with senators, assemblyman ,freeholders. etc. to gain more support and are talking about having a public meeting with them. More news to follow
Following is a letter we are submitting to the newspapers to raise public awareness. Your continuing efforts are greatly appreciated and your voice counts. Please keep up your efforts to save the open space green acres park.
Thank you,
Dennis Sherman
Chairman, Save Ocean Avenue
Vice President, Long Branch Coalition of Condominiums Association
Long Branch Mayor Still Putting Cars in the Green Acres Park
Common sense dictates that when you put cars and traffic in the same space as people, it becomes a more dangerous place to be. This is especially true when there has been no safety study done, only a goggle picture of the streets involved. No cars or traffic have occupied this space for at least the last 50 years and it is being done during the three busiest months of the summer. New traffic mixed with walkers, joggers, skateboarders, roller bladders, dog walkers and bikes just doesn't make sense. It is the mayor’s plan, quietly put forward at a workshop before the council meeting and hardly discussed with the public or by the city council which voted against the plan last summer.
At last week’s council meeting, May 23, three members of the city council listened to people who spoke, since the Save Ocean Avenue Committee accidentally found out about the mayor’s traffic plan at the city council workshop meeting May 9. Green Acres and the mayor and city have received many letters, complaints and phone calls leading up to this second council meeting. Many people have been saying no, to new traffic in the Green Acres open space park at Brighton Avenue. When the council was asked to vote on the traffic proposal at this meeting from the audience, only one council member voiced his concerns about the mayor’s plan. The only other two members who were there, sided with the mayor’s plan, and said they would think about the public’s comments and could always change their minds if the plan didn't work. One audience speaker asked, Isn't it a high price to pay if one child or person is hurt to consider changing your mind?
This new traffic plan was never announced and there was no public input, comment or explanation of where those not allow on the boardwalk could walk or go. There is no sidewalk at Brighton Avenue to West End Avenue. There will only be cars stopping and going, doors opening and closing, where no traffic has been allowed for many years. The Green Acres open space linear park is for recreation and conservation of outdoor areas and is intended for public use and enjoyment. Thus summer It is being taken away by the city during the busiest and most dangerous time of the year for pedestrians.
Last year people and cars easily and safely had beach assess at the ends of each street with ample handicap parking and safe cross walks to cross the 12 feet to each beach access point and handicap ramp. They now would have to walk further to get to the beach access points with the new plan. There were few if any beach access problems last summer and beach revenues increased. Why does the city want more beach revenue this summer at the expense of putting people in harm’s way with cars and moving traffic? This badly conceived plan does not justify a greater risk to the public and will put more cars into the Ocean Boulevard congestion.
Adding additional parking on Second Avenue at the old school is a good idea, but at what price to the safety being paid by beach goers? The boulevard with its four lanes of heavy north and south bound traffic at high rates of speed is already very dangerous to cross. The added traffic going north will only increase traffic congestion and create more danger for pedestrians crossing Ocean Boulevard. Instead of wasting city resources and taxpayers dollars on taking away a park, the city should work to make Ocean Boulevard safer to cross.
It doesn't make sense to put cars and traffic with people when you don't have to. The public is needlessly being put in harm’s way with more cars and traffic in the Green Acres linear park. Don't mix cars and traffic with people. It’s a bad idea. The city has already painted the traffic lines for traffic to start in the park and is still intent on following the mayor’s decision.
Your voice counts, call the mayor with your opinion and concerns.
Dennis Sherman
Chairman Save Ocean Avenue Committee
www.saveoceanave.com
Mayor Schneider
732 571 5686
ascschneider@longbranch.org
732 571 5686
ascschneider@longbranch.org
msirianni@longbranch.org
kbillings@longbranch.org
mjcelli@longbranch.org
jbastelli@longbranch.org
May 2017
A Bad Idea Again Putting Cars Next to the Boardwalk
The city is planning to put cars on Brighton Avenue next to the boardwalk. For the first time in 50 years the mayor again wants to put cars and traffic on Brighton Avenue going north to exit at West End Avenue along with the exiting southbound traffic from Vine Court. All this traffic can than only turn north on Ocean Boulevard. This Green Acres open space linear park is intended for family and peoples recreation use without traffic. This ill-conceived idea makes the Ocean Avenue roadway and getting to the beach and boardwalk more dangerous for everyone. Where are the bikes, dog walkers, joggers, skate boarders, roller skaters, and hover boards all supposed to go? There is no sidewalk along that stretch of roadway and big signs prevent anyone, but walkers the right to use the boardwalk. Imagine cars parking, stopping and going, doors opening and dropping off people, where the boardwalk starts with bikes and many people.
There has been little and almost no public opportunity to comment on this plan. What makes matters worse is that the mayor and acting business administrator announced this change at a city workshop meeting as a nonspecific agenda item May 9, 2017. The city council is not allowed to vote or make the final decision on the mayors decision. Green Acres is not opposing this new traffic plan.
Some of the reasons given to mix traffic with people were; convenient beach access, better traffic flow, increased beach attendance and revenues. The mayor said there were very few objections to these plans. A plan that was not made public this entire year and opposed by many people last year when the city first introduced the idea. It is shameful that a pristine open space park next to the ocean and used by the public safely will be given over to cars and traffic in a small roadway intended for bikes, families and anyone not allowed on the board walk. Right now people can be dropped off 12 feet from the boardwalk at the ends of Brighton and West End Avenues, with handicap parking available at the ends of each street. What a terribly high price to pay by the public to have to give up green acres open space for convenience, more beach revenues, and the public’s safety.
Only the public can stop this from happening. Call Green acres and the Mayor of Long Branch to voice your concerns
Green Acres 609 984 0631
Mayor Schneider 732 571 5686 aschneider@longbranch.org
Dennis Sherman, Chairman Save Ocean Avenue Committee www.saveoceanave.com
A Bad Idea Again Putting Cars Next to the Boardwalk
The city is planning to put cars on Brighton Avenue next to the boardwalk. For the first time in 50 years the mayor again wants to put cars and traffic on Brighton Avenue going north to exit at West End Avenue along with the exiting southbound traffic from Vine Court. All this traffic can than only turn north on Ocean Boulevard. This Green Acres open space linear park is intended for family and peoples recreation use without traffic. This ill-conceived idea makes the Ocean Avenue roadway and getting to the beach and boardwalk more dangerous for everyone. Where are the bikes, dog walkers, joggers, skate boarders, roller skaters, and hover boards all supposed to go? There is no sidewalk along that stretch of roadway and big signs prevent anyone, but walkers the right to use the boardwalk. Imagine cars parking, stopping and going, doors opening and dropping off people, where the boardwalk starts with bikes and many people.
There has been little and almost no public opportunity to comment on this plan. What makes matters worse is that the mayor and acting business administrator announced this change at a city workshop meeting as a nonspecific agenda item May 9, 2017. The city council is not allowed to vote or make the final decision on the mayors decision. Green Acres is not opposing this new traffic plan.
Some of the reasons given to mix traffic with people were; convenient beach access, better traffic flow, increased beach attendance and revenues. The mayor said there were very few objections to these plans. A plan that was not made public this entire year and opposed by many people last year when the city first introduced the idea. It is shameful that a pristine open space park next to the ocean and used by the public safely will be given over to cars and traffic in a small roadway intended for bikes, families and anyone not allowed on the board walk. Right now people can be dropped off 12 feet from the boardwalk at the ends of Brighton and West End Avenues, with handicap parking available at the ends of each street. What a terribly high price to pay by the public to have to give up green acres open space for convenience, more beach revenues, and the public’s safety.
Only the public can stop this from happening. Call Green acres and the Mayor of Long Branch to voice your concerns
Green Acres 609 984 0631
Mayor Schneider 732 571 5686 aschneider@longbranch.org
Dennis Sherman, Chairman Save Ocean Avenue Committee www.saveoceanave.com
Long Branch Coalition of Condominium Associations News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Long Branch, N.J. September 11, 2013
Contact: William McLaughlin 732-222-0472 or 732-693-3247, email lbcc1@aol.com
Long Branch Coalition of Condominiums Associations welcomes guest speaker Congressman Frank J. Pallone, Jr.
The Long Branch Coalition of Condominium Associations (LBCC), comprised of more than 35 condominium associations, was established 12 years ago by Bill McLaughlin, resident of the Beach House. The Coalition serves to inform condo boards of issues affecting condos and the local community. It also serves as a forum to address questions and concerns. Over the years, the Coalition has successfully resolved issues with the City of Long Branch regarding garbage pick-up, lighting, and snow removal, saving condos between $6000 and $10,000 annually. Several years ago, they rallied in support of keeping the Green Acres protected sections of Ocean Avenue traffic-free.
The Coalition will meet Monday, September 23, 2013, at Harbour Mansion, 675 Ocean Avenue, Long Branch, N.J. at 7:00 P.M. Two (2) board members per condo are invited to attend. The Coalition is pleased to welcome guest speaker Congressman Frank J. Pallone, Jr., who will address beach and coastal issues. Other agenda items include a report regarding garbage, lighting, and snow removal rebates, contractor/service directory updates and a report from the Ocean Ave Committee.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Long Branch, N.J. September 11, 2013
Contact: William McLaughlin 732-222-0472 or 732-693-3247, email lbcc1@aol.com
Long Branch Coalition of Condominiums Associations welcomes guest speaker Congressman Frank J. Pallone, Jr.
The Long Branch Coalition of Condominium Associations (LBCC), comprised of more than 35 condominium associations, was established 12 years ago by Bill McLaughlin, resident of the Beach House. The Coalition serves to inform condo boards of issues affecting condos and the local community. It also serves as a forum to address questions and concerns. Over the years, the Coalition has successfully resolved issues with the City of Long Branch regarding garbage pick-up, lighting, and snow removal, saving condos between $6000 and $10,000 annually. Several years ago, they rallied in support of keeping the Green Acres protected sections of Ocean Avenue traffic-free.
The Coalition will meet Monday, September 23, 2013, at Harbour Mansion, 675 Ocean Avenue, Long Branch, N.J. at 7:00 P.M. Two (2) board members per condo are invited to attend. The Coalition is pleased to welcome guest speaker Congressman Frank J. Pallone, Jr., who will address beach and coastal issues. Other agenda items include a report regarding garbage, lighting, and snow removal rebates, contractor/service directory updates and a report from the Ocean Ave Committee.
###
Condo Group Discusses Water Pollution, Road
June 19th,2008
LONG BRANCH — Several topics were discussed last week at the city Coalition of Condominium Associations meeting, including updates of the Save Ocean Avenue Committee and water pollution in the northern area of the city.
Dennis Sherman, co-president of Ocean East Condominium, presented an update on the Save Ocean Avenue Committee at the June 11 meeting.
Sherman spoke of the eight -recommendations presented to city officials to improve Ocean Avenue. The recommendations include repairing boards and railings along the boardwalk, providing better bathroom facilities at Cottage Place, and fixing roadway, curbs and concrete.
Many of those upgrades have been completed by the city, according to Sherman.
The group is also proposing that the traffic pattern on Ocean Avenue, from South Bath Avenue to Pier Village, be reconfigured to allow for a one-way roadway heading northbound. The change would provide space for a designated pathway for pedestrians and bicyclists on the east side of Ocean Avenue, according to Sherman.
Other suggestions for the Ocean Avenue area include signage for the pathway; as well as signage for the Green Acres recreation areas.
The committee has concerns about pedestrians trying to cross Ocean Boulevard and have proposed thaw the speed limit be reduced, speed enforcement increased, and pedestrian right-of-way signs be installed along the four-lane roadway.
The group is asking the city to provide more doggie-bag dispensers along Ocean Avenue and to consider a beach area that can be used by dogs and their owners, according to Sherman.
The association is also seeking to work with the city to develop a plan to create a Seven Presidents Ocean Walk from Brighton Avenue to Seven Presidents Park.
Robin Kamph, founder of Rivergate Keepers, updated the association about pollution affecting the Branchport Creek and surrounding waterways. The River- gate Keepers is a local neighborhood watch group that is raising public awareness about water pollution plaguing the northern Long Branch area.
According to Kamph, Monmouth Park Racetrack's runoff collection system has been overflowing into the Branchport Creek, resulting in fecal bacteria levels up contact with the water, according to Kamph.
She told the group that the state Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which owns the racetrack, need to enforce stricter regulations to keep the city’s waterways clean.
The condo association comprises 38 condominiums and was established four years ago by Bill McLaughlin, a resident of the Beach House.
The coalition serves to inform condo boards of issues affecting condominiums and the local community. It also serves as a power base, where boards can rally in support of important issues.
June 19th,2008
LONG BRANCH — Several topics were discussed last week at the city Coalition of Condominium Associations meeting, including updates of the Save Ocean Avenue Committee and water pollution in the northern area of the city.
Dennis Sherman, co-president of Ocean East Condominium, presented an update on the Save Ocean Avenue Committee at the June 11 meeting.
Sherman spoke of the eight -recommendations presented to city officials to improve Ocean Avenue. The recommendations include repairing boards and railings along the boardwalk, providing better bathroom facilities at Cottage Place, and fixing roadway, curbs and concrete.
Many of those upgrades have been completed by the city, according to Sherman.
The group is also proposing that the traffic pattern on Ocean Avenue, from South Bath Avenue to Pier Village, be reconfigured to allow for a one-way roadway heading northbound. The change would provide space for a designated pathway for pedestrians and bicyclists on the east side of Ocean Avenue, according to Sherman.
Other suggestions for the Ocean Avenue area include signage for the pathway; as well as signage for the Green Acres recreation areas.
The committee has concerns about pedestrians trying to cross Ocean Boulevard and have proposed thaw the speed limit be reduced, speed enforcement increased, and pedestrian right-of-way signs be installed along the four-lane roadway.
The group is asking the city to provide more doggie-bag dispensers along Ocean Avenue and to consider a beach area that can be used by dogs and their owners, according to Sherman.
The association is also seeking to work with the city to develop a plan to create a Seven Presidents Ocean Walk from Brighton Avenue to Seven Presidents Park.
Robin Kamph, founder of Rivergate Keepers, updated the association about pollution affecting the Branchport Creek and surrounding waterways. The River- gate Keepers is a local neighborhood watch group that is raising public awareness about water pollution plaguing the northern Long Branch area.
According to Kamph, Monmouth Park Racetrack's runoff collection system has been overflowing into the Branchport Creek, resulting in fecal bacteria levels up contact with the water, according to Kamph.
She told the group that the state Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which owns the racetrack, need to enforce stricter regulations to keep the city’s waterways clean.
The condo association comprises 38 condominiums and was established four years ago by Bill McLaughlin, a resident of the Beach House.
The coalition serves to inform condo boards of issues affecting condominiums and the local community. It also serves as a power base, where boards can rally in support of important issues.
