Downtown Redevelopment Is Trashed By Greed, B.I.D. Failures And Two Massive Conflicts Of Interest Which Threaten VoTech Marine Academy Project - Part I

The Ocean County Observer printed two letters recently which are among the most self-serving and mendacious public policy statements ever printed in that worthy publication: the letters were in response to some highly reasonable (but tardy)  criticism by the Observer of the Business Improvement District in downtown Toms River.

We are not suggesting the paper should not have printed the letters. they are under some obligation to print letters reflecting every point of view.

Expensive Joyride

But we ARE suggesting that the taxpayers of Dover Township are being taken for an expensive joyride by the "management" of the Downtown Business Improvement District which has now become a political slush fund with no redeeming characteristics at all.

New Threat To The VoTech Marine Academy

And, the jewel in the crown of the downtown, the installation of the VoTech Marine Academy on the Toms River, has now been put in jeopardy by two massive conflicts of interest and a scam about the condition of the property "donated" by the Dover Municipal Utilities Authority.

The Observer, which devoted thousands of column inches to the majestic benefits of this project and the god-like qualities of the folks who wanted to plant it in downtown Toms River without paying for the property, has said nothing so far about the new threat to the project from some of the people whose self-righteousness nine months ago was enough to gag a hungry maggot.

Is The Marine Academy Headed Under Water?

There have been three half-hearted articles in the Asbury Park Press, but, as this is written, there have been NONE, that's ZERO, NADA, BUPKISS from the Ocean County Observer on the latest threat to the marine academy.

If you wanted to know anything recently about the imminent threat to the OC Observer's favorite project, you had to consult the Asbury Park Press.

What's going on here?

Our series on downtown blunders & mistakes, bad judgement, incompetence, and the wholesale waste of public funds, starts here with the publication of two of the most presumptuous letters we've seen in a long time.

The first letter (We call it letter #1) is from the latest "Chairman" of the Business Improvement District Slush Fund, Frank Capone:

Letter #1 - Business Improvement District Has Been "Busy"

I am surprised your newspaper (The Ocean County Observer) has seen nothing that the Toms River Business Improvement District has done to provide advantages to downtown property owners and businesses.

I represent one of the businesses, the family owned Capone' Gourmet Pizza and Pasta, paying "the extra tax" slapped on downtown property owners;I am also the chairman of the TRBID Board Of Directors.

Within a short period of time, the TRBID and staff have responded to downtown concerns and initiated numerous programs and services:

 - Worked with township officials to address code enforcement issues; instituted a three-day-a-week cleaning program on the most heavily traveled pedestrian foot paths - picking up trash, pulling weeds, collecting leaves; Removed unsightly free publication boxes throughout downtown;

- Supplemented Dover Township's holiday lighting program in phase I of a multi-year plan, the TRBID purchased and installed  new snowflake lights this year along Main and Water streets on poles approved for use by electric, telephone and cable utilities.

- Holiday banners donated by the Downtown Revitalization Committee were also installed along Route 37; published the first two issues of the TRBID quarterly newsletter to property and business owners and an introduction letter to residents of the district.

Businesses Needed BID To Offer Discounts

- Created the Toms River BID VIP Discount Program featuring the first 30 downtown businesses to offer discounts for their retail, dining and professional services. Program includes direct mail and newspaper ad marketing plan to attract shoppers and visitors downtown.

- Took over holiday tree lighting previously sponsored the Toms River Ocean County Chamber of Commerce. We will also be assuming responsibility for such the popular events as the New Jersey State Chili and Salsa Cook-Out and Cruisin' Downtown Toms River classic auto show in 2004.

- Created TRBID's own Web site, wwwdowntowntomsriver.com, and are fine tuning the first ever listing of downtown businesses by type and available property locations. In the meantime, the board of directors and staff of the TRBID are working with municipal, county and state agencies to develop an economic revitalization plan that will improve business profitability and enhance commercial property values.

In setting the stage for Dover , Township's upcoming Master Plan, Robert W. Burchell, co-director of Rutgers University's Center for Urban Policy Research, told the governing body in December to strengthen the underappreciated and underused downtown area and its waterfront.

$50,000 Downtown Master Plan

This is precisely why the TRBID Board of Directors will undertake its own Master Plan. The previous mayor and township committee, and newly elected Mayor Paul Brush and the new township council members have advocated the TRBID do its own master plan. We will look at the best use of our remaining riverfront. We want to address traffic flow, transportation services, parking and pedestrian enhancements.

The master plan will assist us in preserving our historic heritage, allowing us to develop a cultural and retail theme to attract diverse boutiques, restaurants and possibly outlet stores that will be open seven days a week into the evening hours. Dover Township is addressing this same type of economic revitalization on Route 37 from Fischer Boulevard to the bridge, using a $40,000 grant to undertake this area's redevelopment possibilities.

The Ocean County Planning Board is administering a $30,000 planning study of the economic impact of the new downtown Toms River bridge from the $290,000 New Jersey Smart Growth Grant. The county will bring Dover, Berkeley, Beachwood, Pine Beach, Ocean Gate and South Toms River together to work on regional transportation and land use issues.

Duplication Of Effort Will Not Be A Duplication Of Effort

All these efforts will feed into Dover Township's overall master plan and will not be a duplication of effort. The TRBID's work has just begun We will be helping our local businesses assess when to expand. We will work with our businesses to take advantage of their location downtown at the riverfront.

Frank Capone Toms River

Editor's Note: Since the B.I.D. began conducting business, the number of going-out-of-business signs, for-sale signs, and for-rent signs has tripled in the downtown district, because everybody began to realize the whole project was nothing but a political slush fund and a scam.

Business Improvement District Letter #2

The second letter, submitted without the slightest hint of self-interest, is from Joann Juralewicz, the latest "Co-Chair" of the Business Improvement District Slush Fund:

"Business Improvement District Alive and Well" Says Ms. Juralewicz

The Business Improvement District in downtown Toms River is alive and well.

You (The Ocean County Observer) might not be aware of this, but the executive board and many of the board of directors are all business owners who are paying this assessment.

Our downtown has a lot of potential and, as business owners, we are pursuing our vision of what the downtown area can become.

Think Busy, Think Beautiful!

Why not? We envision fine shopping (no one ever mentioned Sears, Woolworth's or Grants) and additional fine dining, along with parks, events and enjoying the river.

The BID was developed from the Toms River Revitalization Committee which was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. This committee, led by a very special businessman who left our downtown due to family illness, has spent many volunteer hours to run events downtown, which have now turned into volunteer hours to pursue a vision for better business.

How Dare The Observer Criticize B.I.D. Slush Fund?

How dare you (The Ocean County Observer) rip us apart when we have only begun to see the fruits of our labor? How do you think everyone began to pay attention to the drug infested Budget Inn? All of the projects you mention are all committee members who have brought their plans to the table to keep everyone abreast of development.

The representatives from the library are members of our Board of Directors. The parking authority and their objectives also are a valuable asset to our committee. We have some great businesses down here that are not going anywhere. They will stay and make it better.

The downtown area is cleaner, neater and this year we actually had professional-looking holiday decorations. (Editor's note: Including the sign on Rt. 166 by Friendly's (rented for $2500) that was impossible to read?)

This is all from the BID. This is just a small sample of the vision we have In store for down-town.  All of the wonderful things you mention about our town are the reason we know it can be taken a step further to make this area a very special place to shop, eat and enjoy. At this time our main objective is our master plan.

What We Really Need Is Another Master Plan Delaying Action

Another fact you are obviously not aware of: the town fathers, past and present, have asked for the master plan of the downtown because we are interviewing planners while the township is years away from this point in its plan. When the time comes, the township will integrate our master plan with theirs. We are working together to improve downtown: Those of us with real investments here really care about the future of our downtown because it is our future for our individual businesses as well.

There is always room for improvement. We have a vested interest downtown. We want to see property values increase. That is part of our plan.

Young Ideas Grow With Positive Reinforcement

Busy, beautiful, beneficial to all who work and play here. Young ideas grow with positive reinforcement. For further information, please look up the word optimism. It simply means "a tendency to expect the best possible outcome."

This is certainly where we want our tax money to go A positive view from our local paper would be nice. After all, we need to do this together.

Joann Juralewicz - Co-Chair, Executive Board Toms River Business Improvement District

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