Why The Downtown Merchants Commission Letter Was Not Read At The Township Meeting
(VIDEO in extended article of what WAS said at the Township meeting this past Thursday evening). Chairman: The original intent of the letter was a request that there be no more appropriations of UEZ funds for projects that either benefit a few well connected individuals, or programs that, seemingly made for the public, are only a smokescreen to provide salary to the organizer in charge. Avrohom Moshe Muller has promised me that the old way of doing business at the LDC will end under his watch. I met Senator Singer and Ray Coles, and I am very confident that they agree that the use of UEZ funds to remove the blight that stains the center of our town should be the focus of the UEZ. They see the importance of promoting small start up businesses, attracting businesses to our town that will bring in sales tax revenue, jobs, and eventually reduce our dependence on high property taxes, are the LDC’s first priority.
The letter was not meant in any way as an accusation towards them. It was not an accusation of any wrongdoing towards the members of the Vaad. It is not their fault that they felt a sense of entitlement to funds meant to help make a struggling town economically stable. They were appointed to help the yeshiva community be represented fairly in Lakewood. Unfortunately some members had their own visions of what Lakewood needs. Many of their projects were either self serving, limited in benefit to the general populace, or at times actually harmful to the well being of our people.
Now we enter a new decade. Our leaders now realize that their good intentions may have been abused by some. They will be dedicated to running a transparent, open administration, to serve the entire populace, as well as bring quality of life to the people.
We now have the Lakewood Scoop, and are able to publicize what we are discussing in regards to town improvement. I would like to invite all those that care about the town to please come to the next Downtown Commission meeting. If people have any ideas about improving our town in other areas, that the UEZ can legally fund please post them. Just as we do not want any of our redevelopment plans to cost taxpayers any money, so too we would not want to misappropriate UEZ funds if there is something more pressing,or deserving, than the Downtown problem.
We would like to once again thank Mayor Langert for all he has done to give us a platform to accomplish our goals.
We would also like to thank the hundreds of people we have met that have given us so much encouragement for what we are doing.
Chairman,
Downtown Merchants Commission.
There are 17 Comments to "Why The Downtown Merchants Commission Letter Was Not Read At The Township Meeting"
I would like to suggest a project for grants for store signage and facade for any store in the UEZ. This type of grant can be a 50/50 UEZ/Store split and would definately improve and attract customer to our town and stores.
Have the UEZ fund the EMS
To anonymous 1,
The facade and sign grant was originally a focus of the UEZ from its inception. Unfortunately there have been no funds available for many years. Now that there are no more payments being made on the stadium, and the UEZ will be reviewing the need for LCSC, and Job Link programs, there should be ample funds available for those that qualify. We hope to announce such a program once the cleanup of the downtown is underway.
Anonymous 2,
Unfortunately there is no reasonable way UEZ funds could be used to fund the EMS any more than it could fund the homeless, or hungry of our town. I can only hope that through these efforts our town can realize a prosperity that will enable us to reduce property taxes in all areas that would make the savings from disbanding the EMS irrelevant.
let the uez also feed the homeless etc… we need to prioritize, just like the staudium was a priority …. the EMS i imagine many more people would agree is a priiority
To HH how can you go from asking him to step down? What happened exactly? What did he really offer you to back off? Was your spechial interest promised funds??? Please explain
reb hershel thanks for all you are doing for the taxpayers!!!! I have 2 suggestions to improve the parking in downtown and making it more attractive to shoppers 1) ask all municipal employees to park in the back of municipal building where only employees can park ! 2) close down town square on the corner of 3rd and clifton and make parking there!!
Spell check is now on sorry
To #6 ref – 2) close down town square on the corner of 3rd and clifton and make parking there!!
For your information there used to be parking where that square is now. A few years ago the “town fathers” decided to put in the square, against the wishes of many who saw the loss of parking. However, the “town fathers” said they know better than the public. So, many parking spaces were done away with in order to have that square which is not used for anything much at all.
Perehaps we can have a petition to get rid of that stupid useless square and replace it with much need parking spaces
kudos for the spirit of cooperation, HH. parking shmarking, get us some shwarma and tacos places. restaurants are the lifeblood of a downtown and no revitalization is happening without them. Outdoor seating where possible should also be a priority. Maybe in that spot where the old Roey’s diner used to be. clean that up and you will be making an impact. oh and if you can get the UEZ to run without big boondoggle projects that bring nothing to our town, you WILL be elected mayor or anything else you want. brews rule
Get rid of the square? Are you nuts? Where am I going to play chess with all my Mexican friends?
Hi.
Hershel:
keep the square, please. its pretty. put up a starbucks next to it and people can eat a muffin and drink their coffee in starbux square. spruce up the dt. you can do it.
or…
we could have a homeless pageant. in all their rev. steve clothes. put em on and prance around. judging optional.
or…
have outdoor ESL clases con los profesores de el cee ess cee
All police and inspectors should park in th rear of buildings not taking away parking from the residents
Herschell, did they threaten your life? What happened in this transparrancy you talk about??
Nobody threatened my life.
I honestly felt that I , and I am sure my commission agrees, needed to take a more positive approach to get problems solved. I did not like the way I felt the morning after attacking the reorganization decision of the LDC.
Of course there were people that got upset. Some people in a cowardly manner tried to undermine our future efforts as well. I do not know if it was because they are afraid we may accidentally reveal past indescretions, or they feel threatened by the way we are getting things done.
Whatever the problem is, I would like to ask anyone that has a problem with what I am doing to call me and ask what my intentions are, I promise, I don’t bite.
Yes please! We want to know what happened to the request for resignation!