Mayor

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The Mayor of Red Bank

For the past six years, my morning ritual has consisted of two primary activities, carried out in one or another coffee shop on Broad Street. Activity #1 is consuming copious amounts of coffee. Activity #2 is pontificating (and sometimes solving) the problems of Red Bank, New Jersey, the United States, and The World (not necessarily in that order). Due to the zeal and consistency with which I pursue these activities, some of my friends have taken to calling me The Mayor of Red Bank. Some have suggested that I actually run for the job. While I have chosen not to pursue that wonderful opportunity, I will gladly share a distillation of my morning pontifications; something that one might loosely refer to as a vision for Red Bank. When I enter the voting booth in a few weeks, I will pull the lever for the candidate who will come closest to approximating that vision. Which candidate is that? Right now, I don’t have a clue.

Work to bring about a vibrant "education community" in Red Bank.

I have been harping on this issue for the past six years. Red Bank will not be a world-class town unless and until it is a world-class education community, with schools that are embraced and supported by the entire community. The mayor can and should lead the way. Here’s and example of something the new mayor might do to jump-start support for education:

I visited a town in northern California last year, and while I was there I saw flyers all around town promoting "Eat Out for Education". It was a night where every restaurant in town donated a portion of their proceeds to the town’s education foundation. That’s the kind of teamwork between the businesses, schools and residents that can really benefit kids, and we need it here in Red Bank.

Reduce the tax burden on Red Bank homeowners.

I don’t care if Red Bank’s tax rate is #23, #45, or #1 compared to other Monmouth County towns. Property taxes are too damned high, and residents are being forced out of town. With prudent fiscal management, new ratables (see all the new buildings going up?), and the limitation in school budget growth imposed by the state, it should be a "slam dunk" for the new mayor to reduce property taxes. Oops – did I say, "slam dunk"?

While we’re at it, why not partner with Hovnanian, one of the premier homebuilders in the country based right here in Red Bank, to build many more affordable housing units in town? We need to be building places that a teacher or a policeman can afford, so we can keep these folks in town.

Make borough government more efficient and more effective.

A few years ago, I asked a former member of borough council why I couldn’t just have my property taxes automatically deducted from my checking account, saving me time and saving the borough money. The answer: "what would happen to the jobs of the people who work at borough hall?" That was the wrong answer. Borough government is not a jobs program; it is a service to residents. The borough administration should be organized and run like a well-oiled business, with competent managers who have clearly defined responsibilities and authority.

Aim to be a "customer service" leader.

Poll the residents often to find out what they think about services, taxes, traffic, etc. It might be an enlightening experience.

Heal the divisions between east side and west side, white and non-white, black and Latino.

How about a lecture/discussion series that deals with cultural differences and in a creative, interesting, entertaining way? We could hold the series smack in the middle of town at the new Two River Theater.

Get a handle on traffic and enforcement issues.

Do massive trucks have to rumble down Broad Street in the morning? What are we doing to avoid gridlock on West Front Street? How about enforcing pedestrian right-of-way laws on West Front Street before a motorist mows down someone in the crosswalk?

Build the damned parking garage!

It was shameful to see the political posturing on this issue a few years back. Lots of towns run parking garages, and lots of them do it well. Build it, make it very attractive, and make it efficient so that the business engine in town will continue to run smoothly. Of course, this will only work if item #3 (above) is addressed first.

Provide free wireless Internet access to the whole town!

Many progressive towns around the country have done this already, at no cost to taxpayers. Why not Red Bank? In addition to helping our students, this will foster better communication and more awareness of community issues.

Establish "Red Bank’s Future".

Red Bank’s Future would be an organization that parallels Red Bank RiverCenter. Instead of fostering cooperation amongst the downtown businesses, as RiverCenter does, Red Bank’s Future would foster cooperation amongst the many not-for-profit organizations in and around town to benefit Red Bank kids and families. The result: more and better services for Red Bank residents, at no cost to taxpayers.

Make Red Bank mayor a full-time job.

I don’t expect everyone to agree with this, and I have some qualms about it myself. On the other hand, I want a mayor who wakes up every morning and goes to sleep every night, thinking, worrying and strategizing about how to make our town better. Oh yeah, I want him or her to work on that all day, too. I don’t think that’s too much to ask, and I don’t think you get it with someone who is doing the mayor’s job "on the side". I think Red Bank has outgrown the part-time mayor.

Red Bank has come a long way in the past 16 years, thanks in no small part to outgoing mayor Ed McKenna. To continue the progress, the next mayor will have to have a clear vision of where he wants to take the town, and the ability to get us there. If he wants some free advice along the way, he can always come over to Broad Street for a cup of coffee. I’ll buy.

W. David Tarver

October 24, 2006