SOS group deprived Brick of community center

What a lost opportunity for the people of Brick. A few shortsighted people have killed a golden opportunity for all the taxpayers of Brick.

The Ice Palace property was so much more than a skating rink. It would have paid for itself. And in a year or two would have made money for us to help keep the tax rate down.

The Brick schools, Point Pleasant schools and Brick Hockey Club will pay someone for ice time. It would have been nice if they paid us the taxpayers. Therapy pools will be built in Brick and insurance companies will pay for people to use them. How nice it would have been if they paid us, the taxpayers of Brick. The income from just these two ventures would have paid for the community center and more. A pool for the high school teams would have saved the Board of Education money and students would not have to drive to Toms River at 5 a.m. to practice. In addition, all the residents of Brick would have been able to use the pool and if we hosted tournaments, that money would have gone to the Brick taxpayers.

I believe this big petition drive by SOS, also known as the Brick Democrat Club, was more about having an issue for the November election and demonizing Mayor Acropolis than benefiting the people of Brick. Mr. Petoia claims to be an Independent but was appointed by Mayor Scarpelli to the Municipal Utilities Authority with salary and benefits and to the Planning Board. Mr. Lamb wants to be the Brick Democrat Club president. Mr. Langer was a Scarpelli appointee and former head of Democrat Club and Mr. Blandina, in addition to being a Democrat Club official, was a paid political appointee of Mayor Scarpelli.

I guess they want to be back in power and control so much they don't care what happens to the people of Brick. Most of the letters in local papers slamming the mayor and council are from Democrat Club members or their families. I have attended council caucus and public meetings the past eight years. I have seen four different concept plans for the property. Councilwoman Russell was at meetings when several different people presented plans but she only used the one that served the purposes of the Democrat Party. Every time the community center was discusses the mayor stated, "No decision would be made on what to build without input from all the residents of Brick."

Does is seem strange to you that no referendums were held when Mayor Scarpelli and the Democrats were in power. For example, the Foodtown site, Traders Cove, Windward Beach, Ocean Beaches 1, 2 and 3, the Sawmill Tract to name a few.

Speaking of Foodtown, when Mayor Scarpelli was here, nothing was done with that site. When the current council has a veto proof majority they took action and as of the last council meeting it is a redevelopment site and on the market for sale. Hopefully, it will be back on the tax rolls by the end of the year. It is so sad the partisan politics have deprived the people of Brick of a community center.
Cathy Ericksen
Brick