On the first Thursday of every month, at 7:30 PM, Ocean County citizens meet to discuss actions that can address the problem of money in politics. The public is invited, including tax-reduction advocates, environmentalists, clean government advocates and ordinary citizens. April 1 location: Nick the Greek Bay Bridge Inn, in Dover on Rt 37 East at the foot of the Seaside Bridge. (Read about April 1 in the Asbury Park Press.) (Read about the February meeting in the Asbury Park Press.)
Tired of the undue influence of money in politics in Ocean County?
You are invited to an informal:
Thursday, April 1 @ 7:30 PM
at Nick the Greek’s Bay Bridge Inn
(On Route 37 East in Toms River at the foot of the Seaside Bridge.)
(First Thursday of every month, the location rotates around Ocean County)
We meet monthly in an informal setting for about an hour to chat about money and politics throughout Ocean County, and the power people have to promote clean government. The public is invited to attend and participate. Some who attended last month’s meeting may briefly report on progress they have had in moving toward a cleaner politics.
Pay to Play public contracting reform and many other subjects are on our agenda. (This forum is should be especially interesting to citizens of the seven Faulkner Act towns in Ocean County — Berkeley, Brick, Dover, Island Heights, Long Beach, Manchester, and Stafford – because you have the power to collect signatures to place a Pay-to-Play ordinance directly on the November general election ballot.)
The number of signatures that would have to be gathered in each of the above towns is:
Berkeley – 1421
Brick – 1625
Dover – 2085
Island Heights – 46
Long Beach – 116
Manchester – 1178
Stafford – 441
In non-Faulkner Act towns the Council could enact Pay to Play by ordinance. Citizens could also put non-binding resolutions on the ballot.
The idea is to learn from each other. Our first meeting, in February in Lavallette, was attended by over 50 people from ten townships. At our second meeting, 73 people attended. You will not be pressured into any point of view. Those who are interested in specific municipalities or issues can meet others with similar interests and join together to act.
The only condition for participation is that you are disgusted with the way in which money is distorting the political process.
Those in attendance will be tax reduction advocates, open space advocates, clean government advocates, and just plain people who care about democracy.
Come learn for yourself and teach others what can be done to clean up local, county and state government.
Change can happen if you act.
Read about the February meeting in the Asbury Park Press.
Read a model Pay to Play ordinance.
Questions: Willie deCamp 732-830-3600
Britta Wenzel 732-793-4308 or 732-779-9307
