by JOHN LOFFREDO

So the other day, or week, or whatever, the usual author of the article that generally occupies this space, comes up to me and asks if I would like to be a guest columnist. Me? Says I, why yes, says she, well fine, says I. But I'm not sure I can think of anything to say…HA..YEA, RIGHT.

So, let's think, a topic…a topic…what should it be. How about the E.P.A. and those coal burning power plants, which have been approved by the new director. You know, that person who had some dignity as our governor before she became a lackey for the Republican party. Headline… Progress takes a giant step backwards! Don' know if I could get a long enough article out of that one.

Or, how about the failing stock market? It's a bull, it's a bear, and I really don't care. The one and only time I got involved in stocks, well, let's just say, I shouldn't have.

How about betting, some of you are into betting. Now I don't mean gambling, I mean betting, like, does anyone want to bet that some things said in this column are going to be taken completely out of context? O gee, golly I'm really worried about that one. Or, does anyone want to bet that some are going to consider the things said here a personal attack?

Could happen, And does anyone want to bet that with re-development in the city of Asbury Park so close at hand that the lawsuits should start any day now. Well they have. And do you want to bet from where. Who could it be?….Who could it be?…

From someone who's scared of change? Well, maybe. Or someone who doesn't want to lose the flavor of old Asbury? Could be. Or how about someone who thinks that if we knock down the skeletal hulk that has been marring our coastline for the last fifteen years; the ground will become unstable and the sea will come rushing in to re-claim the city, thereby fulfilling the Indian curse put on the land two hundred years ago! Well, I suppose stranger things have happened.

Or could it be, O, I don't know, say maybe, a group of people who have sat on properties in Asbury for so long, just letting them decay, or be a slum, or a run-down eyesore, and have gotten away with it for so many years, because they were allowed to, that they now think it is their God given right to have things their way or no way.

Bet you would be right on that one. And you can just bet they'll be screaming. For the good of the city! For the good of the City! Unfair! Unfair!

But, if you listen closely enough bet you'll hear, for me! For Me! For me, me, me, me!!! And the hell with the taxpayers who have waited so long, the hell with the homeowners who have held on, the hell with the contractors and workmen, taxi-drivers, restaurants owners, and city workers. The hell with new businesses, galleries, shops and anyone who has come into this city to make a life. The hell with affordable housing, social projects, parks or playgrounds, because it's all about US! What we want! What we need! Me, Me, Me,!…

Well excuse ME, but maybe they should just, GET OVER THEMSELVES! Asbury Park owes nothing to anyone, got it. Now, I realize there are those who are going to say that the city was given away, but they are WRONG, or that we could have gotten more money, WRONG, or fewer condos, WRONG, or more condos, WRONG. Or, I love this one; the state should have done it. HA! WRONG, WRONG, WRONG O!

No more of the shoulda, woulda, coulda, no point. It's time to move and the time is now; and there are those who have got to stop thinking of our city as their own personal bank, dump, drug shop, sex shop, playground or whatever. Because it is over.

No one is saying that everything regarding the re-development is perfect, and they are WRONG! Kidding, get over yourself.

But when I was a kid, a couple of years ago, my Dad would say, at those times when things were at a standstill, "just do something, even if it's wrong". I didn't understand at first what he meant by that, I mean, why would I do something if it could be wrong? What he meant was, the worst thing you can do is nothing. Action causes movement, which causes reaction. And folks, we are getting action, movement, and reaction in abundance. You can see it everywhere you go in the city.

We all know about the new businesses opening up, we've all seen the boarded up houses being bought and fixed. People are here constantly looking at what is going on and wanting to be a part of it. You can actually feel the excitement in the city. And there are those who don't want it, for whatever reason, but you are always going to have those who don't want things to change, no matter how bad they are.

Could be they enjoy being a King in their own little dilapidated world. Or, could be, they have enough friends, and don't want any new people in the city, or maybe they're just NUTS, bet that's it. Anyway, My Dad also use to say, " if you know something is wrong, do something about it, or keep your mouth shut." Well folks, what has been happening in our city for far too long is wrong, and since I, and some others, can't keep our mouths shut; we are doing something about it. Like it or not.

The fact is, a lot is broken, there is a lot to fix, but we are on our way and no one is going to stop it. Keep going, keep working, the future is NOW everyone. Grab it.