Fear of open, public debate in Long Branch
Some people are so intimidated by their First Amendment rights and the prospect of an open, transparent government that participates in and encourages healthy debate that they think a Nixonian approach to controlling information is the best way. Some people actually fear that any event or debate on a public issue that is not official and not sanctioned by the administration in power is too free, and too uncontrolled by those in power.

Some political operatives fail to acknowledge that there are - in the main two branches of government in Long Branch - the administrative and the legislative. I am a member of the legislative body, which for the first time in roughly 15 years has a member who is not part of Mayor Adam Schneider's political organization.

I requested more than once that the administration sponsor an open public debate and discussion on eminent domain, on future development in the city, on affordable housing, on beachfront architecture, on Ocean Avenue access and design - and was rebuffed each time.

Therefore, as a member of the Legislature, I helped organize a forum on "smart growth," affordable housing and the future of eminent domain as a municipal redevelopment tool. There was no criticism of the Schneider administration as a part of the regular agenda, and little or none was offered by the speakers and panelists. I can think of barely a single negative thing said about the incumbent administration by any invited speaker. We just focused on the important issues facing our city and its future.

We invited no less than five members of the Schneider administration, including, among others, the City Council president, the city attorney, the city's condemnation attorney, the city business administrator and the chairman of the city's Planning Board. All declined to participate in a forum attended by approximately 80 city and county residents and public policy activists, a truly democratic and participatory event.

We invited other pro-eminent domain real estate professionals too, some of them sponsored by major corporate development firms. They turned us down as well. I had wanted the panel on eminent domain to be perfectly balanced 50/50 between the two sides, so we could have a really fruitful debate for all of our citizens and the media to see and hear.

Somehow, key media missed the forum, which was scheduled and alerted to them weeks in advance. They missed a keynote speaker, Brian Weeks, deputy public advocate of the state of New Jersey, who delivered a major policy speech on the future application of eminent domain in our state.

Fear of open public debate on the future of our city is uncalled for. We should recognize and accept that whomever we support politically, the public is intelligent, well informed and fully capable of drawing their own conclusions about policy and government.

Brian Unger

Member Long Branch City Council