I have heard rumors that the upcoming election involves those who support a new Marina restaurant and those who are against it. That is a false statement and over-simplifies a complex issue. I have served on the Planning Commission and city council in Breezy Point, and I have talked to no one who does not want to see a new Marina restaurant. There are people who question another tax increment financing (TIF) project in the city. That does not make them anti-resort or anti-restaurant. What that does mean is they are concerned that the actions of the city council are fair to everyone involved.
There are timeshare associations that must share parking with the resort and restaurant. The city council needs to be concerned with their rights as well. At the April 2005 city council meeting, without it being an agenda item, the mayor and majroity of this council passed a motion to issue a permit for the new restaurant without further meetings or discussion. That ill-advised action led to the city being sued by the timeshare associations.
At the June 2005 city council meeting, this council presented a TIF contract that apparently came "out of thin air" to help build the restaurant. I say "out of thin air" because at the May city council meeting, Mayor Rach claimed to know nothing of a new TIF contract being proposed. When you add the interest the city must pay, the contract is for $1.3 million. That is taxpayers' money and should have required answers to hard questions about the need and also serious negotiation to ensure that our money was not just given away.
David Slipy,
Breezy Point
