Re: The MAAC - Saturday Letters to the Editor published in the Asbury Park Press
Appeal denial of sports center
In response to the Dec. 15 article "Zoners say no to athletic center" and Tony Graham's Dec. 16 column "West Long Branch Zoning Board "out of touch,' " it is hard to comprehend the lack of understanding the three board members who voted "no" have on the issues.
Graham is correct; these are the "out of touch trio." They are doing the bidding of the West Long Branch mayor, who placed them on the board for this sole purpose. This is a shameful display of arrogance and an undeserved negative reflection on the town.
The students at Monmouth University and the community of West Long Branch are being denied a necessary facility. Facilities that have become antiquated over time need to be upgraded. I hope this matter is appealed by the university through the courts.
Bill Frech
WEST LONG BRANCH
Board made right decision
The Dec. 16 column by Tony Graham concerned the defeat of the Multipurpose Athletic Center (MAC) of Monmouth University. Graham's attack of the three members of the West Long Branch Zoning Board was unprofessional, uninformed and unwarranted. The column was a scathing attack on three members of the board who had the courage to stand up and vote their conscience on what is beneficial to West Long Branch.
Graham is only interested in the athletics of Monmouth University, and he has no clue of the problems that will be generated from a 5,000-seat facility in a small town. The Zoning Board has the responsibility to vote on the basis of what is beneficial to West Long Branch and not to Monmouth University alone.
University cars are parked on private lawns, and traffic chokes local streets for hours after events with half the capacity of the MAC.
Graham should contain himself to reporting sporting events. Let the representatives of Monmouth University and the borough reach equitable decisions without ridiculing the individuals who are trying to perform good public service.
Michael Pagones
WEST LONG BRANCH
In response to the Dec. 15 article "Zoners say no to athletic center" and Tony Graham's Dec. 16 column "West Long Branch Zoning Board "out of touch,' " it is hard to comprehend the lack of understanding the three board members who voted "no" have on the issues.
Graham is correct; these are the "out of touch trio." They are doing the bidding of the West Long Branch mayor, who placed them on the board for this sole purpose. This is a shameful display of arrogance and an undeserved negative reflection on the town.
The students at Monmouth University and the community of West Long Branch are being denied a necessary facility. Facilities that have become antiquated over time need to be upgraded. I hope this matter is appealed by the university through the courts.
Bill Frech
WEST LONG BRANCH
Board made right decision
The Dec. 16 column by Tony Graham concerned the defeat of the Multipurpose Athletic Center (MAC) of Monmouth University. Graham's attack of the three members of the West Long Branch Zoning Board was unprofessional, uninformed and unwarranted. The column was a scathing attack on three members of the board who had the courage to stand up and vote their conscience on what is beneficial to West Long Branch.
Graham is only interested in the athletics of Monmouth University, and he has no clue of the problems that will be generated from a 5,000-seat facility in a small town. The Zoning Board has the responsibility to vote on the basis of what is beneficial to West Long Branch and not to Monmouth University alone.
University cars are parked on private lawns, and traffic chokes local streets for hours after events with half the capacity of the MAC.
Graham should contain himself to reporting sporting events. Let the representatives of Monmouth University and the borough reach equitable decisions without ridiculing the individuals who are trying to perform good public service.
Michael Pagones
WEST LONG BRANCH
posted by Tony Graham at 12:17 PM
6 Comments:
Crux of the comment from Mr. Pagano "University cars are parked on private lawns, and traffic chokes local streets for hours after events with half the capacity of the MAC."
Ok, for the zillionth time, both sides, MU and WLB zoning board, agreed, AGREED, on any traffic issues regarding the MAAC.
Mike - if cars are parked on your lawn..please call the WLB police. If a car was parked on my lawn in my town, I know I would (after I let the air out of the tires).
And your comment about traffic "choking WLB streets for hours after an event" at MU, is, not true where I drive in WLB.
I speak from first hand experience ..I leave MU within about hour or shorter after every event (I take the back road out of the parking lot) .. basketball and or football..and at least in this area there is not only NOOOOO traffic congestion, there is NOOOOOO traffic period.
I also arrive at MU about 15-30 minutes (again the back way) prior to events including football..there are no traffic problems.
Tell you what..Sunday I am going to drive via the front of the school about 15-30 minutes prior to the game with Loyola Marymount, which should draw well, and see what's happening.
After this coming Thursday's game with Wagner (Sunday I am staying for both games) ... I will make it a point to drive out in another direction (at least ""within hours" of the event) and observe the traffic situation as I will do for several games.
Your comment - "Graham is only interested in the athletics of Monmouth University, and he has no clue of the problems that will be generated from a 5,000-seat facility in a small town."
My comment - Would I like to see a MAAC - sure.
But I cover MU athletics whether they play in Boylan Gym, a MAAC, or in you driveway (hope you've got a good hospitality porch, veggie burgers please).
Seriously..if I thought it would be a disruption to life as you know it in WLB I would say so.
Mike - really, how many events are going to draw 5,000 to the MAAC. For one thing - probably none.
Do yu check the attendance at MU hoops and football games..about 2000 or so average for hoops and 3000 or a bit more at football games.
Potential MAAC crowds of 4,000 (which MU and WLB agreed to limit), while possible, would not be all that likely except in special circumstances.
I believe the maximum seating is planned at 4000 or 4,500 at the most anyway.
Granted, I am not a WLB resident, but YOUR OWN zoning board voted 4-3 in favor of the MAAC. Only the technicality involved prevented its approval.
What more needs to be be said?
Slight change in plans. As I have to arrive at Boylan Gym a little earlier than usual to set up the PC and make certain everything is in order, etc...I won't be able to undertake my pre-game drive around as late as I had anticipated....at least not today.
But anyone can post their "traffic" issues or anything else here.
Since I have graduated (2002), I have driven to approximately 7-10 home football games. I have never had a problem getting onto Larchwood or onto Cedar Ave. When I was in college, my parents used to come down to the game and drive over from my dorm area. We never had a problem getting onto Larchwood or Cedar at that time either.
As for basketball, again, I have driven down to several games the past few seasons. I came down for the Gonzaga game (school was on break so I wasn't on campus), the St. Francis (NY)/MU game in 2004 as well as the conference championship game that year. In all 3 cases, the game was sold out and in all 3 cases, I had no problems getting around West Long Branch.
Now that that myth has been debunked, I must state the following. You are an (insert whatever name you wish) if you or anybody else in West Long Branch are allowing people to park on their lawn without calling the police and having them towed.
Mr. Pagano - I understand you run on the MU track many a morning. You don't mind using their facility do you? Do you think a MAAC would equally benefit many a resident of WLB and the surrounding area?
First off, the question regarding the traffic problems isn't an issue anymore. I repeat, it isn't an issue since both the MU and town zoning boards agreed.
Secondly, the MAAC would benefit both the school and the surrounding communities. I have personally seen members the surrounding towns in the fitness center and using the track. Therefore, better facilities in the MAAC would benefit the surrounding communities since they do use them.
Third, MU does so much for the town of WLB. When the WLB public school couldn't use their fields for recreation sports, MU allowed them to use theirs. MU also gives an enormous amount of money back to the town. MU tried to be nice and set a maximun number of sold out events to be allowed at the MAAC but since that was rejected, when they take this to court and win, they don't have to comply to that set number.
If people park on your lawn, you call the police and they deal with it. Also, that has absolutely nothing to do with traffic, thats parking and parking will not be an issue.
In regards to the WLB board, 3 members were taken off of it prior to the vote and replaced with the ones who voted no. The 3 who were removed were removed because of conflict of interest since they have ties to MU. However, when the mayor placed the new 3 on the board to vote no, doesn't make a conflict of interest as well?
-MU athlete
It would appear, from what you say, the voting deck was stacked against MU from the get go once the "replacements" were named.
In talking with Mr. Gaffney
MU remains determined to take the "high road" on the issue (though it would appear that road leads off a cliff). But it is the only road an insitution of higher learning can take.
He informed me "off the record" of several options they are looking into.
Hopefully some of these will become public in a few weeks or sooner including the possible appeal, though MU would rather resolve it an some quicker manner that would take less time, if possible.
I believe the matter is far from over.
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