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Asbury Park Council Meeting Nov. 1, 2006        See Correction 11/2/2006 5:44 PM, and Curtin 11/8/06 9:25 PM

• Deputy Mayor Jim Bruno asked council member James Keady to read aloud a letter, dated Oct. 20, 2006, from the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), under the signature of Al Giobbie, which Bruno said would appear in today's Tri-City News and The Coaster. Bruno said it was fair to ask this because if the other council members were similarly criticized, Keady would've done the same. The letter criticized Keady for acknowledging the presence of Blood gang members in Asbury Park, during an interview with ABC, following the murder of Tylik Pugh. Giobbie accused Keady of "personal grandstanding" at the expense of the housing market and merchants of the city. (Giobbie has objected to open discussion of issues in the past, emailing this radio host: "Stop the shit stirring, Maureen.")
• Keady read the Giobbie letter, which also demanded that Keady get out of the city.
• Debbie DeLisa, co-manager of the Wonder Bar and a member of the UEZ, spoke at the mic during the public comment period saying she was not aware of the letter's contents and would not have approved its distribution, which she termed "shameful".
• The owner of Caio Bella, who is trustee of the Merchants Guild, said the guild has a subcommittee to handle the merger with the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce (a plan that was announced at least a year ago and first suggested by former Chamber executive director Stu Koperweis three years ago). He urged the city to expedite the Streetscape project for the downtown, noting that although his business has always made money, four downtown businesses have closed in the last six months. 
• Asst. City Manager James Famularo gave a lengthy report on recreation programs for the city's children: boxing and wrestling are scheduled to start by month end at the Middle School for students in the 2^nd to 8^th grades; Bradley Ball will be offered free at the Bradley School, though a supplement from the city Housing Auth.; tennis, indoor track, and roller coaster bowling were also mentioned. Asbury Radio invited Famularo to discuss the program and answer caller questions tonight or any Thursday he or his assistant is available.
• Council member Keady suggested indoor soccer and asked if there is any midnight bowling. Famularo said it was available at the Boys & Girls Club, but earlier in the evening and only for high school kids. Keady said he'd done an unofficial survey of high school students at the school, following the murder and shootings last month, which suggested three target groups -- the Middle School, High School and after - youths 16 -22 years of age. Leisha, Famularo's assistant said they also had survey results from a School Based Youth Services Grant that Keady was welcome to review.  
• City Manager Terry Reidy introduced Richard Karpinski, who will be running in the NY Marathon and giving his sponsor money to recreation purposes for the city's youth. Karpinski challenged Larry Fishman to donate $1,000 per mile, or $26,000. Correction: According to Karpinski, Fishman said he'd think about it. [Our earlier report was incorrect in saying that Fishman had offered $1,000.]  Karpinski, who is also an accomplished tennis pro, offered to help guide the city's plans for a tennis program. Famularo said at this time private lessons are being given at a yacht club in Wall.
• Bowling is provided at Shore Lanes, which is owned by the same people who own Asbury Lanes
• Carolyn Curtin complained about the stores in the area of Asbury, Sewall and Emory avenues promoting drug trafficking and usage, saying seniors from Monroe Tower would rather do without than go to those stores. Curtin asked the council to pass an ordinance to close the stores. Correction: Curtin says she is not looking to close the stores, but "did ask for a new ordinance that would prohibit the gathering of groups in and around these stores and strict stipulations to be put on their mercantile licenses in residential areas."
• Council member Keady asked Reidy and lawyer Fred Raffetto if there might be a way to revoke the corporate charters of companies who are detrimental to the community.
• City historian Werner Baumgartner objected to the narrowing of the sidewalks on the waterfront, demonstrating by rolling out 25 feet of metal tape, the width of the sidewalks now, and pulling it back to 10 feet, the width all sidewalks in the district are being reduced to.