As people go to the polls to vote in Rumson and Fair Haven on Tuesday, there are some facts about the boroughs’ governing bodies and their function and history that may have eluded many.
So, the notion in mind that an informed voter is a better voter, here are some facts that may enlighten and inspire at the polls:
Continue reading Rumson and Fair Haven Elections 2024: What You Need to KnowIt’s still a close final count, but the provisional and Election Day mail-in ballots have been tallied and the results remain the same in the Fair Haven Borough Council race.
Continue reading Split Ticket Fair Haven Council Win StandsWith two seats for Fair Haven Borough Council up for grabs in the 2021 election, four candidates are vying: two Republicans, incumbent Betsy Koch and newcomer Tracy Cole; and two Democrats, newcomers Bob Gasperino and Sonja Trombino.
In the spirit of looking especially closely at the candidates and their views on local issues, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect offered a detailed Q&A to each candidate that offered more of a retro twist, with a dip into the past and its effect on the present and future.
Continue reading Fair Haven Borough Council Candidates: Getting to Know Democrat Bob GasperiniThere have been a lot of changes in the Rumson-Fair Haven area lately, especially in Fair Haven.
Continue reading Townie Tidbits: Police, Politics & Side NotesChristopher Rodriguez is an incumbent Democrat sitting on Fair Haven Borough Council. He is seeking re-election to a second full three-year term on the dais. Previously, Rodriguez filled the unexpired term of Democrat Aimee Humphreys when she stepped down due to a move. So, he has served for a total of four years so far, with one full term on council under his belt. Two seats are up for grabs on council. Both incumbents, Rodriguez and Susan Sorensen are seeking re-election.
Name, age, street address
Chris Rodriguez, 47, 134 Buttonwood Drive
How long have you served on Fair Haven Borough Council?
Four years
What prompted you to run initially?
There were damaged roads and curbs on my street and wanted to get involved in the town to improve our infrastructure.
Incumbents: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment in your tenure on council?
My greatest accomplishment is to find time for the community and observe my obligations while still being a good parent to my exceedingly patient children and husband to my wonderful wife.
Tell us about your volunteer work in and out of the borough.
I have worked with the cub scouts, recreational sports, volunteer days, Arbor Day events with the Shade Tree Commission and Foundation of Fair Haven events. and Your favorite charity organization and why. My favorite charity is Monmouth Conservation Foundation — I am a trustee, and my fellow trustees donate our time and money to preserve open space for the next generations in the county.
This year is a presidential election year in a challenging time with the pandemic. Which president in U.S. history do you admire most for overcoming major hurdles/obstacles of his time? FDR
Your favorite motto/quote of that president? I don’t have a favorite motto, but he led our country in a dark time to overcome the Great Depression and did it as a disabled American with plenty of physical obstacles that compounded the situation.
What do you consider the most negative component of your personality? Be very honest.
I have problems with time management.
How do you feel it can be used to a positive end as a council member? For instance: a temper could be a positive viewed as or channeled into passion for a cause.
I find that I don’t cut off activities and shift to other parts of my life when I probably should. This was referred to as the Municipal Black Hole by Jake Rue to me many years ago. The office of serving the public can suck you in.
Who in your family or extended family do you admire most and why?
I admire my wife, Karen Rodriguez. She is a dedicated mother, spouse and financial professional. She is able to balance work and life in a way I truly aspire to. The pandemic has shown a bright light on her capacity to balances divergent aspects in an elegant way.
What was the best advice that person gave you that you have implemented most of your life?
Follow your heart and you can’t go wrong.
Where did you grow up?
Elizabeth, NJ
What about your hometown do you think ultimately shaped your desire to serve the town in which you live? Any specific incident or experience?
As a child, I was a scout and my father is an Eagle Scout. I have been serving the public good since I can remember. I don’t know any other way.
What did you admire most about your hometown?
Elizabeth, NJ was founded in in 1664 by settlers from England. For centuries, it has been home to many different groups seeking a better life in America. I can relate to the pursuit of happiness these folks aspire to. I admire the grit of the people that pass through the streets of Elizabeth on the way to the American dream.
How long have you been a Fair Haven resident?
Eight years
Other than the obvious (good schools, highly rated, PR spin, nice people … things we often hear) why did you choose to make it your home?
My wife and I liked the neighborhood feel and saw the kids riding their bikes to school and we decided this is where we want to raise our family.
What, specifically (incident or even moment) while visiting town cemented your decision?
When visiting the home of Mr. James Greene, the former home owner and an active member in the community, he insisted we come by many times to get to know him and was a gatekeeper of sorts to the next family in his home. His passion for Fair Haven was palpable and that was it for us.
What is your professional career?
I manage financial technology.
What do you think is the most misunderstood perception about your line of work?
Most folks don’t generally know what technologies power finance.
How do you think dealing with this misperception makes you better equipped to serve the public?
My skills in finance are directly applicable to my role as a council person. I am not sure the lack of understanding of my professional endeavors impacts my role that much.
Incumbents: What do you think is the most misunderstood aspect of local municipal officials’ work and/or character?
I think that people sometimes lose sight of the fact that we are a community of 6,121 people in town. This is a large number of folks with differing views.
What measures do you think you have taken to change that or make it better understood?
I try to provide analogies and examples of the broad perspectives of our residents and that one size usually doesn’t fit all.
Fair Haven Borough Council members are volunteer public servants. There is no pay or health benefits involved. It is also a very time-consuming job that requires transparency and constant accessibility to the public. It’s often a thankless job. What benefit is there for you, specifically, besides the obvious serving the town in which you live?
I serve because I get enjoyment out of public service. I feel there is no higher calling than public service. When I look back in 40 years on what I accomplished, I feel like very few people will care about my profession but rather appreciate the time and dedication I had to the greater good. This to me is a worthwhile pursuit and is why I serve.
Critical, complicated issues in the borough presently are: facilities, gentrification, affordable housing, seniors. I know the incumbents have mulled these issues repeatedly, but the average resident has not conveyed a distinct understanding of the facts and circumstances. So, that in mind compounded with a retrospective look at the issues, please read the statements and provide thoughtful, insightful answers that may offer a perspective not previously shared.
Facilities
Question Background: Council has been grappling with with settling the facilities issue for years. In recent meetings, it has been agreed among council members that a new police station is a priority. Police have told council members that they are happy with their current location. So, a new plan was hatched in the same spot that involves demolishing what many feel is a historic structure, what used to be referred to as the Youth Center and formerly housed the borough’s segregated school and kindergarten after segregation ended.
Former police chief Darryl Breckenridge went to kindergarten in the building. It hasn’t been brought up in meetings, but word on the street from old Fair Havenites is that preservation of the building is preservation of a big piece of Fair Haven history. Of course, the building is not on the National List of Historic Places, but it holds a lot of history.
It has been well established that the building is a bit rickety and old and in dire need of renovation and mold remediation, though police have been in it for years and remain in it. When the subject has been broached of saving the building and renovating, it has been stated that it’s not worth saving and would be too costly to renovate.
It will still cost a purported tens of millions to demolish and rebuild. Drafting plans also costs a substantial amount of money. Council members have said in meetings, as has the mayor, that new facilities must be agreed upon now.
Question: In light of a new era in office work due to the pandemic and enhanced technology, can you tell residents, in simple terms, why you think think it is necessary to do such a major overhaul? Besides the mold issue, which has been managed, as police are still in the building, even though you may feel you’ve explained it repeatedly, explain again why you feel the facilities project is so critically important right now. Also explain to the average resident how, exactly, it won’t significantly impact taxes.
The Police Department building is not built for purpose; this means it was built for a different purpose and not appropriate for its use.
We explored saving the building in the past. In order for it to serve the police properly, it would all need to be brought up to code (meet current electrical, plumbing, ventilation, and department of corrections guidelines including FEMA and earthquake standards). The price tag to retrofit the existing building was higher than a rebuild adjacent to the current facility and it would take a longer time and still not function properly for its intended use.
When building a new building for the current and next generation, there is a cost to the taxpayer. The costs will be bonded and spread that out over decades so the people of the next generation will share the price load. The current Fair Haven inhabitants will only participate in a portion of the cost.
Affordable Housing
Question background: Affordable housing and gentrification are critical issues in Fair Haven. With a median income level at more than $200,000 per year, and demographics and average income level that have shifted drastically since those who are now seniors moved into the borough, many residents don’t tend to see it as important since the majority don’t need it. Fair Haven was once affordable for most income brackets. That is no longer the case. Change is inevitable and with the demolition of many small homes and replacement with very large, the answer has been “it’s what the market demands.”
Yes, but that leaves out a significant segment of the former population of the borough that was priced out of their homes over the years more and more. Very few who raised families and were raised in Fair Haven have been able to stay.
The borough has yet to meet its affordable housing obligation, as mandated federally, but officials have taken steps to satisfy the obligation with plans for potential future affordable units. Still, those plans are far off and not ironclad, they are tentative promises to the courts.
The original need of 371 units deemed by the Fair Share Housing Committee has been debunked by a consultant hired by the borough to come up with an acceptable plan to satisfy affordable housing mandates. Such consultants are usually quite costly as well.
That number was diminished significantly in the consultant’s report with the most concrete plan in the works for a new mixed use development (where the former Sunoco gas station sat) calling for only a few units: one very low income, one low and another moderately low. In a workshop meeting, for example, it was discussed at length that the units should not have balconies because they can get too unsightly with residents leaving things outside and that parking should only fit normal-sized vehicles, not work trucks, which can be prohibitive. Yet, many of the large homes in the borough have front porches with a full view and driveways.
There has long been a notion that low income housing, or even affordable, is equated with unsightly and undesirables in town. Fair Haven was founded by a low and moderate income population.
Why do you think affluent communities, such as the present Fair Haven, have this perception and have either avoided or tried valiantly to lower, sell off to other towns, or not honor the obligation to provide a fair share of affordable housing? (A personal perception was asked for, not official.)
Please don’t use the schools burden argument, because it has been proven as flawed. IF you had your way, what sort of truly affordable housing for young people starting out and seniors on a low fixed income, would you provide without question — all 371 units?
I really can’t opine on what has been done by previous councils. I have been an active participant in the Fair Share Housing Committee in town and was charged with years of plan development to comply with the NJ State Court Mandate known as Mt. Laurel.
I believe as a mature fully built out community, we have done our best to find interesting solutions like accessory apartments over garages, a Habitat for Humanity project, age restricted zones for seniors and the requirement for a developer at the former Sunoco site to build conforming Fair Share units.
I mentioned above, that we have accessory apartments for young folks and senior housing envisioned in what are called overlay zones. We can begin to meet our Fair Share obligation by deploying the plan and putting ordinances in place to allow for future deployment of these plans.
Seniors.
Question Background: Candidates have continually expressed a desire to keep seniors in Fair Haven to live out their lives. With each year and larger homes, high municipal and school taxes and the demolition of smaller, more affordable homes, it has been increasingly more difficult and unaffordable for seniors on a fixed income, who moved to Fair Haven as low- to middle-income residents when it was much more affordable, to do that. In fact, the senior population has dwindled significantly.
Not only are the taxes unaffordable to seniors on a fixed or even average income, but they also have great difficulty with the upkeep of their homes.
Question: If you had your way, besides tax discounts that are helpful, but don’t make much of a difference for a person on a fixed income, how would you keep them here? How, besides things like the Snow Angels snow removal program and activities and larger-scale programs like Habitat for Humanity, would you propose helping them with maintenance sourced from borough residents? Decades ago, neighbors were known to rally and help neighbors in need with larger, necessary home projects. Again, IF you had your way, what would you do?
This is a difficult issue, nested and complex in so many ways. But there is a bright side. There are many programs in our boro, county and state level.
We can help them be educated on programs like the “good neighbor” program as mentioned in the question above, but also broader programs they are entitled to or appeal to them.
Education with pamphlets, electronic communications and other means would help our seniors stay put for as long as they want to be in the community. Over the years, the Homestead Rebate also know as the Senior Freeze has factored in.
Simply put, we as a community need to do our best to support our seniors and get them the help they want or need to make their lives the best they can be. Its not an easy or straightforward task with the cost of living and recent surge of popularity of the community.
Any other issues you see as critical? How do you propose addressing them?
I have tried to cover as many topics as I can above. I believe that balancing the task of building quality replacement facilities with the cost of construction is a difficult job.
The next council will embark on foundational construction projects that need to fit in with the community today and for the future. It will be a tricky and sometimes noisy process to get to a quality outcome that reflects the will of the people. Previous councils have made progress advancing ideas and designs, but I feel we are at a point where we’ve refined and improved the plans to start making decisions resulting in tangible outcomes.
In Fair Haven’s Borough Council elections on Nov. 5, four are vying for two three-year seats on the six-seat dais: two incumbent Republicans and two Democrat challengers. Meghan Chrisner-Keefe is making her first run for public office as a Democrat candidate. Below is R-FH Retro’s Q&A with Chrisner-Keefe …
Name, age, street address
Meghan Chrisner-Keefe, 36 years old, 25 Beechwood Pl, Fair Haven.
Where did you grow up? What about your hometown do you think ultimately shaped your desire to serve the town in which you live? Any specific incident or experience?
When I think about growing up in Fair Haven, I think about my lifelong friends and the places around town where we spent time together, our shared experiences and how it made me feel.
I want to serve the community that raised me and fostered my dearest memories and relationships which are the result of Fair Haven’s strong traditions and sense of community. I am grateful to raise my own children here and hope my grandchildren have the opportunity as well.
What did you admire most about your hometown? Its greatest attribute?
Fair Haven has an incredible sense of community. It values its residents, both new and old, supports its children and fosters strong relationships. I am grateful that we can call our neighbors and friends an extension of our family and part of our village.
How long have you been a Fair Haven resident? If there were periods in which you relocated, please explain why and where you lived? What prompted you to move to Fair Haven or come back, if that’s the case?
My family moved to Fair Haven when I was 8 years old. After graduating from RFH, I spent four years at Syracuse University, followed by several years working in New York City. I lived in downtown Newark during my 1L year of law school and then moved to Red Bank. When my husband James and I were expecting our first child, we began looking for our first home in the area.
Moving to Fair Haven was the only option in my mind – I wanted my children to have the same experiences I had growing up. I met my lifelong friends in second grade at Knollwood when I moved here as a kid and we can now tell each other’s life stories.
What do you consider the single most important issue facing Fair Haven residents? Please choose one issue only on which to focus. How do you propose it be remedied? Please be specific.
Taxes are on everyone’s mind. Every single decision of the governing body has a tax impact and component. While municipal taxes only account for 20 percent of everyone’s tax bill, it is critical that every cent in and every cent out reflects the collective desires of our residents.
Opening the budget and finance committee meetings to the public will engage more residents in the process and allow more collaboration on our town’s spending, particularly as it relates to bigger ticket expenses, as well as fixed and variable expenses. When we increase awareness of Fair Haven’s finances by making the public part of the process, there is an opportunity for improved understanding and appreciation of our property taxes.
What is your professional career? What do you think is the most misunderstood perception of your line of work? How will your professional skills and make you a more effective public official? How does the particular misperception of your career that you cited make you better equipped to serve the public?
I am a practicing attorney at Smith Eibeler in Holmdel. We primarily represent employees in both litigated and negotiated matters including unlawful termination, sexual harassment, discrimination and whistleblower cases.
If elected, my skillset will be particularly effective in advocating for our residents, analyzing complex legal issues, drafting ordinances and communicating with Fair Haven’s residents — things I do on a daily basis in my professional life. This skillset and perspective are not represented on the current council.
There’s a misperception that attorneys like to argue when in reality we’re simply advocating for our clients’ positions and trying to reach a resolution of the conflict. My ability to advocate, negotiate and craft settlements and solutions will be an asset to both representing residents’ needs and managing Fair Haven’s current litigations.
What do you think is the most misunderstood aspect of local municipal officials’ work and/or character? Why do you think that is? How would you propose changing that perception?
I believe the amount of time our municipal officials, both elected and appointed, spend taking care of Fair Haven is not well understood.
When borough business takes place behind closed doors or happens over calls, citizens cannot appreciate how much time they spend away from their jobs and families to do Fair Haven’s work.
If elected I will urge the council to engage in more public conversation on all agenda items, advocate for public meetings of boards, commissions and committees and commit to instituting streaming of borough meetings.
Do you have any past experience on any governing body, local board or commission or committee? If not in Fair Haven, then where, in what capacity and for how long?
In law school I was part of a research team and served as a senior member of the team during my 3L year. Last year I worked with a small group of community members to raise funds for the new toddler playground at Fair Haven Fields. I am a current member of the Natural Area Committee, for which I served in a volunteer capacity for one year and have been a member of for the past year.
Cite a specific accomplishment in your life that has made you most proud — anything, from having an effect on one person or thing to initiating some sort of worldwide change. Why? How do you think this equipped you for public service?
Attending and graduating law school has been an accomplishment that I return to daily as the reason many things have happened in my life. I never expected law school to be along my life path and I am proud of the not-for-profit clinics I participated in as a student, the research team I was a part of and that I am now a litigator advocating for my clients’ rights every day against small and large employers alike. If elected, my legal training and advocacy skills will be an asset to our council.
Fair Haven Borough Council members are volunteer public servants. There is no pay or health benefits involved. It is also a very time-consuming job that requires transparency and accessibility to the public. What benefit is there for you, specifically, besides the obvious serving the town in which you live?
I have a strong appreciation for democracy and believe there is opportunity for improved representation in Fair Haven. I’ve been speaking up at council meetings for some time now and decided it’s time to step up.
Time after time, despite attending meetings and asking questions, I was not afforded the information I sought. In the absence of transparency and accountability, democracy cannot function.
Enabling Fair Haven’s residents to have access to information, participate in the process and receive answers to questions are all goals of mine. If elected, the benefit for me is the benefit for all — restoring the trust of the governing body to one that is approachable, inclusive and communicative.
In response to the contentious outcry from residents over a new business coming to town, a new business committee has been formed. The committee is designed to serve ONLY in an advisory capacity with respect to the community’s wishes involving incoming businesses. Do you think it will be effective? Why or why not?
The governing body has appointed the Restaurant Committee to explore possible land use and zoning ordinances to replace the ones that resulted in the extensive hearings on the Dunkin’ application.
I believe the committee itself has already been and will continue to be effective in engaging in open and honest discussions and hearing Fair Haven’s citizens. I am hopeful that the governing body will honor its duty to embrace our representative form of government and strongly consider the committee’s recommendations once issued.
Affordable housing is another hot button issue in Fair Haven. The borough has not met its obligation. From a PURELY HYPOTHETICAL vantage, if you were given the ultimate power to satisfy the original need of 371 units deemed by the Fair Share Housing Committee, what sort of units would you propose bringing into the borough and where would you put them if the sufficient land were yours for the taking?
Hypothetically, I would propose a variety of housing solutions to satisfy the need, including some typical units such as houses, condos and apartments, as well as creative housing solutions such as small scale housing solutions (think tiny houses), co-housing concepts and accessory structures (as was recommended in the 2016 Master Plan).
Again, hypothetically, a healthy mix of housing styles woven throughout our community would be an interesting approach to meet the varying needs and income levels of our community.
Which local municipal governing body member, in Fair Haven or the surrounding area (any town), do you admire most and why? Past or present.
I’ve spent a lot of time attending borough meetings in the past few years. I am particularly impressed with Councilwoman Betsy Koch. I knew her from my days attending Knollwood and always felt she was an encouraging teacher and mentor for all students.
Now in her role as councilwoman, I see her advocacy for residents and appreciate her approach and effort to address needs and concerns. Councilwoman Koch’s energy and involvement is admirable and I am grateful for her continued commitment and work in Fair Haven.
All candidates expressed at the debate a desire to keep seniors in Fair Haven. It is a dwindling population, due to the high cost to live in the borough. If you won the lottery and became a billionaire, what would you do, personally, to help your senior neighbors live their lives out in Fair Haven?
There are many tools and programs already available to reduce, limit or freeze eligible seniors’ taxes and Fair Haven should examine programs that would help our seniors remain in Fair Haven — we can do this and help our senior neighbors NOW.
If I became a billionaire, I would use the funds to establish a sustainable, well-researched program to support Fair Haven’s senior residents.
Is there anything you would like to add that you feel is critical to your platform/candidacy? Please explain why.
I’d like to thank all of our elected and appointed officials who work hard and generously volunteer their time and skills to our amazing town. I hope to earn your vote TOMORROW and have the opportunity to serve the Fair Haven community as an elected official.
In Fair Haven’s Borough Council elections on Nov. 5, four are vying for two three-year seats on the six-seat dais: two incumbent Republicans and two Democrat challengers. Jacquie Rice is a Republican incumbent candidate. She filled an unexpired term and is now running for a full term on council. Below is R-FH Retro’s Q&A with Rice …
Name, age, street address
Jacquie Rice, 52, 45 Maple Avenue
Where did you grow up? What about your hometown do you think ultimately shaped your desire to serve the town in which you live? Any specific incident or experience?
I grew up in Union Beach, NJ. When I was growing up I did not imagine that I would one day be very involved in my future town. The desire to volunteer and give back came much later in my life.
I did have family members who volunteered though. My Uncle was a member of the Union Beach First Aid squad for all of my childhood. My Father coached grammar school basketball teams for Holy Family & St Joseph’s.
What did you admire most about your hometown? Its greatest attribute?
What I liked about Union Beach was that everyone seemed to know everyone. People who grew up there chose to stay and raise their families there also.
I also like the fact that we were by the bay. I spent a great deal of my childhood exploring the marsh lands and crabbing in all of the creeks.
How long have you been a Fair Haven resident? If there were periods in which you relocated, please explain why and where you lived? What prompted you to move to Fair Haven or come back, if that’s the case?
I moved to Fair Haven in 2005. I didn’t know anything about the town prior to meeting my husband. He grew up here as did his father. He was adamant that we were going to live in Fair Haven and raise a family here. As we started to have children I came to realize how unique this town is and what a great place it is for kids.
What do you consider the single most important issue facing Fair Haven residents? Please choose one issue only on which to focus. How do you propose it be remedied? Please be specific.
Our single greatest issue is deciding what to do with our facilities. Our Police Department must be replaced. Renovating it is not an option. Renovating was explored and it was deemed more costly than a complete rebuild. The community center is attached to the current PD so a decision needs to be made on where to rebuild that also. I would like to move the PD to River Road and get it out of the residential area it is in now and combine it with new Borough offices. Over the past year many options have been explored as far as property and where to move PD. Cost is a huge factor in deciding where to put the new building. I do not want to build anything that will cost the taxpayers money. Until the best location is decided and we can ensure a zero tax increase, we will not be making any decisions.
What is your professional career? What do you think is the most misunderstood perception of your line of work? How will your professional skills and make you a more effective public official? How does the particular misperception of your career that you cited make you better equipped to serve the public?
In 2006, when my son was born, I stopped working full time. Since then I have been a stay at home mom who has always had a part time job. I currently work part-time at Knollwood as a paraprofessional. For this question I would have to say that my professional career is being a mom. I think the greatest misperception about stay at home moms is that we don’t do anything worthwhile all day, are dissatisfied in life and gossip all of the time. This could not be further from the truth.
I feel that being a mom full time helps me be more effective because I look at the issues from a different point of view. I want to make sure that Fair Haven remains a town where everyone wants to live so my kids will want to raise their future families here also.
Knowing that people misperceive what a stay at home mom does has helped me develop thicker skin which is definitely a requirement when you are in a public role. It also drives me to prove the misconception wrong by working hard and making thoughtful decisions that are for the good of all of the residents.
What do you think is the most misunderstood aspect of local municipal officials’ work and/or character? Why do you think that is? How would you propose changing that perception?
Lately I feel that a lot of people seem to think that municipal officials have ulterior motives. There is a baseless distrust of all levels of government. I honestly think this is because most people do not understand how government works.
There are circumstances where not everything being discussed amongst council can be made public. Those circumstances are clearly laid out by the state of NJ and strictly adhered.
It’s a shame because everyone at the municipal level is giving their time, away from their families, for free and there are some people who continually go around trying to disparage their reputations simply because they are ill-informed of how the process works.
Do you have any past experience on any governing body, local board or commission or committee? If not in Fair Haven, then where, in what capacity and for how long?
I spent one year on the board for the Junior League of Monmouth County. I was the recording secretary. In that role I learned a lot about leadership, decision making and basing decisions on the future of the organization.
Cite a specific accomplishment in your life that has made you most proud — anything, from having an effect on one person or thing to initiating some sort of worldwide change. Why? How do you think this equipped you for public service?
This may sound strange but I was proud of the fact that I went back to work downtown after 9/11. I didn’t enjoy going back to work. I was scared every single,solitary day but I did it.
I did it because the President asked me to … he asked that we all move forward with our lives and show the world we would not be broken. Continuing to work downtown I felt like I was part of the front lines of the war on terror so I got up every day, held my head high, buried my fear and moved forward. It wasn’t easy.
I am better equipped today to deal head on with things or matters that I find frightening or uncomfortable. I feel that if I could survive that first year after 9/11, I can survive anything.
Fair Haven Borough Council members are volunteer public servants. There is no pay or health benefits involved. It is also a very time-consuming job that requires transparency and accessibility to the public. What benefit is there for you, specifically, besides the obvious serving the town in which you live?
The benefit I receive from serving is knowing that I am making a difference. I am making decisions to help move us into the future while maintaining our awesome community. I want to be a part of the solution not a part of the problem so I help make the decisions. I want to be impactful, I want to leave my mark on this world, serving the community helps me do just that.
In response to the contentious outcry from residents over a new business coming to town, a new business committee has been formed. The committee is designed to serve ONLY in an advisory capacity with respect to the community’s wishes involving incoming businesses. Do you think it will be effective? Why or why not?
I 100 percent think it will be effective. There was a lot of division in the town over a Dunkin Donuts application. I feel the committee allows for all members of the community to have their voices heard. The committee will advise council on how the cooperative public wishes to see the town move into the future. We all have a stake in the future of this town, I think the committee is a perfect example of how democracy works.
Affordable housing is another hot button issue in Fair Haven. The borough has not met its obligation. From a PURELY HYPOTHETICAL vantage, if you were given the ultimate power to satisfy the original need of 371 units deemed by the Fair Share Housing Committee, what sort of units would you propose bringing into the borough and where would you put them if the sufficient land were yours for the taking?
Hypothetically speaking I would have the town buy individual houses as they come onto the market, update them and sell them with a 20-30 year deed restriction allowing for low/moderate income families to purchase them.
Which local municipal governing body member, in Fair Haven or the surrounding area (any town), do you admire most and why? Past or present.
I admire Paul Smith,Jr. the current mayor of Union Beach. I do not know him personally nor have I met him. I admire him for his leadership during and after Super Storm Sandy.
My childhood home was flooded during that storm and my parents lived through a very trying time. Mayor Smith organized the recovery process immediately and communicated very clearly with the residents. His leadership helped pull that town back from the brink and the town is thriving today because of it. I can only hope that if I am ever faced with a crisis of that magnitude that I would be able to lead as he did.
All candidates expressed at the debate a desire to keep seniors in Fair Haven. It is a dwindling population, due to the high cost to live in the borough. If you won the lottery and became a billionaire, what would you do, personally, to help your senior neighbors live their lives out in Fair Haven?
First, I would use my money to hire professionals to meet with all of the seniors in town to help them apply for a freeze on their taxes with the state of NJ.
For those who still couldn’t afford the taxes I would look into setting up a foundation that would assist seniors in paying the portion of their taxes that would be a hardship to them.
Is there anything you would like to add that you feel is critical to your platform/candidacy? Please explain why.
The only thing I would like to add is that this past year on council has been my honor and privilege to serve. I hope the residents of Fair Haven can see how passionate I am about this position and that they choose to vote for me again for a three year term. If elected, I promise to continue to serve the community to the best of my abilities.
This year in Fair Haven there area two three-year seats on the Borough Council up for grabs. Running in teams are Republican incumbent Susan Sorensen and newcomer Betsy Koch and Democrats Christopher Rodriguez and Jessica Patel. Rodriguez is currently filling the unexpired term of Democrat Aimee Humphreys, who moved out of the borough. Patel is a newcomer to the political arena.
Koch is seeking her inaugural term on council. Her husband, the late Jerome Koch, served. Sorensen is seeking a third term on the six-member governing body with a weak mayor-strong council form of government. In this form of municipal government, the mayor presides over meetings, but only casts a vote in the case of a tie and has veto power.
The following is Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect’s Q&A with Rodriguez and Patel. The questions are listed with each candidate’s response.
Chris Rodriguez
Christopher Rodriguez, 134 Buttonwood Dr., 44 years old
Jess Patel
Jessica (Jess) Lewis Patel, 205 Fair Haven Road, 37
Chris Rodriguez
Entrepreneur, Financial Services Executive
Jess Patel
I’m a proud mom of four, homemaker, volunteer, and yogi. I’m in charge of Marketing and Creative to our family endeavor, We Gift, a fundraising platform for both 501(c)(3) organizations as well as community-based charities. My youngest son is 3, and September was his first time going to school. It’s been a very busy time in my life up to this point, but I finally have a few hours free everyday while he goes to Sickles Pre-K! It’s been wonderful to spread my wings and start to get my hands wet again. As a mom of young kids, it can be challenging to focus on all the things I’d like to, while not spreading myself too thin. I stick to the things that make me the happiest and have the most positive impact on myself, my family, and the people around me.
Chris Rodriguez
I volunteer my time across many organizations and causes. I have run a communion breakfast ongoing for the past 22 years at St. Benedict’s. I was a board member of St. Benedict’s Prep, a non-profit school in Newark, NJ for 19 years through 2013. I support the Fair Haven PTA and local students, examples include volunteering for the Teen Canteen this past spring and supporting the beloved scarecrows fund raiser by collecting/accounting for funds while my wife Karen was the head of that effort. I participate in the Symphony.com charitable group where I currently work and am scheduled to staff a soup kitchen in NYC on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I have volunteered at multiple local events like Fireman’s Fair, for the Foundation for Fair Haven, spraying runners at the recent Color Run 5K and co-leading the past three FH Natural Area Volunteer days cleaning up trails, cutting down weeds/invasives and restoring trees through state donations of regionally appropriate seedlings. I have facilitated or co-chaired three (3) town-wide tree giveaways as a commissioner and former chair of the Fair Haven Shade Tree Commission giving out nearly 1,000 trees to contribute to our massive tree canopy since 2014. I am a volunteer to the FH Soccer federation and have been a coordinator managing multiple coaches and teams including 2nd grade boys coaching this year, 3th/4th grade girls soccer and 5th/6th grade girls soccer. I also worked as the opening crew co-lead with Jennie Lucci for the concession stand to drive the needed funds to keep fees down for our soccer athletes and families. I am involved with our Cub Pack as a member of the leadership team and recently stepped in as a den leader for the Wolf cubs. I’ve participated in promoting volunteer opportunities and getting the word out for local opiod prevention, suicide prevention, and blood drives over the years.
Jess Patel
I am actively involved with the Fair Haven PTA. Of their many great events and programs, Harvest Fest, Art Appreciation, It’s OK 2 Be Different, and the book fair are some of my favorites. I am a Cub Scout Den leader, and also help with Pack events. I’ve been a Dance Mom for my daughter’s Team. I’ve helped with Natural Area clean-ups, and recently assisted Firefly Yogis with an International Day of Peace celebration for 1st-3rd graders. I’ve Polar Plunged for NJ Special Olympics, participated in blood drives, and am heavily involved in promoting fundraising opportunities for the Lupus Foundation of America.
Chris Rodriguez
My favorite cause outside of Fair Haven is Saint Benedict’s Prep, now a co-ed school that offers educational experiences for children from Elementary school through high school. The school is focused on building good community participants through education, athletics and service oriented experiences. The school has remained in the city of Newark for almost 150 years through good times and bad. It provides children with opportunities to learn and explore interests that may not have been otherwise available without St. Benedicts. It’s truly a special and unique place that I cherish and personally support with effort and resources. The Benedict’s community was recently profiled by 60 Minutes: http://www.sbp.org/news/60minutes
Jess Patel
Hands down, if I had unlimited time, resources, and funds, I would dedicate my life to the Lupus Foundation of America. They are currently the only national organization devoted to fundraising towards and researching for a cure for lupus, an incredibly unpredictable, devastating, and debilitating disease. LFA also provides care for those who live with lupus’ brutal impact, and support to friends and family of patients sick with the disease. Their vision, as well as my own, is a life free of lupus, and their mission is to “improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus through programs of research, education, support and advocacy.” I lost my aunt to complications from lupus in 2007, and my mom in 2016. There’s nothing I would love more than to see a cure in my lifetime. https://www.lupus.org/
Chris Rodriguez
My focus is fundamental and pointed as it relates to infrastructure. I believe we have many opportunities to enhance the maintenance and in some cases, upgrade roads curbs, sewers, sidewalks and our core facilities. For generations we’ve kicked the can down the road on some buildings and projects in favor of repairing and keeping costs down, which should be done throughout the useful life of the asset. Many of our facilities are at or beyond useful life. As the back-up to Councilman Eric Jaeger on the Facilities Committee of the Council and when elected for the next term, I plan to dedicate my time to quality projects that enhance our town for current residents and the next generation to come.
Jess Patel
I am learning so much on this journey! I have learned from Chris’ guidance and influence, but more than anyone, the residents of Fair Haven have been my most treasured resource and my most valuable tool. My main goal, if elected, would be to focus on projects that maintain the integrity of our town as it is today, while also preparing us for a bright future ahead! This means taking advantage of opportunities to maintain and improve upon our town’s infrastructure and facilities: sidewalks, buildings, sewers, trees; while keeping safety a priority for residents of all ages. This, of course, while also making a dedicated effort to keep costs down. I’d also love to see more community involvement, wherever and whenever appropriate. Our town is full of smart, passionate, and dedicated community members who are brimming with bright ideas and a desire to be involved.
Chris Rodriguez
We are going on 6 years in Fair Haven. We showed up on the scene before Sandy devastated the Jersey Shore in 2012. We have been in Monmouth County since 2006 by way of Spring Lake. We spilt time between NYC and our Spring Lake home near the beach but wanted more of a hometown feel while still being at the shore. We found Fair Haven through close family friends from both Rumson and Fair Haven. Frankly, we originally focused our search in the town to our East, but soon realized Fair Haven was more our speed. Three things stood out more than anything else: 1) the close-knit neighborhoods where you know and interact with others daily, 2) the throwback traditions that are the bedrock of the town like the Fireman’s Fair and lastly, 3) how the children can roam the town like I did as a child growing up in a small North Jersey town. Once we found the home we’re in, we called off the search in surrounding towns to focus exclusively on planting our roots in Fair Haven and have never looked back.
Jess Patel
My husband, Kal, and I moved to Fair Haven 10 years ago. We closed on our home the day after Christmas, 2007. As many families do, we took the long way here from New York City, via Hoboken. When we arrived, we had an eight-month-old daughter, a baby on the way, and two dogs. Our growing family had only a few requirements for our new home, but they were important. First, we needed a reasonable commute to the city. Kal was working downtown at the time, and wanted to be sure he would make it home before bedtime to see the kids. Also, we needed an excellent school district, not only for our kids, but potentially for me (I was an early childhood educator at the time, unsure if I’d go back to work in the classroom). Lastly, as long-term city-dwellers, we truly desired a walkable community! We needed to be able to walk for coffee, groceries, and pizza; to the bookstore, library, and post office. Of course this started as a wish-list item only, but when we found Fair Haven, we knew we’d look no farther. We’ve never regretted our move. A decade later, we have four kids, a dog, a cat, and a Bompy (that’s grandfather in our home – my dad!) living in the house we purchased all those years ago.
And don’t say the schools or the scenic suburban atmosphere. They are a given.
Chris Rodriguez
We purchased our home from a 50+ year resident who built his home specifically for his wife, in that it was the identical layout and floor plan of the home his wife grew up in out in Iowa. Mr. Jim Greene was a member of the FH Board of Ed and a typical passionate Fair Havenite. He vigorously interviewed potential buyers of his lovely home, which we now call our home. After losing his wife a year earlier, he desperately wanted a new family with young children to take his home into the future; at the time our son had just turned 2. After sitting with him 1:1, having multiple phone conversations, joining him for a lovely meeting with his grown children at the Seabright Beach Club and finally a formal dinner at his beloved Navesink Country Club, we were all-in. He curated a vision for us in Fair Haven while showering with stories from the past. I gravitated to his passion and perspective of the traditions of town. We shared common themes like his body of work in banking and involvement in the community and politics. Interestingly, he mentioned he was the Envoy to Argentina in the Carter administration. All told, our real-life firsthand Fair Haven experience with a 50+ year resident like Mr. Greene was what sealed it for us.
Jess Patel
Two things come to mind at first thought, in no particular order. First, the two large trees in front of our home. We’ve made some changes since we bought in 2007, but I can still recall the old image from the realtor’s website of our home the way it was when we first saw it in person. There’s something about the trees and all they symbolize: life, strength, change. So much in my life and in my family has changed in the decade we’ve been in town, but our big trees are still there, holding steady, anchoring us to each other and to our town. They go through the seasons with us. They’re pillars, and they represent so much for me, both literally and figuratively. I hope they outlast me! Secondly, the raspberry muffins (and all the other delightful baked goods) at what was then the Gourmet Picnic on the corner of Fair Haven Road and River Road. I spent countless hours there with my little ones, sipping coffee and indulging in sweets, meeting new friends, and forming lifelong bonds. We went there the day we saw our home for the first time, after the realtor left, and it was there, over raspberry muffins and coffee, that we decided once and for all that Fair Haven would be our new home.
Cite the pay and benefits for a Fair Haven Borough Council member.
Chris Rodriguez
Let me start by saying the obvious, there is no cash payment for services rendered. Rather, the payment is in the gratification of giving back and setting an example for my children, my neighbors and for those new to the community. I serve because we need qualified folks contributing to the town in every way, whether it’s an extra set of eyes examining the financial aspects, contributing ideas to building projects, refining ordinances or simply volunteering for a committee of interest. I believe the more we put into the community, the more we all get out of it. Yes, it’s tiring at times and yes, it’s also thankless, but that is all offset by the amazing feeling of contributing to the long-term viability and growth of our treasured borough.
Jess Patel
I do realize this is a volunteer position! I have been out of my comfort zone campaigning; knocking on doors, speaking with individuals I don’t know, opening myself up to judgement, both positive and negative, putting myself out there. Not everyone wants to talk, and not everyone likes what I have to say. In spite of that challenge, that has been the single greatest part of this experience for me. I personally spoke to over 1,000 members of our community. I talked to neighbors who support me, and I spoke to those who don’t. And in the end, what matters most was merely the connection, not whether I earned their vote. I learned so much about what drives our community, and what people feel passionately about. I have a long list of community “wins,” things that people are raving about. I have a much shorter list of complaints. These are real issues – not mine, but ours. Real wins, and real concerns. But mostly, I learned about myself. I realized that I want this job because I know I can make a difference in our community, to our children and our retirees, to my family, to my friends, and to those I don’t know yet. I can be an inspiration to young women and men who want to be involved and want to make a difference, but might be unsure of themselves because they are viewed as inexperienced, and don’t know where to start. I’ve heard a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. This is my first step. Everyone starts somewhere. This is my beginning.
It has been said that large, expensive homes are what the market is demanding. The predominant demographic for the borough, according to the 2010 census, is white families (73.6 percent headed by married couples and 51.4 percent of all households with children under 18 living with them). The median family income was $113,546. The median for Monmouth County is $82,265. For New Jersey, it’s $71,637.
Chris Rodriguez
I was approached by a resident just yesterday (11/5/17) on this very topic. We explored the pros and cons of the sizes of homes, the redevelopment of the ACME shopping center and the general direction of life on the peninsula. I shared a similar view with the person that we are going through an evolution not a revolution in Fair Haven. The resident pointed to the original development of River Oaks in the 50s and 60s. Before that period, there were no homes in that area and all of a sudden hundreds of ranches and capes popped up attracting new people and new business to an otherwise sleepy hamlet on the banks of the Navesink. In a 20-year period from 1940 to 1960 the population more than doubled (going from 2,491 to 5,676), imagine that. The cultural and economic changes must have been staggering and still we have this wonderful community. The sheer number of homes exploded in that time period putting stress on schools, roads and general infrastructure. There has only been and increase of about 400 people since 1960, a solid 55+ years later. The gentrification we are experiencing pales in comparison to what this town had seen in the middle of last century. We may be seeing a general increase in wealth and prosperity in our country and in the areas 20 miles circling the NYC area manifesting itself in all of the towns on the Narumsunk Peninsula. So what do I think…I think our town will continue to evolve demographically and as such, attract folks that want the Fair Haven experience. We need to be careful to plan for and guide the evolution when it comes to zoning, planning and adhering to the feedback we get from residents in surveys we conduct like the revaluation of the master plan from 2015. We have a perfectly good road map from the people we work for, the voters and residents. I think the governing body comprised of the council and mayor should guide the town and its laws and ordinances based on the constituents’ direction.
Jess Patel
Our town attracts affluent families who want everything that Fair Haven has to offer, and that is exactly what we’ve built; a quaint, quiet retreat from city life that still offers all the amenities of urban living, ie: walkability, flourishing commercial district, exemplary schools, and reasonable commute, all with a peaceful view of our river and a quick drive to the beach. What isn’t to love? This is what we pride our community on; I’ve heard more than one resident refer to Fair Haven as “Mayberry,” and it makes perfect sense. For some new families moving into our community, newer and bigger homes are in demand. And certainly, for others, these are seen as unnecessary and out of character lining our lovely streets. Fair Haven will continue to grow to meet the needs of its residents, both current and future. Our goal should be to prepare accordingly, to stay on top of zoning and planning ordinances, and to truly listen to feedback from the community to understand fully what residents want and need moving forward.
Do you think there is a need to rethink residential zoning that encourages, allows for and makes room for more affordable, smaller homes, maybe even apartments, and diversity?
According to the 2010 census, 7.3 percent of the households in Fair Haven were comprised of someone living alone age 65 or older.
Chris Rodriguez
I am a firm believer that we need to take all of our residents into consideration when looking at zoning. One idea that I shared with some residents was the notion of encouraging small apartments like the one above Edwards Jones on River Road. I understand it’s not easy to accomplish these kinds of things in a mature and fully developed town with an iconic past and historic structures. We need to steadfastly focus on ways to retain our residents and even attract back young professionals who grew up there. Finding opportunities will be difficult, but one resident mentioned their child would either have to live with them in their home or move to anther town. We should consider ways to accommodate and encourage our younger generation to come back.
Jess Patel
We absolutely need to consider the needs of residents of all ages and incomes in our town.
My discussions with retirees and residents over 55, however, lead me to believe there is no clear right answer, and that this won’t be a one-size-fits-all solution. In a community like Fair Haven, there is a desire to keep with the appearance of current homes and buildings, and therefore a typical apartment building may not be the way to go. There may be an opportunity to explore the option of using some existing structures and/or business dually as residences. Regardless of the solution, the ultimate goal should be keeping our residents in town, especially those who have grown roots here over the decades.
It’s no secret that the average assessed property value in Fair Haven is one of the highest in the county and state at more than $700,000. The municipal taxes have stayed level for several years, but the rate itself is high, comparatively. Many people are not only fleeing the state, but leaving Fair Haven.
Chris Rodriguez
This is a complex and layered issue for which no silver bullet exists. There are many initiatives that can be explored with the help of the state government, county leadership and our own local governing body. I’d like to point to the NJ Homestead Rebate and work that can be done to make it more relevant to our residents. We struggle to make the rebate work for our residents because the relative level of affluence that was pointed out in a previous question works against our municipality relative to the rest of the state. The first step would be to create a small task force of residents and officials to lay out the issues, options and potential courses of action we can embark on with the county and state. Again, this is a very real issue with no silver bullet answer.
Jess Patel
If only I had the perfect answer to this pressing issue. Of course, there is no easy solution. There are federal, state and county initiatives that may be relevant and helpful to residents with a specific income or in a specific age bracket. If we begin with research and planning, we may empower residents to feel more secure here.
Chris Rodriguez
I share many characteristics with my own father, John Rodriguez, who was also an entrepreneur, an Eagle Scout and was a lifelong public servant in Roselle, NJ. My father was himself inspired by President John Kennedy’s focus on public service and particularly the formation of the Peace Corp. I try to conduct my actions in Fair Haven and on the borough council with the same passion and dedication to serving the community as my father. My dad had many flaws, but where he lacked in some areas, he made up for in others like volunteerism, active engagement in municipal projects and getting people more involved in community activities across the board.
Jess Patel
Mariel DiDato, current candidate for General Assembly, is an inspiration. At 24 years old, she went to testify at a senate budget committee meeting. She noticed that the committee members were not responsive to the witnesses; they seemed distracted and disinterested. Frustrated with their lack of interest and respect, she decided to get involved, to make a tangible difference. I have seen her speak with such passion and integrity, she can motivate an entire room into action. As a woman who is new to politics, I am completely motivated by her energy, honesty, and positivity. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to get to know her.
Chris Rodriguez
Honestly, I don’t think about stuff like this much and don’t have a great answer. I would like to focus on what good things we can do as a community and how I can help us get there. Once I wrap up my public service life whether as an elected official or as a volunteer, I will look back on what I accomplished and be proud. If I inspire the people around me, namely my own family members, to also give back with their God-given skills, available resources, and an honest effort, then I will be happy with that outcome.
Jess Patel
The only legacy I leave will be to my children. If there is one thing I want my neighbors to think when they think of me, however, it’s that I took a big leap of faith, and I did it for Fair Haven. Because I love it here as much as they do!
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