A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
 So...welcome to the City's website. My name is Terry Reidy and this is my tenth year as the City Manager. I live on Fourth Avenue with my wife, Nadine and our three dogs and two cats.
I thought about what my "message" should contain. Should it be a promotion of the city...well yes. Should it be an explanation of who we are as a community? Should it be a description of the services the city provides, the challenges we are facing, the opportunities we seek? What should this message contain?
So, I decided that this section should be an ongoing dialogue with people who visit our website. It should address all of the issues I just identified and more.
I will start with the fact that Asbury Park is a community where people come for second chances and to realize their dreams. There is something magical about this city. You become "infected" with this notion that anything is possible. In the time that I have been the City Manager I have seen hundreds of people come and offer their special talents to this community. Some have come to start businesses, some have come to start families, some have come to start their lives over... all have come to make a difference.
Then there are the generations of residents who have been and are the foundation of this city; their stories are amazing and continue to inspire me. Asbury Park is a unique conglomeration of offerings. We currently have six active redevelopment plans, live theater, an independent film movie house, art galleries, specialty shops, coffee houses, the best restaurants in New Jersey, the fastest growing Chamber of Commerce in the state, a beach consistently voted one of the best in New Jersey, surfing, housing stock that will delight anyone's architectural and economic preferences, houses of worship of every denomination, non-profit social service agencies that address a myriad of critical needs, Convention Hall, the Paramount Theater, The Stone Pony, The Saint, and musical and performance art venues in every part of our city. We are a city where art is made.
Most of all, we have a diverse community. I mean diverse in our lifestyles, race, culture and finances. We are an environmentally conscious city and a city that cares about our people...especially our children. Asbury Park has one of the fastest growing recreation programs in the state - consisting of school, city and non-profit programs.
We are also a city with challenges...all of the challenges of urban centers throughout the country. And as many of our fellow sister cities, Asbury Park is figuring out how to make it work. We are a city where learning takes place. We are a city that listens to each other...well not always...but we are learning to do that as well. While we still face financial issues, we have dramatically reduced our dependency on "Transitional State Aid" and have increased revenue in our utilities . We are exploring ways of increasing productivity, working with other communities and the county to share services as we look inside for ways to become sustainable.
So, that's it for now. Please reach out. Let us know how we can do better. Share your ideas about community. We are a work in progress.
City Manager Terry Reidy
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