Mike Ruehle, who is he. He is just another drunk, who endangered the lives of others two years ago by getting a DUI, and is fighting what? Yes second street has become a younger crowd and is getting louder if he doesn't like it move to Palm Springs, Florida, somewhere, where he can retire and not worry about loud noises. Second Street isn't a retirement community, it is a younger crowd and accidents have happened, but the cops have a strong influence down there and do a good job. Mike you were going 63 mph in a 35 mph, you have no right to say anything about anything happening on second street they should have kicked you at of second street for that. Go harass other people, who is he. He is just another drunk, who endangered the lives of others two years ago by getting a DUI, and is fighting what? Yes second street has become a younger crowd and is getting louder if he doesn't like it move to Palm Springs, Florida, somewhere, where he can retire and not worry about loud noises. Second Street isn't a retirement community, it is a younger crowd and accidents have happened, but the cops have a strong influence down there and do a good job. Mike you were going 63 mph in a 35 mph, you have no right to say anything about anything happening on second street they should have kicked you at of second street for that. Go harass other people!

Not here too??????? Give it a freaking rest. Both players need to go sit in a corner and think about what they've done. Call a time out, already. When you're able to act like grown ups, then you can come out. In the meantime, the adults will be ANYWHERE but Second Street.

What a shame...I've lived in Belmont Shore for 39 years....everyone has always gotten along. It's one thing to challenge the status quo, but Mike Ruehle seems to love stirring things up just for his own amusement. Before you blindly follow his charge, why not get to know of some of the people he is denigrating...you may discover they are actually good people, contrary to all the innuendo that Mike has created. I have frequented many of the businesses over the years and have found the business owners to really care about the community.

Mike Ruehle appears to be one of those people who have nothing else to do in their life except create problems. While the rest of us are working and raising kids, he has time to sit around writing letter after letter, making unsubstantiated claims, and creating dissension. Come on Mike, grow up and get a life and let Belmont Shore return to being the happy community it was before you started playing your silly games.

Other than Gene Rotondo, what business owner am I “denigrating?” For over a year, Business Association President Mr. Rotondo has been telling everyone that I am anti-business. It is a fabrication that he continues to spin. In addition, Mr. Rotondo took over the December Belmont Shore Residents Association (BSRA) meeting, loudly proclaiming that the BSRA was anti-business. I repeat, show me the businesses that I have belittled.

As I have said many times, I live in Belmont Shore BECAUSE of the businesses. If the businesses weren’t here, I wouldn’t live here. My bank is on 2nd street. My gym is on 2nd street. I eat all of my meals on 2nd street because I don’t cook. I buy my cloths on 2nd street. I know many of the business owners and appreciate the services they provide. This assertion that I am anti-business is ridiculous.

This anti-business rhetoric is a smoke screen that is constantly being spun by Mr. Rotondo’s supporters in attempts to worry the other business owners about their resident association clients. I ask you to post your evidence of the businesses I have denigrated for all to see.

An Outsider’s Point of View:

I live in the 3rd District, but not in the Shore. I guess that makes me somewhat of an outsider on this issue but, perhaps, an outsider’s view is what is needed. So here goes:

There is so much about this situation that has become petty and, honestly, unworthy of professional adult consideration. It would prove far more constructive and productive if all of the principles would avoid this pettiness and stop their various, quite frankly, childish behaviors. None of those negative behaviors is doing anything to improve and resolve these challenges and everything to exacerbate and degrade them.

Here’s what I see to be the crux of this challenge…the very foundation upon which all of the other related challenges are built: As currently constituted, the Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Area Advisory Commission (or ‘The Parking Commission’) is not equally representative of the two primary stakeholders within its area of influence: Residents and Businesses. Its mission…even it’s name…is rather convoluted and torturous. This is a what’s referred to as a Council Action Commission (i.e. created by ordinance or resolution). It is a quasi-governmental entity that is actually supposed to represent and advise the city on issues under its portfolio. Its members are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. As such they *represent* the City and should be well above all of this petty bickering and endeavor to mediate and represent all interests in Belmont Shore equally and fairly, rather than being seen to actively participate in much of the current pettiness and bickering.

As a city, I think we can do better.

Introducing the “Belmont Shore Area Advisory Commission” (or BSAAC)

I think we can all agree that parking challenges in Belmont Shore impact residents and business pretty much equally. Certainly there are more residences than businesses in Belmont Shore but the impacts to both are fairly equally distributed. But parking is only one of the many challenges extant in the Shore. Thus if there is to be a City-sponsored Commission appointed to advise our Mayor and Council, it should have a broader and more generalized focus and a name reflective of that mission. I propose the re-constitution of “The Parking Commission”. It should be renamed the “Belmont Shore Area Advisory Commission” and should advise on *all* issues, including parking AND business AND residential challenges, that exist within its area of influence.

The BSBA can, and should, still exist to advocate for area business. The BSRA can, and should, still exist to advocate for area residents. As private (non-governmental) organizations they can (and do) develop whatever by-laws suit them and can (and do) engage in all of the politicking, advocacy activities and, sadly, all of the pettiness and childish behaviors they want to. If we are all honest I think we will agree that members from both of those private organizations have engaged in these negative behaviors throughout the life of this current and escalating friction.

But, as mentioned, the Parking Commission should be above all of that and, I submit, a reconstituted, re-focused and renamed “Belmont Shore Area Advisory Commission” would be. It would be above all of that because, of the seven (7) seats available, three (3) would be allocated to area business property stakeholders; three (3) would be allocated to area residence property stakeholders and the seventh seat would be allocated to a person who is both (an area resident who also owns or operates an area business). On the BSAAC, only that 7th seat need be endorsed by the BSRA and the BSBA and it would have to be endorsed by BOTH (In other words, the two groups would have to actually cooperate with one another and agree on something). Because some who might desire to serve on this Commission might *not* choose to affiliate with either of the mentioned advocacy groups, the remaining seats need not be endorsed by either of them.

The application process for the seats on this Commission would be submitted and processed in the usual way but the Mayor would assume a far greater role in the final selection of these particular Commissioners. This would help to alleviate allegations (founded or unfounded) of Council District favoritism.

In this way, and on this newly reconstituted Commission, business and resident concerns, needs, desires and interests would be considered and addressed *co-equally*. Neither group would have the upper hand and both groups would have no choice but to work together and to advise the Mayor and Council in partnership with one another, as it should be, rather than at odds with one another, as is currently the case.

Hopefully someone in City Hall who can make something like this happen is reading this with an unbiased eye and an open mind and will give the idea of an admitted outsider due consideration. Because if something pro-active and productive isn’t done about this situation soon, this outsider fears that Long Beach generally and Belmont Shore specifically will quickly become the laughing stock of the entire County.

John, a wonderful suggestion as usual.

It is a shame that highly influential people use their clout to attempt to damage those that don’t necessarily agree with them. With these people, it is never good enough to win. All others must lose to satiate their egos.

Mr. Rotondo’s utilizes significant public funds in his business and that of the Business Association he presides over. Maybe it is time the City begins to scrutinize his business practices which are more about his self interests rather than the good of the community.