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Preserve Holy Spirit Church

Hello friends and supporters of APCSC,
You might have learned about the pending demolition of the historic Holy Spirit Church in Asbury Park.
I hope you are on the mailing list, and got the email about this important issue. If not, please email apcompletestreets@gmail.com to be included on our mailing list.
Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition supports maintaining the character of neighborhoods, public spaces, a vibrant connected city, and affordable housing.
The reconfiguration of the interior of the Holy Spirit Church building for community use, and residential units (plus affordable units), would be a springboard to the AP Transit Village designation which was awarded in 2017.
Asbury Park Sun:
  • This iconic structure is part of Asbury Park’s character (like many other buildings that have been destroyed, or are at risk of demolition). We have already lost so many structures. The city must adopt an ordinance to preserve historic structures so that the integrity of neighborhoods is maintained now and for the future.
  • It is not acceptable to destroy this historic building in favor of six market rate houses, and parking, although the developer will do so if he is allowed by this council.
  • Original plans were modified to address parking concerns and further adjustments can be discussed, but parking should not be the reason to kill an opportunity for a unique arts & cultural space and destroy a historic landmark in the process. *Please note – There are solutions to the parking issue, which we will be happy to discuss furtrher if you’d like to email apcompletestreets@gmail.com
  • Affordable units in the preservation plan are more important  – and necessary – than six market-rate houses (i.e. single-family mansions).
  • Ongoing concern regarding the city offering PILOTs may also be addressed.
If you believe that Holy Spirit Church should be preserved, please email apcompletestreets@gmail.com, and include the three elected city leaders who voted against the preservation plan. Voice your support for preservation of Holy Spirit Church:
Councilwoman Angela Ahbez Anderson Angela.Ahbez@asburypark.gov 
Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton Yvonne.Clayton@asburypark.gov 
Mayor John Moor John.Moor@asburypark.gov
In your email please include and thank 
for their votes in favor of preserving the church. 
Read on…
Holy Spirit Church
There is no point blaming anyone – the pastor, the diocese, the judge, the city council, the developer.
We only hope that it’s possible for the city to go back to the drawing board with the developer.
Re PILOTs:  There is no longer a need to attract developers with this kind of incentive. We need leaders with business and negotiating acumen.
Re. taxes and school funding: The church paid zero taxes. The preservation proposal will pay more in absolute dollars than the six huge market rate houses will: The marginal amount of school funding lost on an abatement with this preservation plan wouldn’t even make a significant dent in the school budget shortfall. The city could make a budget allocation to the schools that reflects the difference of the abated school funding.
Re. Parking: The City has never addressed parking in this neighborhood, and tends to address parking everywhere in a piecemeal manner. Diagonal spots on one side of the numbered streets would add spots.
A parking solution
There is discussion of a parking garage, hopefully with retail and residential as part of the project, as part of the Transit Village, built away from the biz district, with 24/7 shuttle (year round), bike share, better infrastructure for walking and biking AP can be the perfect model as a truly walkable, rollable city.
Dense, walkable development – meaning infrastructure, transit options, housing, and community amenities (like some proposed for the church), allows people the opportunity, and encourages the desire not to drive.
We believe that the city wants to see Asbury Park fulfill the goals of the Master Plan for Walking and Biking.https://apcompletestreets.org/asbury-park-plan-for…/.
This image showing the proposal for the 6 houses is the opposite of what a city would want in a vibrant neighborhood – gentrification. We believe that we can work together to find a solution in the best interest of the city now and in the future.
Proposed houses for the Holy Spirit site
Asbury Park needs an Historic Preservation Ordinance NOW.
There would be no going back if this huge, iconic structure is demolished in favor of these types of houses, and would potentially lead the way for more demolition throughout the city.
Forever changing the character of a neighborhood would be tragic.
It makes no sense to look backward, to be angry, or to blame.
The question is what cam be done now?
Please email apcompletestreets@gmail.com and our city leaders.
Onward~
Polli Schildge, Editor
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NEWS! The 14th Annual NJ Bike Walk Summit! March 29th. And NOTIFICATION: Your invitation to attend the first Target Zero Commission meeting, or submit comment,

The 2025 NJ Bike And Walk Summit will be an exciting event!

Saturday, March 29, 2025 at Princeton University.


Hope you’ll join us as we continue to learn and to advocate for equitable, safe mobility for all road users, especially the most vulnerable.

Register here:  https://njbwc.org/summit-2025/ 

Keynote speakers include:
✅Fran K. O’Connor, NJ Department of Transportation

✅Charles L. Marohn Jr., founder and president of Strong Towns, and named one of the 10 Most Influential Urbanists of all time.

Hope to see you there!

 

Notification: Your invitation
The public is invited to the first meeting of NJ’s first-in-the-nation Target Zero Commission is tomorrow morning at 10am
 
If you can’t make it in person, you can also leave a written comment by March 21st.
See details:
What: Target Zero Commission First Meeting
When: Thursday, March 6th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: NJ Transit Headquarters, Two Gateway, 283-299 Market Street, Newark, NJ 07102
*Note* Meeting attendees are required to obtain a guest pass from the 2 Gateway Security Desk, go through police security screenings, and then sign in for the meeting with staff at the reception table outside the Board Room. Please allow extra time.
Agenda:
  • Introduction of Commission Members
  • Safe System Approach Presentation
  • Public Comment
  • Next Steps
A member of the Governor’s Office will also be in the audience on Thursday; if you wish to attend and/or send a comment, please help us by completing this form so that we may know to expect you.The purpose of the public comment period is for the Commission to receive valuable information from the public on agenda matters, not answer questions.
  • Speakers must register to speak outside the Board Room when they arrive for the meeting.
  • Each individual speaker will have three (3) minutes to provide comments.
  • If representing an organization, one speaker will have five (5) minutes to provide comments for the organization.
  • Each speaker should tell the Commission their name, and if applicable, the organization they represent, before providing their comments.
Please note that written comments are also encouraged and will be accepted by the Commission. The Commission will give equal consideration to written comments as it does to those comments provided at the meeting.
Written comments may be submitted to targetzerocommission@dot.nj.gov by or before March 21, 2025. To read more about the agenda and public comment procedures for this meeting, please visit https://www.nj.gov/transportation/about/index_vision_zero.sh
Thank you for your continued support.
Onward!

Polli Schildge, Editor

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Asbury Park resolves to end serious injuries and deaths in crashes on city streets by 2040

We’re very happy to report that Asbury Park City Council has adopted the Asbury Park Vision Zero Policy!

Asbury Park joined with other cities in the state making a commitment to end traffic violence resulting in serious injuries and deaths by 2040.

APCSC has advocated for 4 years for a Vision Zero Policy. At last week’s City Council meeting, on February 12, 2025, the City Council adopted the Vision Zero Resolution, following the Governor’s signing of the NJ Target Zero Bill.
Watch the City Council Meeting on APTV: APCSC thanking AP City Council at the 1:00 mark:
AP City Council meeting 2/12/2025
“Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition applauds the signing of this bold legislation, which will bring about implementation of road safety measures to prevent crashes, injuries, and save the lives of vulnerable road users: anyone outside of a car, and ensure safety for drivers themselves,” said Polli Schildge, Founding Member and Director, Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition. “Crashes, injuries, and fatalities are a human health crisis, affecting everyone, and disproportionately communities like those in Asbury Park, where many residents of all ages must walk and roll for daily transportation. The signing of the New Jersey Target Zero Bill signals a commitment to provide safe, equitable access for everyone on streets and roads in New Jersey.”

It’s a commitment.

Now the work begins. Asbury Park will establish a VZ Task Force, and develop an action plan in order to implement changes to our road design to mitigate speeding, and save lives.
Traffic violence is a human health crisis. Not only affecting the person who is injured or killed, but entire families are impacted financially, and communities suffer the consequences with the impact on our health care system and services.
We must #slowthecars. More kinetic energy is produced when drivers speed.
“If a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle traveling at less than 30 km/h, the risk of bodily injury will be less than 10%, but this rises to about 50% if the vehicle is traveling at 45 km/h.”
“…when implementation of safe transport system deal with challenges, all activities should focus on speed management. “
With the proliferation of larger and larger SUVs and trucks on city streets, drivers are disproportionately killing more people outside of cars. So it’s even more important that traffic calming methods are implemented to deter speeding.

Read and share the Asbury Park Vision Zero Resolution.

Get involved!
Onward~
Polli Schildge, Editor
Asbury Park, NJ
Resolution 2025-108

Resolution Establishing And Adopting Vision Zero Policy And Goal For The City Of Asbury Park

WHEREAS, The City of Asbury Park adopted Resolution 2015-358 establishing a Complete Streets Policy in, which mandated that all public streets be designed to safely accommodate travel by pedestrians and bicyclists as well as motorized vehicles; and,

WHEREAS, traffic-related injuries disproportionately affect children, people of color, people with limited English proficiency, and senior citizens – many of whom regularly rely on non-motorized forms of transportation to move throughout the city; and,

WHEREAS, Vision Zero, a global phenomenon that began in Sweden in 1997, believes in five core principles:

  • .          Cities can prevent traffic deaths;
  • .          Human error is inevitable;
  • .          Cities can prevent serious injuries;
  • .          The entire system, not individual actors, is responsible for safety;
  • .          Saving lives is not expensive; and,

WHEREAS, Vision Zero encourages cities to adopt achievable goals to prevent traffic related severe injuries and fatalities; and,

WHEREAS, cities across the United States, including New York City, Jersey City, and Hoboken have established Vision Zero campaigns establishing the goal of eliminate traffic-related serious injuries and fatalities; and,

WHEREAS, successful implementation of a Vision Zero campaign will require coordinated cooperation between various City departments and community organizations, including the city’s Department of Transportation, Police Department, Department of Public Works, and the Board of Education, and,

WHEREAS, the primary implementation tool for interdepartmental and community coordination is the development of an action plan and a Vision Zero Task Force; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Mayor and Municipal Council adopts the City of Asbury Park Vision Zero Policy with the goal of eliminating traffic related fatalities and serious injuries by the year 2040; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, in coordination with this policy, the city of Asbury Park will develop a Traffic Safety Action Plan and establish a Vision Zero Task Force consisting of members of city staff and local advocates and residents designated by the Asbury Park City Council who meet quarterly to oversee the action plan’s development and implementation in order to reach the aforementioned goal.

 

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Asbury Park City Council to vote tomorrow 2/12 on the resolution to adopt a Vision Zero Policy. 

Great news!

Asbury Park City Council will vote tomorrow to adopt a Vision Zero Policy. 

APCSC has advocated for an Asbury Park Vision Zero Policy for many years, and we are happy to see this come to fruition, following NJ Legislation Creating Target Zero Commission.

Members of Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition look forward to working together with the city to develop an action plan, a Vision Zero Task Force, and implementation measures which will achieve the goal of eliminating serious injuries and deaths on our roads by 2040.

Come to the City Council meeting the meeting tomorrow night 2/12 at 6pm to give your input, and to applaud the adoption of the Vision Zero Resolution:

Onward!

Polli Schildge, Editor

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SNL’s Kate McKinnon Slays As Auto Lobbyist!

Meet Veronica Moss, A.U.T.O. Lobbyist

While organizing files on our website I found this good one on the Resources Page:

Check out SNL’s Kate McKinnon as Veronica Moss, A.U.T.O. Lobbyist 2009 and her revisit to Times Square in 2022!

“Ever wonder what folks working for sustainable transportation at the federal level are up against on K Street? For this Streetfilms exclusive event, we were granted unfettered access to Veronica Moss, lobbyist for Automobile Users Trade Organization (AUTO). Veronica gave us a few precious moments inside her SUV to talk about roads, traffic, cyclists, and big cities. After instructing us on proper honking techniques for “old people” and children, she also offered up some choice bons mots. Here’s a sample: “There are not enough roads.” “

 

Veronica Moss, “We need more roads!”

Do we need more roads in Asbury Park? We welcome comments!

Pssst…here’s a hint: #toomanycars

Onward~

Polli Schildge, Editor

 

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Applauding big improvements on our streets in Asbury Park!

Hello APCSC friends~

Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition is happy to report that there are upcoming improvements to two major city thoroughfares: 3rd and 4th Ave (school zones), and First Avenue!

Safe Routes To School traffic calming measures around our school zones are finally going to be a reality! APCSC has been advocating, and waiting to see the implementation of measures to slow drivers and make streets around schools safer. Children are the most vulnerable road users.

AP former Transportation Director had designed a plan with input from APCSC for traffic calming plans for school zones including mini roundabouts which were unfortunately shot down in response to outrage from certain city residents on 4th Ave complaining about losing parking – they were completely incorrect, no parking would have been lost – but it set the project back years.

The Safe Routes To School traffic calming plans literally went back to the drawing board, and the new plan was submitted by our current Transportation Director with raised crosswalks instead of mini roundabouts. It’s taken over 3 years to see the plan become a reality, and we believe that these traffic calming measures will be effective.

The final plan was presented at an open house on Thursday, 1/9/25.

Map of traffic calming measures in AP school zone.

First Avenue Improvements mark a response to APCSC advocacy, and show that we are working together to prioritize people walking and rolling. This is a welcome, serious commitment to make streets safe for the most vulnerable road users – anyone outside of cars, which will make streets safer for drivers too.

The Signage & Striping – FIRST AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS  include implementation of curb extensions (bump outs) to make crossing distances shorter for walkers, and green markings on new bike lanes.

Have a look at the plans:

Onward!

As always we want to hear your comments and thoughts!

Polli Schildge, Editor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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NEWS! Monday Governor’s Press Conference: signing Target Zero Bill. APCSC sends a message to city leaders to adopt a Vision Zero Policy.

Hello APCSC friends~
On Thursday, 2/15/24 I was honored to be among other equitable mobility advocates in NJ, all giving powerful testimony in favor of a strong Target Zero Commission, Bill Bill S361 sponsored by Senator Patrick Diegnan  .
New Jersey is the most dangerous state for pedestrians, with almost double the national average of fatalities. 

Great news!

It passed unanimously!
NJ Bill A1476/S361: Establishes “New Jersey Target Zero Commission.”
On Monday, January 13th, 2025 at 2 pm Governor Murphy will sign the Target Zero Bill NJ A1476/S361 into law.
Vision Zero NJ was instrumental in making it happen.
Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition, along with other advocacy groups and individuals across the state submitted a quote for the Governor’s Press Release:

“Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition applauds the signing of this bold legislation, which will bring about implementation of road safety measures to prevent crashes, injuries, and save the lives of vulnerable road users: anyone outside of a car, and ensure safety for drivers themselves. Crashes, injuries and fatalities are a human health crisis, disproportionately affecting communities like Asbury Park, where many residents of all ages must walk and roll for daily transportation. 

The signing of the New Jersey Target Zero Bill signals a commitment to provide safe, equitable access for everyone on streets and roads in New Jersey.”

-Polli Schildge, founding member and director of Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition

To Asbury Park City leaders~

Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition welcomes the opportunity to work together with Asbury Park leadership to adopt a Vision Zero Policy, and help to enact a VZ ordinance to end crashes, injuries and deaths in the city.

As always, we welcome your comments and thoughts.

Onward~

Polli Schildge,  Editor

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Traffic Violence. 3 stories.

Hello APCSC Friends~

Three recent tragic events inspire this newsletter today.

I’d truly prefer not to be writing about them.

Please share your thoughts after reading. At the start of the holiday season I know it’s a downer. but so important that we have these conversations.

First:  Last week a child was struck and seriously injured by a driver in Asbury Park. I published the family’s GoFundMe on social media. They will need ongoing help, even though they only asked for funds to pay for a ramp for the child’s wheelchair.

The child who was struck by a driver after getting off his bus in Asbury Park.

A long Asbury Park Next Door thread ensued, in which people strayed way off the topic to mention annoyance of bicyclists riding on the sidewalk, revealing a total lack of understanding of the critical importance of improving infrastructure design so drivers cannot run into children as they get off the bus – the true dangers of drivers on our roads. And outrageously, one commenter stated, “Watch your kids.”, showing a stunning lack of empathy for the child with a broken pelvis, and his family with serious, ongoing financial needs.

Second: A tone deaf article in the NYTimes. The paper published an article on November 29th that’s unsurprisingly tone deaf citing an an incident of road rage in which a cycling advocate was killed. In twisted logic the writer blames the incident on The War On Cars. This (formerly) highly respected news outlet is not immune to the brainwashing of the auto industry, NYT editors are willfully ignorant, or else they just want to sell readership piling on with those who continue to bash bicycling advocacy in the US. Streetsblog called out the NYTimes in an article today.

The cyclist fatality in Paris was NOT caused by the “war on cars”.

It’s sadly unsurprising that American reporting would avoid applauding Paris Mayor Anne Hildago’s success in building more and more bicycling infrastructure, and vastly improving health and safety for everyone in the city.

Third: A bicyclist fatality in Long Branch. Can you spot what’s wrong, wrong, wrong with this reporting?  Read the article in Patch.

Poor street lighting can be the cause of a fatal crash. 

The “teen”driver is not held responsible because he “stayed at the scene”, and “it appears to be an accident”.

American crash reporting almost always absolves the driver unless they are intoxicated. The victim is often blamed for being on the road at all, or not wearing a helmet or bright clothing.

The driver should not always be blamed. 

Journalists rarely mention the distractions of gigantic dashboard screens, the dangers of huge SUVs, the design of roads that allow, even seem to invite speeding, lack of adequate street lighting, or insufficient bicycling and walking infrastructure. All of which is truly to blame.

In the US drivers do terrible things because they can. Roads are dangerous by design, the industry is not regulated against selling excessively large vehicles, and the built environment prioritizes drivers above all other road users.

These, and almost all other CRASHES are preventable.

Airline crashes are treated as such – the plane is grounded, and every aspect of the crash is investigated to prevent it happening again. Not so with car crashes. 40,000 people are killed in traffic violence every year in the US.

Road violence is rarely an accident. It’s always a crash. #crashnotaccident

Our city leaders  and traffic engineers ignore the needs of the large  % of people in every community who do not or cannot drive, whether due to age, disability, or financial reasons.

It doesn’t have to be this way.
Join the movement.
Email: apcompletestreets@gmail.com

 

Onward~

Polli Schildge

Editor APCSC

Postscript:

Without question every collision is a crash. Sadly some people still think crash and accident are interchangeable terms. The use of accident is no accident – the auto industry has made that term ubiquitous and it’s been adopted by police and journalists thereby taking the onus off drivers and systems that lead to crashes. Thankfully many police departments and journalists are switching to crash, but in some recent articles BOTH terms are used. It’s hard to break a habit…

Calling a crash an accident makes it seem pre-ordained or unavoidable.

Crashes take the lives of 40,000 people every year in the US and they’re treated like collateral damage because, oh well, we have to drive.

It’s criminal that traffic/road engineers and the auto industry have continued to fail people, to kill people – the vulnerable road users outside of cars, those within cars, and drivers themselves.

 

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Trunk or treat Halloween

I’ve been saddened over the years about trunk or treat.

It’s a become a fun event for communities and families all over the US, so this isn’t a Halloween tradition bashing.

Trunk or treat

Wandering around in a parking lot collecting candy from the trunks of cars just doesn’t match the thrill of running around town getting a pillow case load of candy, peripherally supervised by parents, if at all.

Halloween is the deadliest day of the year for kids, so it’s very good that Halloween has evolved.

*This is a postscript after a near tragic moment last evening after this article was published: A driver turned onto our street and ran over the “NJ Law Stop For Pedestrians” bollard, crushing it in the middle of the intersection, and drove off. It could have been a child. 

Drivers might be distracted, intoxicated, or inattentive, so we advocate for streets that are designed to be safe on Halloween and every day in Asbury Park. Streets need better lighting, curb extensions and other traffic calming measures.

Drivers rule our roads, so it’s good that Halloween has evolved. 

This afternoon there are many more families walking along the sidewalk in front of our house than on a normal day at 5pm. The littles are carefully supervised by adults. Even under a mom’s watchful eye, a little superman dashed into the street as a driver sped by. She grabbed him in time.

Our house is at a main intersection in a relatively quiet part of our city, and as we sit on our porch waiting for the trick-or-treaters, the kids eagerly looking toward the next house to get treats, we also see drivers zooming up to the stop signs and rolling right through.

Trunk-or-Treat will remain a part of American  Halloween.

Automobiles are part of our culture, and our streets are not safe with drivers who behave as if roads belong to them.

Families and kids should have options to trick-or-treat in neighborhoods, and also trunk-or-treat with their school, town, or church community if they want to, not because they have to.

Loads of kids come to our neighborhood every Halloween, so we can see that families still choose to trick-or-treat in neighborhoods that they feel are safe.

We have to build cities that are truly safe for the most vulnerable, and not having to hang out in a parking lot on Halloween.

Unless families want to because it’s really fun.

Onward~

Polli Schildge, Editor APCSC

 

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NJ is the most dangerous state for pedestrians. What’s Asbury Park doing about it?

How safe do you feel on Asbury Park city streets? We’d love to hear from you. Email:  apcompletestreets@gmail.com

We all walk sometimes. Some of us ride bikes, and many drive.

Are you ever fearful when you’re seeing a loved one off in a car, on a bike, or sending a child off walking to school?

What’s Asbury Park doing about safety on city streets?

There have been some efforts to implement measures to calm traffic, but bike lanes are not connected, curb extensions are not built into newly paved roads. School zones lack basic complete streets infrastructure.

Our streets are wide and seem to invite speeding, so that’s what drivers do. Drivers routinely ignore stop signs, and run through right turns on red without stopping.

Factors that worsen pedestrian safety include long crossing distances, intersections where right-on-red is allowed. More cities are banning right turn on red, and like in Hoboken redesigning streets to save lives. .

Things to know about crosswalks and pedestrian safety.

Meanwhile, there is also a sense of driver entitlement, and simmering anger at anyone using the roads other than drivers.

Road rage

Road rage leads to traffic violence. 

Incidents of road rage escalate across the country. Anger triggered by stress leads to aggressive driving behavior, speeding, and crashes: “humans are just too overwhelmed with, just, everything.”

Road rage in Poughkeepsie involved gunshots, and leads to fist fighting in Ohio days ago.

Road rage violence in Ohio

New Jersey has the distinction of being the most dangerous state in the country for pedestrians.

At some point in life, nearly everyone has been a pedestrian, whether out on an evening stroll, crossing a busy street in the center of town or walking home from school or the bus stop as a kid.

A study has found that the overall number of pedestrian fatalities has increased by 53.34% since 2012.

By gathering and analyzing data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s fatality analysis reporting system, the study also found that New Jersey is the most dangerous state in the country for pedestrians.

Streets are public space. Everyone deserves to use the space equitably and safely. 

In April Smart Growth America reported that pedestrian fatalities are at a historic high.

We know the problem, we know the cause, and we know how to fix it.

Painted stripes on the road are not the only solution.

Paint doesn’t protect. 18% of crashes take place in crosswalks.

Our streets are dangerous by design, designed primarily to move cars quickly at the expense of keeping everyone safe. 

Let us know what you think about your safety on city streets in Asbury Park. Email apcompletestreets@gmail.com

Onward~

Polli Schildge, Editor APCSC