June 30th, 2007
ASBURY PARK PRESS...time for Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J.,to demand a federal investigation.
Probe Park Service extensions
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 06/30/07
You've got to be kidding!
That was our reaction to learning that the National Park Service is granting another extension — at least the sixth by our count — to developer James Wassel to prove he has the financing to redevelop 34 historical buildings at Fort Hancock on Sandy Hook.
In November, it will be eight years since the Park Service accepted Wassel's proposal over that of about 20 others. In 2001, Wassel's company, Sandy Hook Partners, was awarded a 60-year lease, contingent upon his ability to present a viable business plan.
By 2006, Wassel still had failed to do so, despite being granted at least five extensions by the Park Service.
Last September, Wassel announced an agreement with an investment firm that often provides funding at a higher rate of interest for companies unable to find traditional sources of financing.
But Wassel never submitted loan documents to the federal government. No problem. The Park Service will give him another 12 months to provide them.
Wassel, as usual, could not be reached for comment on the latest extension. Park Superintendent Richard Wells said the extension was granted, as have several others, because a lawsuit against the project is pending in federal court.
So what?
The reluctance of investors to commit to something that is in litigation is understandable.
What is not is why the terms of a financial plan, contingent on the lawsuit being dismissed, can't be spelled out anyway.
This project has had a foul odor from the beginning. The selection process was flawed.
The commercialization aspects of the project are at odds with the Park Service's core mission. And the repeated extensions granted to Wassel are beyond absurd.
It's time to cut this guy loose. And it's time for Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., whose district includes Fort Hancock, to demand a federal investigation.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070630/OPINION/706300384/1029
Copyright © 2007 Asbury Park Press. All rights reserved.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070630/OPINION/706300384/1029
November 13th, 2008
Save Sandy Hook will continue to figh...
...commercialization was never envisioned by the founders of the National Park Service
October 21st, 2008
BREAKING NEWS..Pallone..end Ft. Hanco...
Pallone urges park service to end Ft. Hancock lease Wants state, local officials and nonprofits to create plan
October 5th, 2008
BREAKING NEWS - End extensions
Save Sandy Hook's right to file an appeal...late December...why has the National Park Service given six deadline extensions....
July 6th, 2008
BREAKING NEWS court date is scheduled...
National Park Service's ...sixth extension to Sandy Hook Partners... defies comprehension.
February 29th, 2008
BREAKING NEWS Battle Over Sandy Hook ...
Save Sandy Hook files appeal of federal judge ruling
September 18th, 2007
Opponents of Fort Hancock redevelopme...
Save Sandy Hook...proposal overly commercial for Fort Hancock
September 7th, 2007
BREAKING NEWS
SAVE SANDY HOOK SAVE OUR BRIDGE FUND RAISER SEPTEMBER 23,2007
July 30th, 2007
PRESS RELEASE-U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone...
"this investigation will shed some light on why the agreement was signed in the first place"
July 13th, 2007
BREAKING NEWS-Save Sandy Hook Files M...
Developer must wait until lawsuit is settled, opponents state
January 16th, 2007
Park Service misleads on fort project...
Sandy Hook's superintendent... seven years of misinformation... misleading comments...Highlands-Sea Bright drawbridge.
December 5th, 2006
BREAKING NEWS
Claim lease deal violates U.S. law,National Historic Preservation Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Park Service Organic Act
September 24th, 2006
BREAKING NEWS
Mary A. Bomar, who has been nominated to head the National Park Service.... before she is confirmed...it's time for Bomar and the park service to ...
September 6th, 2006
National Park Service that has lost i...
Save Sandy Hook ...fundraiser at my Middletown home Sept.10 ...opposing... privatization commercialization plan.
August 15th, 2006
BREAKING NEWS
a fund raiser to help SAVE SANDY HOOK "JAZZ ON THE NAVESINK" featuring Leif Arntzen & Company SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2006 ...
August 12th, 2006
Interested in saving Sandy Hook ?
To help Save Sandy Hook and/or for more information, please send an email to SHSBULLETIN@aol.com or CJDiBalm@aol.com OR write to SAVE S...
August 11th, 2006
GET INVOLVED
CONTACT US AT SAVE SANDY HOOK P O BOX 7547 SHREWSBURY, NJ 07702-7547
December 2nd, 2005
BREAKING NEWS
I'm pretty sure Congress never envisioned a day when we would be privatizing national parks," when it set up the guidelines that allowed for this p...
October 17th, 2005
press releases
SAVE SANDY HOOK AND CLEARWATER ATTACK GOVERNMENT FLIP-FLOP
October 11th, 2005
PRESS RELEASE
SAVE SANDY HOOK AND CLEARWATER ATTACK GOVERNMENT FLIP-FLOP
August 18th, 2005
press release
CLEARWATER TO JOIN SUIT TO BLOCK DEVELOPMENT ON SANDY HOOK Environmental group will ask court to allow it to join other plaintiffs
July 7th, 2005
TIME TO SCRAP BOGUS PARK PLAN
July 7, 2005 ASBURY PARK PRESS EDITORIAL "the plan runs counter to the park service's mission to preserve the natural environment ...
July 6th, 2005
Developer gets new extension to secur...
Paul P. Josephson, an attorney for Save Sandy Hook, expressed disapproval that this makes a seventh extension granted to the developer
July 3rd, 2005
Project's problems reason for denial
If this application went before a local planning board, it would undoubtedly be turned down for insufficient data.
July 1st, 2005
TOPIC OF THE DAY
KEEP PARKLAND FOR PUBLIC USE The unique value of Sandy Hook lies in the spectacular land itself.
September 20th, 2004
Save Sandy Hook to File Suit - The Fi...
I will file a civil action on behalf of Save Sandy Hook in federal District Court seeking an injunction to block work on the redevelopment project ...
September 18th, 2004
National Park Service: Public Forum 2...
National Park Service representatives will attend a forum Saturday 18th September to disuss plans for the redevelopment of Fort Hancock at Sandy Ho...
August 13th, 2004
Save Sandy Hook will Sue NPS Over Lease
Save Sandy Hook (SSH) put the National Park Service on notice last week that it will bring suit in federal court to challenge a lease for historic ...
July 15th, 2004
Pallone to Meet with Save Sandy Hook,...
Pallone is scheduled to meet with members of Save Sandy Hook, a grassroots organization that was formed to oppose the development and any commercia...
May 31st, 2004
Funding issues and changing ground ru...
The developer, The Wassel Realty Group, must show proof of funding for the entire amount of the project by June 30, 2004. PETITION DRIVE at San...
May 13th, 2004
Save Sandy Hook fundraiser a success.
To all those that attended, donated to and worked so hard to make Save Sandy Hook's May 1, 2004 first Fundraiser a very successful event, the Board...
March 17th, 2004
Borough of Highlands Resolution
RESOLUTION PASSED: March 17, 2004 Borough of Highlands, NJ resolution opposing the National Park Service Plan to lease Fort Hancock, Sandy Hoo...
February 23rd, 2004
Holmdel Township Resolution
RESOLUTION PASSED: February 23, 2004 Holmdel Township, NJ resolution opposing the National Park Service Plan to lease Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook f...
October 25th, 2003
Save Sandy Hook Group Elects Officers...
The citizens' organization Save Sandy Hook held its first annual meeting this week, and reelected Mrs. Judith Stanley Coleman of Middletown as chai...
October 15th, 2002
Save Sandy Hook group outlines goals ...
The citizens' organization that recently formed to oppose the proposed commercialization of Fort Monmouth at Sandy Hook announced today that it is ...
January 16th, 1995
Park Service misleads on fort project...
Sandy Hook's superintendent... seven years of misinformation... misleading comments about...Highlands-Sea Bright drawbridge
January 16th, 1995
PRESS RELEASE
Park Service misleads on fort project, bridge plan
If you have a press release or article that is not part of the archive that you feel should be, please email a copy to info@savesandyhook.org and we will endevaour to include it. Thanks