there should be a toll going to the barrier islands,$ 1.00 and then give everyone free beach access to help with the costs.

My wish would be that Toms River should shrivel up like the hemorrhoid they are and fall to the wayside.

I wish no one else could build on the barrier isalnds. the ones that are there would be offered a sell out, the house would then be taken down. If they don't accept the money offer the state could give them 100 yr, leases. (it's been done before, i.e. Shedge Island) and just let the Barriers go back to the sea. Move the tourist area to the bay side.

toms river's resolution should be: bring in newer, younger businesses. no more diners, IHOPS, nail salons, cash-for-gold, or cell phone retailers, PLEASE!! i would love to see: chipotle, wegmans, JoAnn's, trader joe's, panera, world market, etc. toms river should really focus on cleaning up abandoned buildings, improving the landscaping of retail areas, and making it a fun place to shop and dine. we are the gateway to one of the best places on the jersey shore. most tourists have to go thru toms river to get to seaside. it would be nice if we could draw in their business before or after their stay at the shore. improving toms river should be part of the rebuilding process.

1. Improve on the corruption. Too many lowlifes were caught in 2012. Need much more work for 2013 to be a much better year to steal taxpayers money.

2. Must improve on becoming Trenton Newark and Camden. Big strides have been made however a bigger effort is needed to catch up in 2013.

3. Must improve their spin from townhall. They didn't even try to make Ortley taxpayers feel like they care. Must improve on the spin as people want to be lied to.

Elect twp. leaders who will be responsive to the needs of taxpayers and pro-active on clearing dilapidated bldgs. (especially on Rt. 37), fixing pot-holed streets, etc., instead of funding pet projects for their political cronies.

Cut the school budget in half.

Institute an ordinance that would establish minimum standards for neighborhood upkeep. Homes (and the property) should be kept clean, neat and attractive. This concept is a winner for virtually all homeowners since it will help to improve property values. Communities that are maintained properly are where people want to live. Thus, an ordinance requiring a homeowner to keep a house and yard in good condition makes everyone a "good neighbor." A number of communities have adopted this type of standard, and it makes good sense (cents) for those that do so.

Yeah Bob,spoken like a true Mainlander

Start with cutting half the assistant superintendents and assistant principals in the school district. Most have very few responsibilities and are either Rittacco cronies, Board of Ed. family members, or clueless athletic coaches. While this would still leave far too many, it would be a nice start on bringing taxes down.

I AGREE WITH RACHEL!!!!
AND FIX ALL THE TURN AROUNDS..ESP.HOOPER AVE!

I would like to see a nice family restaurant in the ocean county mall!! Like the Rainforest Cafe Restaurant.!!!!!

Clean up the abandon buildings and the rest of the eyesores on Rte 37.
We don't need anymore restaurants or strip malls.

Drop a duecer

Let the barrier island secede from the mainland, end all the animosity.... Let the tax payors pay for the area they live in

Have jcpl do a better job,I have been here for 35 years but for the last 4 nothing but power failures every time the wind blows they have to do better.

I AGREE WITH RACHEL ALSO!!!! Could not of said it better myself Rachael.
Get rid of the eyesore strip malls our illustrious Council has allowed to litter the town with, clean up Rt.37 and mow it more than twice a year, enforce laws on residential slobs in town that belong in trailer parks, replace the Public Works management team responsible for taking care of the roadways, stop wasting so much of tax payers money on unnecessary athletic programs. Last but not least.... get rid of all the dead wood in the TR Town Council. Happy New Year!

@ charles mcmahon....I totally agree... Institute an ordinance... other decent communities do and if the w.t. don't like it.... let them move to Camden or Newark where they can feel comfortable.

To improve Toms River it would be good to dredge the barnegat bay to remove the sand and debris caused by sandy and also to deepen this bay. If we do we can lower the tide table and restore sanity to the people who are flood prone. It would also help boaters who will encounter a mess this summer with all the debris in the bay and fishing would be better if it is cleaned up. Lets hope that there are some engineers that can figure a way to lower our tide tables again so we do not flood with every storm at hand.

If it was up to me I would take the worry of Ortley Beach off there backs and let those island dwellers fend for themselves. Return the FEMA money Toms River received for Ortley Beach and return there overpaid TAXES to them. That would really help Toms River Prosper

TR needs to attract more biz, look at brick they get everything. we have the SOS

SOS is right MIC... get it together TR!

Fix our streets (potholes) & intersections on rt37 at Hooper & rt 166. Don't let traffic engineers do it; they think if you send cars through intersections twice it will improve traffic flow.

TR politicians have been a dismal failure before, during and after the disaster. Vote them out! Clean up the "eyesore to the shore" (Rt. 37) and other rundown areas. Adopt prop. maintenance ordinances and enforce them. End cronyism, nepotism and other overpaid do-nothing committees and boards. The politicians are supposed to work for taxpayers, but they merely profit from our money.

A whole new master plan is needed. Even if it takes twenty years to make improvements, something needs to be done. An investment in planning with some sort of goals to reach for, such as bringing high end retailers to more open space and parks. See what Virginia Beach has done and continues to do.

Pave Church Rd. It's only 30 years overdue!

If Red Bank and Hoboken can rejuvinate why can't we. Those towns were dumps years ago.