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APP.com
Planning board member
won't step down
Mayor, activists pan
"homophobic" remark
By Carol Gorga
Williams, from the Web, April 15, 2008
LONG BRANCH — Planning Board
Vice Chairman Edward Thomas, a longtime member of the board, is under fire for
comments he made at the March 18 meeting that critics say linked homosexuality
to pedophilia — and Mayor Adam Schneider said he wants Thomas off the board as a
result.
Thomas, who apologized for the comments during the meeting in which he made
them, rejected calls for his resignation.
"I did apologize, on the record and in front of that audience," Thomas said, and
maintained "at no point was any homosexual comment made."
Meanwhile, members of Garden State Equality, a statewide group that champions
civil rights for gay, lesbian and transgender members of the community, plan to
attend tonight's Planning Board meeting to demand Thomas resign.
The flap involves comments Thomas made last month during the continuation of a
hearing on whether Strollo's Italian ice stand across from Seven Presidents
Oceanfront Park should be permitted to relocate deeper into a residential
section of Ocean Avenue. The applicant is proposing to move the shop from
Ocean Avenue and Seaview Avenue one block north to Ocean Avenue and Ocean
Boulevard.
The move is widely opposed by neighbors of the proposed new location. The
stand's design includes a sign of a blue-and-white-striped lighthouse, which
lawyer Fran McGovern — who represents opponents of the project — said could be
seen as a phallic symbol.
But Thomas noted there are several lighthouses in the building's present design,
and said the beacons are iconic for the Jersey Shore and not something to
ridicule. Later in the hearing, before McGovern could begin
cross-examination of the project architect, Thomas told him, "Before you start,
I would like to remind you that this is an application for a child's dessert
shop and (in) your commentary, if you could, please refrain from making any
statements extending from your own possibly inappropriate sexual preferences in
this matter."
"I don't know what inappropriate sexual preferences are," said McGovern, who
maintains a law practice in North Brunswick.
"Keep your pedophilia to yourself and talk to the facts," Thomas replied.
According to the tape, there is an audible gasp from the audience when Thomas
made the pedophilia comment. Then, as McGovern again begins to ask
questions of the witness, Thomas said, "I apologize for my comments, counsel,
and I thank you for sticking to the facts."
But Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality, said that wasn't
enough.
"We heard an apology from him that sounded as forced as a tooth extraction,"
said Goldstein, adding, "This man has no remorse at all. We're calling for
his resignation."
As a result of Thomas' remarks, Schneider, the city's mayor, has directed City
Attorney James G. Aaron to research what steps need to be taken to remove a
board member.
Schneider said Thomas has no alternative: He must go, even although he
acknowledged removal would only be pursued as a "last resort."
Aaron said this is the first time in the 14 years he has served that he has been
asked to research how to remove a board member. Thus far, he has
determined, it would have to be done for "cause" and Thomas would be entitled to
a hearing.
"To my knowledge, every time a resignation has been asked for, the resignation
has been submitted," Aaron said.
But Thomas said he wouldn't step down and noted that he made the comments after
McGovern continued to grill the applicant about whether he intended the
lighthouse to be a phallic symbol, in front of the applicant's family, which
included children.
"I am in no way prejudiced in that respect," Thomas said, adding that he
believes it was McGovern who behaved inappropriately.
But Garden State Equality is urging a protest at tonight's Planning Board
meeting. The informal part of the Planning Board meeting begins at 7 p.m.,
while the formal session starts at 8 p.m. in council chambers in city hall.
Absent Thomas' resignation, the group will ask city officials to begin the
process of removing Thomas from office.
"I have to tell you his remarks were both grotesquely homophobic and call into
question his fitness as a government official," said Goldstein, who said Thomas'
remarks were "homophobic slander," noting that the term "sexual preference" is
understood to be a euphemism for homosexuality.
"Mr. Thomas' remarks were absolutely disgusting," Goldstein said.
Initially, when Goldstein discussed the remarks in the days following the
hearing, he said it was possible it could be dealt with by a "sweeping and
immediate apology." But after he listened to a tape of the meeting, the
activist said he doubted that would be enough.
"We're at the point where there is almost no turning back," Goldstein said.
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