FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,

Wednesday August 27th, 2026

Asbury Park, NJ — Mayoral candidate Dan Sciannameo is calling for a new economic development strategy for Asbury Park that expands the city’s commercial tax base, creates year-round jobs and economic activity, and reduces the growing burden on homeowners.

“For too long, development in Asbury Park has been concentrated on the waterfront while other parts of our city remain underutilized,” said Sciannameo. “We need an economic development strategy that works for the entire city—not just for developers. Our goal should be to grow the tax base, not simply grow the tax burden on residents.”

Sciannameo proposes encouraging commercial redevelopment throughout Asbury Park, including on the west side and in other areas where existing infrastructure can support new businesses and investment.

He also supports creating an Economic Development Commission charged with developing a comprehensive, citywide economic development strategy and independently evaluating the fiscal impact of major development proposals.

Before major projects are approved, Sciannameo believes the city should answer fundamental questions:

• How much net revenue will the project generate after accounting for municipal services, schools and infrastructure?

• How much will it contribute to the city’s tax base?

• What will the project cost existing taxpayers?

• Will it create permanent, year-round jobs?

• Does it require a PILOT or other tax incentive—and if so, is that incentive justified by a measurable economic benefit?

• Could the same or greater economic benefit be achieved through conventional taxation?

“Every development project should be evaluated based on its net benefit to Asbury Park taxpayers, not simply on the size of the investment or the number of units constructed,” Sciannameo said.

The proposed Economic Development Commission would also identify underdeveloped and commercially viable areas outside the waterfront and develop strategies to attract businesses and investment to those locations—particularly where the city can take advantage of infrastructure that already exists.

A New Standard for Development

Sciannameo is also calling for a project-by-project fiscal impact analysis and public audit of major development agreements, PILOTs and other redevelopment incentives.

“Development should pay its own way—and, where possible, help pay for the services and infrastructure that every Asbury Park taxpayer already supports,” he said. “Taxpayers deserve to know exactly what they are getting in return for every incentive and every major development agreement.”

Sciannameo emphasized that his proposal is not about stopping development.

“The goal isn’t to stop development,” Sciannameo said. “The goal is to make development work for Asbury Park.”

His economic development priorities are straightforward:

More commercial ratables.
More year-round jobs.
More economic activity.
Less dependence on homeowners.

Grow the tax base—not the tax burden on residents.

Dan Sciannameo is a candidate for Mayor of Asbury Park.

Which is it? Did Madison Marquette inflate the number or have we under assessed and under taxed them?

We should also scrutinize the tax credit award agreement as it pertains to compliance,  oversight, and accountability. And since the tax credits alone are not enough to complete a restoration project we need to know more about what commitment Madison Marquette is making to use its own resources to undertake the restoration?

I wish convention hall was in the hands of a more trustworthy entity. That would make many of us feel more comfortable with this kind of public investment and the likelihood of a successful project.

What will the city do now about the casino building now that the tax credits have been approved for convention hall?  

I have consistently stood up for solutions accountability for the restoration of these building buildings and will continue to do so as Mayor.