1. State Senate President Steve Sweeney has introduced a bill that would require towns accepting state or federal beach rebuilding aid to do away with beach badges and make beach access free. The mayor of Belmar has said this would deprive his town of the revenue used to maintain its beach. Sweeney’s co-sponsor, State Sen. Michael Doherty, said, “Considering the massive public resources that will be directed at rebuilding many New Jersey beaches, it only seems fair to ensure that everyone will have the opportunity to enjoy free access to the beaches…”
2. Our power company, Jersey Central Power & Light, has asked the State Board of Public Utilities for a 1.4 percent rate hike. A company spokesman said the increase would be used to cover costs from last year’s Hurricane Irene, last year’s snowstorm and infrastructure upgrades that would improve the company’s storm response.
Hope there are some serious actions taken by Neptune for the amount of construction and density on the N. End development, knowing the area floods. For the second time this year the ocean came all the way up to the beach and spilled into the beach and Spray Ave.
I can’t imagine two levels of parking underground, lots of luck.
The litigation years ago was about granting access if you took government aid for beach replenishment. There were a few towns along the shore that refused, which is why they have no beach and no access. I believe a section of LBI and north of OG, possibly Deal or Elberon.
Daniel — Sweeney is a Dem, Doherty is a Repub.
Will the state then be responsible for paying for cleaning the beaches and paying the lifeguards?
Well I don’t agree. The money from the federal government is to rebuild the Jersey Shore, not to maintain the beaches. We do not live in Ocean Grove but we do buy badges every year. It is a small fee to pay for a clean safe beach.
I believe a republican state senator introduced the same bill, proving that grandstanding and unfunded state mandates crosses party lines. What is fair is not pretending there is such a thing as free beach access. Someone has to pay for upkeep, lifeguards, bathrooms, etc…
I agree as it’s getting too expensive to visit beaches anywhere in the Jersey shore. Besides, our beach at Ocean Grove does not get the attention that other beaches in the area get. Ours is the dirtiest of all in the areas. AP is always clean!