At 3:32 pm today we received word from State Sen. Jennifer Beck’s office that FEMA had rejected the application for aid to rebuild our boardwalk. This is a press release from her office:
Sen.Beck today expressed outrage over the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) rejection of Ocean Grove’s request for aid in the wake of Sandy. FEMA determined that the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association is a private non-profit organization and not eligible for public assistance dollars.
In a letter sent to FEMA in early January from Beck and other legislators, the lawmakers made it clear that the boardwalk in Ocean Grove has received funding from FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers in the past.
“FEMA’s decision today is not only disappointing, it is unacceptable,” Beck said. “The Ocean Grove Boardwalk serves as an essential public thoroughfare and connects Bradley Beach to Asbury Park. It provides access to emergency services and augments flood protection measures. We will be appealing this ruling immediately.”
In the letter sent to FEMA officials on January 30th states that the Ocean Grove boardwalk has been recognized as public property and dedicated as a public roadway since at least 1908 when a Monmouth County court ruling exempted it from taxation because of the boardwalk’s previous designation as a “public highway.” The boardwalk, which provides access to communities both north and south of Ocean Grove, has also been clearly recognized in court rulings as a public facility.
“Today’s decision is destructive to the economy of Ocean Grove and will have long lasting negative impacts on the community,” Beck explained. “To reject Ocean Grove’s request for assistance will leave them unable to rebuild this historic boardwalk and create a gap on New Jersey’s shoreline. I am hopeful that in our appeal those making these decisions will see the long term implications of this decision and realize that not only is the Ocean Grove Boardwalk a public property but it is essential to both the safety and commerce of Ocean Grove and surrounding towns.”
Editor’s Note:
State Senator Jennifer Beck represents Neptune Township as the senator for District 11. —PG
I you view the tax maps online, you will find the boardwalk indicated by dotted lines within the lot that includes everything from the eastern line of Ocean Ave to the water line. This is assessed as one large lot and the assessed owner is the CMA.
It is not legally a street unlike the other actual streets in the area. Additionally the Township of Neptune has not accepted the Boardwalk as a street. If they had, then this case wouldn’t even be discussed. Unlike Ocean Ave, where the township accepted it as a public right of way and have assumed responsibility for its care and upkeep, they have not done so with the Boardwalk.
These two issues are what keeps the Boardwalk from recieving money. The CMA wants to have it both ways. If the Township were to take ownership of the Boards, they should do so with the caveat of requiring parking meters on the Ocean and Main Ave to offset the costs of maintaining the boards over time.
Anonymous : Very good idea. Not just letters from OG homeowners. That would be only about 3000. Nope. We need letters sent by anyone who comes to or has gone to OG. Summer folx, day tippers, Weekly stayers, monthly stayers, auditorium goers, history lovers, etc., etc. That would probably be tens of thousands of letters.
Carol : Agee totally. Gov. Christie needs to go to bat for us. Time for him to get loud & angry about this.
Finally and a wild question : If OGCMA relinquished ownership of beach & boardwalk to Neptune Township(not sure they would as I think beach revenue is OGCMA main $$ maker) would we then be eligible for FEMA help ? Or is help dictated by whom was owner at time of disaster/Sandy ??
I concur with Jeanne. Its time to get Governor Christie involved and ask him to lever his relationship with the President who promised to do everything in his power to help with the restoration of the Jersey shore. Considering this towns unique historical value to NJ and the fact that without assistance, this summer and possibly many summers thereafter will be a washout for tourism leaving merchants and businesses to wither and probably go bankrupt, we must get aid! Without it, the township will have to reassess Ocean Grove property values downwards, because our homes will not be worth what we have been paying for living at/near the beach.
Is there a way we homeowners can send letters to state reps to request they revisit the FEMA decision. Correctly stated by AC above, the boardwalk is not used by OG residents and homeowners exclusively. OG is one of the easier towns along the Jersey Shore that beach goers can park and enjoy the beach and boardwalk.
Maybe the appeal will be successful. If federal funds could be used for beach replenishment, why can’t they be used for boardwalk reconstruction?
That said, the boardwalk may be a public roadway, but it is operated by a private owner. So there may be a bigger problem than funding for the currently required repairs. If the ruling holds, what happens if reconstruction is required again? The Camp Meeting can’t be depended upon to fund unlimited boardwalk maintenance. I think the broader issue of boardwalk and beach operations and control may need to be addressed, as unpleasant as that may be to some people. In the meantime, maybe the Camp Meeting can ask some of their friends like Focus on the Family and other evangelical organizations for some help.
Sen. Beck’s statement is the most lucid and comprehensive analysis I have seen regarding why FEMA should pay the bill. Neptune politicians failed to spell it out for us in this way. Maybe they were not so persuasive with their arguments in D.C. as they might have been.
The answer is bulkheads, not dunes. It was the dunes that made a mess with the sand washing all over. Bulkheads are what prevents the water from coming up under and lifting the boards. I feel much of the broken boards that were discarded could have helped in some of the construction of the bulkheads.
The boards that were discarded could have done a better job of reinforcing the dunes than Christmas trees.
We need to look at what can be accomplished despite this setback. Only the boardwalks center section suffered serious damage while the part from the Pavillion north and the section from the dressing rooms/shower southward survived. The factors that contributed to the survival of 2/3rds of our boardwalk should guide any reconstruction. Be it dune size, positioning, construction or bulkheading or whatever, I am confident careful appraisal of the factors that led to that survival can be a good guide .
Since Sandy, the Camp Meeting Association has been determined to study the structural aspects of protecting our ocean front. They have been meeting with consultants and specialist engineers in order to figure it out so that a new boardwalk won’t collapse when the next big storm shows up.
I think we should build a small wall this time and a reinforced concrete boardwalk. The days of wood are proven over by Sandy, as are man made dunes. Whatever it is, it can certainly be made in such a way to be esthetically appealing and harmonious with OG.
Thanks for keeping us updated!
I think it’s time to get Govenor Christie involved and see if he can help!!!