Oct. 28, 2012. 11:00 a.m. Ocean Grove. Reports warn of perfect storm approaching. By Paul Goldfinger © Click left for full view
From John Anderson, a citizen reporter for Blogfinger:
Star Ledger: “Local leaders push FEMA on Ocean Grove boardwalk reconstruction”
“Mostly old info except for this part: ‘If FEMA does not change course, Governor Chris Christie did not rule out state assistance for the boardwalk.'”
EDITOR’S NOTE: It seems that local journalists can’t get the facts straight about why the CMA was denied funding. This Star-Ledger reporter says that is is because the CMA is a private non-profit organization. But that, as most of our readers know, is not the case. It is because private non-profit organizations cannot get funding for a recreational structure like our boardwalk.. But our FEMA appeal makes the point that our boardwalk is much more than a recreational facility. The article (see link above) correctly points out why that is so as it quotes a number of public officials.
We have reported on Blogfinger that the CMA will consider other sources of funding once they have completed the FEMA process. We also have reported that there is a State fund, run by the Governor’s wife, which the CMA can apply to.
Here is another quote from the same article that makes a unique observation that I have not heard before comparing our FEMA boardwalk application to other towns in the area. Of course, the last part of the quote is wrong: “Almost every municipality in New Jersey received assistance from FEMA to repair their boardwalks , but in February the agency denied the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association funds, saying private non-profit groups did not qualify for public repair assistance.”
And here is a quote by Molly Mulshine of the Asbury Park Sun (April 8) that has the facts straight about the FEMA rules: “FEMA policy states that a private nonprofit facility can only receive funding if it performs a crticial service, according to FEMA assistant external affairs officer Mary Margaret Walker. FEMA defines critical services as providing power, water, sewer, wastewater treatment, communications, education, and emergency medical, fire protection and emergency services, Walker said in an email.”
—Paul Goldfinger (editor @Blogfinger)
JULIE RAFFERTY. From The Fantasticks
J. Please consider if you believe a sidewalk a recreational fixture. If you do, then the boardwalk is recerational. However, if you believe that a sidewalk has important uses for public safety, commerce, community access, etc., then FEMA needs to change their ruling.
Except that I don’t see how the boardwalk as a physical structure is anything but a recreational fixture, in any town, regardless of ownership
This is from a prior article on this subject in Blogfinger: “When the OGCMA received the FEMA rejection in January, they felt that Ocean Grove was being treated unfairly. After all, our boardwalk has been no different in terms of its importance to the community than, for example, Bradley Beach’s. Ralph delCampo, interim administrator of the CMA, pointed out that we are eligible for FEMA aid, and the only reason for the rejection was that our boardwalk was seen as a purely recreational space, even though the reality is otherwise. When seen in that light, surely there is an injustice here, when other towns with identical boardwalk situations have been already granted financial aid.”
The appeal contains detailed arguments as to how our boardwalk meets the criteria for aid. These arguments cover such issues as right of way, economic importance, emergency facilities,etc. It also includes many letters and resolutions from all over the shore region supporting our arguments. Read the NJ.com article posted here on April 22 which gets into this subject.
Seems like a high bar to get over. I can understand setting the bar higher for private entities but would think an economic (not just for the non-prof) argument could be made here. Or maybe something related to access/right-of-way? What is the reason being cited in the CMA/Township appeal?
OG Jamie: I added a quote today from the Asbury Park Sun. It contains a detailed explanation by a FEMA representative that defines the rules. I don’t exactly know the answer to your second question, but presumably municipal boardwalks don’t have to meet those same standards since our boardwalk functions are no different than anybody else’s, and, evidently, they all got approval but ours.
Would instead writing, “….non-profit groups did not qualify for public repair assistance for recreational facilities” make the quote accurate? Did municipalities get FEMA dollars for recreational facilities damaged by the storm?