First United Methodist Church (1886). Bradley Beach, NJ. Paul Goldfinger photograph. © Click to enlarge. 2016. Blogfinger.net.

In a Coaster editorial, Joyce Grant of Asbury Park says, “I have had a vision for the public land north beach area as a preserved living coastline oceanfront park.”  She formed an activist group called “Citizens for Oceanfront Preservation.”  She joined forces with an Asbury Park Council member.

Ms. Grant says, “The urgency here is for the governing body of Asbury Park to prioritize all efforts and actions to restore the environmental health of our beaches, lakes, ocean and city.”

“Every decision, every action should be for the good of all not just for the small percentage of people who consume and develop natural resource areas at a rate that robs future generations of what they need in order to survive.”   (Blogfinger italics)

In a letter to the Coaster from a Bradley Beach Councilman, Randy Bonnell, he says that he met with the Mayor and the Planning Engineer about the Bradley master plan.

He says, “The plan advises Bradley Beach to review and revise certain ordinances because we are slowly losing our single-family character to over development. Open space and light are disappearing with many oversized projects. This advice has been a master plan recommendation for almost 4 decades with no associated action.”  (Blogfinger italics)

Blogfinger editor’s note:  In both instances, these citizens are pushing hard to get their towns to move in a positive way for the benefit of citizens, not developers.  We can learn from them, and our Township Committee  would do well do read Ms. Grant’s statement above that begins with “…every decision..”

We can relate to her concerns, because our North End is the largest undeveloped beachfront property along the Jersey Shore, and its development should be for the people of Ocean Grove and New Jersey.

And Councilman Bonnell clearly is standing on his own two feet to do what’s right for the people of Bradley Beach, (as with the Asbury councilman mentioned above) unlike our Neptune Township frozen one-party rule where everyone on the Township Committee sticks together, often for the benefit of VIP’s, political puppeteers, CMA trustees  (who threatened to sue the town recently,) and connected OG citizen investors who would rob our town (and their town) of our history, lifestyles and character.

Never underestimate the power of the people.

Paul Goldfinger,  Editor @Blogfinger.net

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