Political intimidation at the Neptune Municipal Building? Blogfinger photograph. ©

By Paul Goldfinger, MD.  Editor@Blogfinger.net

You may recall that the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association threatened to sue the Township if  “any form” of permit parking were adopted.  The CMA COO spoke for their  Board of Trustees,  and they offered the ultimatum before any citizen or Committeeman had the chance to hear the OGHOA presentation and before any debate could be had on this matter.

In a public speech to the Township in August, 2017, regarding permit parking,  Rev. DiGiamberardino said, “I also should let you know that our CMA Board will be reserving the option to pursue legal remedies, if necessary, to protect its property rights and those of its constituents.”

Here is a link to our August 17, 2017 post on this subject.  The complete statement by the CMA is found in the comments along with some strong opinions by Grovers.:

CMA threatens lawsuit over permit parking

This was a preemptive strike by the CMA , and it is not in the spirit of our American democracy which values public discourse to settle disputes.    Ironically, the CMA said that they are defending the “welcoming spirit” of Ocean Grove, even though there is nothing welcoming about this threat.

When the Township Committee voted on January 8 to reject permit parking, 3-0, they dismissed  the plan outright.  It seems ex-mayor Brantley forgot what he said at the December meeting when the  plan was presented.  He said,  “I think we need some professional help.”

In our August 17 post linked  above, I said this in the Comments section:

“The CMA has seemingly had some sort of control over the Neptune Twp. Committee for a long time, and even after Neptune took over governance in 1980 when Neptune tried to find a way to continue Sunday closings through some legislative legerdemain. (It didn’t work thanks to a suit filed by former Mayor Joseph Krimko and others.)

“Look how the Township Committee accommodated the CMA/WAVE group in 2007 when that consortium asked for a drastic and, we think, illegal zoning change in order to plan 165 condos, etc. instead of the Master-Plan- inspired 25 single family homes zoning at the North End.

As for the current brouhaha, it sure seems like the CMA thinks it can intimidate the Township and the rest of us Grovers as well. —Paul Goldfinger.”

So it’s clear that our elected officials have been successfully suppressed and threatened by the CMA, to the detriment of the citizens.  They are very worried about lawsuits at the Mother Ship.

The entire Township Committee should resign immediately in order to make room for some courageous replacements who would do what’s best for the citizens and not be coerced by bullies wielding an inappropriate political weapon.