By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net
Last August we posted an article about parking which mentioned a new group consisting of citizens who wanted to look into the parking situation. We were skeptical, because they seemed to be under the banner of the useless Home Groaners, and we expressed our concerns in the post linked below this sentence.
Solving the parking dilemma in OG–August BF post
Now, the “Better Parking Alliance” (BPA) announces the completion of their recent survey where 600 people responded. So they prepared a pdf report which all of you should read. (link below.)
It is rather long, but it is of unique interest, especially since Ocean Grove has never seen a report like this—it looks like the sort of document that the board of a major corporation would receive, but all the better for us.
However, here’s the thing, this group says it is an “independent” activist “alliance” that represents the residents of Ocean Grove. If so, this is truly an inspiring and much-needed first, and deserves a standing ovation:
And it deserves some thank you style music:
In brief, their survey showed that OG residents believe that parking is more difficult than ever, that parking affects our quality of life, that many people have opinions about what to do, that some would pay for permits while others won’t, and that free parking for Asburians should be “eliminated.”
The Better Parking Alliance is led by resident Andy Levine who believes that solutions can be found.
At this time, so far, we are supporters of the BPA because they represent us, and no other organization, besides BF, has ever recognized the largest group in town: Ocean Grove residents.
The BPA report doesn’t even mention the CMA, or the Groaners, or the Chamber of Commercials, or the Neptune one-party loser government, or anybody else. They, BPA, are us, and that is wonderful in of itself.
But Blogfinger has a few comments for the BPA:
a. Nowhere in the report do they mention Blogfinger which, for years, has hammered away at the parking problems, pushing for solutions for OG’s residents; those of us who pay taxes and actually live here. That is an oversight. Our archived posts are a valuable historic resource.
b. If they had read our articles they would have found our discussions about a very important variable which they don’t mention, and that is the recurrent town-clogging, tourist-multiplying events which occur much too often for such a small town.
They need to look at other Shore towns and compare our tourist burdens with theirs. And they should look at the CMA’s religious tourism as well in terms of parking impact, because they are increasing their year round programs.
And not to mention these mega-events is a major defect, because it is on those weekends where we suffer the most parking trauma. Just imagine a summer Saturday without a mega-event, and Ocean Grove gets transformed into real small town America with parking.
c. Just because Blogfinger has backed off from Neptune politics (the town, not the planet) doesn’t mean that we do not still have our foot in the door, watching for interesting OG subject matter. So we thank the BPA for sending us their new press release.
BPA_ParkingSurveyResults (Final) 2
At last we have citizen activism, so here’s some background music:
Due to COVID-19 pandemic I believe that as of today, many businesses are not operating or operating in a vastly scaled down capacity. Libraries and schools are closed or closing and the allowable gathering size has from 500 to 50 and now to 10 people. As such, please review scheduled Community meeting dates for April and June.
Also, is there an email or contact telephone number for the BPA?
Thank you
Oh, so happy to have found you!
The BPA proposal has me fuming.
Is there an Anti-BPA group forming?
@Blogfinger: Wow, you really have spent a lot of your time analyzing this report. (Bring back memories of analyzing and reporting on cardiac tests?). Lol.
Thank you for your time and informative post.
Blogfinger – understood!
My Thoughts: In the BPA online survey, they found that 51% of respondents believe that parking is more difficult in 2019. My own observation over the last 10-15 years is that the crowding and parking glut has gotten progressively worse. So you think that nothing has changed since you were a teenager, but those of us who live here disagree.
As far as doing nothing, the BPA says, “The impact of OG’s parking challenges is significant on the quality of life of respondents.” 71% of respondents agree with that and feel that “improving access to parking is important to improving their quality of life.”
As for closing the doors to town when things get rough, I agree because at those times there are more cars than spaces. I admire the Mayor of Belmar who closed his town when the crowds became overwhelming during a seafood festival.
Paul Goldfinger, Editor@Blogfinger.net
As an outside observer and visitor to all shore towns near Ocean Grove, why don’t you just do what Avon and Belmar do? Put an electronic sign on wheels at the entrance to town that says: Town is Full. No Parking. I encountered this in Avon this and last summer, and it saves a lot of frustration and also respects the home owners.
Also, don’t realtors advise new home buyers before they buy that there is a parking problem in Ocean Grove, and you either deal with it or live somewhere else? It seems the newer residents and part time condo purchasers are shocked once they move in that there is no parking.
Finally, in a town I live in, resident parking permits were the worst thing that happened. I still troll around looking for parking when I get home from a late work night for the simple reason that there just aren’t enough spaces. And I never find a spot near my street/house.
Forgive my cynicism but I just don’t think there is a solution. Ocean Grove has always had a parking problem since I was a teenager, and being such a small concentrated town, it goes with the territory.
Its still a great town.