Zombies can invade A, Park to create free parking for Grovers. That would be poetic justice. Paul Goldfinger Photo.

This is from the minutes of the February 10, 2020 Township Committee meeting where, during the public portion, an HOA official, Joyce Klein,  revealed that there are concerns about the Camp Meeting’s plan to conduct its own parking study.

Of course there are concerns.  In what town would the governing body allow a private group to hire a parking consultant to influence the public process which has been ongoing regarding parking problems in the Grove?  Ms.Klein is correct in being suspicious of the CMA which undoubtedly is looking to do what’s best for its mission to promote large numbers of religious tourists to come into town, stifle the quality of life of our citizens, and then expand their programming to year-round.  Naturally they will want even more parking space–not less. The CMA has made it clear that they have no interest in what is best for the Grover populace.

The decision of the CMA to conduct its own study proves that they have no respect for the political process in town  (which is understandable) and that they will undoubtedly tell their consultant what result they want  (see  Ms. Klein’s statement below.)  As such, their result, when available, will be suspect.

Here are the minutes regarding what happened:

“Joyce Klein stated that the OG Camp Meeting Association hired a parking expert to do a study on parking in Ocean Grove. She asked what the Committee will be doing to ensure transparency.

“Mayor Lane stated that he met with Michael Badger, OGCMA President and Jaime Jackson, C.O.O. and they indicated that the process will be open and public meetings are planned. Ms. Klein stated that we do not know what the parking expert has been asked to do. The Mayor will relay Ms. Klein’s concerns to the OGCMA.”

And, “Ms. Rizzo added that the Better Parking Alliance (BPA) has asked the OGCMA to participate in meetings that the BPA is conducting on their own plan and the OGCMA has not responded.”    

The first of the BPA’s town meetings will be held later this week.   That should be amusing considering that the BPA will be presenting it’s own parking solution, and lurking in the background is the Township’s own promised professional plan for which $8,000 has been earmarked.  And the HOA itself has a plan, so mix all these plans together and you will get a mish-mash  (defined as “an untidy or confused mixture of different things”)   It’s good that the CMA’s plan is still under wraps, because there are too many cooks already stirring the pot. 

All these plans so far have one thing in common: to provide more parking spaces in town during peak parking demands.  Only the HOA has put forth a proposal for permit parking, and no one has addressed the need to reduce demand, as we at Blogfinger have pointed out over and over:  Reducing big events is one way and paid parking is another.  (Bradley Beach has done both!)

And the North End Plan will bring more cars into town without offering any off-street or on-street parking for guests, residents,  and tourists over there.

Mongols solved their problems with horses. They parked wherever they wanted.

When the zombies return to A. Park, let’s organize them to invade and level A.P near the Casino, much as the Mongols did in the 13th century to Europe, and then the  zombies will occupy the land and build a giant free parking lot with shuttle’s back and forth.  And then Grovers can go there to park–poetic justice:  roses are red, violets are blue, free dinner at Taka, and free parking too.

Paul Goldfinger,  Editor at  Blogfinger.net

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