We have no idea of the impact of coronavirus so far in Ocean Grove. Exactly what is the CMA’s Badger monitoring “every hour?” Do we have any test results for the Grove?
This APP article offers very little of substance, but this is what was said in their 4/30 piece today:
a. The reporter says that the CMA and not the Township decides if the boardwalk remains open. What is the truth? According to Jack Bredin, it’s the other way around.
b. Andy Levine, the head of the Better Parking Alliance in OG, who likes to jog on the boards, says that he agrees with keeping our boards open, but he believes that as the weather gets warmer, the CMA “will have to follow everyone else and probably shut things down.”
Hey Andy—stick to parking. “No comment” would have been a better choice for you.
c. ” Barbara Burns, President of the Home Groaners, said she was supportive of the approach taken by the CMA.”
She also is a mind reader saying, “Most people I think are pretty comfortable with following whatever guidance we get from the state.”
It seems she thinks the state has offered “guidance” about our boardwalk, but they have actually shown no interest in the subject.
d. Michael Badger of the CMA said, “We are monitoring it hourly.” He explained the CMA’s plan “is to keep the boardwalk and beach open, with a phased approach to events as the summer months approach, but he cautioned that if there is any danger to public health, that approach could change quickly.”
So, the CMA is monitoring the situation “hourly,” but has he noticed that New Jersey has more cases and more deaths every day?
Evidently he doesn’t see any danger to public health in the Grove. Is he so ignorant of the infectiousness of this virus that he thinks that so far, it’s all fine?
Badger still has not mentioned publicly that there are thousands of people who live in the Grove and who can be impacted by his policies. He doesn’t want to recognize that we have a community of residents who live here and should be factored into his plans which seem to ignore the priority of public health.
And the APP also has also not recognized the community of residents who are most vulnerable to out-of- control tourism. This is journalism at its worst. The reporter couldn’t even come up with stats (cases and deaths) about the virus in Ocean Grove and neither has his paper. He doesn’t seem to understand the public health issues here as well as the clash of opinions.
Why not take the most careful approach and close the boards, like our neighbors, and then, later, if the numbers work out, to consider opening along with other towns around us?
Who in this town is paying attention to the health risks for our citizens? Certainly not the ding dings quoted above.
Paul Goldfinger MD, Editor.
Both the Boardwalk and sidewalks in OG are private property owned by the CMA. A unique situation in NJ.
The CMA makes and enforces rules for their use and they are both part of the “public sidewalk system”.
The CMA lets the public use the boardwalk and sidewalks in exchange for not paying municipal taxes on the structures (a fair exchange)
The CMA manages the boardwalk quite nicely but does not have the municipal authority to close it.
But Neptune Township can close it if “criminal activity” (violation of State Rules) goes beyond
the CMA’s Rules.
The CMA no longer has a police department.