Blogfinger

Asbury Park Press photo from  August, 2019 published today May 15, 2020. Pete Ackerman.

APP.  Asbury beach in August 2019.

Ocean Grove beach c. 2017. Paul Goldfinger photo. ©

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @blogfinger.net

Today, May 15, the Asbury Park Press published about 50 photographs of women and girls in bikinis on the beach of A. Park.  I hope the same small group which has complained to Blogfinger about our “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” series will also let the APP know how they feel.

The photos above show what A. Park and Ocean Grove can look like in peak summer season.

The new Executive Order by the Governor will be interpreted in a variety of ways by Shore towns.

For example, in Seaside Heights, they are asking the state for over $2 million to make up for their oceanfront losses, which will be considerable because all those boardwalk rides, games of chance and eateries will remain closed for now.

Some towns wanted to restrict parking and/or beach access to their own townspeople, but that won’t be allowed under the new regulations.

Notice the bunching in the OG surf above.  How can distancing be possible in the water as body-surfing missiles bang into others. We don’t even know how safe surf water might be as far as the virus is concerned.

And who will be enthused about being lifeguards under the circumstances.  Some towns will not have life guards until July 1.

The reassurances of Pres. Badger about virus risk in the Grove are underwhelming.

Ocean Grove is the only shore town that we know of where the municipality is not in charge of what happens at their beach fronts.  The CMA continues its latest approach of letting time go by as they assess whether certain traditional activities can continue this season.

For example, the CMA has considerable  children’s activities.  In Seaside Heights they have already canceled their summer camp which usually enrolls 600-800 kids.   No festivals are allowed, so will the CMA cancel their 2 day Bridgefest?   And no “pavilions” can be used and no concerts offered , so what about those religious activities, gospel music, and summer band at the boardwalk pavilion?

The CMA has always had freedom to do as they please in OG as the Township has let them do whatever in terms of events that may negatively impact the majority secular residents of the Grove.

What will they do now in the face of the Governor’s executive order?  They have already opened up the tightly packed Tent Village which may violate CDC rules on “congregate settings.”

And who will enforce the Governor’s mandates in OG?  The Neptune PD won’t, unless the Governor says they must.

It will be interesting to see because the health of our residents and visitors is at stake.

BEVERLY KENNEY   “Undecided”