We spotted these signs downtown in front of the bakery, the coffee shop, and a take-out restaurant.

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net

Some years ago, when the streetscape downtown was redesigned, sidewalk areas were increased to help certain businesses enhance al fresco dining.  This occurred at the expense of parking spaces that had to be eliminated in an area where such spaces were quite precious.  How did that happen?

There is an excess of handicapped spaces in the Grove, at the expense of parking spaces on public streets.  This is the opinion of many Grovers. Who is reviewing the procedures that grant handicapped spaces, and are these permits granted fairly?

Here is a link about handicap parking in OG:

Handicapped parking in Ocean Grove 2018 re-post

Now we find that some spaces downtown have been removed as usable spaces.  Instead, they can only be used for 15 minutes at a time for pick ups  (see photo above.)  This doesn’t seem like much, and it makes sense, but it is a precedent where parking spaces can be denied  because some spaces have been set aside for special interests.  Who gets to say who can reserve parking spaces on public streets?

Well, then, how about setting aside some spaces around town to be used only for residents. Let’s call it permit parking.   At least residents who live here and pay taxes can be given some special treatment as well.   The problem with precedents is that it is hard to refuse a request for other special interests. Or is it?

In Neptune Township, double standards are not unusual.

A Grover we know was refused a request to put a hot tub in her backyard. But over at the Greek Temple, permission was granted to put a swimming pool on the roof.

And another Grover was refused a request to place a small deck off their second floor where they have an entrance door.  Yet such decks are present all over town, and theirs would have been invisible from the street.

And then there are the special interests who get to decrease parking on our streets when condominiums are allowed without parking provided.    Keep your eyes on the parking issues surrounding the North End.

Many New Jersey towns have municipal ethics boards watching over governance. They would be vigilant for double standards, because in America we should have equal justice under the law,  and no special treatment for certain parties such as developers or locals with networking connections.

Here is one of the main functions of such boards:…..”to assure a skeptical public that the decisions of its government are based on the public interest and not on the private interests of the decision makers.”*

It’s time that Ocean Grove demand that Neptune Township establish such an ethics board. Maybe the Home Groaners, now with a new president, might look at these issues and others.   But don’t hold your breaths.

*From a legal opinion regarding ethics boards in NY State.

THE IRISH TENORS:   “…to the oceans white with foam.”