OG boardwalk. November 6, 2020. Blogfinger.net

 Blogfinger.net 11/20.  OG boardwalk.

By Paul Goldfinger,  Editor @Blogfinger.net.

When FEMA agreed to pay for the OG boardwalk after Sandy, a big fuss was made by the CMA and the Neptuners, arguing that the OG boards were, although privately owned, in essence, a public thoroughfare.

FEMA paid to rebuild a public boardwalk, not a memorial park with personal plaques and floral tributes to individuals—even pets.  That usage, despite tradition to the contrary, should  be ended.  It is inappropriate and perhaps uncomfortable to some who live in or visit our town. And it identifies our town in a way that is inaccurate. OG can no longer be defined as a religious community.  We can have  separation of church and state here without compromising freedom of religion.

Ocean Grove, despite it’s unusual configuration, should be like other towns in terms of public spaces, and that includes the parks, restraints on mega-events by private groups, and the beach/boardwalk usage.

SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY  (from Ocean Grove)   “Beneath Still Waters…”

Beneath still waters
There’s a strong undertow
The surface won’t tell you
What the deep water knows