Blogfinger

Ocean Grove as we like it. July 3, 2021. Paul Goldfinger photo. © Click to enlarge the joy.

“Bring Back a Better Day” wrote a letter to us today, attempting to express his/her  concern about a situation in the town of Ocean Grove where he sees the fabric of the community beginning to unravel.

He has tried to express himself in terms of our architecture—Victorian style homes which are true objects of history but which also represent a unique and meaningful presence here–people do live here.. This is not Williamsburg.

It is not easy to express what the problems are—which are substantial and which are trivial;  which truly represent a threat to the town as many of us know it. But he tries to do that in his letter.

Blogfinger has  attempted  to report on certain examples, lately expressing concern about the overwhelming growing presence of the Camp Meeting Association, but others have tried to focus on a  situation by blaming Neptune for allowing illegal zoning and compromising our neighborhoods with floods of tourists, condoization,  and parking distress.

We look on with dismay as the North End is destined to become Asbury Park south. Some have focused on derelict properties while others complain about the strange ground rent phenomenon.

Quality of life issues are real when one looks at the town through the lenses of those who actually live here.  Most of the Neptune ruling class does not live here, but they have power over us, and some of us focus on the concept of a “cash cow” being exploited by the Neptuners and their allies here in the Grove  (ie developers, entrenched and self centered old families, real estate fortune hunters, and commercial interests who don’t care about the residents who have invested in their homes and pay high taxes.)

There is no doubt that the current rental phenomenon is causing trouble.  We have heard from Grovers who relate stories of loud parties during the early hours with mostly college age kids, probably Airbnb renters , who sign on and then bring their friends.   This will get worse as  summer heightens.  We also  heard of groups of bicyclers riding around town in the middle of the night.

We are aware of such parties at places such as Belmar or Seaside Heights, but this is new to Ocean Grove, and so our writer is understandably upset because he,  and others, are worried about our quiet, family oriented, sweet town.  He sees an out-of-control situation  and he echoes our concerns about what sort of community we will become.

But, it is not as terrible as he seems to think.  The Grove is a remarkable place which can be enjoyed in many ways, and I believe that most people here are quite content.

Very often our citizens pursue their enjoyment while ignoring the problems.  Burying our heads in the sand is easy to do, and we have lots of sand down at the beach.

It’s too bad we don’t have an effective citizen-based organization to help confront our  issues.  Will things get better for the residents of OG, will they remain the same, or will they get worse?   Let’s pay attention.

Paul Goldfinger,  Editor  Blogfinger.net

From the movie Chef.   “A Message to You Rudy.”   Don’t worry if you don’t get all the words–it’s the spirit of the music.