Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net. 2/6/22
Today the mayor of New York City announced a new Parks Commissioner. That woman will have over 30,000 public acres to look after. She will make the decisions on behalf of the people of New York City.
The Mayor said that he wants her to enhance the experience for all the people of the city including more paths, handicapped access, and overall joy.
If you have been in New York’s public parks did you find anything that reminds you of Ocean Grove’s parks?
This is what we find in Firemen’s Park (OG): A creche at Christmas extending for one month after, a tree dedicated to a dead citizen, several headstone like memorials in the ground, a dangerous and disgraceful chain- locked spiked fence surrounding a Fire Department bell that no child may touch, posting of health advice (don’t smoke) and posting of ordinances with implied threats for disobeying. The park is named for the Ocean Grove Firemen.
And now we see a new tribute (see above)– this for those “who served” including (again) firemen and rescue squad. That is looking like something that may add even more ugliness to the park.
So who decides who should be honored in our parks? It is the CMA–they approve the choices while leaving out others such as the Neptune Police and the military.
Why can’t we just walk into our parks to enjoy their natural welcoming beauty without any favoritism, threats, proselytizing, or health advice?
If our parks are public thoroughfares, as the CMA says, then why does the CMA, a private organization, get to have veto power over everything that goes on in our parks?
Check the 2022 OG Summer Program Guide for the town of Ocean Grove. Its content is overwhelmingly about CMA sponsored religious events, and you will find hundreds of them, many of which are outdoors in the parks and other public spaces during prime months. These events impose a quality of life here which we the people must experience without having any say.
And the booklet says that it is about Ocean Grove’s Summer Programs, but they refused to include the Blogfinger Town Wide Yard Sale in the calendar. Why? How many non-religious based secular organized events are there in our public parks on their calendar except for their good friends the Chamber of Commercials?
The CMA seems to believe that it can do whatever it wants because it owns the land, even if that land is defined as for the public. Good examples are the parks and the boardwalk.
But does owning the land mean that the CMA is boss over the rest of us?
Actually, a town is supposed so be run according to democratic principles on behalf of the citizens, not according to who owns the land. If the town became desolate, with the people being driven away by an epidemic, a massive tornado, or a war–leaving just the land, would it still be a community?
No, people define a town and govern a town. Our Constitution empowers “we the people” not we the land owners.
The CMA wants to have it both ways, private and public.
In New York there are private parks which are fenced in. No one but approved members can enter. But the public parks are open to all, and the people make the decisions for public parks—thus the new Parks Commissioner.
HAMILTON: “History Has Its Eyes on You.”
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