2016 Flea market Paul Goldfinger photo. Ocean Grove Pathway.
Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net
We have complained on Blogfinger regarding the 10 mega-congestion, parking-mayhem, giant-events in this small town each season. We have pointed out all the consequences of these events especially as to how they affect the quality of life for residents.
And, look at that photo. Consider how many parking spaces are eliminated by the pathetic Township of Neptune as they take many spaces out of commission during these events including street closures where no parking is allowed. So not only is parking frozen due to the tourists, but there are actually less spaces available.
And this from Jack Bredin: “I believe, if the public/private partnership between the Township and the CMA continues on the present course, “The Great Lawn” will become the parking lot for “The Auditorium Condominiums”
“I hope I am wrong.”
We have consistently said that the parking problems will be cured only if we eliminate most of these week-end-smothering events.
Sometimes I attend such events for “street photography.” When I do go, I rarely see any of my neighbors or any Grovers I know. These events are mostly for out-of-town interlopers whose presence spoil the town’s lifestyles for those who live here, particularly in-season when we taxpayers want to be able to be comfortable in our town.
But let’s consider this, and please be honest: Why do such events have to be held in Ocean Grove, a residential community which is small, crowded and barely able to accommodate those who actually live here and need to park here?
I know that some of you enjoy the giant dopey happenings, but do you enjoy the parking mess, the crowds, and the commercialism? Of course you don’t.
So why do we have to have these events in town? How about setting up at the Neptune Fliers stadium, for example. Go over to Heck Avenue (Neptune) where the high school and middle school are. You will see that there is plenty of room to sell all the crap in the world without tying up our town. Many towns do that. Just check Bradley Beach, for example.
And look at the rest of Neptune—you will never see anything like this in Shark River Hills, for example. We are being discriminated against.
Where is there zoning permission to have such events in our residential town? Who are the Chamber and the Camp Meeting that they have the power to dump thousands of people into our neighborhoods on a regular basis without any consideration for the Grover Nation?
And where does the Master Plan say that such regular grotesque events are a good idea for the life of our town?
And why aren’t our elected officials acting to restore sanity to our town during the best times of the year?
Mayor Brantley: Please move the circus out of Ocean Grove. Find us some Neptune locations “in need of redevelopment” and move the crowds there. It would be a political win by freeing our OG neighborhoods as you do elsewhere in Neptune (the city, not the planet.) I
An ad hoc committee should be formed, funds raised in town, and then a law suit filed to question the regular and illegal intrusion into the lives of we the people of Ocean Grove. We need a slogan: “Give us back our town!”
From “Jazz for Kids” David Leonhardt.
Thanks Michael: How special it must have been to meet those photo teachers and famed photographers.
When I was a physician in training at Mt. Sinai in the late 1960’s my interest in serious photography was first developing. We lived at the corner of Park Avenue and 97th Street, right at the southernmost border of “Spanish Harlem.” I began my internship there in 1966.
Little did I know that famed photographer Bruce Davidson was taking his time in 1966 when he began his two year project documenting life on a poverty stricken block— East 100th Street.
A very important book resulted in 1970. I found out about that work after discovering the book.
If only I had known, I would have walked over there and met Bruce.—a missed photo opportunity.
Following a two-year study, a Neptune Township committee voted in 1987 to ban parking within 25 feet of an intersection. The consequence of this would be the removal of an estimated 2,000 spaces in Ocean Grove. While this measure applied to the entire township, it was met with great disapproval by Ocean Grove residents at a public hearing. In response to this, there was brief consideration of paving over the grass areas of Ocean Pathway for parking, but this was dismissed early on.
Years ago, on one of those first Saturdays in June, I was standing in front of the house in Ocean Grove. A woman driving and searching for parking stopped and asked if any of the cars were mine. I pointed to the silver hatchback. She said: “I’ll give you $30 for the space.” I jumped in the car and drove southwest to park. Every man has his price and in 2001, mine was $30.
Mentioning street photographers, you left out my other (besides Ms. Arbus) late sixties/early seventies iconic Greenwich Village teachers: Lisette Model and Berenice Abbott.
How lucky I was to have the three of them living within walking distance of one another and my apartment!
The ultimate OG protest document is Dr. Whildens film>video of young protesters (probably from Monmouth University) protesting Nixon when he gave a speech at Great Auditorium in the 1960’s during Vietnam wartime. On one side of Great Lawn were protesters and on other side “good old” local OGers.
Apathy is a horrible thing . Alas think we are once again seeing it happen re Ukraine .
Kevin: Zoning is a process that is supposed to protect the citizens of a town. Zoning is a right that the law provides for citizens.
Zoning is how governments control the physical development of land and the kinds of uses to which each individual property may be put.
Do you suppose that a fine residential zoned area like Ocean Pathway should be subjected to the crowding, noise, smells, loss of parking spaces, loss of privacy and commercial activities out the wazoo? That sounds like violations of what zoning here should be about
AND should the rest of the town’s residential neighborhoods experience the ripple effects which spread all over town, smothering the wonders of living in a beach town?
AND, there is the concept of “nuisance” which is a legal matter:
“Under the common law, persons in possession of real property (land owners, lease holders, etc ) are entitled to the quiet enjoyment of their lands. If a neighbor (which the CMA definitely is) interferes with that quiet enjoyment by any hazard that extends past the boundaries of the property, the affected party may make a claim in nuisance.”
“Legally the term “nuisance” can be used in multiple ways, such as to describe an activity or condition that is harmful or annoying to others.”
And, “A public ‘nuisance’ is an unreasonable interference with the public’s right to property. It includes conduct that interferes with public health, safety, peace or convenience.”
And, “The remedy of an injunction became available to prevent a defendant from repeating the activity that caused the nuisance, and specifying punishment for contempt if the defendant is in breach of such an injunction.”
Let’s hire a lawyer who wants to protect we the people from loss of our freedoms, loss of equal protections (eg zoning) and loss of privacy and life styles in this mostly residential town.
And that suit should also include an injunction against proceeding with the ugly North End Plan which will infringe on our rights (zoning enforcement, parking, crowding, nuisance violations, etc) all over town. And how about health issues: Will any of those thousands of crowded flea buyers bring the COVID virus into town?
Kevin: I remind myself of talk-show hosts who complain a lot, often rightfully, but they have no power to change anything. However at least we have free speech, and you never know when a true hero or crowds of disgruntled citizens with torches may actually show up.
I did see it once in OG when there were demonstrations by the Great Auditorium over gay rights which actually persuaded the OGCMA to make some changes.
The two words I focused on were, “discriminated against.” When it comes to Ocean Grove’s major problems, high density and lack of parking, this is caused by Neptune’s discrimination by refusing to follow federal and state laws established through the courts.
Neptune continues to refuse to establish legal zoning definitions for housing uses in OG and continues to violate state mandated parking requirements in this over-burdened community leading to our parking problems.
This is clearly done through the vicious acts of discrimination by its attorneys, its boards and the Township Committee.
There is a big festival every year in Neptune at the exact location you suggest, between the Middle School and the High School Pool. “Neptune Day.” It is attended by big crowds (tho not sure if Ocean Grove residents go to it). It is proof that there are other locations to hold events. There is also the Midtown Community School on Rte. 33 just out of OG. The Chamber could look into this at least for some of the bigger events that disrupt our living so unfairly.
Tell your research assistant that they were called “bazaars”. I believe they were sponsored
by the Auxiliary Club and started much earlier than 1973.
I shoot both B&W & color depending on situation . Both are/can be beautiful . I am not very specific and remain open to each palette’s possibilities(correct me if misspell and try saying that 3x times fast . Ha.) .
Back to subject: The many faces/people/expressions found at OG Flea Market and other gatherings is fun for people watchers (and photographers too) . Thus I am just fine with them all.
Editor’s note: Thanks Frank for sharing some of your feelings about photography. You must occasionally get a great shot,and if you wish, email it to me for publication on Blogfinger. Paul Blogfinger@verizon.net
The first flea market (1973) was sponsored by the OG Hotel Association that appears to have morphed into the Chamber of Commerce. This was held at the Auditorium Pavilion but seemingly spread to Auditorium Park by 1979. In 1982, it was advertised as having over 100 dealers on Ocean Pathway. Other events that may have preceded this are difficult to search.
Frank. Most serious photographers specialize. For years I only shot black and white (film) as the masters did since the invention of photography. Most of the greats were “street photographers” such as Cartier Bresson, Diane Arbus, Lee Friedlander, and Helen Levitt.
I only returned to color because of Blogfinger.
But street photography is what interests me the most—and in black and white, now with the new “mono” cameras. But others do other things such as Ansel Adams with his scenic photography and Robert Capa with his war and news photography.
And then there are the huge number of people who shoot with phones. I have seen some fine images made that way, but most phone photos are of poor quality by traditional standards, but for most people, their images are just fine for Facebook and Instagram.
However you don’t need an “excuse.” You just need a passion and a good eye. Paul
I too Like to people watch and engage in what you refer to as “street photography.” So I see the Giant OG Flea Market as an opportunity to do so.
Full disclaimer : I also like Belmar Parade (which was today actually,) Coney Island Mermaid Parade, OG’s own 4th of July Parade, etc., etc.
Probably as silly an excuse as any huh ?