A happy Saturday night in the Great Auditorium 2017. This crowd appreciated the CMA for such non -religious good will events. Paul Goldfinger photograph.

By Paul Goldfinger. Editor. Blogfinger.net. 2/27/23. Ocean Grove, NJ

When OG was founded in 1869 by the Camp Meeting Association, it was about more than religion.  The CMA  governed the town with the permission of the State of New Jersey. It determined the life styles of everyone who lived or visited here.    The CMA touched all elements of life here even aspects that were not about religion, and life in the Grove was generally good.

They even had an enforcement arm consisting of a police dept. and a municipal court.    The people of Ocean Grove had to behave and follow lots of rules, but  there was nothing like the anti-Christian sentiments which erupted at the Saturday forum sponsored by the disgraceful OGHOA . (2/25/23)

The situation  changed dramatically in 1979-80 when OG governance was turned over to Neptune.  The CMA worked out deals with Neptune so as to  keep some “blue laws.”  Neptune tried to help the CMA keep the Sunday closures by phony parking ordinances,  and the two groups tried to  play such games together, but it didn’t work out.  However there are still a few blue laws left thanks to that unholy alliance.

This was the beginning of the” live and let live”  relationship of the two groups at the expense of the growing diverse secular residential community that was developing in the Grove and which is now the largest faction in town.

And when it came time for the CMA to request zoning changes, they and their pals in town  usually got what they wanted.  A good example would be the  dramatic zoning changes at the North End Redevelopment Zone.  After all these years, the Neptuners will still  not reveal the names of those who are investing with the developer OGNED.  And whenever someone in the Grove wanted to illegally condoize an old building, the Neptuners made it happen.   Corruption?  What promises have been made to Neptune officials?

When Eileen and I  moved here over 20 years ago, the town seemed charming, and more secular style people like us were moving in. We enjoyed the cultural mix which included church bells, religious traditions, and Great Auditorium events. Our two sons have lived here as well. But there have been changes to make living here less desirable for the resident community in town due to the changing policies of the CMA.

In recent years  the CMA has kept  expanding their religious presence in a variety of ways, thus making it more difficult for Grover residents and renters to enjoy the town.  Parking glut due to expanding religious tourism are part of all that.    Some of the complaints that emerged at the  2/25/23 OGHOA “forum” are legitimate, but not the ones that attacked the CMA at a personal level and without evidence..  You can read our post dated 2/25 to read about that “forum.”

If you consider all the ways that the CMA makes this town special apart from religious activities, you will see that they have recently let a lot of good will slip between their fingers. One glaring issue is the loss of the very popular Saturday night showtime.  Another is the crowding that is brought by the CMA for their hundreds of religious programs during the best time of year when residents and visitors want to enjoy the town for secular reasons: concerts, yard sales, family reunions, friends visit, flea markets, art shows, film festival, boardwaking, lifeguard tournaments, rentals, beaching, biking, etc.

But if the CMA would change course and reverse those aspects that smother  life styles of Grover residents, then maybe they will wake up and join with the rest of us to make OG one of the best Jersey Shore towns.

The CMA does not own the town, so it has to stop trying to act as if it does.  Neptune should put the brakes on the aggressive growth of the CMA. We-The-People want our town back.

At the end of the  “forum” President CMA Michael Badger made a cameo appearance.  I was not planning to record any videos, but I did so for President (HOA) Williams’ opening remarks and when I realized that Badger was speaking into a mike.  Listening  to his tone of voice it was evident that he had been stung by the vicious negativity of the CMA haters who were  present.

But he responded in an odd way considering what had just occurred.  He told of a long meeting which he had with some of his Grovarian detractors. But evidently despite a nice lunch, none were willing to bend.   He tried  to “welcome”  them into his embrace by offering them  “love”.  He offered that even though they were not interested in his religion.

Perhaps he  and the CMA board can learn from this and realize that they need friends in town along with a change in policy.  They need to join hands with the secular moderates here who are the main group and who want to see Ocean Grove become a diverse small town for all of us  who appreciate the contributions of the CMA and would welcome cooperation.

The CMA  could do that without compromising their religious lives here, but they need to be persuaded to back off and accomodate  our diverse and sympathetic secular population minus those who would paint the town as evil.

They could recall the early years when the CMA was an important part of the lives of all who came here.  Just recall those Saturday nights when the CMA made thousands happy, not with religion, but with Doo Wops, Neil Sedaka, The Beach Boys and so many others. The answer is not to push everyone aside while they pursue a Christian Seaside Community.

However Badger’s  tone and demeanor at the forum suggests that he might consider becoming part of our community rather than continuing to push and expand while ignoring the rest of us.

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Paul Goldfinger, Editor. Blogfinger.net

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