Nancy: Solitary voice for the CMA except Michael Badger. All photos by Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net. 8/27/23
Nancy’s family goes back over fifty years in the Grove and she is irate that some folks want to violate the longstanding practice of closing the beach on Sunday mornings. So she made up a sign, grabbed a lock, and positioned herself at the beach entrance by the pier.
She was ready to debate the matter with anyone who wanted to take her on. She said that there are legal precedents/case studies to support the CMA’s position.
She pointed out to me that the chain remained, but the lock was gone, so she attached her’s to the chain in a symbolic gesture.
Surprisingly Michael Badger, the irrepressible voice and face of the CMA, showed up to respond to a flood of criticisms from the Neptune United crowd. Badger interacts with NU leaders above. They don’t agree.
Also present was a vociferous group from Neptune United led by their leader lawyer Shane Martin. They brought a hand- out to distribute. Martin requested that I not photograph him and he held a paper over his face every time I aimed my camera. It made him look foolish.
Another outspoken guy in the NU group demanded that I not use his name, but his name is already all over Facebook.
Neptune United spokeswoman speaks to passersby. She is seriously opposed to the CMA’s rule over the beach. Blogfinger photo
Neptune PD officer speaks to a few Neptune United agitators. NU called NTPD.
It was a war of the words until the determined group of gate crashers moved en masse to go over or under the chain and enter the beach. A man named Dave stood by the chain to help trespassers get past without injury. He said that he supported the CMA’s longstanding regulation but he was worried about injuries to the crashers, some of whom were elderly protesters.
1-2-3 go! Trespassers surge forward towards the entrance chain.
Moving past the chain. “Occupy Beaches” on her shirt. She can barely get past the chain much less occupy a beach.
Some passersby stopped to offer their 2 cents worth and to listen to the loud opinions of some who were on their soap boxes. Clearly the loudest voices were in the opposition. The CMA is not known for publically expressing their opinions during controversies.
Nancy and Badger were among the few clashing with the aggressive protestors, but I spoke to a some folks who were checking out the spectacle, and, as previously reported by me, most Grovers were willing to follow the CMA regulations and wait till noon.
I did see a group of beachgoers who didn’t know about the closure, and they were transiently shocked at 9:30 am when they learned that their piles of supplies would have to wait. But then they smiled and said, “Let’s walk on the boardwalk.We like to walk.”
The war of the words here was like the Tower of Babel because the arguments were unfocused. As best I could tell, here is the gist of it all:
a. The CMA feels that it can reverse the DEP warning about the lock and chains, so they have already replied to the DEP in the hopes that they can keep their rules and barriers. Meanwhile they persist with the chains and with trying to enforce their beach closure.
b. NU is arguing that the CMA receives unwarranted tax exemptions from the Green Acres program because they are illegally denying and regulating beachgoers.
c. Nancy, the solitary CMA defender, says that the closure is only a tiny time span each week and that folks should be respectful of traditions.
d. A local tax expert opined to Blogfinger that depriving the CMA of their tax exemptions would only force them to increase their prices for “their beach.”
e. I have long wondered why this closure is so important in the first place. Michael Badger explained that OG is a very special town where a peaceful Sunday morning reminds everyone of what the CMA stands for.
In other words it’s not about religion; it’s about quality of life.
I’m not sure that his explanation would provide a strong argument if he had to defend it in court, but our tax expert said that the Sunday closures in Bergen County have withstood court challenges.
f. I also spoke to an outsider. This gentleman is from Bradley Beach, but he has gone to the OG beach for many years and he “loves the town.” He supports the CMA stance.
g. A tall and powerful Neptune officer came to chat with the Neptune United leaders. I couldn’t hear the conversation, but I doubt that he was willing to get involved. (see photo above)
Despite all the noise and furor, I can’t help but think that this protest is going nowhere……. UNLESS either the courts or the State of New Jersey get involved. And then the CMA may lose the battle, but ultimately very little will change one way or another because this battle is not worthy.
I could be wrong if the Sunday morning protests explode into wider horizons. After all in 1979 a suit involving newspaper deliveries into OG resulted in the CMA’s losing governance of the whole town.
Paul Goldfinger, MD
Editor Blogfinger.net
8/27/23
SONDHEIM AND BERNADETTE PETERS
RSSS
This sounds plausible. The CMA has always vigorously opposed plans to help with residential parking, such as permit parking. They see themselves as special while the rest of us are secondary.
I think there may be a simpler reason, if the beach opened at 9:00am on Sundays, there would be no parking available for those from out of town who attend Sunday morning services at the Great Auditorium.
Many federal, state and county parks limit the times when people are permitted to use tax supportive, tax exempt land. Some prohibit access after dark, with Sandy Hook, they deny access after the parking lots are full. Any could argue it violates their rights, but just like the OGCMA, they have that right to deny access for some period of time from the public.
The legal status of the beach seems to be legally complicated and subject to changing laws over the years. The DEP letter suggests that the OGCMA operates the beach under a permit that comes with provisions. An early account of the beach’s status mentioned:
“By decision of the Monmouth County Board of Taxation handed down today, Ocean Grove’s $3,000,000 beach front, the property of the Camp Meeting Association, is to escape taxation. It was shown to the board by the association’s legal representative, Samuel A. Patterson, the valuable strip of land, with its board walk, had been dedicated years ago by the association as a public highway, and was not therefore subject to taxation.”—NYT (4 Jun. 1908)
The Firemen’s Park iron fence was mentioned in the OGT of 26 Apr. 1973. It replaced a more unsightly chain-link fence. This was in the “Ocean Grave” period when the bell monument was subject to vandalism and graffiti. Conditions have improved in the past 50 years and there is probably no longer a need for the fence. The whole park could use a makeover with new plantings. Trees with reddish leaves would have symbolic value.
In interviewing Michael Badger I was surprised to discover that he views this issue to be of great importance and will stand his ground. Neither side has clearly explained why they are standing their ground over what seems to be a relatively unimportant issue.
Especially the NU which went to the DEP not over the beach closure, but because a chain and lock was used as a barricade that is readily overcome.
I’ve been complaining about the chain and lock in Firemen’s Park for years with no citizen support. That actually keeps people out while these chains and locks make no differences. We need NU to better explain their chain/lock position.
Seems like both sides are being unreasonable.
CMA: Is this the battle you must win at all costs? Its not unreasonable for some people to want to use the beach on Sunday am.
Neptune United and Friends: Why are you so angry that a private land owner is exercising rights they think they have (and maybe they do). Is 24×7 beach access so critical?
How about this idea? Why doesnt the CMA open one or 2 sections on the southside on Sunday am? Put up a snow fence or similar to divide. Nice and quiet on the church side – a little less quiet on the south side.
Marybeth”. Looking for a “hidden religious theme” is a stretch in terms of why the gate crashers are so vehement. Another possible explanation is that they are actually angry over the treatment of gays by many religious groups.
They point to possible violations of Green Acres tax exemptions, but is that really what they are about?
You are correct: something is missing to explain their anger.
It is so sad that this is going on. I feel it is a type of rabble-rousing by this group that could have a hidden religious theme.
Why not respect this wonderful tradition?
I understand that those that jump the chain do not pay. I have witnessed this group of “grown people” not come back and pay at 12 noon. How great is this? Not!
So go on the beach, do not pay, leave your garbage and cause a scene; and you are in the right—amazing! Sad state of affairs for supposed to be adults.
Why are you not out doing something beneficial for society?
What percentage of these folks showing up Sunday mornings are local residents ? And what percent are out of town interlopers ?? Will this matter diminish now that Summer is over ???