Are we about to experience a new dawning of truth in Ocean Grove?   Paul Goldfinger photograph.

Editorial 9/3/23:      Updated from the original version dated Nov. 2022.     We thought then that Neptune United might shed some new light on the town of Ocean Grove.  But even then we had “misgivings.”  See those 2022  concerns below.

Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor Blogfinger.net.    11/22 version revised and added  on.

At Blogfinger we have been banging our digital heads for years against walls created by groups who have resisted an understanding of  how this town really works, and especially how the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting has dominated life here while largely ignoring  the largely secular homeowners and renters community.

Not only have they been dominant, but their aggressive expansion in recent years is designed to turn the town into a “Christian Seaside Community,”  and the Township of Neptune has done nothing to help we-the-people deal with this ambitious  intrusion into our quality of life.

Neptune United said that  there is  reason to believe that laws, including Constitutional rights, have been violated. That sounded intriguing.

And we know that Neptune has  conspired with the CMA for their mutual advantages even after power was turned over to Neptune in 1979.

At  Blogfinger we have done little other than to keep ringing alarm bells and providing information.

But now  that Neptune United has suddenly appeared on the scene, we have wondered  (11/22)  if they might take some new roads to bring Ocean Grove to a more modern and democratic place.

After reading the NU website it was clear that a tremendous amount of work had been done to clarify how our town really works.   We were hopeful that their promise would  be implemented.

But, in November 2022,  I listed  some misgivings. These were speculative but worrisome enough to post:

a. It is clear that this Neptune United  effort is about Ocean Grove, so to call it a Neptune project is misleading and needs to be explained.

b. It is disappointing that their analysis left out that huge legal concern when in 2007 the North End of Ocean Grove was designated as a Zone in Need of Redevelopment.  And along with that is the oppressive mess that we are now facing at the North End–a project without any care for the residential citizens of the Grove.

In addition we hoped that this legally oriented team would want to mention the stealing of single family zoning at the North End as well as other manipulations of zoning which have been suspect over the years such as condo conversions without parking.

c. The focus on LGBT concerns should be a side issue at best for this effort, and we need to be convinced that the NU ship should be steered in that direction.  OG is a tolerant town and there are no problems here that we can see which would require attention at the top of their list of concerns. This needs to be explained.

d. The CMA founded this town and they have done remarkable things over the years, and as this NU project proceeds it is essential that the CMA be respected and honored for their accomplishments which continue now after over 150 years.

e.  If the NU is to have credibility it cannot give the appearance of a conflict of interest.   Today a member of NU was seen meeting with an officer of the OG Homeowners Assoc.

f.  How many emails were sent out by NU and where did they get our email addresses?   Was it the Home Groaners?   Was it Ocean Grove United?  Was it Neptune Township?   Who betrayed their email list?

g. Why are  “fairness, equality, and diversity” so high on their priority list?  What are some examples of lack of fairness, equality and diversity which NU finds now in Neptune?  We are skeptical.

Now  (09/03/23) after nearly a year in town, there is reason to believe that the Neptune United agenda has not been accurately revealed.   Judge them by what they do, not what they say on their web site.

a. Evidently there is after all some relationship between NU and the OGHOA.  The HOA has gone on record allowing attacks on the CMA at a couple of their meetings, and NU is known to be critical of the CMA.  What common goals do these two groups have ?  And will the HOA be sure that their board reveals to their membership what the relationship is between themselves and NU?

b. NU has not pursued the Constitutional issues which they introduced.  Instead they have gone on food drives for the hungry.

c. We have heard nothing from them about the North End, a dangerous progression currently stuck in the Monmouth Courthouse.

d.    Between November 2022 and September 2023, Neptune United has revealed what its concerns actually are:  CMA “discrimination,”  “CMA involvement with a national hate group”, trying to paint the CMA as a radical religious organization.    And denouncing a cross shape pier which they say “is harmful to Neptune Township, and its residents and visitors.”

They also have concerned themselves with Christian symbols around town in public places.

And they became active during the battle regarding parking stickers.  Why?  Whom do they represent?

Most recently they have been leading demonstrations at the boardwalk objecting to Sunday morning beach closures.  That activity is worrisome because they are making claims in Trenton that the CMA is receiving illegal tax deductions, failing protections for the disabled, and depriving visitors of their freedoms. This is out of proportion to the stated problem.

They have even denied that what they do is a protest…..just exercising their rights.

And they have tried to get Neptune Township to jump in according to pretty good coverage by the APP which quotes Shane Martin on this:

“Ensuring the rights of the public is one of the main responsibilities of local government. It is time for Neptune Township officials to fulfill their obligations to our community and stop the Camp Meeting’s infringement on our right to access the beach, as is required by law,” said Shane Martins, one of the founders of Neptune United.”

Boy they are really hot over this  issue.    What is really behind the Neptune United  aggressiveness over Sunday closures?

Is NU the heir to the now defunct Ocean Grove United’s agenda regarding gay rights?  Are we going to see NU become more aggressive in accusing the CMA of anti-LGBTQ activities?

Will NU reveal finally why they have the name “Neptune” in their name?   What does that mean in terms of what their priorities are really about?  We believe that there is a connection with Neptune that has not yet been revealed.

And how about revealing their membership so that Grovers can know whom  they are dealing with. Are they outsiders or citizens in the Grove?

At a demonstration at the boardwalk last week, one NU member refused to allow us to print his name while another asked that we not photograph him when he has been photographed speaking publicly at a couple of prior meetings . Why the attempt at anonymity?

So our conclusion is that Neptune United is a blur regarding its actual agendas and that no Grovers should jump on that bandwagon unless they are sure that they agree with their purposes.

Blogfinger has now taken a few steps backward regarding Neptune United while we figure out the truth and priorities of that organization.

Paul Goldfinger, MD.   Editor in Chief.  Blogfinger.net

OVERTURE TO THE BROADWAY SHOW:     Promises, Promises