Blogfinger

OG pier is currently closed due to safety issues.  12/24/23.  Photos by Paul Goldfinger, Blogfinger.net.  Ocean Grove, NJ,   USA.  ©.   Click to enlarge.

No one is on the pier this morning. Notice the sign “Welcome to the Pier!” How about the exclamation mark?   If they are asserting their ownership of the pier, it just says “built and maintained by..”  And it says, “Private Property.” Really?   Blogfinger.net photo. Click once to enlarge.

By Paul Goldfinger, MD.   Editor of Blogfinger.net which never confuses the town of Ocean Grove with the OG Camp Meeting Association.    12/24/23

The pier is only 8 months old, but this is the second time it is closed because of pilings concerns. It has been asserted that there is one loose piling.    Currently an investigation into the situation is ongoing.

All sorts of officials have spoken out and been interviewed  regarding the closed pier. This includes the CMA, the Neptune Mayor What’s-His-Name, Neptune Business Manager What’s Her-Name, and Peter Avakian  who is the engineer for this project; Published reports by the New Jersey Press.

And why are the Neptune Mayor and the Business Manager commenting to the press about the OG pier which is owned by the CMA?  Neptune  usually doesn’t  give a damn about Ocean Grove.

So, regarding the press covering this pier saga;  it’s same old story:

I reviewed 4 local news outlets.  (NJ.com, Coaster, Asbury Park Press and Asbury Patch)    Everyone of them decided to drag irrelevant and inflammatory  topics into their pier closure reports, including the cross-shape of the pier, the DEP threats, the Sunday morning closings, the various “controversies”  in town, and one of them even unearthed the story of lesbians at the Boardwalk Pavilion (2007.)

In addition, and you know my prior reports concerning this, they consistently confuse the town of Ocean Grove with the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, and the CMA never tries to correct these misconceptions.

AP Patch  says,  “In the past year the NJDEP has been threatening to fine Ocean Grove…”  No!   It is the CMA that they are dealing with.

And they reported,  “Additionally, a yoga class was once not allowed to be taught on the Ocean Grove boardwalk; the town never said why.”     The “town” has nothing to do with this currently moribund issue.

The Patch headline says, “The controversial cross-shaped pier in Ocean Grove is temporarily closed this December.”  They quoted Michael Badger, “He said the pier is also designed in a “T” shape to withstand strong storms.”   Who’s on first?

Patch  also asserted,  “The traditional, conservative Christian Camp Meeting Association often clashes with the state of New Jersey.”  That is not true.   And how are they “conservative?”   They are never political.  Maybe they are referring to Methodist Church doctrines which has its own language.

The  Coaster says,    “The new pier has been the center of controversy with some residents  in this historic district objecting to its  cross-shape design.”  Why is this mish-mash  part of their pier closure report?  Or is this a fish-mash on the pier?

The APP says, .”The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, which owns and governs the community within Neptune Township…”   What?  Define “community.”

NJ.com headline  says. “Controversial cross-shaped pier at Jersey Shore closed for safety inspection.”   Do they not know that Ocean Grove has a name?     We should all join the ” NJ Citizens  For Accuracy in News Reporting.”  (NJCFAINR)

And there is also this from the Patch:  “I can’t speak for the whole committee, but I have concerns, and we are asking for further investigations be done to make sure this isn’t a systemic problem,”  Neptune Mayor Keith Cafferty said.

So why can’t the mayor speak for the “whole committee?”   Let’s get the Home Groaners to work on this question regarding Neptune governance.

Finally, since no one can now walk on the pier, this couple turned it into a giant beachfront exercise machine:

Paul Goldfinger photo. 12/24/23. Ocean Grove, USA. Click once to enlarge.

The CMA was taking a chance on love when it  finally went ahead to rebuild the Sandy (2012) damaged pier.

Here’s Jane Monheit: