This is an example of the news photographs which I obtained at the Neptune Committee meeting 2/26/24. Blogfinger.net
On February 26, 2024 I attended the Township Committee meeting using their live streaming service. I took notes and photographs and later that night wrote a news report of what happened at the meeting which many Grovers attended in person or by Town Hall Streams, and quite a few went to the mic for their 5 minutes speaking to the Committee.
Our news report was posted on Blogfinger.net that night. I believe that Blogfinger was the only media source to provide a same-day article about what occurred at the meeting.
In our post about the meeting I published a few pictures of Grovers going up to speak. One of those mentioned was of Grover Connie Ogden.
In addition to a photo that showed her speaking at the mic, we also mentioned a quote by her that said, “Please listen to us.” I also used her quote in the headline because she seemed so passionate in her brief speech to the Committee. So I considered featuring her to be a compliment.
The next day I was concerned that those who didn’t know about our post might want to read the report. So I went to the HOA Facebook page and I posted a link to our BF article about the meeting. The HOA had posted nothing about it, either on Facebook or their web page.
Blogfinger.net had nearly 800 hits 2/27, so many folks were interested in our reporting.
On Feb 27, the next day, no reason was given, but Ms. Ogden demanded I immediately take down her photo and all references to her on Blogfinger.
But she didn’t stop there. She complained to the HOA Facebook Admin. and asked them to remove my link.
I don’t know what she said to them, but they deleted our news link at her request. My news report did not violate any of their rules, and her public appearance does not entitle her to privacy.
Evidently Connie Ogden and the Home Groaners Facebook Administrators don’t know about the Constitution which provides not only free speech but freedom of the press, both of which are found in the First Amendment.
Meanwhile on Blogfinger I took down her photo and her quote even though I did not have to do that. But the HOA owes us an explanation.
If any of you want to verify what was said at the meeting, the whole event was recorded, and any citizen can get a copy from the Neptune Clerk’s Office under the Freedom of Information Act. And you can hear what Ms. Ogden actually said and the eagerness with which she said it.
And, by the way, in 1980, a law suit was filed when the CMA refused to let newspapers be delivered in town on Sunday. That suit led to the CMA’s losing governance in the Grove.
Will the Groaners have a good explanation for blocking my news report, thus preventing citizens from being informed?
Paul Goldfinger MD, Editor, Blogfinger.net. Ocean Grove, NJ, USA.
Editor’s note 2/29/24: Below is a comment which I want to feature here:
The admin for the OGHOA Facebook group is the same admin for Ocean Grove Open Dialogue. Unfortunately, she believes she can censor those in our community whenever she chooses.
I am in no way trying to bully this person. Instead, I believe her actions are a danger to our community and to society as a whole. for that reason, I hope she sees this comment.
Paul Revere brought important news to our young nation. It alerted the folks that the British were on the way. What if someone tripped his horse?
Those who framed the Constitution knew that a free press would be essential for a successful democracy. Those who try to compromise a free press are toxic to our nation and to our local communities such as Ocean Grove.
And if this episode seems trivial to you, think of the “broken window” theory of crime control.
The admin for the OGHOA Facebook group is the same admin for Ocean Grove Open Dialogue. Unfortunately, she believes she can censor those in our community whenever she chooses.
I am in no way trying to bully this person. Instead, I believe her actions are a danger to our community and to society as a whole. for that reason, I hope she sees this comment.