*This cartoon is from the New Yorker Magazine of March 11, 2024.
Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net, Ocean Grove, NJ, USA.
I imagine that a Constitutional scholar or any legal scholar might find some fascinating topics in Ocean Grove.
We have issues of church vs state; representative government that is broken; failure of a town to secede because of oppression by a majority; questions of ownership—-ocean, beach and other public spaces; being forced to pay taxes on land owned by others; failure to keep a public beach open Sunday mornings; failure to enforce existing town laws; questions of discrimination; blue laws that linger too long; and probably other concerns.
But the citizens have no idea how to win the day on tough public controversies. The local government fails to look at these problems on our behalf and they even turn their back and exploit us.
But now, riding in on white horses come legal experts who live here and want to help in a way that we have never had before. They are called the Legal Affairs Committee of the OGHOA.
Their work on the HPC/ TOWNSHIP Settlement must have been grueling.
And we need to appreciate them and encourage others.
It doesn’t matter if it’s win/lose or hello/good bye—they are trying. And now there is a chance to win that wasn’t there before.
Bravo:
Barbara Burns
Eileen Michaels
JP Thompson
Robert Ingato
Marybeth Robb
Kathleen Zebrowski
BEATLES:
Sadly, this is too little too late. There are major zoning issues that were created through fraud and corruption by over forty years. Instead of Neptune’s correcting Ocean Grove’s clear zoning violations in its Master Plan and its zoning schedule, the Planning Board accepted a reexamination report from the planner that continues to promote illegal zoning practices for Ocean Grove. Illegal uses are still permitted and Illegal definitions are still promoted. The violation of RSIS requirements are still permitted through a long term policy of bigotry.
This is proven as to what is going on right now at 45 Broadway. Variances were required for permits, but none were sought, meaning no legal permits could be given, meaning no legal inspections are taking place and yet construction moves forward creating apartments on a single family non- conforming lot that will increase our parking problems.
Neptune knows that if the OGHOA refuses to address this blatant disregard of zoning law for this Broadway project then their arguments carry no water when it comes to the illegal Area in Need of Redevelopment at the North End.
Doesn’t that cartoon look like the interior of the Great Auditorium?
Thankster:
“More often than not….”
This is not a zero sum game. If the HOA is deserving of praise, then they will have it from Blogfinger.
But when they fail the people of Ocean Grove, such as when they refused for all these years to categorically say “no” to the destructive North End Redevelopment Plan, then they should be criticized.
Their stated goal: “The mission of the OGHOA is to protect and enhance property values and the quality of life in Ocean Grove.”
You will notice that “protect” and “enhance” are verbs—action words. Do you think that they are fulfilling those goals?
Your acknowledgement of their efforts is appreciated. More often than not there has been criticism of the HOA and this is a pleasant change. Thank you.