Paul Goldfinger, Blogfinger CIC. I’ve got a right to sing the blues!
Today I received three email ads from the Chamber of Commerce. All three came by Neptune Township email and all had the Neptune banner on top as is shown in the top ad, but the ads are laid out so that the Neptune banner cannot be moved along with the ad. If you look at the end of each ad it says, “Sent by info@neptunetownship.org.” And it says “Township of Neptune.”
The Ocean Grove “area” Chamber of Commercials consists of private businesses, some of whom are not from Ocean Grove, who will sponsor profit- making events here. One is for a giant flea market in June, one for a “Spring Fling,” and one is for a vintage car show on May 18. And what the hell is a “fling?” We should ban flings in this historic town.
Is our town a form of State Fairground? Was this town founded to use as a venue for exploitive large entertainments? And who is making the money here—will any of this reduce our tax burden?
If someone wants to sponsor an event to attract tourists, then they should use a large field or school parking lot, or a venue such as Monmouth Park which other private enterprises do.
Other towns have space for such purposes. The Chester Flea Market was held on an open field with parking in a mall across the way. As residents, such events were out of our way, and there were no parking problems.
We don’t have such spaces here, but we do have the huge presence of the CMA all season-long, and no other town has a similar situation.
And other shore towns do not have the amount of tourist events as we do here, and we are smaller than most of them.. Just look at Bradley Beach as a roll model.
All three CC events commandeer precious May/June Saturdays resulting in crowds, parking chaos and closed streets. And they bring in live loud music which I, for one, find to be obnoxious noise pollution. They also bring germs, smells, garbage, crappy food, and cultural mayhem.
The people of Ocean Grove deserve to enjoy their town in prime season, and the CMA and the Chamber of Commercials exploit the Grove and change the experience of living in our historic village.
Not only should this invasion of events be dialed down, but the Township should not be paying to publicize these private parties.
And I don’t care if one of them is for charity. I do not want to share in their charitable excuses or their promotions to boost sales of businesses, or their junk-shop flea markets which diminish the life-styles of our residents. .
The Home Groaners are supposed to enhance the quality of our lives in the Grove—-but they don’t!
BILLIE HOLIDAY:
You complain that we edit, but all news sources post only the best comments, and the rest are edited. Our editing policy was designed by an editor from a major Philadelphia newspaper. And you violated a number of our commenting guidelines.
And you want to comment as “Anonymous” then we will give you a name.
If you want to comment on Blogfinger, you have to stick to the topic, which in this case is about Neptune’s paying for promoting a private organization. You probably should comment at the Coaster or Facebook pages.
The Chamber makes money from their events and they should pay their own expenses.
Regarding Chamber events and the use of the Neptune heading, that’s what’s done in numerous towns. Helping local merchants, which via taxes, helps the citizens of that community.
The May 4 event will shut down parking on certain stretches of Main Avenue, Central, Pilgrim Pathway New York, perimeter of Auditorium Park and from 6 am to 6 pm.
This happens whenever Neptune allows street closures for events designed to entertain tourists.
It’s a spring Saturday. How about leaving the town in a decongested mode for those who live here?
Whom does this event benefit?
Secret: The main point of this post is that Neptune Township spends public money to promote private events. You missed that point, and the rest of your comment is too petty to appear on Blogfinger.
Our attitude towards congestion in the Grove is regarding the cumulative oppressive effects of so many happenings all season long including the shoulder months.
Individually some such events are OK, but quality of life here would be improved if the Township would not give so many approvals to so many during the peak season, and to respect the life-styles of “We-the-People” who actually live here and pay taxes.
Neptune should check out how our neighboring towns handle their schedules.
You oppose events in May that cause congestion. But two of the events are in early/mid May , so congestion in OG is really not an issue (no lifeguards, rentals don’t start till Memorial Day weekend, etc.).