By Paul Goldfinger Editor. Blogfinger.net Ocean Grove, NJ, USA. 10//5/24
If you go to the CC web site, you will not find a mission statement. What is their purpose in life? Today they had a “Fall Harvest Festival.” Has anyone seen any harvesting going on in this town?
Instead they took up a beautiful sunny OG Saturday by closing streets and attracting a multitude of tourists to “small town America” at the Jersey Shore. For what: “crafts, food, arts and music”. So how about returning the Grove to those who live here, their visitors and their families. We can enjoy music, the arts, crafts and food without the help of the Chamber of Commotion.
The usual jockeying for parking spaces was going on, especially in our North End neighborhood which provides an intersection of downtown Asbury Park with free parking here. I witnessed a crash on my block as one parked car clashed with one parking car.
Our reporter went there to the “festival” and he found a “mob scene” where it was hard to walk around. He spent a few minutes and then took a right turn to enjoy beautiful Fletcher Lake. He wasn’t interested in the shlock-fest and junk sale there.
As for today’s “Fall Harvest Festival,” why does Neptune Township allow so many of these gigantic events in our town? What good does is it do for Ocean Grove? Who gets the money, and why does the CC need to make money, especially on the backs of our beautiful historic shore town?
You cannot find another Jersey Shore town with such useless tumult and tourist mayhem as here.
If you look up the mission of local Chambers of Commerce you will find:
“We believe in the ability of American businesses to improve lives, solve problems, and strengthen society.” When did you ever see the OG “Area” Chamber of Commerce do any of that?
When have you ever seen this organization take an interest in our town, our governance, our history, education, juried fine arts, problem solving, improving lives, strengthening society, and be concerned about those who live here, own homes, or rent or maintain our historic sites and architecture?
We need toilets down town, affordable housing for young people who want to live here, improvement of our disgraceful parks, and activism to destroy the North End Plan and visit the phony zoning apparatus at the Mother Ship. And how about taking an interest in the tax assessments as described recently by Neptune United.
And more: who are these people and how are they helping us. Re-read the mission statement above. Is this some sort of scam?
The Chamber of Commercials act like the”homies” of Ocean Grove don’t exist. At least they could buy underwear for the poor as the Home Groaners are doing.
Tourists come here to admire our town and our historic architecture. We-the-People pay for keeping our homes historic and beautiful. When did the Chamber return any of their money to our town? And does any of this lower our taxes?
Who are they and why are they allowed to take over the Grove on multiple weekends in prime time.? Ae they trying to out-do the Camp Meeting?
I have complained about this topic before, and that is why I am Complainer-In -Chief.
And if you are sick of those worn-out blues players, try this by the Marvelettes.
Chamber—bring back the Doo Wops!!