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Archive for the ‘Hurricane Sandy recovery’ Category

Getting Going

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Hurricane Sandy recovery, Ocean Grove news, tagged on April 8, 2014|

Work on the Middle Beach Boardwalk began April 7, 2014. Blogfinger photo ©

Work on the Middle Beach Boardwalk began April 7, 2014. Blogfinger photo ©  Click left to appreciate the metal bulkhead.

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor@Blogfinger.

The opening salvo:  Heavy equipment is now arriving to begin the process of building the Middle Beach Boardwalk .   In the photo above, you can see the famous old metal bulkhead  (aka sheathing wall)  which stood west of the old boardwalk.  Note that there was a wooden bulkhead at the north end boards and a continuation of the metal wall at the south end ; those  bulkheads were already east of the boardwalk and they protected those ends during Sandy.

The metal bulkhead (see the photo above) looks like a rusty old hulk, but it actually is quite sturdy and “in there” according to JP Gradone, COO of the OGCMA who has been communicating with the Epic Corp—the contractor.  Note that the metal sheathing will be attached to the new boardwalk.

When the project is done, by June 15, the entire boardwalk, from one end to the other, will be west of the bulkheads and thus better positioned to resist another massive storm.

As for the financing,  Neptune Township, via their bond issue, will pay the contractor bills, and then the CMA will bill FEMA. Finally the FEMA money will repay Neptune, and everything will be copacetic.

DAVE STEWART and the SECRET SISTERS:  “One Way Ticket to the Moon.”

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PARTY TIME IN THE GROVE: FEMA SAYS “YES!!”

Posted in Hurricane legacy, Hurricane Sandy funding in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy memories, Hurricane Sandy recovery, tagged , , on February 7, 2014| 26 Comments »

Ocean Grove, New Jersey By Paul Goldfinger ©

Ocean Grove, New Jersey By Paul Goldfinger © Click left

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger

In a huge announcement today, the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association disclosed that  “we are now an official FEMA project.”  According to Camp Meeting COO J.P. Gradone, “The funding is there, and we will receive 90%”  just like all the other Jersey Shore towns who were given Sandy disaster aid.

A meeting was held today at CMA headquarters  which was attended by representatives of FEMA,  our 4th District Congressman Chris Smith, and state historic and environmental officials.

All in attendance agreed that there were some hurdles in the road ahead related to environmental and historic permits, but everyone pledged to “fast track” those barriers so that work on the Middle Beach phase one project could begin.  These permissions relate largely to the fact that the middle boardwalk has to be placed 30 feet to the west to get it behind the existing bulkhead as protection against future storms.

Most of the planning has already been completed thanks to the anticipatory work done by the CMA’s engineers and advisors.  Once permits are done and FEMA has approved the plans, bids will go out and a time-table set up.

FEMA will agree to the entire budget of about $3.2-3.3 million. Phase one will cost $1.4 million, and the CMA should be able to be reimbursed for at least some of the $500,000 already spent at both ends of the boardwalk.  Meanwhile, the Neptune Bond issue will be completed soon.

Down the line, the other phases will be implemented including the fishing pier and the north end accesses.

Mr. Gradone told Blogfinger, in an exclusive interview,  that everyone at 54 Pitman Avenue is thrilled, and certainly this result vindicates the persistent and optimistic approach of those at the Camp Meeting Association along with Neptune Township officials, Together Fund people, Governor Chris Christie and his staff, Rep. Chris Smith, State Senator  Jennifer Beck, State Assemblywomen Caroline Casagrande and State Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini.

We wondered what all those political people were doing  and now we see the result 15 months after Sandy clobbered our beachfront.

This is the before picture of Middle Beach. The after picture is in our minds. PG photo

This is the before picture of Middle Beach. The after picture has suddenly materialized  in our minds. Paul  Goldfinger  photo, 2013.   ©

Some citizens in Ocean Grove thought that it was ridiculous to keep reapplying for help, but  acting COO Ralph delCampo, President Dale Whilden, and Director of Operations William “Bill” Bailey were steadfast in their persistence and positive approach. They refused to give up, and they just kept trying, along with the help of many consultants and experts guiding the way.

Mr. delCampo was a powerful leader for the effort, and his wonderful mediation and people skills kept the good ship “Ocean Grove” on course.   He was the John Phillip Sousa for our town marching band as they accomplished something that was so difficult—to change the mind of a huge federal agency, and they did it with intelligence, patience, good humor, and honesty, and perhaps some skid greasing by friends behind the scenes.

At Blogfinger, commenters berated us for repeatedly beating the bass drum to the rhythm of justice and common sense, but to be honest, we could not bear the illogic and unfairness of it all.

As with the recent FEMA eligibility decision, it will take the Camp Meeting Association some time to pull all the loose ends together, but victory is won, and the people of Ocean Grove are vindicated.  This is a great day for our little town.

JOHN PHILLIP SOUSA and THE MARINE BAND:  “The Stars and Stripes Forever”

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FEMA Invites Ocean Grove to the Dance, but Where’s the Money? A Blogfinger Editorial

Posted in Blogfinger feature article, Blogfinger Presents, Hurricane Sandy funding in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy recovery, tagged on January 14, 2014| 1 Comment »

Dec 9, 2012. Haven't the people of OG waited long enough? Blogfinger photo ©

Dec 9, 2012. Haven’t the people of OG waited long enough? Blogfinger photo ©

In December, before Ralph delCampo, interim COO of the OGCMA,  led an Ocean Grove/Neptune Township delegation to FEMA headquarters in Washington, he said that finally we will get a yes or no answer and thus could move ahead with the boardwalk restoration project, “one way or another.”

When he returned, he felt that the meeting with top FEMA officials had been successful in explaining the importance of our boardwalk as a public thoroughfare and in convincing them of the unique relationship between Neptune Township and the OGCMA in terms of doing what’s best for the public welfare.

Well today, we learn that Mr. delCampo did succeed in “winning the appeal” because FEMA announced that the OGCMA is “eligible for assistance” in funding the boardwalk project.  This means that there will be no more talk about our boardwalk being ineligible due to a recreational designation.

However, it seems we now have a murky situation  instead of a definitive answer. In order to find out if any Sandy  “restore the shore” money will be earmarked for the Grove, the CMA will  need to obtain “clarification” regarding what additional steps might stand in their way.  So Mr. delCampo will not be getting the yes or no answer he sought.

Having gotten over a large hurdle, the CMA will probably be facing more  bumps in the road.  The CMA officials are pleased that they have “won” their second appeal, and they view it a positive ruling, but now they must reconsider their entire strategy, since FEMA sent that letter today without enclosing a check.

This new FEMA designation for our boardwalk  will set a precedent which will be helpful in the future if there are more disasters, but, for the short term, it might cut off some alternative funding ideas that could be short-circuited now that FEMA is still in the game.

Meanwhile, the OGCMA will do everything in its power to fulfill the promise to get the Middle Beach Boardwalk done by  summer.

As for the citizens of Ocean Grove, how about swamping the Governor, Rep Smith, our Senators and anyone else you can thing of with letters asking them to exploit this ruling and demand funding for OG.  We’ve been treated unfairly for too long.

Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger

ROD STEWART with CHER:  “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”

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Ocean Grove Beach Replenishment Gallery by Bob Bowné

Posted in Hurricane Sandy in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy recovery, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, Photography by Bob Bowne, Photography: Jersey Shore Gallery, tagged , , on January 13, 2014|

Replenishment one. By Bob Bowne. © Click left.

Replenishment one.  ©   Special to Blogfinger.  Click left.

Replenishment 2. By Bob Bowne. Special to Blogfinger © Click left

Replenishment 2. The security guard is Dion Geuren.   Special to Blogfinger © Click left

Photographs by Bob Bowné of Ocean Grove, NJ

MARGOT BINGHAM:  From HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks  (Somebody loves me…I wonder who—maybe it’s the Army Corps)

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Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association and Neptune Township officials travel to Washington to meet with FEMA

Posted in Hurricane Sandy funding in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy recovery, tagged on December 11, 2013| 2 Comments »

CMA logoNeptune Logo 2 

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor  @Blogfinger

The cooperative relationship between Neptune Township and the OGCMA on behalf of the people of Ocean Grove showed brightly  on November 7 when representatives of both groups  travelled to the  C Street  headquarters of  FEMA in Washington, DC to “have a face-to-face with high level officials .”

The Ocean Grove delegation consisted of Ralph delCampo (CMA board member and ex-interim COO,) Rick Cuttrel (Municipal Clerk)  and Mike Bascom  (Chief Financial Officer)  of Neptune Township.  And according to Mr. delCampo, the group “spoke as one for the benefit of the community and the whole region.”

Our supporters in the Governor’s office and U.S. Rep. Smith decided not to attend so as to avoid “politicizing” the event. These state and federal elected officials have been working in the background, pushing for action “in a quiet way.”

According to Mr. delCampo, in an exclusive interview today with Blogfinger, the FEMA representatives said that they have never seen such close cooperation between a private organization and a municipality.

The OG group made the case that our boardwalk is part of the fabric of Neptune Township, and the two groups work together to make sure that the citizens of Ocean Grove receive all municipal services that other nearby towns enjoy.

They explained the importance of our boardwalk as an economic engine/thoroughfare for the  town and for neighboring communities.   They covered ground heard before including the importance of the boards for public safety and rescue.  And they told FEMA that the potential consequences of not getting relief are significant.

Mr.del Campo said, “The meeting lasted one hour and went very well.”  He believes that FEMA now clearly understands the unique relationship that exists between Neptune and the CMA on behalf of the Grove. This second appeal is the final one, and we should get an answer by the end of this year. The delegation hopes that FEMA would treat us the same way that the Army Corps of Engineers is providing for beach replenishment.

Meanwhile the CMA continues to work with engineers and consultants to finalize the designs. They are ready to go to bid, but they really need the funding to be “lined up”  At this time there is no pressure to go to bid.

On another front,  the CMA has applied for federal aid which is distributed by the State of New Jersey through the Economic Development Authority. The answer on that applicaton should be  received by mid to late January.

If all that fails, other options will be considered. The CMA continues to be “totally committed “to have the Middle Beach boardwalk done by summer 2014.

Mr. delCampo continues to praise the ongoing fundraising efforts of the Together Fund which is now up to $1.6 million. He also cites  the “patience of the community and the backing of long-time supporters.”

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Is Governor Christie Afraid to Come to Ocean Grove? Or are we just not important enough?

Posted in Blogfinger opinion, Blogfinger Presents, Hurricane Sandy funding in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy recovery, New Jersey News, New Jersey Politics in Ocean Grove, tagged , , , , on December 1, 2013| 4 Comments »

The Governor spoke at the Police Memorial Service 5/21/13. But he did not visit our damaged boardwalk.

The Governor spoke at the Police Memorial Service 5/21/13. But he did not visit our damaged boardwalk or make himself available to the press to discuss our funding issues.  Blogfinger photo.

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger

For nearly a year we have been hearing that the “Governor’s office” is working behind the scenes to get us some sort of funding to rebuild the Ocean Grove boardwalk.  His surrogates in the state legislature have told us that in person and so has the Camp Meeting Association.

But those reassurances strain credulity because he has come to the Jersey Shore to visit our neighbors on many occasions but he has never come to the site of our demolished boardwalk to speak to the citizens about our problems with FEMA.

Now an outsider at the Weekly Standard has raised the specter of anti-Christian bias on the part of FEMA, an idea that has already been considered on Blogfinger and at the Star Ledger.  If there is even the possibility of bias, shouldn’t Christie be addressing it publicly?   And maybe FEMA is being harsh towards us partly because of the gay rights issues that have been controversial in the Grove—issues that perhaps the Governor considers toxic.  After all, he has waffled on the subject of gay marriage.

Maybe he is afraid to even talk about such things for fear that it might tarnish him politically as a presidential candidate.  Maybe he sees the issues as  lose-lose propositions, and perhaps politics are his main consideration at times like this, to the detriment of our citizens.

The Governor has a reputation of being outspoken and courageous; to be willing to swim against the current. But in Ocean Grove, where it has been obvious that we the people of this town are experiencing some sort of FEMA discrimination, Christie has been missing in action.

So maybe our small population isn’t worth sticking his neck out for, but shouldn’t  great leaders step forward on principle without worrying about votes? If he had gone public standing behind Ocean Grove, then maybe FEMA might have been a little more sympathetic.

Ocean Grove will soon experience a turning point in our struggle.  Representatives of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association will soon be meeting in Washington for a final appeal to FEMA .

Perhaps it is time for Gov. Christie  personally to tell us something about our situation and step forward and publicly show his support.  And Governor, please bring Congressman Chris Smith with you.  Most of us haven’t heard of him or seen him in the Grove, and he also supposedly is behind our efforts.

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Ocean Grove’s Struggle With FEMA Finally Gets the National Exposure That it Deserves.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Hurricane Sandy funding in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy recovery, Ocean Grove controversies, tagged , , , , , , on November 25, 2013| 23 Comments »

WS

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger  (Ocean Grove, New Jersey)

In a thorough and courageous cover story called “The Town FEMA Turned Down,” The Weekly Standard, a widely read political magazine with a print circulation of over 100,000 and 2.1 million visits to its web site each month, is featuring Ocean Grove and its difficulties persuading FEMA to provide funds for our rebuilding post-Sandy.

On Blogfinger we have been following this situation with great interest for over a year and we have considered and debated various reasons as to why FEMA has denied us, including the possibility of religious or political bias. (see BF links below) The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association has been avoiding any public speculation on the motives of FEMA.

Soon the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association will be taking its  last shot with FEMA by attending a face to face meeting with officials in Washington, probably next month, to try and persuade  them  to make a favorable ruling on our second appeal for disaster assistance.

The author of the Weekly Standard piece, Jonathan V. Last, a senior editor, explains why he believes that the explanation has to do with government’s current attitude towards religion in our national life. He says, “Yet the story of FEMA’s conflict with Ocean Grove is about more than just Barack Obama. It’s the story of modern America’s rebellion against its religious foundations, rendered in miniature.”

He also considers the history of gay rights in the Grove as a factor in our being singled out by Washington.  About that, Last says, “FEMA’s decision was a remarkably tortured reading of both precedent and fact. So tortured that it suggests some deeper motivation on the part of the federal government. What happened between the storms in 1992 and 2013 to change the government’s mind about Ocean Grove? The answer is simple: gay marriage.”

He makes a strong case for his theories, but there are no smoking guns.  FEMA has been very secretive as to the dynamics of their decision vis a vis Ocean Grove, and the media has been AWOL in reporting our story which is an exceptional David vs Goliath saga worthy of national attention.    Last’s ideas about how gay rights issues in the Grove tie into FEMA’s decisions are highly speculative, but his suspicions are worth discussion.

The author also provides an excellent and  comprehensive review of our town’s history. It is an accurate and well- researched summary.

One thing which he left out is that the OGCMA has raised $1.5 million, some of which is earmarked to help rebuild our beachfront. We are not only the one beach town at the Jersey Shore to not receive FEMA help, but we are the only town to raise this kind of money on our own.

He also didn’t mention the New Jersey political establishment, including the Governor’s office,the state legislators and our Congressional delegation  which have tried to persuade FEMA to reconsider their unfair ruling.  I also question his assertion that Ocean Grove has an “upper class tax base.”  If he checks out the 2010 census report, that is clearly not true, unless he is speculating about the second-homer population which is not counted in the census.

Blogfinger has a search engine on its homepage where anyone can look at our many articles on this subject since October, 2012 when Sandy hit the Jersey Shore.

I encourage all of you to read this provocative Weekly Standard piece.  It will certainly help to get our story known nationally and in Washington.

Here is the link to the article:      FEMA OG article

Here is the Weekly Standard’s home page link      Weekly standard web site

Here is a Blogfinger post about possible FEMA bias:  BF bias link

Here is another  Blogfinger article about possible FEMA bias:    Blogfinger link

Here is a link to Steven Froias’ Asbury Park Pulp:    PULP link

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Sand Replenishment and Dune Construction at the Ocean Grove Beach.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Hurricane Sandy recovery on October 29, 2013|

Ocean Grove beach. October, 2013. Paul Goldfinger photo.

Ocean Grove beach. October, 2013. Paul Goldfinger photo.

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor 
@Blogfinger Thursday, October 30, 2013.

At last 
night’s OGCMA 
project review, Bill Bailey spoke of the forthcoming 
beach 
replenishment project. He said that originally the Army Corp
 of Engineers was supposed to begin work in Manasquan and head north 
to Asbury Park.
 But he thought that the action might actually
 begin in AP and
 go south.  He said that the work would
 probably begin after 
January 1, 2014. The plan is to also build a
 continuous dune that
 would run lengthwise.  The design takes 
into consideration the bad 
results that occurred during Sandy
 where dunes were not continuous. Note that our 
dunes at the north 
end are in fine condition and are “the best 
dunes on the Shore.”
 They will not be replaced.

Dune 
engineering is a complex
 process, and Neptune Township’s 
engineering consultants (Avakian 
Co.) will be monitoring the work
 to be done in the Grove. He said 
that the ACE gained considerable
 experience with dunes after 
Katrina and other storms.
 However, it appears that the ACE
 will not be building the Jersey Shore dunes, so other arrangements 
will be made. Note that the dunes will have 
handicap access onto
 the beach.

Mr. Bailey emphasized that dunes
 must be properly 
engineered and constructed. “We want to do the 
project right,” he
 said.  “We will not rush, and our dunes 
will be built to last
  by professionals. The process is slow, and
 the roots have to go
 deep.” Dune grass will be planted including
 some being grown on 
the rooftops of Neptune schools.  The 
students are “very 
excited” about the project. It will teach them 
about helping 
others and it “shows community spirit.”
 Currently there is a
 shortage of dune grass.

Today we heard 
from Linda and Mike Oakes
 of Ocean Grove who sent us a link to the
 ACE web site where you
 can read about the contract for our work 
that was awarded to a
 company from Illinois: Great Lakes Dredge and
 Dock Company.
 This article is very interesting. I recommend 
that we all
 read it. Link
 to ACE
 announcement 

Mr. Bailey was proud of 
the work done in
 the last two weeks when the final removal of
 boardwalk pilings was
 completed.  They used heavy equipment to
 pull out the entire
 pilings instead of cutting them off.  These 
were 25 to 30 
feet long. Some of them go back to the ’40’s and
’50’s. One piling
 consisted of an entire tree with the branches
 removed.  He 
said that the beach “now looks beautiful” and is
 ready for the
 sand project.

You will
 notice a “series” of double snow fence along the middle
 beach. This is to protect beachgoers from the corrugated
 metal bulkhead (“the steel wall”) which is underground, but
 near the 
surface. The fence arrangement will also hinder the sand
 from 
blowing back across Ocean Avenue.

SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY, who was born in Ocean Grove, and the POOR FOOLS.
Album:  Songs From the Barn
:  “Beneath Still Waters.”
[audio http://blogfinger.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/09-beneath-still-waters.mp3]

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Show Us the Money. Ocean Grove Feeling Optimistic as the Second Year Post-Sandy Begins.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Hurricane Sandy funding in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy recovery, tagged , on October 29, 2013|

Bill Bailey (l) and Ralph delCampo in the Tabernacle organizing volunteers on Nov. 3, 2012. Paul Goldfinger photo ©

Bill Bailey (l) and Ralph delCampo in the Tabernacle organizing volunteers on Nov. 3, 2012. Paul Goldfinger photo ©

Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger

Wednesday, October 30, 2013.  Ocean Grove, NJ:    Ralph delCampo, the soon-to-be ex-COO of the OGCMA,  has been working for a year trying to obtain Federal funding for our damaged beach front, with the focus primarily on the Boardwalk which was wiped out except for some intact components at each end.

He and his colleagues, along with consultants who are experts at dealing with FEMA, are now preparing for an in-person conference in Washington, D.C. with FEMA officials regarding our second appeal which will probably be held in December, but could be sooner. Mr. delCampo says, “We need clarity.”

Last night, on the one year anniversary of Sandy, the fourth in a series of meetings was held at the CMA headquarters.  In attendance were representatives of all the major OG organizations who were there to hear the latest news regarding our Sandy recovery, presented by  Dale Whilden, Ralph delCampo, and Bill Bailey of the OGCMA.

Ralph (who always says, “Call me Ralph”) is a man who is used to dealing with big corporate issues and with one large Federal agency—the FDA. He has been supervising the complex FEMA paper work and talking with FEMA officials,  politicians at all levels of government, advisors, CMA trustees, citizens, the press, lawyers and others. He is a careful strategist who is perpetually confident, careful and cheerful. Those of us who know him realize that he will make no promises that he can’t keep, and he never says anything that is out of place.

So it came as a surprise last night when he  and Bill Bailey confidently agreed that their first goal will be achieved, i.e.  to complete the “middle beach” boardwalk  (from the beach office area to the Pavilion),  “one way or another” by Memorial Day.

Ralph also revealed that the CMA is seeking two major non-FEMA sources of Federal funding.  These grants are paid through the State of New Jersey. One is via the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT), and there is the potential for receiving about $300,000. He said, “We are optimistic.”

The other application is to the EDA (Economic Development Authority.)  Ralph says that the CMA has applied for a $3 million grant which is currently “moving along.”  Regarding their chances of success, he says, “We feel pretty good.”

Earlier in the process, it was FEMA 24/7, but now Ralph is looking in all directions. He says, “We will apply for all that we can.”

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What does Katrina have to do with our FEMA problem?

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Hurricane legacy, Hurricane Sandy funding in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy recovery on October 27, 2013| 10 Comments »

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor  @Blogfinger

In December 1992, a vicious nor’easter destroyed the Ocean Grove Boardwalk and Fishing Pier. FEMA, understanding that the Ocean Grove boardwalk was owned by a private non-profit group (The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association,) readily agreed to pay for the reconstruction of those beachfront structures.

After that, FEMA regulations were changed, many times, over the ensuing years.  We don’t know exactly which/when regulatory changes affecting PNP’s  (private non-profits) were put in place, but OG ended up being rejected  by FEMA after Sandy, and we don’t know why those changes were made.

Ralph delCampo, interim COO of the OGCMA, in interviews with Blogfinger, said, at least twice, that we were suffering now because of rule changes made after Katrina hit New Orleans on August 29, 2005. New regulations were published in 2007.

Yet it seems that if we were eligible in 1992, then surely we should be eligible now.  If our boardwalk was understood to be for the public good then, so why is it now written off as a “recreational facility?”  Nothing has changed with respect to the Boardwalk’s functions.  If there were problems after Katrina, how could that have been something that would cause the rejection of  Ocean Grove now?

Consider this quote from the New York Times, last week;  in an article about how the Governor has been recently criticized regarding his failure to rebuild after Sandy in many parts of the Shore and to return thousands of citizens to their homes:

“Mr. Christie has blamed the slowness of federal agencies for delays in getting money to residents, and said that New Jersey was paying for the sins from Hurricane Katrina, as the Federal Emergency Management Agency put up hurdles to prevent fraud.”

Again a reference to Katrina, this time from the Governor, and it is about fraud after Katrina.   So how does Katrina fraud in New Orleans result in making OG ineligible for aid after Sandy?

Is it possible that Ocean Grove is being punished by being swept up in a storm of regulatory changes that weren’t meant to hurt places like the Grove?  Perhaps the issue was also one of cost cutting, but why cut out our boardwalk when it was equally as deserving as all other boardwalks back in 1992?  If cost is the concern, then why pay for every boardwalk except ours?

Here’s a quote from a FEMA regulatory statement dated 2007:

“FEMA policy 2007 ineligible PNP Facilities. ‘ Some PNP facilities that might have been assisted prior to 1993 are no longer eligible under the governing statutes and regulations. Examples include:  recreation facilities, etc.’ “

We have complained on Blogfinger that OG has been treated unfairly. BF is not the only source of such complaints on behalf of the Grove.  Below is a resolution from the NJ Legislature  (the link is below)

The synopsis says:   “…. urges the President and FEMA to ensure funding necessary to repair Ocean Grove’s boardwalk”

 

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 103

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

215th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED APRIL 4, 2013

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  MARY PAT ANGELINI

District 11 (Monmouth)

Assemblywoman  CAROLINE CASAGRANDE

District 11 (Monmouth) 

 

njleg resolution

When I appeared on a panel   (BF Link to podcast  ) recently to discuss our situation, Mark DiIonno, a Star Ledger columnist who was nominated for a Pulitzer this year said, referring to our denial by FEMA, “Their reasoning was absurd regarding the designation of the OG boards as  ‘recreational,'”

He noted that every boardwalk in New Jersey was recreational in the same way that ours is.  He referred to the “skewed reasoning of FEMA.”

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Ralph delCampo to leave his position as OGCMA interim Chief Operating Officer on Nov. 6.

Posted in Hurricane Sandy in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy recovery, Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, tagged , on August 27, 2013|

Nov. 3, 2013. Ralph del Campo (left) and Bill Bailey organize disaster volunteers in the Tabernacle. Paul Goldfinger photo ©

Nov. 3, 2012. Ralph del Campo (right) and Bill Bailey organize disaster volunteers in the Tabernacle. Paul Goldfinger photo ©

August 27, 2013. Ocean Grove, N.J.    By Paul Goldfinger, Editor  @Blogfinger

Ralph delCampo had just retired from his job as a pharmaceutical industry executive early in 2012. He was going to embark on a sabbatical to figure out what he would do next, but after only two months of that, he agreed to replace Scott Hoffman and become the interim Chief Operating Officer of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.  He had been on the Board for a few years, and it seemed that running the CMA programs would be right up his alley.  After all, in his career, he was in charge of large operations including supervising corporate programs in multiple countries at the same time.

But when Sandy hit in October, 2012, he found himself faced with a huge challenge.  He has remained at his post longer than he ever expected and he has had to learn how to deal with large government agencies, especially FEMA.  But he has been quite comfortable in supervising the CMA response to the Sandy devastation including working with consultants, planning construction projects, coming up with technological solutions to structural challenges, dealing with elected officials and starting a fund raising campaign.  He and his colleagues have faced many challenges including planning for a future where another large storm will not destroy our homes and facilities.

His official departure date is November 6, 2013, but Ralph lives full time in the Grove, and he will continue to be on the Board of the CMA and on the Executive Committee. He said, “I’ll stay involved.”

The search for the new COO continues, but the field has been narrowed, and a replacement may be announced soon.

Everybody around here calls him Ralph, and his good humor and people skills have certainly come in handy as he pursues financing and reconstruction at the beachfront while supervising the vast programming activities of the CMA.

He also will be one of the individuals who will run the annual Labor Day CMA Public Meeting which will be held in the Youth Temple on Monday, September 2, 2013  at 9:00 am.  The agenda for that meeting is complicated, but Ralph is determined to move things along so that everyone can get to their holiday activities.  There will be the usual opportunity for Q and A at the end.

LEADBELLY

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Republican officials visit downtown Ocean Grove and offer some optimism for a FEMA reversal.

Posted in Blogfinger News, Hurricane Sandy funding in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy recovery, tagged on August 3, 2013|

11th District legislators: Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (L), Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, and Senator Jennifer Beck (R) Main Avenue in Ocean Grove, NJ. August 3, 2013. Photo by Paul Goldfinger

11th District legislators: Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (L), Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, and Senator Jennifer Beck (R) Main Avenue in Ocean Grove, NJ. August 3, 2013. Photo by Paul Goldfinger

Paul Goldfinger,  Editor  @Blogfinger

It was raining lightly today on Main Avenue in the Grove when I noticed a flurry of excitement by the OG bakery.  There was a photo shoot of some elected and aspiring Republican women. So I pedaled Blogmobile, Jr. over there and joined in the media frenzy.

Our district, the 11th (of 40), is represented by one State senator and two members of the Assembly.  Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, who has been in the Assembly since 2008, said that the Governor and his staff are taking an active interest in Ocean Grove’s second appeal to FEMA.  She said that the Governor’s office was  “very upset” when our first appeal was rejected and that there is a good chance for FEMA to reverse its decision.

State Senator Jennifer Beck, Senator since 2008,  has been directly involved in discussions about the FEMA situation along with Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, who has been in the Assembly since January, 2012.   Sen. Beck said that she has “high hopes” for a FEMA reversal.

Assemblywoman Casagrande, from Colts Neck,  is considered a rising star.  At the age of 36, she is the youngest woman to ever serve in the NJ Assembly. She is leaving for Israel this month having been selected for the fact finding trip by the American Jewish Council.

The New Jersey legislature currently is dominated by Democrats in both houses.

Also present for this political rendezvous in the Grove were Republican candidates for Neptune Township Committee: Danielle Daly and Alva Flores, who will be campaigning  as a team for two seats at the mother ship’s  big table. That election will be in November.

For you history buffs, the first NJ Senate President from Monmouth County was Anthony Reckless in 1863.  It would be fitting if Anthony Weiner were to adopt that name for his internet travels.

FRANK SINATRA:

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$100 MILLION HOME ELEVATION PROGRAM LAUNCHED TO PROTECT HOMEOWNERS FROM FUTURE FLOOD AND STORM DAMAGE

Posted in Hurricane Sandy recovery, Neptune Township News, tagged on July 26, 2013| 7 Comments »

internet photo

internet photo

ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS CAN APPLY FOR UP TO 
$30,000 REIMBURSEMENT GRANTS

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Elevation Program is a reimbursement grant program designed to help homeowners with the elevation of their primary single-family residences to meet the requirements of the flood insurance risk maps in flood-prone communities. The program is limited to the Sandy-impacted communities of Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union. There are no income requirements for the program and FEMA registration is not required in order to apply.  Eligible applicants can receive reimbursement of up to $30,000 for elevations on existing single-family homes.

As part of the ‘New Jersey Stronger’ housing initiative, an application can be made to both the Homeowner Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program and the HMGP Elevation Program, but homeowners may receive a grant award from only one of the programs.  Homes targeted for buyout under the state’s HMGP acquisition program are not eligible to participate. Additionally, federal regulations restrict homeowners who have already begun elevation work from applying.

Homeowners can use any elevation contractor registered in New Jersey that is qualified to do the work. Once all necessary documents are received and the home elevation is completed, the homeowner will be reimbursed for all eligible expenses.

The HMGP Elevation Program application period is now open and closes on September 15, 2013.

Eligible homeowners can apply for elevation grant assistance at http://www.renewjerseystronger.org/hmgp/, by calling 1-855-SANDYHM or by visiting one of the Housing Recovery Centers open in each of the nine most-impacted counties.

NOTE: Individuals must apply to the HMGP Elevation Program directly regardless of whether they previously submitted Letters of Intent (LOI) or online applications with their local municipal governments.

 

Source: Department of Consumer Affairs

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