Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Ocean Grove controversies’ Category

How many overwhelming gridlock tourist Saturdays will the town of Ocean Grove have to endure this season (2018)? Who benefits? The residents?

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove controversies, Ocean Grove events, Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove tourism, tagged , on May 13, 2018| 6 Comments »

OG Saturday Giant Flea Market June 2016. Gridlock. Blogfinger photo. ©  Where else can you find this?  Click once to make the crowd bigger.

OG mega Flea Market. Blogfinger photo 2016 ©

By  Paul Goldfinger, MD.  Editor@Blogfinger.net.  May, 2018.

May 5   Spring Fling  Chamber of Commerce closes down Main Avenue:   gridlock

May 19  Vintage Car Show  CC  closes down Main Avenue:  gridlock

June 2   Giant Spring Flea Market  CC floods Ocean Pathway with thousands of junksters:   gridlock

June 16 OGCMA  Giant Craft Show —-300 artisans:   Gridlock all over town

June 23   OGCMA Huge Christian festival:  Bridgefest:  Gridlock all over town.

August 4  OGCMA    Saturday of the Camp Meeting Week:   Gridlock all over town.

August 18  OGCMA   Beach boys:  Gridlock evening.

Sept 1 Doo /wop:   Gridlock evening

Sept. 8  Giant Fall flea Market:   CC floods Ocean Pathway —gridlock

Sept 16  British Car Show  CC closes down Main Avenue:   gridlock

October 6 Fall Harvest Festival CC  closes down Main Avenue: gridlock

Note: Every Saturday during the summer season is a gridlock day due to beach attendance and when residents and their guests crowd the town during all those weekends. But that is to be expected. This is a beach town.

But now we are addressing mega Saturday tourist events such as the Giant Craft Show on the Pathway which make the town hopelessly paralyzed.

So what other Jersey Shore towns have so many gridlock Saturday special events geared towards tourists and oppressively imposed  on the residents?

Consider Bradley Beach:  Just one–The Lobster Festival.  Holiday celebrations such as Memorial Day weekend don’t count because they are automatically part of summer.      The rest are things like line dancing, music on the boards, opera by the sea, Italian Festival, Bradley Beach Day etc. which are primarily for the residents and don’t cause gridlock.

Here is a link to our recent piece about the struggle in Bradley Beach over one such mega event.  It’s very interesting:

Bf reports on Bradley Beach struggle with mega-event

Consider Belmar mega:  Just a car show and the NJ Seafood  Festival.

Consider Avon mega:  no mega events

Consider Asbury mega:  Oyster Festival.  They have many activities including music, shows, farmers markets, fine restaurants, bars and boardwalk events like the Zombies,  but these enhance the image of A. Park and are not merely mega events to suck in huge numbers of tourists like we have. They have crowds and parking issues, but those crowds are drawn to the vibe of A. Park not to giant marketplaces where you can just buy stuff.

Consider Seaside Heights:  Nothing mega.   Jersey Shore Festival;  otherwise arts and crafts, boardwalk fun/food, and soccer tourney.

Consider Spring Lake:  Nothing mega.  Just sensible small events for residents and guests:    House tour, art in the park, garden tour, art walk, sidewalk sale, etc.

Only OG has huge  events that overwhelm the town.    What good does any of this do for the people of Ocean Grove?  The CMA mostly attracts crowds from outside the Grove.  All of the Shore  towns have events, but they are primarily for the residents, such as ballroom dancing, concerts on the boardwalk, competitions for kids, etc.

Of the towns listed, we are the smallest and the most paralyzed by contrived tourist events.  There is no reason to continue these overwhelming Saturday gridlocks—the Township needs to reduce the numbers to be in line with other Jersey  Shore towns.  But will they?  No.   These other communities make sure that their citizens enjoy the summer season in their home towns.  Tourism, yes, but sensibly done.

Do the people of Ocean Grove want their town to be a circus every Saturday in season?  Here is a march from Barnum and Bailey:

Read Full Post »

Grovers see lifestyle decline—some leave.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove controversies, Ocean Grove land use and zoning, Ocean Grove lifestyles, tagged on May 8, 2018| 4 Comments »

Ocean Grove beach. June, 2002. Paul Goldfinger photo ©

 

Paul Goldfinger,  Editor @Blogfinger

Jack, Kevin and I left the Mother Ship to return to our car after attending  the Neptune Township Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA)  meeting  May 2, 2018.  But as we walked through the parking lot we were approached by a couple who had attended the Aurora Hotel hearing but did not say a word during the hearing for which they had traveled one hour to attend.

They said that they moved to the Grove in 2005 because they thought it was a “charming and special place.”   Like so many who have moved here, they had fallen in love with this unique small town, but in recent years, they noticed a decline in their quality of life.

They mentioned the noise and congestion.  A strong sense of community had failed to materialize.  Parking had become awful, and the town was becoming overrun with tourists who often clogged the streets causing gridlock that was becoming progressively worse.

The heavy-handed Neptune government was allowing a deterioration of  historical preservation, culture and zoning in the Grove, and their decisions were causing perceptible damage to life styles for residents.

They thought the taxes were  exorbitant for what they received in return.  Then they had enough and moved to a New Jersey town that was more appealing to them. They still own their OG home, but they rented it out.

The couple  came to the meeting with the slim hope that the ZBA would do the right thing for one of OG’s historic treasures, but they were disappointed by the indicators at the hearing.  Their plan now is to sell their OG home.

We know others who also have moved or are thinking about leaving for a variety of similar reasons. One of those reasons is the inconsistency of the HPC.  And then there are the wrong-headed, impotent Home Groaners.  The Chamber just makes things worse with their self-interested giant mega events.

As for zoning, “The primary purpose of zoning is to segregate uses that are thought to be incompatible. But in practice, zoning also is used to prevent new development from interfering with existing uses and/or to preserve the ‘character’ of a community.  (Wikipedia.)”     In other words, zoning is supposed to offer protection and to level the land-use playing field for everyone.

The NY State Office of General Counsel says,  “Courts have regularly found a legitimate purpose in zoning regulations which are aimed at achieving a homogeneous, traditional single-family neighborhood. ”

But in the town of Ocean Grove, special interests get to defy land use laws in order to provide special deals for developers, politicians, the CMA, and others. An example is the designation of the North End as an area in need of redevelopment, abolishing desirable single family housing zoning.

Residents experience growing frustration and find themselves at the bottom of the priority list.

Ocean Grove, after peaking and looking like it had a bright future as a marvelous place to live year-round, has shown unmistakable signs of losing ground in the quest to evolve into a fair-minded residential historic district with unique character, culture and community.

 

GERRY MULLIGAN.  “Here’s That Rainy Day.”

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

“Totally Disgusted” weighs in on Airbnb rentals in the Grove.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove businesses, Ocean Grove controversies, Ocean Grove issues, tagged on April 8, 2018| 6 Comments »

Internet photo

We have written about this Airbnb subject before, but this “long time resident” contacted Blogfinger on April 7 because he is “totally disgusted by the abuse of certain homeowners who are turning their homes into one night or two night stand hotels” which he calls “hometels.”

He sent a letter of complaint about this to the Neptune Township Code Enforcement Department and cc’d Blogfinger.   Here is an edited version:

1. “These overnight hometels are in arms distance of my home and growing at an alarming rate.”

2. “They are destroying Ocean Grove as a community and a place to raise children.”

3. “They are creating a nightmare with parking, and come summer, it will once again become unbearable to live in this mayhem.”

4.  Mr. Totally Disgusted asks the Township to fine and raise the taxes of those landlords who are engaged in “rental abuse” and causing a “downward spiral” in town.

He ends his letter with “Let’s keep this town residential and not a one-night-stand-stopoff.”

Here is a link to Airbnb rentals in Ocean Grove.  One example offers a one bedroom apartment, 2.5 blocks to beach, from $200/night

www.airbnb.com/s/Ocean-Grove–NJ/homes?type=apartment&listing_types%5B%5D=1&s_tag=1IQMRFvI&allow_override%5B%5D=&refinement_paths%5B%5D=%2Fhomes

Here is a Blogfinger post regarding airbnb:

Airbnb Blogfinger post summer 2017

 

EDITOR’S NOTE:   Is this a growing problem?   Do these rentals really impact our quality of life in the Grove?  Does the Township actually enforce a new Certificate of Inspection  (CI)  with each rental?  Does the township need to legislate this or just follow their existing rules?  —-PG

 

ELVIS:

 

Read Full Post »

Modern OG history—2018. Real estate talk on Blogfinger: What effect is the resurgence of Asbury Park having on Ocean Grove real estate and life styles? These topics envelop both towns.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove controversies, Ocean Grove environmental concerns, Ocean Grove feature article, Ocean Grove lifestyle, Ocean GRove parking issues, Ocean Grove real estate, tagged on March 6, 2018| 3 Comments »

Sackman Enterprises created 98 rental units near the beach in A. Park.  They own other properties in AP including a new condo project and the restored Steinbach building.  They also  own #60 Main Avenue in OG.   (the brick pizza building with high rentals)   Internet photo.

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.  2018.

Here is a link to a post we published last July regarding the relationship between OG and A. Park. It raises some important issues.

OG AP connection

In Ocean Grove the pressure on “our” parking will continue to increase due to the Asbury parkers. And this is on top of other parking concerns such as the Camp Meeting Association’s plans to increase its year round programming, and the ambitious new activities at the Jersey Shore Arts Center which has new year-round events that have made life intermittently difficult over in that west end Grovarian neighborhood, and the JSAC has even more ambitious plans for the future.

And then there is the pressure  (as with the Warrington site) to create multi-unit condominium or hotel units without offering off-street parking. Added to the mixed bag is the  continued large-scale extravaganzas by the Chamber of Commerce which shuts down our streets and crams thousands of tourists for their big events.  They, the Township, and the CMA have done nothing to help residents with the parking situation during these grid-lock megalomaniac events.

Real estate in Asbury Park continues to be hot as millennials*  come into town to be close to the Asburian action. A side effect of that is the growing AP housing demand resulting in real estate spillover to Ocean Grove—–be close to the action while paying less for housing here.  But then we will see rising price pressure in OG.

If you go to any fine restaurant in A. Park you will find well-healed young people enjoying expensive dinners.  This trend will increase, and a large new high-rise building near the ocean will have condominiums, a hotel, stores and offices.

Some condos in AP have doubled  (or more) in value in just a few years,  and resales can bring up to $1 million.  There are quite a few smaller condominium conversions as well as large units all over Asbury-town, especially at their north end.    Of course they have parking problems that keep increasing.   A recent condo project recently took over a parking lot near Wesley Lake.  All of this development impacts Ocean Grove to some extent.  Woe is us!.

And how about the street water runoff into Wesley Lake?  Jack and I visited the Monroe  work site  a few months ago  (below)  and all we saw regarding the Lake’s ecology were a few ironic storm drains along the lake with a carving of a fish on them.

Where is the DEP?   We hear that the DEP plans to get involved in shore lake management, but so far, no news on that front.

Storm sewer on the Asbury side of Wesley Lake. Blogfinger photo. Click to see the ironic fish.

This is the newly built  Monroe which faces Wesley Lake on the AP side. Internet photo.

In addition, Bradley Beach has become hot with higher prices for homes that sold for a lot less not long ago.  This is the Asbury Park effect to the south of OG. And you can buy alcoholic beverages in BB.

It’s interesting that back in the day, when AP  had roaring honky tonk going on,  people from BB, Avon and other southern destinations  would walk through OG, heading north on the boards, admire the scenery and the peacefulness of our town, and then proceed as fast as they could to reach the promised land of Asburian hot-times before some Grover calls them sinners.   Now the Asbury Park two-step is back again, and developers want to turn OG into AP South.com.

Some buyers are seeking houses in OG and BB as sources of income for Air B& B and more long range rentals.  From the point of view of OG residents, this is not good news.  This kind of activity can change Ocean Grove significantly.

*Millennials often are highly educated and have good jobs. Now they have saved some money and they are looking for housing around here.  Some condos in AP have doubled their valuations  (and along with it their property taxes.)

The  Pew Research Center will use 1996 as the last birth year for Millennials.    Anyone born between 1981 and 1996 (ages 22-37 in 2018) will be considered a Millennial, and anyone born from 1997 onward will be part of a new generation.

This is an explosive  time for the staid Victorian town of Ocean Grove.  Anyone who lives here, full time or part time or as a vacation destination should be aware.

 

LIANNE LA HAVAS     from the movie Loving Vincent—-“Starry, Starry Night”

Read Full Post »

Just a minute: The Neptune Committee minutes are available for January 8. We offer excerpts about parking permits.

Posted in Ocean Grove controversies, Ocean GRove parking issues, Ocean Grove permit parking, tagged on February 3, 2018| 5 Comments »

The Blogfinger cow is covering the Committee meetings and any undder events where he/she can report on fake news.

And support the Blogfinger cow. Our milk is organic, and contains no methane gas.

From the Neptune Township Committee meeting  minutes on January 8.  Only 3 committeemen were present.

REGARDING PERMIT PARKING:  (excerpts of the minutes)

“DR BRANTLEY  stated that he could support moving forward with the permit parking proposal. Parking is a free commodity and the Committee needs to find a way to better manage this commodity. He suggested working with Asbury Park on this issue.”

“COMMITTEEMAN LANE commended Ms. Rizzo for the proposal. He stated that he could not move forward with permits at this time. He is concerned with all the residents. Permits will not decrease the number of people parking in Ocean Grove and then walking to Asbury Park. The Committee will be talking to Asbury Park on this issue.”

“MAYOR WILLIAMS stated that he was a member of the Parking Task Force. There are still unanswered questions about permit parking. There were good comments received on December 21st but there are a lot of questions including eligibility of Neptune Township residents who do not reside in Ocean Grove, how would the permits be handled at Town Hall, and how much staff would be needed.   He recommended not to move forward with the permit parking plan.”

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

“JOAN VENEZIA, 107  Mt. Hermon Way, stated that the parking decision should have been postponed until Ms. Rizzo is present. She asked the Committee how the Township will manage parking and what are the reasons why permit parking will not move forward. The Committee indicated that they would discuss the matter with Asbury Park.”

“Mr. Lane stated that permits would be a hardship to tourism and most do not want permits. Mayor Williams mentioned legal liability and the outstanding issue whether everyone in Neptune Township would be eligible for a permit.”

“BARBARA BURNS, 4 Ocean Avenue, stated that in regards to permit parking, the Committee  provided statements without evidence and no discussion. The Committee needs to get answers to any questions they have and it is not acceptable to give up. Parking is not free, there is a cost in lost time and opportunity. Unanswered questions are not a reason to not go forward. The Mayor stated that the proposal on December 18th was totally different from the proposal that they had for months.”

“Dr. Brantley stated that the Committee will not abandon the idea of looking for solutions. We will talk to Asbury Park and use their expertise”

“RAY DEFARIA, 12  New York Avenue stated the Parking Task Force did a very extensive review. Ocean Grove was founded on inviting people to come, not to keep people out.  The Ocean Grove Homeowners Association, who is supporting permits, has about 200 members but 3100 people live year round in Ocean Grove. The Committee made a hard decision, but a good decision.”

Editor’s note: The mayor refers to “eligibility of Neptune Township residents  who do not reside in Ocean Grove.”   This suggests that the Mayor is out of touch with the reason for a permit plan.

And,the opinions put out by Committeeman Lane  that “a permit plan would be a hardship to tourism and most do not want permits” are two unsubstantiated fake news remarks unworthy of a high Township official.

COW MUSIC:

LEWIS LYMON AND THE TEENCHORDS:   “TRA LA LA LA LA”

Read Full Post »

Neptune Board of Adjustment refuses request for a 6 foot backyard fence.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove controversies, Ocean Grove land use issues, tagged on November 2, 2017| 1 Comment »

A legal fence in historic Ocean Grove. Blogfinger.net photo ©

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor and Jack Bredin, reporter and researcher.

At the November 1 meeting of the Board of Adjustment, a homeowner made a formal request to replace a preexisting 4 foot fence with a 6 foot fence. He based his request for a bulk variance on the need for more privacy.   The homeowner appeared without an attorney or expert witness.   Asking for more privacy is not a valid consideration in providing a variance for this homeowner’s request.

The Neptune Township zoning limits rear fences to five feet. Many historic fences are 4 feet.  Robert Frost said, “Good fences make good neighbors.”  But in OG, they may not be too tall or your good neighbors may lodge a complaint at the Mother Ship.

The Chairwoman of the Historic Preservation Commission, Deb Osepchuk,  was present. She testified that the homeowner sought approval from the HPC, but that request was denied as not being compatible with HPC Architectural Design Guidelines   (see below)

“Rear yard fence height. Fences located in a rear yard area or on lot lines abutting a rear yard area shall not exceed a height of five (5) feet. The height of any decorative elements, articulated corners, gateways and posts shall be included in the fence height measurement.”

Why would a neighbor object to this homeowner’s request? After all, we all understand the need for privacy.

The meeting was poorly attended by those who live within 200 feet of the property who had received letters notifying them of the meeting.  Two neighbors appeared to oppose approval. But the approval  or disapproval of neighbors is not required for the Board’s decision.

Some neighbors didn’t care and didn’t attend. Others could have objected on the grounds of equal justice under the law, because they believe that no one should be exempted from the rules.  Also, there are those who would object because of “light, air, and open space issues.”  And others might be concerned with neighborhood aesthetics.

But the most compelling reason for denial is “precedence.”  If this applicant were approved, then the next person who comes along asking for a 6 foot fence would have to be treated the same way.  Then, all around town, we get 6 foot fences, and then the town no longer looks as it did before—-it will be contrary to what the town is all about.

In this regard, the people of Ocean Grove who want to have a successful historic town, need to keep an eye on such applications.  Neptuners don’t have the same sensitivity to historic appearances as we do.   Luckily, the Chairman of the Board of Adjustment is an Ocean Grover—Paul Dunlap, while Deb Osepchuk  (HPC) also lives in the Grove. They understand why these issues are important.

ELLA FITZGERALD AND THE BUDDY BREGMAN ORCHESTRA

Read Full Post »

Neptune Committee under siege at August 14, 2017 meeting. Part I—-parking permits.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove controversies, Ocean Grove governance, Ocean GRove parking issues, tagged , on August 15, 2017| 2 Comments »

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor and Jack Bredin Reporter and Researcher @Blogfinger.net

The meeting hadn’t yet begun, but the Township Committee attendees were greeted outside the Municipal Building by a group of demonstrators with signs complaining about plans to build a bulk-head at the Shark River. Blogfinger has little interest in the subject, but we are impressed that,  for the first time which we are aware, citizen-pickets protested outside.

We need more of that sort of activism when Ocean Grove has demands, and we often do.

Last night the OG Home Groaners planned to pressure the Committee into seriously looking into resident permit parking. They expected citizens to show up and loudly complain (at the microphone) that we need permits.  Even the political arm of Ocean Grove United tried to push the issue on behalf of their allies, the HOA, with a mass email  containing Joyce Klein’s  (HOA Parking Committee Chair) plea to show up.

But since the Home Groaners never publicly revealed their permit plan, how is the public supposed to make up its mind on this controversial issue?  Is this one of those “vote for it first and then find out what’s in it” moments?

As it turns out, an estimated 15 people spoke up, but about half were opposed and the other half were in favor; a somewhat similar result to our BF poll. Since those in favor had no idea what exactly they were in favor of, they basically asked the Committee to “do something.”  And those who were  opposed had no idea exactly what they were opposed to. They basically said “It won’t work.”

And the Committee seemed to cling to its  OG parking strategy which is to squirm in their seats while making believe they care.  This topic offers a no-win situation for them, and they have no courage to address it.   They want it to go away.

And the Home Groaners Ass. once again comes up empty regarding an issue that OG residents do care about.

Two interesting Grovers went to the microphone.  The first was Ted Bell, OG historian and HSOG member.  He said that he was in favor of a permit plan.

The other well known guest was Rev. John DiGiamberardino, COO of the Camp Meeting Association.  He read a prepared statement opposing a permit plan on the grounds that it would not coincide with the group’s “Mission Statement.”    The last time we heard that was when the citizens were rejected for a dog park in the Grove.

He did not hand out copies of his statement.  We will try to get one, since the OGHOA is very influential in town and in their dealings with the Committee.  Also, this must be important to the CMA, because they almost never go public with their views; except when Rev. John sent out a statement in the recent past on ground rents.

But, hang onto your hats, because this was a very long meeting and there was more trash talk to keep the Committee on the edge of their podium seats.

Here’s a song dedicated to the Township Committee from their buddies the OGHOA:

MARILYN MONROE

Read Full Post »

The Land of Make Believe in Neptune Township

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove boardwalk, Ocean Grove controversies, Ocean Grove lifestyle, tagged on June 11, 2017| 3 Comments »

 

Neptune goes all out to clean up the Shark River area after Sandy, but they made believe that they had no responsibility to provide help at the OG oceanfront. If they are going to deny services to OG, than how about a tax rebate for us?  Blogfinger photo Nov. 2012. ©

 

OG volunteers clean up after Sandy. No sign of Neptune DPW at the beachfront. They made believe that it wasn’t their job by saying that the land was owned by the CMA. But what about the needs of the people of Ocean Grove?

Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger

The relationship between the Township of Neptune and the Town of Ocean Grove has always been unnatural.   Ocean Grove is culturally, historically, demographically, and physically much different than the rest of the Township.    It is a strange and strained partnership, but Neptuners make believe that it is a good fit.

The decision to attach the town of Ocean Grove to Neptune Township was a bizarre  and archaic example of legislative  patronage, but Neptune makes believe that the historic error continues to make sense and they have refused to allow Grovers to seek a path on their own.  Even the wall in East Berlin eventually came down.

We pay property taxes to Neptune Township. They make believe that we are like the rest of the Township in terms of services paid for, but that’s not true.

We have few school-age children that use the schools compared to the rest of Neptune, but  Neptune makes believe that we are the same.

Neptune charges property tax to us for our leased land. They  make believe that we own our land. In reality the CMA claims to own  the land and collects lease charges from us. The Township should bill the CMA for the land tax, or, some arrangement should be made to turn over the land ownership to the homeowners.

Neptune won’t fix our sidewalks because they make believe that the CMA owns the sidewalks. That may be technically true, but the rest of Neptune gets their sidewalks fixed, and the CMA won’t fix our sidewalks. The Township and the CMA make believe that it is our responsibility, but why is that?  We don’t own the sidewalks.  In what towns do property-tax paying citizens fix their own sidewalks?

Neptune makes believe that we own the trees along the streets, but we do not. OG trees are in deplorable condition and pose risks to those who live, drive  and walk nearby. Does the Township allow trees along the streets in other parts of town to become unhealthy, ugly, and dangerous messes?  Neptune makes believe that the citizens should pay for tree maintenance.

Neptune is responsible for  some parks in OG, but they make believe that somebody else should maintain them.  For example, Firemen’s Park is a disgrace. They sure do a nice job with the park by the Shark River.

Neptune makes believe that Ocean Grove has representative government, but the Township Committee clearly has Neptune proper  as its priority.  Neptune makes believe that they are not exploiting our town for money  (ie the so called “cash cow” syndrome) but they are constantly looking for ways to find ratables in the Grove even if their decisions adversely impact our historic preservation and our quality of life.

Neptune makes believe that it supports the Grove’s special designation as a National and State historic site, but they consistently look for ways to defy the Master Plan and zoning ordinances that are supposed to look after the “historic district.” An example is the way that they defy RSIS rules.  Now they are working on a way to water down the HPC guidelines. They make believe that it is about fire safety.

Now they want to turn our North End into a big commercial zone that will hurt the Town of Ocean Grove.  They make believe that the project is good for the Grove.

Neptune makes believe that its first responsibility in OG is to the tax paying citizens who live there, but in reality, they act like we are invisible.  Just visit a Committee meeting to see how our neighbors are treated.  Instead, Neptune’s actual priorities are first the CMA, second developers and merchants, and third the Home Groaners Ass.

Neptune went all out to clean up and rebuild the Shark River area after Sandy, but they made believe that cleaning and fixing the ocean front was somebody else’s job. So an army of volunteers had to do it, and the CMA had to struggle to raise huge funds and to deal with FEMA. Neptune reluctantly participated later by supplying some bonds until FEMA came through.   The Township used  tax money after Sandy to fix other parts of town while denying us services and they make believe that this discrepancy doesn’t exist.

And now, as $800,000 has rolled in from FEMA for phase 3 post Sandy, the Township wants to build an unwanted bulkhead at Shark River instead of using the money to finally re-do the OG Boardwalk north of the Pavilion. They are favoring the marina area while making believe that the remaining OG Boardwalk repairs are unimportant.

So, we have  the Land of  Make Believe in Neptune, and we the people make believe that there is nothing we can do.

HARRY NILSSON  from the Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II music for Showboat.  The song is “Make Believe.”

“Others find peace of mind in pretending,
Couldn’t you? Couldn’t I? Couldn’t we?”

 

Read Full Post »

A reader wants to ban all future condominium conversion projects in the Grove. Would you?

Posted in Ocean Grove controversies, tagged on June 7, 2017| 6 Comments »

Artist’s rendition for condos to replace the old Surf Avenue Hotel which was destroyed by fire in 2011. Condos were permitted for the site.

 

Read Full Post »

Gobbledygook from the Home Groaners Ass.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove controversies, Ocean Grove Homeowners Association, tagged , on June 2, 2017| 2 Comments »

 

Future President of the OGHOA. Vote for her at the next election. Saucy Susie will do a better job for the citizens of OG. Blogfinger photo. ©

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger

Bonnie Graham writes for the Coaster, but she mostly specializes in reporting on HOA meetings. She is more like a stenographer because she writes down everything that happens, and then the Coaster regurgitates it all in their next edition 5 days hence.  She does a fine job of putting every ounce on paper, so no one really needs to go to those meetings.  All you need to do is read the Coaster if you can bear the pain of wading through it all.  But the June 1 account of the May 27 Home Groaners  meeting contains some gibberish which Blogfinger has an obligation to share with you, because it might otherwise just sink to the bottom of the sludge in Wesley Lake.

a.   The subject of “additional parking spaces along Main Avenue” was raised.  President Barbara Burns is quoted as saying, “We asked the Township to assume the administrative burden without funding, and the OG Chamber of Commerce is not pushing the parking issue.”  So, speaking of gobbledygook, someone please explain the meaning of this quote.

b.  Carol Rizzo, Township Committeeman who lives in the Grove,  is quoted by Bonnie  as saying, “OGHOA always sends 4-6 members and trustees to the Township Committee meetings. We listen to everybody. The parking recommendations made were a consensus opinion.”

So, who is “everybody” that formed that “consensus” ?  Does the “consensus” include the silent majority? Perhaps that parking “consensus” was formed behind closed doors somewhere. Do the people of Ocean Grove really believe that the answer to the parking issue is to squeeze in more spaces?

Shouldn’t  Committeeman Rizzo be  representing we the people  in demanding more accountability and new transparent  procedures in the decision-making process involving the citizens of OG, the HOA, and the Committee?  And how about those parking stickers for the residents?   And why doesn’t Ms. Graham challenge any of this balderdash?

c.  The Home Groaners announced that they have found something else to “focus” on.  It seems that they have exhausted their work on behalf of Ocean Grove, so, as reported by Ms. Graham, “The group will soon focus on issues in Neptune ‘outside of Ocean Grove.'”

Richard Williams, the Vice President of  the group “spoke at length on the Midtown Urban Renaissance Corporation–MURC—which serves as a liaison between this community and Neptune Township”

What “community?” Can anybody translate this mumbo-jumbo? Did the HOA members authorize its trustees to spend time looking into “Neptune issues such as gun violence, children’s activities, community garden, and fund raisers?”

The Home Groaners should do one thing: be involved in issues affecting home ownership in Ocean Grove. This is what their website says, “The mission of the OGHOA is to protect and enhance property values and the quality of life in Ocean Grove.” (period.)

d.   Ocean Grove fires: Barbara Burns spoke about fires in 2008, 2010, and 2011, but she had nothing to say about the horrendous Warrington fire of March 3, 2017. So Barbara, have you checked on those OG citizens who lost their homes in the fire?  There were nearly 100 of them.  Maybe she has no time now in view of the group’s latest incursion into Neptune’s  Midtown “renaissance.”

e.  And finally, Ms. Graham reported that a former President of the HOA, Ann Horan, said at the meeting, “We live in a diverse community. I have seen some of the most mean-spirited people being invited as summer speakers. I hope none of this year’s pastors are of the same ilk.”  Ugh!

Her ill-mannered portrayal of visitors to the Grove was aimed directly at the HOA’s special guest, Rev.  John DiGiamberadino, COO of the CMA who felt compelled to offer a defensive and embarrassing answer when he said, “We check to try to insure that speakers are non-controversial.”  Really?   He was bullied by Ann Horan, and no one in the crowd evidently protested. What a pathetic, blind-sided swipe at a man who came to the meeting to share good news, not to be rudely attacked by an unforgiving HOA all-star.

Thank you Bonnie Graham for sitting through this lame blather so that some of us could stay home and avoid these obnoxious meetings run by a group which is failing in its responsibility to the community of Ocean Grove.

So, enough of this summary of an event that was like the Mad Tea Party or perhaps an Oscar Meyer Weiner cookout?

Here’s something musical to get our minds off the gobbledygook.

MAX RAABE at Carnegie Hall, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

Ocean water advisory at the North End beach, May 31, 2017. Where are the enterococci coming from? You will be surprised!

Posted in Ocean Grove controversies, Ocean Grove environmental concerns, Wesley Lake pollution, tagged , on May 31, 2017| 3 Comments »

Sent by citizen reporters Susan and Barry Krumm reportng from the North End beach.. 5/31/17

The Rainbow Connection. Ocean Pathway. Ocean Grove. 2013 Paul Goldfinger photo ©

By Paul Goldfinger, MD.   Editor @Blogfinger

Does this advisory surprise you?  The Monmouth County Health Dept has been checking* the ocean water every Monday for many years at 50 ocean sites, and, it turns out, Ocean Grove has had a tendency to have worse problems than other beaches in our area.  Our water tests positive* for enterococci (coliforms) derived from feces more often.  Tomorrow, the Health Dept will close our beaches if the count remains too high, not only at the North End, but also at the South End.

Why should our beaches be more of a problem than others?  The general answer is that we are situated between two “ocean lakes”—Wesley and Fletcher which collect dirty street water which then runs off into the ocean. The fecal bacteria could be traced  to inland infrastructure failures  (ie sewer lines leaking) but mostly it is from dirty street water runoff, and oftentimes the source of that bacteria is animal feces.

The high counts get worse when there are rain storms—which the Dept of Health, in a  rare moment of humor, refers to as “crappy weather.”

And there are other issues for Ocean Grove. Wesley Lake receives a huge volume of street water during storms, and Wesley Lake itself has higher temperatures than other area lakes (? reason) and it receives a large amount of “nutrients”  (nitrates and phosphates ? from fertilizers.)

Whenever an area is “built out,” the amount of dirty water runoff increases, and guess what:  The Ocean Grove side of Wesley Lake is worse than the Asbury part because there is a four foot pipe that carries street runoff from NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP—an area reaching from Neptune  Rt. 35 and Neptune Boulevard all the way east to the Lake.

Regarding Wesley Lake, the Health Dept. Specialist that I spoke to refers to the Wesley Lake water condition as being “pretty bad.” But, he believes that the main source of the enterococci detected in our ocean test is NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP.

He says that “detention basin” is not a bad name for what goes on there because since the ocean end of the Lake was essentially closed off in the past, the Lake became the place where rainwater runoff sits.

And  the Township has not shared that bacterial information with us nor has the Wesley Lake Commission, unless they are ignorant of this issue.

The County Health Department is currently embarking on a two year study of Wesley Lake, and when it is over, they will look at possible remediation recommendations.   But because Neptune, Ocean Grove, and Asbury are so built up, it isn’t clear that they can do anything to fix the infrastructure  (old sewer lines.) Perhaps they will make other recommendations. 

We received today’s  information from David Sorenson, Environmental Health Specialist at the Monmouth County Health Dept. Their phone number is 732 431 7456, and I would suggest that the Wesley Lake Commission and the Friends of Wesley Lake jot down his phone number.  He also recommends a web site where the data can be reviewed:

NJDEP Coastal Monitoring

—–*Coastal Cooperative Beach Program

Read Full Post »

Neptune Township attorney makes North End announcement, but is it all legal, or just more funny business?

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove controversies, Ocean Grove North End Redevelopment Plan, tagged on May 26, 2017| 13 Comments »

By Sue Gioulis, Blogfinger staff based on a BF photograph from July, 2016.

By Jack Bredin, researcher and reporter @Blogfinger and Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger

At the Township Committee meeting of May 22, 2017, the Township Attorney Gene Anthony finally stopped making excuses for the stalled North End project with an announcement saying, “Mr. Gannon has an agreement with the new redeveloper and WAVE.”

William Gannon III is the spokesman, the leader, and the lawyer for WAVE, the mysterious group behind the North End Redevelopment Project (NERP) which has been languishing since 2008.

Jack Bredin went to the microphone to ask Anthony, “How can WAVE select a new redeveloper? You become a redeveloper when you sign a Redeveloper’s Agreement with the Township, and WAVE has never signed its own contract with Neptune Township.”

Anthony replied, “That may be true, but the Township Committee designated WAVE as a redeveloper.” 

Yikes, talk about evading a question!

Let’s take a look at some background information regarding the term “redeveloper” as it pertains to the North End project. And let’s also pay close attention to the words “Committee,” “WAVE,” “Association” (i.e. OGCMA,) “Redeveloper’s Agreement,” and “developer.” And let’s look for misuse of the English language that would distract from the truth.

On June 9, 2008, the Township Committee adopted Resolution #292 designating Wesley Atlantic Village Enterprises LLC (WAVE) and the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association (OGCMA or Association) as Co-Redevelopers of the NERP.

Resolution # 292 said “Whereas the Association conducted an extensive process to seek and interview potential developers for the property, and….

“Whereas, the Association selected Wesley Atlantic Village Enterprises, LLC as the developer of the property.”   (Note that the word “redeveloper” is not used in these two quotes)*

We believe that illegal procedures were used to get this project going in a direction that suited the developers and not the people of Ocean Grove.

To begin with, the selection process should have been conducted by the Township, not the Association, including advertising a request for proposals followed by a public bidding process as required by law.

The Township Committee allowed the Association to usurp the Committee’s legal authority to select a redeveloper. In a redevelopment project, the Township is in charge and should be the entity that selects a redeveloper.

In addition, the resolution confuses the issue (? intentionally) by twice referring to “developers” instead of “redevelopers.”   These words are not synonymous.

So, from the beginning, the whole process has been tainted, and now, at the May 22, 2017 meeting, it was reported that the Committee is currently permitting WAVE to do the same thing, i.e. to usurp its authority to select a redeveloper. In other words, the first illegal redeveloper is now choosing another illegal redeveloper. And the Committee, the citizens’ elected representative, remains silent on this shell game.

It also must be noted that no entity can be officially named as “Redeveloper” without signing a Redevelopers Agreement, and neither WAVE, the Association, or the new kid on the block (currently not identified by Anthony) have ever signed such a contract with the Township.

When will our elected officials take the side of the citizens, follow the laws, and favor the Master Plan as they deal with North End redevelopment ?

So here’s a metaphor.  Consider that the Town Committee are a bunch of teddy bears having a grand old time at their regular picnic, aka the Committee meetings. They love to dance and prance and act innocent, but they are blind to the forest rangers who are watching them very carefully.

ANNE MURRAY

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

Just wondering about the OG fishing pier and club house.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Just wondering in Ocean Grove, Ocean Grove controversies, Ocean Grove fishing pier, Ocean Grove history by Blogfinger, tagged on May 25, 2017|

Ocean Grove fishing pier pre-Sandy. By Paul Goldfinger. Undated. Blogfinger.net©

 

Bob Bowné says, “Speaking of fishing piers… I have heard that OGCMA has been completely stonewalling the the OG fishing club pier and club house rebuild.

“Does anyone have any further info on this? What is the agenda here?”

 

Editor’s note:  When Bob says “Speaking of fishing piers…” he is referencing his photograph which appeared earlier this year.  Below is a link to that post:

Bob Bowné at Belmar pier

 

RICHARD KILEY  from the Man of La Mancha, the story of a pursuit of truth and beauty.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »