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
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