Oct. 28, 2012. 11:00 a.m. Ocean Grove. Reports warn of perfect storm approaching. By Paul Goldfinger © Click left for full view
From John Anderson, a citizen reporter for Blogfinger:
Star Ledger: “Local leaders push FEMA on Ocean Grove boardwalk reconstruction”
“Mostly old info except for this part: ‘If FEMA does not change course, Governor Chris Christie did not rule out state assistance for the boardwalk.'”
EDITOR’S NOTE: It seems that local journalists can’t get the facts straight about why the CMA was denied funding. This Star-Ledger reporter says that is is because the CMA is a private non-profit organization. But that, as most of our readers know, is not the case. It is because private non-profit organizations cannot get funding for a recreational structure like our boardwalk.. But our FEMA appeal makes the point that our boardwalk is much more than a recreational facility. The article (see link above) correctly points out why that is so as it quotes a number of public officials.
We have reported on Blogfinger that the CMA will consider other sources of funding once they have completed the FEMA process. We also have reported that there is a State fund, run by the Governor’s wife, which the CMA can apply to.
Here is another quote from the same article that makes a unique observation that I have not heard before comparing our FEMA boardwalk application to other towns in the area. Of course, the last part of the quote is wrong: “Almost every municipality in New Jersey received assistance from FEMA to repair their boardwalks , but in February the agency denied the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association funds, saying private non-profit groups did not qualify for public repair assistance.”
And here is a quote by Molly Mulshine of the Asbury Park Sun (April 8) that has the facts straight about the FEMA rules: “FEMA policy states that a private nonprofit facility can only receive funding if it performs a crticial service, according to FEMA assistant external affairs officer Mary Margaret Walker. FEMA defines critical services as providing power, water, sewer, wastewater treatment, communications, education, and emergency medical, fire protection and emergency services, Walker said in an email.”
—Paul Goldfinger (editor @Blogfinger)
JULIE RAFFERTY. From The Fantasticks