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Posts Tagged ‘Parking permits in Ocean Grove’

Next-door.com: What are they saying about the negative economic impact of permit parking in the Grove?j

Posted in Ocean GRove parking issues, tagged on December 20, 2017| 4 Comments »

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net

Next-door.com is a social networking site where people share information such as items for sale or inquiries to recommend something, such as where to buy a Murphy bed.  But occasionally, Ocean Grove issues are mentioned, and if the comments are provocative enough, we will bring them over to Blogfinger for your assessment.

One thing that fascinates us at Blogfinger about this website is that the participants must use their real names.  Clearly that is having an inhibitory effect, because the current posts there about the permit parking issue offer information, but the posters will not tell us their opinions.

We know a Grover who posts under a pseudonym on Blogfinger and under his real name at Nextdoor.com   His Blogfinger posts are much more intense and revealing of his views  than what he says under his real name at Nextdoor.com.  And that speaks to the value of allowing anonymous comments on BF.

Below is a post on Nextdoor.com dated Dec. 20, 2017, which interests us.  The poster is Ray DeFaria of Ocean Grove.  This is what he said about the Workshop meeting regarding permit parking in the Grove:

“No decision was made by the Neptune Twp Committee.  They listened to the various concerns on both sides Those against permit parking included former Neptune Mayor Randy Bishop , a long time attorney in Ocean Grove, the head of the Ocean Grove Area Chamber of Commerce,  OGCMA trustees including the current President along with others who raised concern about the negative economic impact Permit Parking will have on Ocean Grove and Neptune.”

But, although Ray DeFaria  doesn’t directly offer his own opinion, he only mentions those who oppose the plan, and he only mentions the heavy hitters who spoke at the meeting.  He does not mention those who were for the plan.  And, although he tells us the titles of these big shots, he does not tell us their names.  So his comment is heavily spun in one direction and tries to impress us with his rogue’s gallery of VIP’s without direct quotes or names.

So, despite those limitations, I was interested in the people/organizations whom Ray says spoke at the meeting.  The list includes the Chamber of Commerce which, up to now, as far as we know, has not expressed how it feels about permit parking (or about any parking issues downtown.)   You would think that they would welcome a parking solution.

And he mentions Randy Bishop, who has a conflict of interest regarding this subject.  The CMA has already expressed its views armed with the threat of a lawsuit against the Township.

Our reporter, Jack Bredin, verified the negativity on the part of these VIP’s which, he said, included Jack Green, who is a realtor and developer and Camp Meeting trustee in town.

But what really interested us is Ray’s report  that all these big shots agree that the permit plan would have a “negative economic impacton Ocean Grove and Neptune!”    (our italics)  Wow!  This is new:  An economic theory as to why permit parking should be defeated.

In other words, all these Grovarian VIP’s with negative opinions on permit parking seem to care little about the problems experienced by the residential community in town.  That is a striking revelation regarding all these pillars of OG society.

As for the economic theory expressed in Ray’s post, it  seems like a far-fetched concept to us,  and Ray’s post did not explain how the dots are being connected.

Will any Blogfinger commenters or naysayers mentioned above weigh in on this economic argument against a permit parking plan for Ocean Grove?  Please explain that argument.

And finally, Ray didn’t say so, but most of the positive comments at the meeting regarding permit parking came from the OGHOA.  So that is a nice change of pace, but we guess they’ll have to change their plan:

BOB DYLAN:  “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan.”

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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

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