A little earlier than normal for the start isn't it. The last several projects started a little later, in spring.

"The city's hoping...." but won't deliver. There is no dry sand above the highest tides. Tourists think twice if you're used to renting in the South End.

Wish we could secede and join Strathmere...Upper Twp went to court to keep them despite the cost of maintaining their beaches. Our taxes are being stolen by our own city officials.

The south end should explore becoming part of Upper twsp. What we get in return for the millions in tax revenue is pathetic and insulting. UT knows how to get beach replenishment for a tax base that is a small fraction of what Ocean City has. Each south end beach front block pays about $240,000.00!!! In taxes !!

Thanks for that stat, Jeff. Knowing that number makes it all the more appalling. I doubt secession is viable and with that much money at stake, the City certainly wouldn't let us go without a fight. But it may be time to start forwarding these comments (and from the other article) to the local news organizations. The dredge and pumping is always good fodder for news clips....it might be interesting to have a "but all is not well in OC" follow through.

Yesterday was one of the lowest high tides in the lunar cycle and I couldn't believe my eyes on the beaches in the mid 50's blocks.

EVEYBODY agrees that the south end of ocean city desperately needs sand for its beaches, but who is going to fund it. the federal government is funding the present beach refill in the northend, but will not provide funding for sand in the southend. complaining to the mayor is like preaching to the choir. our federal officials are the ones that have to be made aware of our dire situation. start calling their offices.

Now I see why vic is lower-case dependant. When he uses the upper case he cannot spell. In either case (pun intended), he cannot reason.

So your insulting Vic because he said to call your federal representatives too. Perhaps it would be wise to do exactly that. I understand the frustration with the 2 mil parking lot, but you should complain to your state and federal reps also. I doubt the north end would be getting anything if it wasn't for the Feds and that's where the city makes its money.

Where the city "makes it money" is not and should not be part of the equation. All the residents of Ocean City who pay their exorbitant property taxes every year deserve equal and fair treatment. I hope the rational to do the North End first was not based on the business income produced. The South End needs protection as soon as possible because if it were not for the Dunes... well it would have been much worse. The entire island needs the protection it had prior to Sandy. This is a time for the residents to band together with a common goal to safeguard the whole town, and not lose focus on the nesting birds, the polluted sand, and personal attacks on folk's ideas, and even petty spelling mistakes. That nonsense only divides the people and gives the advantage to the government and their BS. If the Federal government can find money to rain down million-dollar bombs half a world away on some terrorist sending nasty emails about the USA, then surely the money, all the money, is available to bring back all the Jersey beaches to their beauty prior to Sandy.

The rational to do the north end FIRST? - there was never a second - the south end was not on the agenda at all!! And yes - it is all about making money in the north end and the BOARDWALK merchants (oh, what was the name? Gillian??) Please - for years and years it has always been about the north end and the boardwalk number one and the town a distant #2 and the rest of Ocean City? who cares! This town has been about making money for the boardwalk merchants and the rest of us are just here to provide taxes for them. It is about time that this town woke up to the injustice. Too bad it took the south end almost being washed into the sea to make people wake up.

I truly don't know what world you people live in. It's always about the money. I would have assumed that the WEALTHY southern owners would know that. The north end was previously scheduled for this project. Last year at high tide fourth and fifth st. beaches had no beach at all. We needed sand last year and didn't get squat. I am sure the city would love to have sand at the south end. Hell, I would love too. But the city can't just pull ten million out of their @ss for the project. They are only paying about 600k for the ten million dollar project for the north end. I am sure Jay would give it, if he had it to give, but we need state and federal funds to accomplish it. Bitching and complaining on a article which is reporting the north end project won't solve the problem. Call your representatives and complain to them. I'll even put a call in myself for you southern owners.

Jacoby - Your defense of master-complainer/misinformer vic in the earlier post is explained in post just above this one. Your reasoning above is that money dictates where the work gets done and when. The city plays a big role in that (though contributes relatively little to the cost). For this reason, pressure should be applied to all government agencies - but mostly on the city if the goal is to influence when adn where beaches are replenished in OC. vic- when you sort through the typical nay-saying, complaining, fact-vacuum, and irrationality - makes the same blindered comment as you do. I don't expect any concession from you - but that does not change a thing. If the southenders want to influence where the beach work is done, and in what order - the focus of their efforts should be on the administration. Note I said "focus". Having said that, it is too late for this round. And that underscores another point - People must stay engaged in local government year round to avoid getting behind the eight ball. Is not very effective to start advocacy after decisions are made.

There is general forgetting that you all or own property on an island....that island wants to and will migrate toward the south and west over time. Cordons inlet will close and a new one open up, just where is a good question. You can throw all in dollars you want at the problem in the form if sand, but, I would not plan on your grand kids enjoying the ocean city that you know or knew. Cause of the current issues? Climate change and the long term rape of the island by the real estate industry......

Richard, at no time has anyone said that sections of the Northend don't need beach replenishment and need it now. We, too, sat on the dunes during high tides. We have been calling city officials for over two years about this problem. There are ten blocks of beaches 50-59 that were decimated , dunes totally destroyed and massive sand loss from beaches where people were pushed to the dunes last year. It is NOT the entire Southend. Cost estimated by Dr. Stewart Farrell is $4.5 million. Of that at least 1.8 million is reimbursed by FEMA. The city already earmarked $750,000 for dredging. That is a shortage of about 2million. The city also says they plan on trucking in sand, maybe 50,000-60,000 cubic yards at $30-40 a cubic yard. This will cost anywhere from 1.5 to 2.4 million. Add it all up and there is the 4.5 million needed to dredge. Beyond this is the fact that the city could have added on the Southend to this current project back in September, but according to the DEP they made no such request. Yes, it is always about money. That said, strathmere (Upper Township) did two state/local projects in the past few years. It seems that they felt their residents' homes were worth saving. No boardwalk, just homes.

Between the DEP, the Army Corp, and all the other Federal and State agencies you have to work with to get a project like this done, the City's hands are tied. I am sure that if it was at all possible the Administration would do everything in there power to piggyback the project that has just started in the north end of the island. The rotation of beach replenishment was set along time ago by our former Ambassador who just happens to live in the North end of the island. All of the beach replenishment projects that have gone on in this city, the cost to the taxpayer was only a small fraction compared to total cost to accomplish. Pressure to get something done immediately needs to be focused on Washington and Trenton. Constant letters and phone calls to our representatives in those cities is the only thing that will move the money.

I know where you can find some sand money. They want to rebuild the fishing pier at 12th & the Bay. Mind you, no one who lives there wants it rebuilt. I'm sure it will cost 250,000 plus, Oh by the way, the State just spent 3 Million or so on a public fishing pier on the new bridge. Less than a quarter mile away.

The city has not even applied for permits to replenish the south end beaches. The south end has been ignored and it is because the emphasis is on bringing business to the boardwalk #1 and the town, a distant #2. No one on council or in this administration or any of the previous administrations has done anything for the south end of the island except taken the taxes and spent them on the rest of the island. The emphasis is always the boardwalk merchants and what they want and how they can be served. Mr Mayor and Council, time to pay attention to the entire island - way past time, as a matter of fact. And southenders - wine and complain all you want. You have been used and abused here in Ocean City and it is past time for you to speak up!

wjs: Do we even know if that $750k the city har as a budget item is actually available? My recollection is that the City shifted funds tagged for the South End a coule of years ago when a Nor'Easter blew out the dunes on Atlantic Avenue.

Pressure needs to be brought to bear on ALL. I think we can agree to that? From what I heard some of the Sandy disaster relief money has been routed to the Army Corps of Engineers. So the opportunity is there. The south end needs beach replenishment and it needs it NOW. It is not enough to say "we're working on it ... maybe in a couple of years." I don't think the south end has a couple of years.

Its a complex problem. I don't mean to minimize the difficulty or be unduly critical but we need to find a solution. The south end is one strong Nor'easter away from being flooded again. Somehow that point has to be driven home to ALL who are involved in the decision making process.

Ocean City is run like a closed corporation. It operates for the benefit of its commercial interests. Its all about making money here, mostly for the select few who have undue influence over local government. If you follow what's going on here that becomes abundantly clear. That has to change, but before it can change the electorate has to get wise to what is going on. At all levels we need government of and for the people and not of and for special interests.

Complaining on this website will do nothing to help your cause people, write to your representatives.. And for the people complaining about their high property taxes, have you looked around the rest of the state? I have lived in the most northern part of NJ as well as the middle, my taxes here in OC are less than 1/2 of what I paid in those parts of NJ for the same type of house. The reason being is the boardwalk and other revenue generators in the north end so, if thats not taken care of your taxes will just go up even higher.

Hmph. Get a load of this. Ocean City is holding on to $1100 they over charged me on property taxes. They double billed me because they erroneously credited someone else's account with my money, so my mortgage company automatically paid the "delinquent" bill they were sent.

Ocean City has had the extra money since September 2012. When I finally sorted things out with them and they admitted their error (my taxes applied to the unit downstairs), they told me that I would have to fill out a form and wait 30 days to get my money back because my request would have to be "reviewed." What? Is this the Twilight Zone? Am I being punked? OC has had money that does not belong to them for 5 months and now I have to "request" to get it back....and it will take 30 days?

Well, I guess they must really need it for that new parking lot.

Sometimes you just have to shake your head and laugh.

I think our Mayor reads the Patch. Mr. Mayor - we need beach replenishment in the south end. Ocean City cannot be run simply for the prosperity of the few! You have to take care of everyone in Ocean City, not just your pals and the boardwalk merchants, but everyone. There is no way we should be in this position but we are because your administration and the previous administrations and city councils have neglected the south end, taken the tax money and taken very good care of yourselves at all times. Not like we all don't know what goes on in Ocean City.

I pay around $8,000 a year in taxes. Add another $2,000 for insurance (homeowners I can't afford flood insurance) and the exhorbitant amount I pay for water and especially sewer (really another indirect tax) which prorates my summer utilization throughout the year, and my investment, renting out a floor over the summer, has NO return. I need to make about $12,000 from rentals just to break even. Add in ongoing maintenance and utilities (especially electric in the summer) and I'm operating at a loss. I should up my rents but my rental is only two bedrooms. Yet my taxes are the same as for a much larger four bedroom unit and I'm getting squeezed.

You can argue whether taxes here are relatively low or high, but what I pay in taxes means no income from my investment. And I don't have a mortgage. Up until a couple of years ago you could say you were building equity but now the opposite is true. From a purely financial point of view its a horrible investment. And for so many people its only going to get worse..

Everyone says we don't pay that much in taxes, which relatively speaking may be true. What bothers me about my taxes is how the money is spent. This City could, and should, run a whole lot leaner than it does, and if it did taxes would be lower. And maybe I'd be able to afford to keep living here...

I know this all sounds too personal but I don't have a better way to say it. What it all comes down to is that like many others I'm probably going to have to sell out.

<<<<From a purely financial point of view its a horrible investment<<<<<

Of course it is. Who ever led you to believe otherwise, Eric? Consider yourself lucky if you can break even---or come close. Many of us have a negative cash flow of $10k-$20k per year with our units fully rented for 10 weeks. OC (like most resort areas) is a big loser for short term investment and positive cash flow.

But....{{{sigh}}}, we love it, so we still say buying in OC is the best "irrational decision" we've ever made.

Eric - A coupla responses to your comments (understanding that these are fraught and complex topics that cannot be adequately discussed in this forum):
You are not happy about how much you pay in local property taxes and acknowledge that they may be relatively OK. But you are clear in your conviction that our tax dollars are mispent. Later you give an example of that when you describe the income of city workers and our teachers (you claim that most make near or more than 100K/year). My thoughts - I do not know for sure but have a very strong hunch that not nearly most of those workers make just under or more than 100K. But more important, I do not understand why you begrudge them their good fortune to make a decent living to support themselves and their loved ones? And do you have a beef about the city employees and teachers who make much less than that and are struggling to make it? Can you recommend how much each should make and provide a rational basis? I do not know how you managed to own a primary residence in OC and have no mortgage, but I wonder if you have considered that many of those teachers and city workers would love to be in that position but cannot afford it? Or how many of them would count themselves fortunate to be in a position to have a house like yours with a total prop tax and insurance bill of less than they pay just for a mortage for a home on the mainland...continued

On to the investment point - Investments carry risk. I do not know how much you invested to own your property outright, nor how much you have otherwise put into it, but did you have no expectation that any part of it could be lost? Here's the thing - We bought our homes on a barrier island in the North Atlantic. If we do that unaware or consciously ignorant of the risks to property and life we take on, then we are rotten investors. Many of us did not anticipate the flood maps undergoing an update, and it sure would benefitted us to know that before we invested here, but, again, that is also part of the risk (regulatory change). One thing I did know in that regard is that I would not have bought my house here if government did not supplement flood insurance and pretty much cover hazard mitigation, preparedness, and recovery. Point is, government interference is what enabled many of us to afford to live here to date. It is not what will force many of us to leave - our investment choices are responsible for that. Last comment - I am not happy that I will have to shell out about 120 K to raise my home to recapture and protect its value - but I am not angry about it either. Not at the city employees, teachers, FEMA, City Council, Jay - anyone. But if I were angry, it would only be properly directed at myself.

Eric - Thanks for the thoughtful responses. No point debating here. Suffice it to say that you say you do not begrudge public employees' pay but continue to make statements that contradict that. And you make the statement "ALL workers should be paid a fair and competitive wage, according to the value of what they produce" but do not say why you think our public employees are not being paid accordingly.
And, contrary to what you suggest - taxes are not and should not be controlled by what the taxpayers can bare, but by what they are willing to pay. And that is reflected in how they vote.
Is good to see that you now say you only blame yourself for the decisions that led to the loss in your property's value. I think that if that position were more prevalent, the dialogue would be much more productive (and healthy).

Some coverage, but what is The Mayor referring to with respect to Environmentalist Opposition? The "enviromentalists" are OK with dredging up North? The fish and wildlife laws don't apply there? Straw Man arguments.
OK, so the promised dune's will protect property, but if you don't widen the beach, they'll get blown out again and the tourists (and summer residents) this summer still have no recreational beach.

http://www.nbc40.net/story/21235627/ocean-city-beach-replenishment-begins-amid-controversey#.USLDWE1xrv0.email

Yes I would like to know about the "Environmentalists opposition" myself. Lets have that laid out specifically, shall we? Mr Mayor, the south end of Ocean City has been neglected FOREVER and if there are issues with the piping plovers - they are seasonal issues and do not explain the lack of attention that has gone on for years and years. Your administration and previous administrations have used tax dollars to focus on the boardwalk and the prosperity of the few in Ocean City. I hope that now, Mr, Mayor, that your attention has been drawn to the situation in the south end, that you will do what is necessary for all the tax payers in Ocean City. Maybe you just didn't realize that the south end suffers from neglect, but now you know and clearly you should move mountains to fix this. And since I believe, that you are a good and decent person (unlike our previous mayor) I have faith that this issue will get resolved and there will be no more tampering with our protective wetlands either.

Eric, too bad about your house troubles but I think it will all work out. As far as you comments about the publics--I would like to add that there are way too many of them doing way too little for way too much in pay and benefits with little or no accountability. I wonder if Mayor Gilllian and family run their business the same way the city is run. Allowing employees to retire at 55 with full health benefits and pensions for the rest of their lives, pays outs for overly generous sick and vacation time, no accountability when a mistake is made, employees holding 2-3 paid positions, you get the point. Wonder how long he would have stayed in business. Look around at what is going on in the rest of country, RI, CA, IL KY pensions going belly up, retirees taking cuts or getting nothing, etc. Of course, this could never happen here in OC:) Only the publics who have lived in their little bubble for so long see anything wrong with making reforms. Our taxes should be way lower than they are and I'm not sure what it will take to drive that point home.

Eric - Gotta say I don't even come close to understanding your first paragraph.
Duffer - Are you being ironic when you make these sweeping, public put-downs of city employees with such pride in your boldness while doing so anonymously?
Southend, Jesse, et al - Please don't confuse "environmental opposition" with environmental regulation. Also - There is no point in concentrating on the environmental contributoin to the southend's beach replenishment neglect because the cause of it is politcal, not environmental.
Beachy - You gotta come up with some new union bashing rhetoric - your stuff is wrong and wrong headed. But, hey, keep up the dreadful, relentless, counter-productive (though I assume emotionally gratifying, for you) negativity.

It seems as though Sam has covered everyone. Can anyone on here answer my question as to how long Wonderland Pier or any other private business or industry would stay in business and turn a profit if they paid their employees the same wages, benefits, pensions, days off, shorter work hours, etc. that the publics are paid? Its not about union bashing, its about a level playing field and fair and equal treatment for all taxpayers not about supporting waste, nepotism and corruption not to mention dishonesty and lack of integrity and wasteful spending of taxpayer resources. The story is all the same, look around the country at what is going on in so many towns and cities. Unfortunately, there isn't any new "union bashing rhetoric"--its all the same and for all the same reasons in any town or city across the country.

Beachy - Here's your answer: Wonderland's workforce is primarily low-skill, high availabilty students working a summer job collecting tickets for rides (in order to make money so they can get an education and skills that will enable them to make a decent living). If Wonderland's staff had to perform specialized, highly-skilled duties like police, fire, teachers, city administrators, department heads, etc. then the market would put their salaries in the same ball-park as the city workers and other union members you insult (anonymously) and resent.

I want to point out that I characterized the majority, not all, of Wonderland's staff and assume that there are also high skill, etc managers, technicians, marketing people...and that those people make competitive salaries.

Sam, you really read a lot into these posts. I did not insult anyone nor do I resent anyone. However, I will stand by my assertion that there are way too many publics doing way too little for way too much. I was using Wonderland as a reference to OC. I don't see being a teacher or police or maintenance as being "highly skilled" Skilled maybe, highly skilled, no. Now, since you seem to know about Wonderland how about any of the "highly" skilled managers, technicians, marketing people, etc. that you clarified. Do you think that they get fully funded health benefits and pensions guaranteed for life? 35 work weeks? Unused vacation and sick time pay outs? Do those employees get to retire at 55 or 58? I wonder if the Gillians would keep on an employee who was fudging their books? How about an employee who was padding their salary and overtime? I wonder if Gillians employees are accountable to the owners when a mistake is made or a crime committed? When you mention competitive salaries than implies a free market. The public sector is an artificially maintained fantasyland. Pensions, top notch health plans and public unions are a thing of the past as we are seeing abroad and here in our own country. They will suck the life out of all of us.

Right - the reason the south end beaches have been ignored is political - totally. When life and property are at stake, environmental is just used by politicians as an excuse! Mr. Mayor - your environmental excuse does not wash! We need beach replenishment in the south end NOW - it should have been done several years ago but all focus is always on the boardwalk merchants - always top priority and all priority and that needs to end now.

Beachy - I disagree with just about everything you say - the factual assertions, arguments, conclusions and the rest. The small remainder that I do not disagree with is the stuff that I cannot know if it is accurate ("publics doing way too little for way too much", for example). But let's say that is correct - is this a problem unique to the public sector? If so, based on what? I've been in the private sector (including working as a private contractor in the public sector at times) my entire work life and I've seen plenty of people doing very little work, or poor quality work, for the same or better pay than mine....

Finally watched the Feb 14th council meeting that was posted to the ocnj website. I thought all the speakers did a good job presenting their arguments, but the last two were by far the best (Jan Booth and Thad Kirk) because they had hard data and facts. I think at the next council meeting speakers should kick it up a notch and emphasize the "crisis" of the situation. They should talk more about the dangers and risks (to life and property) associated with not replenishing the beach instead of waxing on about how long they've been coming to OC, how much they miss their beautiful beach or how their grandkids won't be able to play in the sand this year---all sweet and endearing, but not something pubic officials are going to stick their necks out for.

Newell - Lots of studies contradict your claim that public sector workers' salaries are higher than equivalent jobs' payin the private sector. Same with the benefits. Regardless, for the sake of argument, if your claims are correct, why not object to the private sector workers' not getting as good a deal? In fact, aren't there lots of other more deserving places in the compensation realm to focus your concern (perhaps you do). For example, are you OK with a 25 yr old born with a fantastic quantitative mind into a strong socio-ecomic and racial/gender situation riding these unearned initial endowments with little effort through, say, Harvard and then humping other people's trading software and making 20 million a year?

Ocean City hired the same firm that FEMA used to advise on the new flood maps. Is this a Conflict of Interest? Atkins North America, Inc worked on the FEMA maps.
http://www.northamerica.atkinsglobal.com/projects/fema-idiq-for-risk-map-production-and-technical-services.aspx

Back to the subject at hand. I did not see it but I heard that channel 10 ran a news piece on the beaches on the south end. Compliments to the south end organization for taking effective action.

Not sure if NBC10 used the video from NBC40, but definitely had a couple people tell me they saw it on the morning newscast. (One of whom asked me if they should check the beeach at 50th before they sent a rental deposit). The word's out, I hope for everyone's sake we get some kind of commitment before it's too late.

Eric - "Back to the matter at hand"? Sounds good except that it comes from you - the one who blamed city worker salaries for your financial woes in the wake of Sandy.

Right - Can't blame you for the full retreat Eric. You put your city worker scapegoating stuff out there and Hurribrain Sammy blew it away.

City worker this and that - this is an article about widening the beach in the north end when the south end is 99% gone - so all well and good to discuss the salaries of the city workers but let's get back to the fact that the south end is totally neglected in this city while all the tax money paid by the south end is used to make the boardwalk merchants prosperous. Let's get back to the fact that this city exists for the prosperity of the few (and I am not talking about city workers.) This city exists for the prosperity of the local families who hit it big here - the insurance sales, the boardwalk merchants. And everything is geared toward keeping those families flush - even beach replenishment is geared toward keeping the boardwalk merchants flush. The south end is neglected - why? Because it is not the north end - that's why.

Question: doesn't tax revenue from the boardwalk merchants keep residential property taxes down?

The boardwalk is important too. It's a big draw for vacationing families on the entire island. There shouldn't be an "us vs. them" debate. Beach protection is important for ALL of OC. But resources for replenishment should to be allocated equally.

There shouldn't be an "us vs them" and there wouldn't be if the south end was treated fairly. It would not be an issue if the south end received the same services as the north end - and it is not just the boardwalk. It is the local community in the north end has more clout - clearly and always has. This is not new - it is just blatant because of the beach replenishment issue. (But actually the south end has never received the services - drainage streets, etc.) Now it is blatant to everyone. It's politics in Ocean City as everywhere but that does not make it OK! I believe the 4th ward provides a huge percentage of the tax base and we do not get that same percentage is services because politically - not much clout! And fairness? Just a word. I have no problem with the boardwalk merchants getting attention - it is the undue and unfair attention that they get in this town to the detriment of others, that is disheartening.

Eric - Too bad your actual comments are still here in this string. I refer those interested to Eric's Monday 2:57 post. Compare that to his comment 8:28 today. The reason city worker, teacher, etc pay is on this string is because Eric and several others connect their financial dificulties arising from the loss in property value and increased insurance from Sandy to city workers and teachers pay. A bitter, resentful, misplaced, and stupid claim that was completely destroyed. Thanks to who someone here referred to as Hurribrain Sammy.

Could't agree more Lynn. The discussions on public vs. private sector contributions to an economy are clouding the issue at hand. How the tax dollars are allocated back to the public sector employees is a worthwhile and impotant topic, but we NEED to protect both property and the real business of Ocean City: tourism. I live in my own summer property and manage rentals for others. I remember getting calls from Realtors a couple of years ago relaying complaints and demand for refunds when tenants in Sea Isle had to deal with the sand pumping pipes on their particular blocks. At least they could walk a block for some space. Tourists in the South End will be furious this year. Repeat renters are critical to stable cash flow and spending in the rest of Ocean City. As for the part time residents, we already manage our beach time according to tides, late afternonos, etc. This summer looks far worse.
There's an implicit contract when you pay taxes: there's consideration (our bills) that creates a mutuality of obligation. This City is in breach of that contract for South Enders. It's not just the response to the damge from this storm, but rather a compounding of years of neglect.

South End...
Good point about the city's obligation to the southend and neglect of that over the years. You muddle it though with the contractual language. Are you using that as an analogy or applying it directly? I hope the former. It doesn't stick well if applied directly.
I don't understand the first few sentences, but the rest is helpful. Tourism is critical to the life of the town and tourism will suffer because of diminished or wiped out beaches. They exist throughout town but will be worst in the Southend. And that is largely because the Southend has been neglected forever, relative to the rest of town. It's good that so many southenders are making their voices heard now. Too bad they waited until this happened to do that. Maybe they learned their lesson and will remain engaged, even after the beaches are restored.

Docked....yea, limited space makes for limiited sense, I guess.
Essentially what I'm saying is taxation is a two way street. Other than it being illegal not to pay taxes, you enter into an agreement with government to pay your taxes and in exchange, you get certain services. Which we seem to be short on.

Southend - Good to see that you have backed off blaming environmentalists for the beach replenishment plans and now properly assign responsibility to local government priorities.

Say What?: You misunderstood me. I wasn't blaming environmentalists in the least. I was puzzled by the Mayor's use of the term and his citing it as a reason why nothing was going to happen. His implication was that there was among other hindrances, a group of Environmentalists holding up a South End project. I undersatnd the Environmental issues at hand. Perhaps he was misquoted, but it seemed from his comments that there was some sort of new protest arising specifically related to the South End and that was holding up expanding the current project. I accept that there is is complex process of permitting that goes on. However, given all the emergency funds available and the state of the beaches, it seems that this would qualify for expediency. The string of comments from the City has headed in the direction of finding excuses.

Southend - I just re-read the relevant post after reading your explanation and see that you were not blaming the environmentalists. Give me at least that it was a bit ambiguous. Anyway - I am sorry i misrepresented what you wrote.
I did not see what the mayor said either, but I bet it had to do with regulations controlling when and where the work can be done. He may have used that as an explanation of why it could not be done in the southend before the season even if the city managed to make that a possibility at this late time. If that is the case, I don't know if it is accurate.

Is there any legal responsibility of the city in the event homes are further damaged and they have not properly protected by the city? In other words are there any legal routes that we can take either now or later(after and if something happens)

Dea ...my advise to you is that this is a. A

DSA
My advise to you is that this is not a good place to seek advise....

DSA, not easy to do. There would probably have to be a severe injury or death.

Longport has no boardwalk, no street parking, no shopping, no tourists, no dunes and no mayor Gillian.......and some of the nicest house at the jersey shore, it's starting to look better and better to me every day.

I dont know why anyone would want to represent this town as an elected official. I have given the mayor sh+t on many a topic, but this is ridiculous. Your blaming him for everything, even the federal beach replenishment project If I was as wealth has he is, I would tell you all to stick it. Who needs this crap

Hey Docked? Newell commented in this post that what he pays in taxes in Ocean City is half of what he paid in North Jersey. That is what brought up the issue of taxes. Also, as you hopefully are aware, the City is in the midst of the budget process? So it’s a relevant topic for discussion don’t you think?

The tax levy has gone up another couple of million this year and the tax rate has gone up 8%. Last year it went up 5% for a total, over two years of 13%. Hence the comment on taxes. My contention is that taxes here could and should be lower than what they are and I went on to suggest several ways the City could spend less money, and yes one of them was salary and compensation for public workers. I can appreciate that some people are offended by that comment. But it is none the less true. We spend 30% more for those services than other municipalities. And compensation by far makes up the biggest percentage of the budget.

As for the rest of your comment you’re either hopelessly confused about what I said or simply trying to discredit me. The linkage between Sandy and taxes is that they are both contributing to the financial hardship that many are now facing in this community. Because of the response to Sandy and what it will mean for many homeowners, it is insensitive at this time to raise taxes and contribute further to that burden. Our senior citizens are sinking into POVERTY here. I was talking to someone from the food cupboard and it is senior citizens that frequent the place.

I apologize once again for going off the topic but I’m not going to sit here quietly while being misrepresented and slandered. And no I didn’t back of the topic because of anything you said. I accepted it for what it was worth. I backed off because it was not the original subject of this post.

While I'm on the unrelated subject I received my reassessment and it was more than fair. I talked to others and I can't figure out how they arrived at the assessment. Suffice to say there was wide disparity.

In an article, Mayor Gillian was quoted as saying that the southend beaches could not be replenished now because of the environmentalists. But that is simply not the case. When life and property are at stake, (which they definitely are in the south end) envirnomental issues are put aside. The piping plovers are the issue but there is no place for them to nest on south end beaches - because there are no south end beaches for them to nest upon. It is also a seasonal matter and February is not the season that there is an issue with the plovers anyway. This is easily verified. This is a political issue in Ocean City. Those in control have never bothered taking care of issues in the southend because there are many 2nd homeowners who cannot vote, because the funds go to the tourist areas and the boardwalk and to the north end where the business owners and old local families reside. They have the clout in this town. Ocean City exists for the prosperity of the few - and the few don't have homes in the south end of Ocean City. AND YES- the southend homeowners need to speak up loud and clear and not take this treatment anymore. And Mayor Gillian does have a lot of control over this matter and he needs to do something about it.

Eric - You're flailing about. It is unseemly. Your words are right there in plain sight. Why not state that you retract them rather than contort them after the fact in an attempt to give a different impression? Is OK to change your mind, or have your argument effectively rebutted. If you are overly sensitive to that, why put yourself in a position to be hurt by posting your opinions on a public forum where they are publicly scrutinized and likely to be rebutted, attacked, or ignored? Give it some thought. Ball don't lie.

Case in point.

Seems like we're really getting the ol' run around: The article in the Press this morning says to replenish the South End an dredge has to go "out to sea" and ship sand back. Am I the only one who saw a dredge parked off of Corson's a couple of summers ago to do Strathmere? (Which would be Piping Plover season, right?) Maybe it was the shoulder season, but I remember having guests? They're fishing for excuses:

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/communities/upper_capemay/southern-ocean-city-residents-want-share-of-beach-replenishment-happening/article_d62aad1e-7bb0-11e2-8845-001a4bcf887a.html

The city should do something right now. They should have done something years ago for the south end. The beaches have been disappearing for years now. The theory that the sand will move south from the north didn't work for the 50 - 59 beaches clearly. It is not just a recreational issue for this summer. We need protection! We need the beaches widened and dunes for protection. The mayor can do this - if Gillian's Fun Deck were sitting on 50th and Asbury, you can bet there would be a nice wide beach at 50th Street and it would have been done consistently and it would have started many, many years ago. I think our Mayor is a good man, but clearly his priority has been the boardwalk and now, Mr. Mayor, that you can see that the southend needs help desperately, I know you can make this happen.

I just read the Press article. The ACE has no funds for this?? Crazy! They got, I think, billions of dollars for this. The city needs to move on this and then work to get reimbursed.

There are no piping plover nesting sites in the Southend. They are in the north end, central and corson's. Irony- what destroyed the most plover nests in NJ? flooding!

Jack K- you may very well be correct- these projects could be complicated, need planning. Perhaps all in the Southend would have been better served if some government agency had been more planfull the past decade. Southend beaches have been eroding for years- factual as stated by Stockton College Professor Farrell. Being proactive would have been much less costly than now being reactive.

Jack: According to the administration "nesting season for the endangered piping plover starts on March 15 and stretches into August.". So were the dredges there after August. (honestly can't remember the timing).
However, no need to patronize me: I understand there's specific requirements to dredging. That doesn't seem overly complex to my simple mind. But that dredge was obviusly not "out to sea". It was taking sand from what appears to be a pretty sand clogged inlet.

It is rather sad to read the complaints regarding the South End needing sand replenishment sooner rather than later. Grew up in OC (50's, 60's, 70's) in the Southern End & back then the beaches were perfect. Of course, there also were no cookie cutter duplexes or quads or mcmansions. There were single homes, lovely large duplexes, green front lawns, parking spaces for everyone, very rarely flooding on the streets, etc. But that was then and this is now. The damage was done when the tear down/building was allowed to rape O.C. in the late 80's & 90's. No thought was put to the stress on the sewage system, the roads, etc. Dollar signs were in the powers that be eyes. Blue laws broken, 'new money' folks moved in that in reality have to rent out their cookie cutter duplexes because they can't afford to own them otherwise. Not meaning to sound uppity, just stating the facts. What was once a lovely, safe, neighborly town has become a greedy money grabbing place. Watched the stress the BYOB brought on & pitted neighbor against neighbor. For what? How many 'good' restaurants are in OC and worth paying their exorbitant prices for something that is frozen, then microwaved, slapped on your plate and that is supposed to 'Fine Dining in OC'. The boardwalk now resembles Wildwood's (without the games of chance, which won't be far behind). Homeowners are for the most part absent landlords now. Look around, don't just blame the government, tax payers are just as guilty. 'Made your bed.."

Tired: I appreciate your points. The beaches in the North End were once pristine and untouched as well. Heck, the original boardwalk was a few blocks further West. In fact, most of the Mid-Atlantic region was less populated, less developed and less crowded.
I can't control what happened in the past, but I do pay taxes in the present. If my tax dollars can support the North End and my discretionary dollars can support businesses in all of Ocean City, then I think it's fair to expect some services in return.
I, for one, can afford not to rent my house, But those landlords who you hold in contempt pay their taxes, too. And my guess is their tenants spend far more on a week to week basis on the Boardwalk, Asbury Ave., etc than either you or I do:
it's their vacation.
If we're simply going to adopt a policy of leaving the South End on its own for the beaches, then we should at least disclose it to renters, and give the section of town a "special services" designation and give us a break on taxes, beach tags and the rest. I'd be happy to petition Upper Twp. to absorb us and our shoobie absentee tax dollars.
And if your solution is to tear all the duplexes down, shutter the businesses, and fire all the people who work in and around the town, I'd be happy to consider how to unwind all of that as well, Because I'm tired now too.

How soon we all forget. I cant paste the link but google Congressman or representative william Hughes beach replenishment. if you recall, he had a home on the north end. in 1991 he authored a bill that was approved for a 50 year project of beach replenishment.
on another note, why is the dredge not in the ships channel? what a waste again of a good opportunity to make the ships channel wider, deeper and most of all safer.