Thank you Mayor Gillian: Hopefully your effort to bring people together will resignate and ease some of the anger out there. It is nice to have an elected official actually try to unite people.

Thank you. It has been a difficult situation for all and we thank all those who have been working around the clock to bring OC back to some level of norm so far. What I saw the day after Sandy and what I see now are in great part due to all the work done by many OC workers and volunteers. Thank you all. Keep up the good work.

I support the Mayor and commend all City departments on the quick and effective response to this crisis thus far.
I agree that we must continue to write our legislators and I also believe it's important to continue to communicate the needs of the South End to our most immediate level of government, the City.
I believe the Mayor realizes the urgency of what property owners and and this Summer's tourists are facing.
I'm sure we all support an expedient way to ensure a fine season for all those who love Ocean City and patronize it's tourist industry.

It might be helpful post links to legislators emails or their names and mailing addresses.

Finally - the links are at the end of the article.

Our business supports you mayor keep fighting for us. We will rebuild better and stronger!

I was amazed at how fast and all the hard work the city from the top down to the lowest level employee and neighbors came together for the greater good.If we can continue with the same Ocean City will be a better place than before Sandy.Everyone working towards the same thing the best quality of life.Thanks to all.

The Army Corps of Engineers has received many millions of dollars since Sandy. Maybe they should be contacted by south end homeowners about the dire emergency that exists in the south end right now. This isn't about kids playing on the beach and renters, it is about life and property and it is an emergency. Lautenberg's office just dismissed me when I called him about this matter saying to contact the municipality. So Mayor Gillian, this is really on you, I am afraid. The fact that our beach was nonexistent before the storm shows a great neglect by the city to begin with and never should any part of this town suffer from such neglect but it did and does. Something must be done now as this is an urgent safety issue. Lets all work together is a nice mantra but I have written and called all of the above and nothing is working. And we don't need snide letters to the editor by our neighbors taking shots about a bike path either, do we? If only the south end got attention other than business people in the north end trying to take our protective wetlands for recreational use. We need our wetlands for protection, not just for wildlife habitat which is important too. We need our beaches, dunes and wetlands and it is time we got the same protection as other areas of Ocean City.

Can someone provide the names and addresses (email and US mail) to send our letters to?

Please publicize all of the official applications for permits and funding with dates, the city has taken during the past 5 years to obtain beach replenishment for the southend of ocean city, in addition to formal requests to be added on to the 50 year northend project. When southend residents contact State and Federal officials about this, they claim Ocean City Officials had not applied for help through their offices. This included NJDEP, Army Corp of Engineers, State and Federal elected officials. This will clearly help point those who are trying to help in the right direction. Thank you.

After reading the numerous articles and comments on Patch, I have but one question for the Mayor, if permits and all needed paperwork were obtained would Ocean City, on their own move forward with the dredging that is so desperately needed in the deep southend?

Liz: same response from LoBiondo's office.
Jean: you're right, the City should produce documentation.
I'm going to honor the Mayor's request and send ANOTHER round of letters, but I fear the stacks of envelopes never get to the officials; it feels futile.
It seems like the press coverage is what's gotten a response from the City, and that's unfortunate, but I think the pressure needs to be applied from the bottom up.
It is not just this time around: it is years of watching every community (or certain parts of the community) around us get protection that is frustrating. We made it six or seven years without replenishment, so it's not like we're the drag on the rest of the city, but we need the attention now.

RIGHT . Lets see the applications for permits for beach replenishment in the south end for the last 5 years. So Mayor Gillian, lets see some evidence that you have actually done what you say you have done. Lets see some evidence that this city has urgently requested the emergency measures that must be taken to keep our properties safe. If Wonderland Pier were at 50th Street - there wood be emergency beach replenishment in the south end for sure

Since 2005 the southend beaches have been eroding as documented by Stockton College Coastal Research. 2005 means over 8 years. Nothing was done. Now we are in a "reaction mode". Where are the official requests and documentation from the city to State and Federal officials. How did the Northend get scheduled for 50 years. How was it the northend only was getting attention for this matter? .

Again I say this , I have lived at the southend beachfront since the 1970's. The beach is just the same today as it was then.The tide comes up to the bulkhead and returns. Who are you people that are seeing things differently. Back then people would sit on the rocks and bulkheads during high tide, and everyone survived. I have pictures to prove it. So you all need to take a deep breath, and calm down. I'm in the front row and I'm not carrying on .

C'mon Mr Mayor
We need help now, not later. Another storm and you will be spending millions cleaning up the south end again. I am sure you know how to get this done and then get reimbursed for all or most of it. There is already a lot put aside for some patchwork repairs but it should all be done comprehensively so as to maximize the benefit of the money spent. There should be no argument from any OCNJ resident since we all love our town equally and I hope want it all to be whole. It is not just a matter of rentals and recreation but our homes remain at significant risk with the water only several feet away every day. All efforts are appreciated greatly but we really need replenishment ASAP.

A fact is not an argument from any OCNJ resident.

Southender - I appreciate and echo your comments having been living beachfront for 30 years myself between 50th - 59th street. Some items I would like to point out are the following:
1. I have never seen a beach underwater at high tide in the summer/winter pre sandy, and I have been down a dozen times since Sandy and haven't even seen the water within 10 ft of hitting the make shift dunes, let alone going over them.
2. Until 2000 there was not any DUNE at all from 50th - 59th street.
3. I had to cleanup the sand, posts, fence, etc. from the dune that failed and this caused more damage then any of the water that got into my family home. - I'm sure the city would have preferred not to cleanup the sand again as well!!

I also have photos that I can share that support my comments above.

I am not opposed to preventative action; however, I do not believe that a dune or even replenishment is the answer for the Southend. As a storm surge easily swallows up the added beach length. The facts need to be gathered and analyzed prior to taking action.

Has there ever been a study into utilizing higher bulkheads?

Southender. You are part of the problem that you have failed to speak up all these years. I don't care what happened in the 1970s. In 2012 with weather patterns changing and sea level rising (prediction up to 3 ft in next 100 yrs) there was no beach and then Sandy hit and the ocean and bay met in the south end. The dunes that existed were pathetic. If there was beach replenishment in 2005, that means there is a project at the ACE already that needs to be taken off the shelf and implemented. The ACE got 6.1 Billion dollars for NJ and N Y. That is billion with a B. we need to call, write and raise hell. and we need our mayor doing the same and demanding help. So if you want to sit there and take a breath and do nothing you are a problem.

A fact is not an argument ..........from an OCNJ resident.....

Without a dune, you are at risk of a catastrophic loss.

Steve - There was a beach in 2012, that is a fact, where were you trying to sit that was underwater? I am very curious to know... Part of what makes the southend so great is the fact that you don't have to walk a mile to the water, that is one of the main reasons why myself and others love the southend.

I have the pictures as proof of where people were forced to sit on the dunes last summer. News articles have documented this. If every beach were treated the same, with no replenishment, I would agree with some of what you say. But, we are not treated the same. On top of that there are MANY more people trying to fit onto the southend beaches than there were in 1970. Forget about sitting on the beaches, what protection do our beach front homes have with no dune system and the beach so small?

Jean if you really believe that dune that in 12 years of growth was "pathetic" as another poster said offered a beachfront home protection and safety is not something I ever believed.

Also a longer beach is great for visitors, but again I don't believe really makes much difference to holding back an ocean thousands of miles wide.

Protection is provided by going vertical (MATURE dunes, bulkheads, etc). Not horizontal.

Have you been to Fort Lauderdale how about Longport? No dunes and narrow beaches..... Interesting because expensive real estate and desirable for visitors.

I don't believe an immature dune is the answer. Studies and evaluations done by experts with recommendations based on those findings, would be a more prudent plan. A temporary answer is not what is needed. A collage study done with a government grant is not something I'm prepared to bank my future on.

College

Mr xir8by. Anyone who would complain about cleaning up sand saying that they would rather have had water which would have picked up your house and taken it down the street and or caused total destruction as happened in other shore towns - don't even know what to say. Of course it's great that the south end is narrow in some ways but when it comes to storms it is a disaster waiting to happen and anyone failing enough common sense to understand that fact needs to sit quietly and not advertised such incredible stupidity. Sorry.

The dune was breached and failed, that's true as it is no longer standing and did not protect the homes behind it. I am not a homeowner, but I visit the southend beaches due to it being easier to park and a shorter walk to the water. I've never not been able to find a spot to setup, and I have never sat on the dune. To those that sit on the dune, how do you put your beach chair on a sloped surface? I guess now without a dune there will be 20 more ft of beach this summer, counting down the days till summer now!

Retired. Same to you as mr xir8by. You just don't get it. And if your goal is to save steps to the water so you think a narrow beach is just fine. - possibly you need to move around more and get some oxygen to your brain because you are obviously unable to grasp the seriousness of this issue. Without a wide beach and dune you are looking at a catastrophic loss of property and possibly life. The dune failed to hold back the ocean in the south end but where the beac was wider and the dune mature with vegetation, there was little property damage.

Steve we just had a 50 or 100 year "Perfect Storm" and I got 18 inches of water in my garage and storage area. That wasn't moving my house off its pilings and it would have taken many more feet of water and higher winds, which would take an exponentially bigger storm which might be what a 500 year storm then? By the way I have a couple companies and degrees on the wall that show I'm educated.

No need to continue back and forth as I said, I am for prevention, lets just make sure the necessary due diligence is done first.

Retired, I am a homeowner. I have the pictures. Sitting on dunes, yes chairs sloped. We live here. We pay our taxes. Our homes are in jeopardy. I find your insensitivity to what we went through and continue to go through insulting. I certainly would not want to "inconvenience" you by widening our beaches, thus creating a longer walk to the water. I have great news for you, the ocean is now significantly closer to your parking lot.

the beach I speak of is 56th street.

I pay and have paid taxes, also I purchase a beach tag and patronize local businesses in OC each summer. Where do you think the administration gets their funds from? People, some more than others, but my taxes go into the pot like everyone else.

Who built that $300 million dollar bridge, from the mainland to a sinking sandbar? Not Ocean City taxpayers, who vote Republican because they don't like government dependency.
However, they need the federal government to bail them out year after year to pump sand onto a storm ravaged barrier island.
The majority of whom don't believe in climate change because conservative media tells them it just isn't so.

OC Raiders - You got chutzpah. Keep it coming! 60% in OC went for Romney. We talkin bout Romney. Romney. You know, the guy who sucked down to the Rs by saying FEMA is a great example of the type of government fat that must be cut. Now look at these very same people complaining about FEMA not giving them enough, about FEMA getting out of the flood insurance business, the feds not replenshing their beaches. Pleeeeeeeeese.

Mr Retired. Keep your comments to yourself concerning the south end beaches. You have no stake in this and we do. It is our property at risk with no beach and no dunes. I think I will write a letter to the Phila Inquirer about the disparity in treatment here in OC. About how badly the 2nd homeowners are treated about how all focus is on boardwalk and we are at risk of a catastrophic loss because we have no beach no dunes for protection. ocean City is only Americas favorite family resort if you are one of the old local families here who continue to prosper on the backs of the rest of us.

Steve we are in agreement about how 2nd homeowners are treated, but again I disagree about the threat of catastrophic loss because we do not have a wider beach or a "pathetic" dune currently in place.

Seeing as Sandy did not cause catastrophic loss in the southend, which to me is homes being destroyed, moved off their foundations, infrastrure damage, etc. it would take a storm exponentially larger. Of which if Sandy was a 50 or 100 year storm would make your catastrophic storm what 500 years? Let's calm down with the catastrophic talk.

Calling what we suffered catastrophic would be insensitive to those in North Jersey or parts of NY.

I sleep just fine with the current beach outside my window and have since the 1980's. Again I agree with prevention, lets get educated experts to figure out exactly what we need and for homeowners to then weigh in. Seeing as our dune never matured in 12 years I don't believe that is the answer.

Too bad you do not speak with experts as I have. I did not come up with this on my own. I have spoken with experts from the Army Corps of Engineers and I have done a lot of reading on this subject. Sandy was only a category 1 storm. It was the combination of various events that caused the massive flooding. We are at risk of a catastrophic loss and if you want to stick your head in the sand (maybe the sand you got out of your living room could be carried up to your bedroom to stick your head in) that's up to you. Sorry to say, Sir, you don't know anything and your complacency is based on that So don't call the Mayor and don't call your gov reps just cross your fingers and do nothing but too bad you find it necessary to try to influence others to do nothing because we need urgent remedies to these issues. Experts have weighed in - apparently your are not listening to them. Experts say we are at risk of a "catastrophic loss". So give us all a break and go back to sleep because YOU are not helping

ITA with Steve. This isn't about the eroding beach and where you put your chair in the sand. Southenders need to stop whining to the press and in council meetings about the lack of a beach for recreational purposes. No one cares that you've been coming to OC for a hundred years or how much you love to sit on the beach with your toes in the sand all summer, watching your grandkids play in the surf. You are completely out of touch if you don't understand that a great, great many people (tax payers just like you) don't have enough money to even take a one week vacation in OC, and yet you want their sympathy about the lack of sand in front of your beach front home. Wrong approach. Dead wrong. You have to understand that the majority of the voting public does not support beach replenishment. They consider it a waste of their tax dollars because (as they see it) it benefits only a few privileged coastal property owners, AND....they consider it a losing battle with mother nature.

If you want bold, immediate action you need to focus on this problem as a crisis---a threat to life and property. Period.

Steve it was categorized in Ocean city as surpassing a 50 year storm, but just under a 100 year storm. I think we have time for everyone to chime in, also who suggested that last pathetic dune would mature which never happened? If that dune being back makes you sleep any better that's fine but to me that's crazy.
See here for support of Sandy being a 50+ year storm http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/ocean-city-general-news/31723-sandy-was-not-quite-a-100-year-storm-but-still-one-of-the-worst-emergency-management-official-says-.html

Also, the water in wildwood made it past the boardwalk in Sandy, why was that? Because, once the surge rises higher than the sands elevation it all becomes under water.

The AC E dredges for navigational purposes and they dispose of the sand on the beach. We need them to dispose of the sand on the south end beaches. And mr xir8by, if you are fine with the high tide at your door, if you would rather the ocean came through your house than clean up sand dunes deposited in your living room, then do not call the mayor or your gov reps but I strongly suggest the next nor'easter or hurricane that comes thru you get up out of your sound sleep and get the heck out of your house.

OClover: You make good points, but I don't see why any taxpayer who's not a stakeholder in Ocean City would care either way whether my toes are in the sand or if my property or life are proetected. It's not their problem. I think what we're focusing on in trying to pressue the City, the State, or local Congressman is a bit of both. There's certainly an urgency to protect life and property, but the only way to remotely justify the cost is to recognize that our only industry is tourism. So if there's no beach, there's not much reason for anyone to be here.
In the bigger picture, I don't really care on a personal level about farm subsidies, building levees along the Missisippi or making sure Las Vegas and Phoenix get fresh water, but my tax dollars go there as well. But if I see any of that Federal Spending as not having an economic or societal benfefit, I can speak out against that if I choose, jut like they can speak out about the beaches.
Ultimately it can get settled at the ballot box, but many of us don't have that avenue in Ocean City. The public debate is our only forum.

Steve it's not currently anywhere near my door post Sandy either during any of the winter storms or current high tides. Again same as when there weren't any dunes. I'm familiar and have lived with the current view we have for decades previously, hence why I am pointing that out to those who are losing sleep over the perceived current vulnerability.

As an aside, a number of my neighbors who have been here for decades agree, and so do Southender's comments above. Again I want prevention/protection, but a pile of loose sand followed by a larger beach at a low elevation doesn't do much.

For the record the dune gave out before Sandy actually hit, so I did have the ocean going through my house already and so did my neighbors in the 50 - 100 year storm. That was only 18 inches, with an 8.5 ft storm surge. As such, I'm not worried about high tides or storms.

To those of you who say "quit whining" about your recreational use of the beach- I say you are wrong. The beach is why tourists come to OC, it is why many own homes here. No other reason. Without the beach, this is not a tourist town. Tell the folks who go to the Poconos all Winter long, the mountains are gone and see how many go there. The reason the beaches are being replenished in the North end is to save property AND for recreational use. The Southend demands the same. This is what the problem is. A city that has ignored a large portion of its population and land. This problem has existed for years and the leaders of Ocean City are responsible- they did NOTHING- only for the North end did they act. Now they have egg on their face, and it is their fault. If this city is not going to dredge the South end, then tell us, tell the tourists, tell the media. Everyone moves on and takes whatever action they then feel they need to do. But, stop the lies.

We were (I think) fortunate not to get a strong nor'easter this winter. If you want to gauge the condition of the beaches on the south end, how high the water comes, etc., a nor'easter would put it in proper perspective. I don't expect the south end to flood under normal conditions. I fear because of the loss of beach and dunes it will flood from a nor'easter. Apparently the experts agree. I think that's what we have to gaurd against, and why it is so important that we rebuild those beaches and dunes. I realize its not a permanent solution but it does protect property owners.

It's a bad idea to build permanent structures on a barrier island, but its too late now. It is what it is, and to protect those structures we need to do beach replenishment from time to time. And its not like residents are the only ones that benefit from our beaches.

I agree Ken. If w'ere not going to get the attention from the city we deserve, let us know. I'll cut my losses now before it's too late. At least I'll know what I'm up against and whoever buys my place knows the'll have to drive to the real Ocean City to go to the beach.
Or let us try to get absorbed by another township. Just stop taking our money under false pretenses.
Let us know or let us go!

I hope people show up. Too long the south end has endured neglect and kept silent for whatever reasons. But now - this is a matter of property protection and yes, the renters in the summer are important too but I am concerned that my house will float away in the next storm -- - this is an issue of life and property so no way can we listen to --- blah blah environmental issues - not true -blah blah NJDEP, ACE, Funding -- no, not true - don't try it Mr. Mayor -- this is politics as usual in Ocean City - the north end -the Gardens, the boardwalk high priortiy the southend - neglect but take that tax money -- speak up people - your house is a huge investment whether it is your full time or part time or rental income property it is a huge investment that must be protected show up and speak up! And this complacency that we see sometimes "oh I'm just going to wait for the experts" no - the experts have spoken the evidence is all around you (take a drive north - see the houses completely gone!) we are at risk under the best of circumstances so we sure are at risk when there is NO beach and NO dunes and we are in this position because of one administration after another neglecting the south end of OC and people being afraid to speak up -- Now or never, folks!

"Massive" Project on tap for beaches to the North....SOME public officials have figured out how to access Sandy Relief money Piping Plovers or not:

http://oceancity.patch.com/articles/massive-replenishment-project-may-be-on-tap-for-beaches-to-the-north

There is absolutely no issue with piping plovers If anyone said that - it was not true And yes - looks like some people knew how to get funding. Vote out those who do not. And Ocean City - never put the south end on the agenda - why? because it is not the north end - that's why.

Free Hurricane Sandy desktop clock timer here:
http://www.orijinations.com/HTML/JH/SandyDay.html

Ocean City remains America's Greatest Family Resort and will prevail.

Ocean City is not America's Greatest Family Resort - not this year. Some of the community is safe from storms and floods and some is not. Some of the community will have good rental income, and some will not. No - this is a community that exists for the prosperity of the few and it is up to Mayor Gillian to decide to make a change here so that the entire community is considered, not just the north end of town. Give us all a break with this America's Greatest Family Resort - only for some.

so, where exactly are we mr. mayor? where is your plan? the beach at 56th street is gone. the waves are breaking closer to the bulkhead than the sunday prior to sandy. the beach lost more sand this week. there is a tiny little pile of "sand" between our homes and the ocean. the ocean is closer to our homes. it is march 8th, and you have YET to articulate a viable plan for the southend. no more "we are working on it". every philadelphia news station was reporting from the southend this week. it is over. no more secrets. no more "ocean city beaches will be back bigger and better"- that is a lie. if you live in the southend, if you live in ocean city, show up to the council meeting thursday, march 14th, and demand answers, demand a plan. 4+ months post sandy and nothing, but "we are working on it" the time for action is now.this impacts all of us. this is our island, our home.

All.....when is the mayor's term up and when can a new mayor be re-elected? This is the only thing that will resolve the beach replenishment issue. It all comes down to politics, let's be honest. If there was an election coming up, this issue which has obviously been falling on deaf ears would not have continued to fester for months. There is no doubt that the south end beaches of the island have continued to erode over the years and there is no doubt that there has been major avoidance by the city and it's politicians to avoid the cost of replenishment. Those who bear the real cost are the homeowners faced with significant repairs and renters who will choose to "go north" to find a place to enjoy their summer vacation without having to sit on man made dunes or rocks for that matter. To all taxpayers who have a vote, remember these days, this issue and the inability for Mayor Gillian to do the right thing. It's in your hands to elect a responsible official the next time who cares about the entire island, not just the north end for quite obvious reasons.

Well the cost of trucking sand to the south end beaches and the effect it will have on those beaches is out. I'd love to state the particulars but its someone else's information. It would probably be just as cost effective and practical to have every employee in Public Works carry beach pails of sand to the beach. I don't really see, in terms of cost benefit, how this amounts to much more than a political expedient. And boy is it going to cost the taxpayers.

So out for a walk on the beach around 30th Street I noticed a couple of things. First the high tide line is right up to the dunes. I’ve never seen that before. Second the dunes don’t look anywhere as robust as they did after Sandy. I talked to a number of people who all noticed the same thing … dunes with gaps along ocean front and fields of almost level sand behind them where the dunes used to be. Those dunes were not breeched as a result of Sandy. In fact the water line barely made it to the dunes.

I heard that the city was going to “harvest sand” from some of the deeper beaches to use on the south end, and talked with someone who lives along the ocean at 30th Street to find out if in fact sand was be removed from our beaches. That person stated that it was and that she watched the trucks heading south up the beach. I then walked up into the area where our dunes used to be and found 1) tire tracks and 2) mounds of sand that had been piled up as if pushed there by a front end loader. Please tell me you haven’t been “harvesting” sand from our dunes. Is someone having a melt down here? At high tide no one is going to be able to use our beaches either. And without those dunes we’re now at risk of flooding.