Letter to Editor: Give Boardwalk Musicians a Break

Ocean City resident Georgina Shanley argues against an ordinance under consideration on Thursday, May 16,

  To the Editor, I am deeply disappointed that Ocean City Council will consider having musicians buy a license in order to perform on the Boardwalk. According to the proposed ordinance, "Soliciting or accepting anything of value including, but not limited to, money for performing or playing a musical instrument on the boardwalk is prohibited unless a permit in writing is issued by the Mayor or Chief Executive Officer." Pleaaase! A person with talent and a little moxy has to have a license to perform in this "Family" community! Who, has initiated this ordinance — surely, not the Ocean City Pops! I doubt it. This is mean-spirited and wrong! On the same agenda is "A Resolution Authorizing the Administration to Obtain Easements to Permit City …

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Eric Sauder

9:21 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013

No they just want to keep that undesirable element (youth) off the boardwalk. Pete was the only council member that opposed it.   more ›

Hurricane Sandy

Addressing Mold in Homes an Important Part of Recovering Safely

A Patch letter to the editor

The following column was submitted by New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd: As New Jerseyans continue to rebuild and recover from Superstorm Sandy, mold and its remediation have become a challenging issue for many residents and communities. It can cause property damage and be a health concern when it grows inside homes and is not properly dealt with. Exposure to mold can cause coughing or wheezing as well as irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and skin. To help homeowners ensure that their residences are cleaned and remediated properly, the New Jersey Department of Health created and released a pamphlet entitled Mold: Guidelines for New Jersey Residents. This pamphlet can help residents identify mold in their homes…

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KC

12:00 am on Tuesday, May 14, 2013

And how potentially airborne is this mold is what I wonder?   more ›

Letter to Editor: What's the Need for Summer Demolition?

Ocean City resident Eric Sauder writes about an ordinance City Council will consider on May 16.

  To the editor: As someone who lived next door to demolition last winter, I don’t know why people are aren’t more concerned about the city’s recent move to allow demolition, pile-driving, and construction during the summer. I had siding knocked off my house, a window frame busted, almost had a broken window, a clothes pole knocked down. But what’s really bad is the broken glass, wood splinters, nails etc. on my walkways. The noise, dirt, and vibrations (from pile-driving) are not conducive to a relaxing vacation, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if renters decide to vacate because of it. Are you sure you want to give our tourists an experience here in America’s Greatest Family Resort they’ll never want to repeat? It’s been six months …

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Eric Sauder

12:16 pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Here it is Tuesday afternoon and still no agenda for Thursday's meeting. Do you ever get the impression they don't want anyone to know what they're up to? I assume the referenced ordinance will be voted on at second reading this week. I also heard, thru the grapevine, that there's a new ordinance that will implement the "Coastal Cottage" concept. Remember that? That's where they plan to build two…   more ›

Hurricane Sandy

Storm Chronicles Part 7 - Six Months Out And Still Counting

Many storm victims have become Sandy zombies

They are easy to spot. They don't smile much. They look tired. They are tired. They are numb. They are the Sandy zombies. They are fried emotionally and physically from half a year of battling to go home, if they still have a home to go to. I am a Sandy zombie. Is it possible it's been half a year since that horrific day and night when Superstorm Sandy blasted the Jersey Shore and changed some lives forever? Six months since we left our Bayville home with three terrified cats and made our way to family in Toms River? Six months since we've been living in a basement? We knew Sandy was going to be bad, even when we evacuated at noon on Oct. 29. Trees were already toppling in Pine Beach, taking down power lines. But we didn't know then we …

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proud

9:37 am on Saturday, May 4, 2013

Mitigation and 'Substantial damage' are two different animals in the aggregate sum. Thus, if you had $100,000 in damages, I would think that you would add elevation on top of that when applying for the CDBG.   more ›

Letter to Editor: Ethics Board Is Key to Transparent Government

Ocean City resident Eric Sauder argues to retain the Ocean City Ethics Board.

  To the Editor: By now most of you have already made up your mind as to whether our local Ethics Commission should be retained or disbanded.  There are good arguments on either side.  I doubt I can change anyone’s opinion.  But before I watch it sink into oblivion I want to tell you why I think it’s important to keep it.  On first reading the ordinance to abolish the Ethics Commission was passed.  The Mayor was asked for his input.  He didn’t address the Ethics Commission as much as he addressed lawsuits and settlements.  His position is that it is more cost effective to settle than go to trial.  Those lawyers will bleed you dry.  I can appreciate the rationale of that argument.  And there might be times when it is better to settle.  But …

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Mr. B

9:06 am on Friday, April 26, 2013

if you can see the rationale for existing home owners, then why is it different for builders/developers? the condition of the home has not changed???? the home is still in disrepair and a health/safety hazard??? please explain.   more ›

Letter to Editor: City Officials Are Looking for Ways to Help

Ocean City resident Kathryn Thomas thanks City Council and administration members for their prompt assistance.

  To the editor: I'd like people who find themselves in the same situation that I did to know there's a solution and that it came from the same city officials I thought were clueless three weeks ago after I read city ordinance 13-07. In order to get a certificate of occupancy after raising your house, if your crawl space ends up being 5 or more feet high, city ordinance requires you to record a deed restriction prohibiting that crawl space from ever being turned into living space. The county clerk's office says you have to hire a lawyer to record a deed restriction, but I can't afford one. So, in frustration, three days ago I sent an e-mail to City Council members whose names I found online, asking them if the city solicitor or a council …

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Letter to Editor: City Lacks Transparency, Thinking on Bayside Project

Ocean City resident Michael Hinchman writes about a proposal to revive a marina and restaurant at 10th Street and Palen Avenue.

I have recently criticized City Council and the city administration for lacking the skill set to competently tackle different projects. I have repeated this most recently at the last council meeting. An article in the March 16 edition of The Press of Atlantic City reads in part, "Tom Gill said if it (10th and Palen) is deemed in need of rehabilitation, the city would be able to help finance the project, which is the key, because he said no bank would provide a loan for a property with such environmental problems." I have attended the recent council meeting and at no time did Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson disclose this. It is another example of the administration not telling the truth by omission (remember her bank where she serves on the …

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Storm Chronicles: Long Slog to Recovery in Ocean County

A Patch editor's ongoing quest to return home after Superstorm Sandy shows how relatively fortunate many in Ocean City are.

Show me the way to go home. Five months? Has it really been five months since the monster Superstorm Sandy roared into Ocean County and changed the landscape for all time? Has it really been five months since we fled our Bayville home and moved into my son and daughter-in-law's basement? I remember hoping in those first dark weeks that we might be back in time for Christmas. We are still out. It took a while for reality to sink in. It took some time to realize that recovery, for many, won't happen quickly. And for some, it won't happen at all. I met a woman who lives on Cove Road West in Bayville at the township's informational session on home elevation recently. She moved into her house about 15 years ago and happily began making it a …

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Letter to Editor: City Lacks Know-How on Marina and Big Projects

Ocean City resident Michael Hinchman sees similar shortcomings in beaches, bay, boardwalk and roads projects.

To the editor: The former Dan's Dockside Marina property has long been a defunct operation and in foreclosure, and a white knight — the Gill family — has emerged to purchase the property. The plans are to construct a marina, restaurant, small shops and a gas filling station on the water. This approval will be accomplished at the Planning Board and eventually City Council. Let me state my desired result up front: the Gill family gets approved and builds an attractive functioning restaurant/marina. The " how" is my concern and it reflects what I have continually observe as the failing of the administration and council as they tackle the big issues of the day: 1) roads and drainage; 2) the Ocean City marina deal (at Second and Bay); 3) the …

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Letter to Editor: Spurned Skater Rips Mayor ... in Verse

A poetic G. Palmer inquires about status of promised skateboard park.

  I am writing this short letter, to see what is true I've waited such a long time, there's nothing else to do They took away our skate park a long, long time ago They blamed it on the vandals and said that it must go Promised us a new one, a better one to boot Now it's two years later and their pledges now are moot We heard tales of our honored Mayor and needed parking lot He managed more parking spaces, the shaft is what we got Maybe I'm mistaken, perhaps it's all a lie Show me our new skate park and then I'll say good-bye. Don't blame it on the weather, hurricane or more Just try to keep your promises here, on our golden shore None of us are vandals, criminals or such All we want is a safe place, that's really not that much Now we're on…

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