A $9 million state-funded beach replenishment project began this week. The project will pump 140,000 cubic yards of sand onto the severely eroded Cove Beach. The project initially was shot down by City Council in a 3-2 vote. Those opposed to the project objected to demands by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that the endangered piping plover nesting grounds be protected. This is usually done by roping off the nesting area. Opposing council members feared that the very popular bathing beach might, in fact, be closed during nesting times. The dispute was later resolved with a single sentence:
“The (DEP’s) Office of Engineering and Construction recognizes the city of Cape May’s desire for Cove Beach to remain a municipal beach which is open to the public and recognizes that Cove Beach is expected to remain so, subject of course to all federal, state and local requirements.”
Approval of the project the second time around was 5-0.
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Why do we have to pay to get onto the beach that we as taxpayers bought for nine million dollars? If the state builds the beach, how does the city get to charge admission? If there is an admission fee, shouldn’t it go to the state? Does Gov. Christie know that the New Jersey Treasury won’t get a dime from beach fees?
Beach tag fees produce revenues for the city of Cape May that pay for the Cape May Beach Patrol (lifeguards) and beach maintenance. There is no “admittance charge” when there are no lifeguards but you will swim at your own risk. Don’t expect Governor Christie or the state of New Jersey to rescue you from the rip tides simply because you paid a state tax.
Thanks Bernie for an intelligent response. We do need lifeguards, etc. Also I enjoy going to the beach in the morning at Cape May and seeing less junk on the beach vs going to beaches in the Carolinas where you find all kinds of trash laying around to be a bother to beach goers or be a threat to the sea life when it gets washed into the ocean from the tides. Once again, for the good of the community and environment and myself I’ll pay the extra fee, think about it.
I agree that the Cape May Beach Patrol and the beach maintenance are a good thing. However, I think the City should take a look at other ways of funding them. Most towns in other states don’t have beach fees and find ways to have lifeguards and clean beaches.
There is also an issue with governmental jurisdictions. The beach exists because of the state replenishment project, while the city maintains it. The lifeguards are there to rescue people from the ocean, which is federal jurisdiction.
Meanwhile a new state regulation will take significant money from Cape May beach fees to clean up Barnegat Bay.
I think it is worth having a discussion on the best way to fund clean beaches and lifeguards, so everyone can continue to enjoy Cape May.
Here is a link to a story about the proposal to take money from Cape May beach tag sales to clean up Barnegat Bay.
http://dailyme.com/story/2010122300002143/cape-opposes-redirecting-beach-tag-funds.html
Are the lifeguards paid by the federal government or the City of Cape May. Are the beach patrol people volunteers or employed and if employed, by the City or the federal government.
The lifeguards and beach patrol are city employees. (as far as I know)
It is my understanding that the city uses the beach tag fees to pay both of them. If the city doesn’t get the money from beach tag fees, it has to get it somewhere else – and probably not the city, state or county governments.
Most people will agree that the lifeguards and beach maintenance crews are necessary. My only complaint is the source of their funding.
Ideas anyone?
i love cape may so much
I think that this is great!
Dan makes a good point. Maybe Cape May taxpayers should get free beachtags.
I don’t even live in Cape May (wish I did), but it seems to me that if you’re paying taxes there, beach access should be part of the deal.
I agree with Susan. I do not live in Cape May but people who pay taxes there should not to have to pay beach fees
There is nothing that they can do to stop Mother Nature from reclaiming the beach. It will never ever stop making sand dunes or changing the Cove caused by the tides and storms.
Financially, how is the state of New Jersey able to come up with 9million for this project? Christy is laying off fireman,policemen,teachers and all we hear is there is no money. These Jobs are more important then the eroding of a beach by of Mother Nature.
I wonder how long the 9 million dollars worth of sand will last? I would like to see the federal money spent more wisely by placing short groins every 2 or 3 blocks between the 3 rd Ave. Jetty and the Nun’s convent jetty. This will keep the strong ocean currents off the beach and slow down the erosion process.
Adding more sand to the beach will make a habitat for plovers and sandpipers.
What happened to the new Cove Beach? Cape May City had to kick in 210k for the January 2011 project. In 2 months the new 350 foot beach is gone. So is the 210k. The federal gov’t kicked in 2 million. 9 million overall for the Lower Cape Meadows and St. Peter’s Beach.The new sand is gone. I remember as a kid, the fed’l gov’t spent 10 billion dollars landing 2 astronauts on the moon. At least they came back with some moon rocks to show for it.