SEA ISLE CITY – Mayors and officials representing six Cape May County municipalities that charge fees to access their beaches converged in the gymnasium of the former Sea Isle City Elementary School to let their collective voice be heard. They do not support proposed legislation that would require beach towns, accepting federal or state funds for beach replenishment, to provide free beach access.
“As you know, Cape May County (economy) is generated by tourism. Tourism is our number one industry,” said Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio. According to him, tourism in the county produces $5.1 billion annually.
“The beach is our treasure, the beach is our lifeline,” Desiderio said. “It’s something all of our communities rely on.”
Municipalities throughout the county have taken umbrage with bipartisan legislation proposed by Democratic State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-3rd) and Republican Sen. Michael Doherty (D-23rd).
According to Desiderio, the proposed legislation is “totally ridiculous.” He compared the logic of taking away government funding to municipalities that charge beach fees to taking away tolls from roads that receive state and local funds.
“I think all of us up here are in agreement that if there was legislation if you accepted federal or state funding for highways or roads the tolls would be lifted, you would see us in a different fashion.”
With shore towns still in cleanup and reconstruction mode from the aftereffects of Hurricane Sandy, local leaders questioned the timing of the proposed legislation.
“We went through a horrific storm. Many of our communities have businesses that are still out and homeowners who are still displaced. To put this type of legislation in now, while we are going to cleanup or rebuilding, is not right. It’s not right at any time, but especially now,” said Desiderio.
The bill, S-2368
For more information about Sea Isle City, contact The Landis Co., Realtors at (609)263-3400 or info@LandisCo.com , www.LandisCo.com
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