Keep our Brigantine beaches open during this COVID-19 pandemic? A petition is gaining momentum to do just that.
The petition to keep all Brigantine Beaches open will be sent to:
- Brigantine Mayor Andy Simpson and all of City Council.
- Vince Sera
- Michael Riordan
- Karen Bew
- Paul Lettieri
- Dennis Haney
- Rick DeLucry
Whereas Governor Phil Murphy signed into law legislation that enshrines the public trust doctrine, which is a principle that establishes that the State’s tidal waters and adjacent shorelines belong to the public to be used for navigation, commerce, and recreation, including bathing, swimming, and fishing;
And Whereas, upon signing the legislation, Governor Murphy stated: “New Jersey’s shoreline and coastal communities are some of our state’s greatest treasures. By strengthening the public’s right to access our beaches, we are ensuring that all New Jersey residents and visitors can enjoy our beautiful shore this summer and for generations to come.”
And Whereas, the New Jersey legislature found:
a. The public has longstanding and inviolable rights under the public trust doctrine to use and enjoy the State’s tidal waters and adjacent shorelines for navigation, commerce, and recreational uses, including, but not limited to, bathing, swimming, fishing, and other shore-related activities;
And Whereas, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brigantine’s Mayor Andy Simpson stated at a recent Council meeting that a decision will need to be made on keeping Brigantine’s beaches open;
Now Therefore, we the undersigned urge Mayor Simpson and Brigantine City Council to honor the inviolable rights of the public to access and use Brigantine’s beaches for recreational uses, including, but not limited to bathing, swimming, fishing and other shore related activities;
And Be It Further Resolved, that Brigantine’s beaches remain open and available for use by the public with safety precautions, such as social distancing, enforced so that all may enjoy the natural beauty of the Brigantine beach.
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There is no cure for stupid. LEAVE THE BEACHES CLOSED UNTIL IT IS SAFE.
To Matt Fischetti: I have been a homeowner and taxpayer in Briigantine for 30 years. Take your ignorant FOT attitude and stick it.
If it wasn’t for people like me there would be no Brigantine. No taxpayer-paid do nothing jobs.
Wow, where do you begin to respond to all this nonsense, can’t believe this is going on in Brigantine.
We live in PA, we bought our home in 1997 and have spent the last 23 summers in Brigantine. We are members of St. Thomas Church, support the fire department, and charities like the NJPRF, we survived Sandy like the rest of you. We pay taxes, tidelands fees, utilizes, etc like the rest of you.
I was born and raised in NJ, married and had our family there. A large part of our family live in NJ. They are law enforcement, fire fighters, teachers, all contributing to service in NJ.
I do not appreciate being called names or being threatened because we live in PA. I am a tax paying resident of Brigantine, I will come to my home when this is over, this is not YOUR Island, it is OUR Island.
Without the “second home owners”, you would not have this beautiful Island.
So well said, Gloria. Bravo! Let’s not be intimidated by the small group of haters.
You are right. We are second homeowners. We pay taxes and have tipped at least $200 while we buy food from local restaurants on weekends. We also gave a large donation to the marine mammal stranding center which will be matched by my employer. Let’s just all get along.
I so agree with you. Every citizen pay taxes and beaches should be open to every one.
The group is not so small
Wow ! Such language! I too have a second home in Brigantine and pay property taxes ! Why does it seem that the permanent residents have a problem with people that have second homes in Brigantine ? That home was not handed to us ! We worked hard to build our home and we chose Brigantine because we thought it was a quiet out of the way beach town but it seems that they think you are RICH if you own that second home LOL!!. Far from it ! We bring a lot of revenue onto this island, even when we are not there ! Stop the hating ! Let’s make Brigantine a safe haven, a place for peace and quiet from this crazy world ! We go to our home year round and will continue to do so ! Hope to see you on the beach and say hello✌️
It is time that second home owners are not considered outsiders!! We have had a home here for 20 years and love it. We take good care of our home and plant gardens to keep the area looking nice. We pay taxes as do year round residents and should not be considered second class citizens.
The beauty of Brigantine is people who respect rules and laws that live in Brigantine and those who come to visit for the summer to stay or just for a day. A beach can be similar to a church. Just listen and watch the waves, seagulls, tiny crabs, seashells and children who are with glee to play in sand. I miss the house parents owned. It is heartbreaking if we cannot walk and swim at Brigantine Beach. Please do your best for American citizens. Everyone pays taxes and should not be restricted from a beach.
I saw responses from so called “locals”. I’ve been looking for a second home for the summer.
Yes, I’m from PA but not a disease carrying insect. Quite the opposite. If you look at the facts, PA has MUCH lower case count of virus than NJ, so it’s more likely NJ residents are the ones who carry the germs.
The sheer property tax story.
Brigantine has much higher tax bills per assessed value than most of other NJ beach towns. Way higher than DE or MD.
For us out of state diseased insects, we pay EXACT same taxes as permanent residents but do NOT send kids to YOUR schools, DO NOT use any local, county or state resources for 3/4 of year.
Looks like “locals” need to get the stick removed from their butts. After all, where did you really come from? Not that any of it matters.