WILDWOOD CREST – Smoking will be allowed in designated sections of Crest’s beaches again this summer, Mayor Don Cabrera said.
“I don’t like smoking on the beach,” said Cabrera. “I’m personally not for it. However, we speak as one voice.”
Other commissioners, David Thompson and Joyce Gould, voiced support for allowing smoking in designated areas on the beach.
“I hate smoking as much as anybody else, but I feel they have a right to smoke. Our beach is big enough,” Thompson said. “I feel the beach is wide enough and they have a right to smoke in the back of the beach.”
Something all three commissioners agreed on is that more and better signage needs to be ordered to inform beachgoers of where smoking is allowed.
“Our signage was not adequate,” Thompson said. Cabrera suggested signs on the back of lifeguard stands.
Smokers not following the guidelines may expect a verbal reminder as well.
“I’m going to be introducing a new program and calling it the ‘Beach Ambassador Program.’ I’m actually going to have people on the beach helping to monitor the smoking and encouraging people to use the designated smoking areas, but also promoting Wildwood Crest in a nice way,” Cabrera said.
