Perhaps a Visit on the Fourth?

CAPE MAY – Contrary to what was reported about the visit of Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) to the city Jan. 11, he did not go to Victorian Towers. While it was hoped, by Mayor Edward J. Mahaney Jr. and residents of the 204-unit senior citizen apartment that, and was on the tentative agenda, time ran out.
Joan Walls, president of Victorian Towers Tenants Association, contacted the Herald about the story, and stated “I was waiting and Sen. Booker did not visit the Towers. I waited from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and he never showed. The mayor’s office called and said they did not have the time. I was very disappointed.”
Mayor Mahaney told the Herald he called the Towers about 1 p.m. when it became apparent time would not allow Booker to visit there. He contacted Walls, William Ox, diocesan housing coordinator and Curtis Johnson, executive director.
“I told them we requested (of Booker) if we had time on our tour of the mall, we would try to go in there. We are joining forces and have submitted an application with the (Camden) diocese for a ($9 million) grant for major renovations,” said Mahaney.
“He (Booker) made no commitment to be there. We ran out of time, and there was a downpour at 1 p.m. so we stopped the tour,” he said.
Having spoken with Ox regarding the matter, Mahaney said the reply was “That was fine, and he would pass the message to others.”
Mahaney said Booker plans to return on the Fourth of July to the city. That will allow Booker to get an overview of the height of the tourism season, how there are family-oriented events to celebrate the nation’s liberty, and to witness the offshore fireworks.
“He did recognize the interconnect between commercial fishing, the Coast Guard and tourism,” the mayor said.
Among Booker’s senate assignments will be tourism and economic development, “especially in small towns and business.
“He was not familiar with South Jersey,” said Mahaney. “He had been here with his parents as a child, but he had no recollection. He was very impressed.”
During his Washington Mall stroll, Booker entered many shops, purchased items, some for himself and for others, said Mahaney, and noted Booker was adamant to use his personal (non-government) credit card for everything he bought.
One of those visits was with Vincent Casale, whose shoe store is the oldest and longest on the mall, said Mahaney. He and Booker chatted quite a while on many topics.
Desiring to meeting with commercial fishing interests, Booker was taken to the Lobster House where he toured Cold Spring Dock, and enjoyed a vegetarian lunch, since he is a vegetarian.
There, for over two and a half hours, he met with Keith Laudeman, Lobster House and dock owner, Jeff Reichle and his son Wayne and a representative from Atlantic Capes Fisheries.
He was informed of the types of fish caught in the nearby and some farther waters, how they are packed and shipped from Cape May, and what commercial fisherman must endure, from nature and government to make their living.