Sea Isle City Clarifies False Message Created As Probable ‘April Fool’s Joke’

SEA ISLE CITY – During these difficult days, Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio and the city’s administration continually strive to disseminate accurate and timely information related to the Coronavirus. 
According to a release, unfortunately, it appears that someone recently altered that information to craft an April fool’s joke. 
On April 1, a local restaurant owner received a forwarded message via social media that appeared to be a screenshot from an online news service, which included a March 30 statement related to the Coronavirus from the mayor. 
As it turns out, that screenshot may have been a misguided April fool’s joke – one that was very upsetting to members of Sea Isle City’s business community and many others in the resort during this troubling pandemic.
The screenshot, which included the same stock photo of the mayor that was shown with the online news service’s original post, had an altered date (changed from March 30 to April 1) and incorrect information that was not included in the mayor’s March 30 message – nor on the online news service’s accurate posting of the mayor’s message.
When sent from the city’s Public Information Office, the mayor’s March 30 message stated “as authorized by Gov. Murphy’s Executive Order No. 108, Sea Isle City is prohibiting online marketplaces from offering short-term rentals until further notice.”
The altered screenshot that was sent to the local restaurateur on April 1 had quite a different message. In addition to including the accurate information about short term rentals, the screenshot also read: “Sea Isle City is prohibiting in-house restaurant dining and liquor service at nightclubs, bars, and social clubs until July 1” – none of which was stated in Desiderio’s March 30 statement.
The screenshot went on to state that the mayor had spoken with members of Sea Isle’s restaurant and bar community and they had agreed to the aforementioned moratorium.
To date, neither the mayor nor the city’s administration has placed any timeline on the current ban on in-house dining at restaurants or the temporary moratorium affecting bars and social clubs.
Currently, in accordance with state directives, liquor stores are permitted to operate under restricted guidelines.
Desiderio, who is a liquor store owner, was displeased to learn that someone would go to such extreme measures to spread false information during a pandemic – all, apparently, as a joke on local business owners.
“This is a serious time, and the messages we send out are also serious – as well as accurate and up to date,” stated Desiderio. “There is nothing funny about spreading false information during a pandemic.”
Pertinent updates related to the coronavirus from the mayor and other officials are posted on the home page of Sea Isle City’s municipal website, www.seaislecitynj.us. 
]he public is encouraged to visit that website frequently and to register for the city’s official E-Newsletter and E-Alerts.