Wildwood Prepares for Pop-Up Beach Party Despite Cancellation

WILDWOOD – The City of Wildwood initiated the preemptive crackdown on a pop-up beach party that was promoting several illegal activities on Wildwood beaches over Mother’s Day weekend.
Mayor Pete Byron, at the April 26 Board of Commissioners meeting, credited City Solicitor Louis DeLollis with “leading the charge,” along with Deputy Police Chief Joe Murphy, against the North Jersey organizers who were promoting a so-called “pop-up beach party.” 
DeLollis said he heard about the matter from City Administrator Steve O’Connor and, along with Murphy, they came up with a game plan to stop what was essentially illegal activity in the planning stages.
DeLollis said Murphy was able to locate the promoter’s address. DeLollis then sent them a cease-and-desist letter, telling the promoter to stop promoting an event for which they had not applied for any kind of permit. 
DeLollis said the city would not have issued a permit for an event that seemed to include illegal alcohol use, marijuana use, beer pong, and boxing matches, to name a few. 
DeLollis said in addition to sending a letter to the promoter, he was also in contact with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, which issued its own public warning, and the solicitors of North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest.
The Wildwood Board of Commissioners passed a resolution, April 26, authorizing DeLollis to file an order to show cause seeking injunctive relief and a verified complaint regarding the event being promoted as “Wildwood Beach Linkup.” He said the promoter was advised that the city was ready to go with charges if the event was to be held.
“We want to make it clear that we will pull out all the stops to hold them liable, but it looks like the promoter went online and said the event was canceled,” DeLollis said.
At the same time, he said, the municipalities will still be on the lookout for any illegal or disruptive behavior May 12-13.
“We need to deal with this as if it is going to happen,” DeLollis said.