The Winds of Change Are Blowing. Our Way? That Depends on Us

With change comes opportunity, but also challenges. If we manage them intelligently, we’re propelled forward. However, if we fail to rise to the occasion, life sets us back. That applies to us here in Cape May County. The South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) has projected that Cape May County’s population will continue to decline, falling to 79,500 by 2040. That is a 22 percent decline from our peak of 102,307 in 2000. What are the implications? Well, healthy things grow, and unhealthy things wither, and that withering process is painful for local residents and businesses.
When my family and I moved here in the mid-70s, housing prices were some of the lowest in the state of New Jersey; today they are some of the highest. When we came, the towns rather closely resembled other towns around the country, with vibrant churches and schools, shops, gas stations, etc. Today, much of that has slipped away. Why?
Is it because our county is no longer a desirable place to be? The funny thing is the opposite is true. We remain a beautiful, attractive place, but this attribute has been discovered by people with a lot of money in their pockets, and they have bid the prices of homes way up, driving out the year-round families. We’re becoming evermore a community whose owners live elsewhere. We’re not going to hold back the tide, so where is our future? The answer is we have to put up our wind sock, see which way the wind is blowing, and go with it. By “go with it” I don’t mean, just be blown along; rather, I mean, get to work filling our sails, harnessing the wind, and building a future so compelling for Cape May County residents that our children don’t have to leave the county to make a living; they stay here, thrive and raise their families.
Then how do we harness these winds? We do what every other successful, progressive community does: we observe what changes are already taking place and align ourselves with them, including such endeavors as shellfish cultivation, wineries, breweries, and drones.
I am convinced, however, that the biggest opportunity which we have is catering to people who would love to live at the shore year-round. They already come here on vacation and the internet is now making it possible for them to spend more time here, because they don’t have to be in the office as much—they can do their work from their kitchen table. I know people who already do this; some are here virtually year-round.
What do we have to do to promote this internet transformation? One very important thing is create modern transportation to and from our doorstep, starting with finishing the last 20 miles of Route 55. To that end, the Cape Issues committee hosted two representatives from the SJTPO, including Acting Executive Director Jennifer Marandino, as well as County Engineer Dale Foster, at our 7 a.m. meeting Oct. 4 to help them to understand how critical it is that we upgrade our transportation infrastructure, including completion of the final leg of Route 55.
If modern roads were not the key to economic success, the western world would not have invested large fortunes in building and maintaining them. The reason we are suffering currently is because we have failed to do what everybody else has long ago done – build the roads. Vicki Clark, executive director of the 800-member Cape May County Chamber of Commerce stresses: The number one factor which would reverse the population decline of Cape May County would be the completion of Route 55.
We can facilitate more and more of our seasonal residents to spend more time in Cape May County by building modern roads which don’t waste their time getting here. The more time they spend here, the more our population grows instead of shrinks. More people mean more money in the economy supporting local businesses and employees. Shame on us if we accept our current decline. Let’s convert our challenges into an opportunity by making Cape May County’s economy into one of the most vibrant. With the internet and modern roads, many of the 700,000 people here in the summer will be able to support our economy all year.  
Art Hall
P.S.:  If the 23 cent gas tax goes in part to completing Route 55, it will be money well spent; otherwise not.