LETTERS
To The Editor:
I read with interest Elan Zingman-Leith’s column “Shoobies or Not Shoobies-That’s Hardly the Question” (June 7).
Does he think Cape May started 20 years ago when he got here? I know that it is normal for people to think in terms of themselves so I will forgive what he does not realize.
Cape May existed before it became a tourist Mecca. Where Leith has been here for 20 years, I have been here for the past 45 years, and my father for the 45 years before that. Somehow we survived without Cape May being this grand tourism magnet 10 months out of the year.
Leith points out the increase in property values. He should also have pointed out that families can’t afford to move into Cape May any more. Consequently, you have a situation where Cape May is paying $45,000 per student to send children to Lower Cape May Regional High School and complaining about it.
This is not even to mention the death of a family community. Yes, I know there is still a community in Cape May but not a family community. If there were no public housing and Coast Guard base, there would literally be no children in Cape May.
Yes, I remember the good old days of the 60s. Houses sold between $6,000 and $9,000. He’s right. My mother said we bought ours for about $11,000.
We moved our family in it. Not rented it out every week to whoever had the money to afford it that week.
He is also correct that a lot of times we didn’t have the money to hire contractors to maintain our home and God forbid, yes; sometimes it didn’t get maintenance at all. But it survived and continued to survive and house our family to this day.
A home that is not fancy but provides shelter for a family or a home that is pretty and going to make me lots of money, I’ll take the former.
I would like to make it clear that I have nothing against tourists. Growing up in Cape May I met some of the nicest tourists who became friends and remain friends to this day, some 30 years later.
But Leith should understand that there not only was a community prior to his getting here 20 years ago. There was a family-oriented community, not a money-oriented community.
DON ANDERSON
Erma
To The Editor:
People enjoying a stroll on the boardwalk always ask where the public restrooms are located. For years, we have always sent them to the information center at Schellenger and the Boardwalk where the restrooms are located.
I was shocked to find out that those facilities are closed. Not only are they closed, but also there doesn’t appear to be any timeline to have them open and available to the general public in the foreseeable future.
Once again, the City of Wildwood gets minus marks on hospitality: No public restrooms on the great promenade, which ranks just after the beach as a major tourist attraction. No public restrooms for the 100,000 plus people who visit the island every weekend.
Why is this a problem? These facilities have operated for years. Surely, there is room in the city budget for the bare necessities of our visitors?
New tax ratables have been added to the community at a breakneck pace. Rooming houses that once paid less than $1,000 in city taxes have given way to multiple unit condos generating 10 times that amount in yearly taxes,
Surely, there are funds to get these necessary facilities on line as soon as possible. How are our elected officials spending this windfall?
Do people realize that we all eat off the same plate? That a bad experience on the boardwalk, on the beach or in a motel equals a vacationer who won’t come back, and who will tell everyone they know not to come back.
What an inhospitable message we are sending by not having open restrooms on the Boardwalk.
Do we really want to drive tourists out of town, or do we just want people who can hold their water?
JAMES diMARTINO
Wildwood
To The Editor:
Please call or write Gov. Jon Corzine and urge that the state highways in Cape May County not be sprayed with the powerful and dangerous herbicides such as glyphosate.
The following is from the fact sheet Beyond Pesticides:
“Despite the widespread use of the weed killer glyphosate, and the prevalent myth that it is harmless, this pesticide is tied to acute human health effects and linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is found in two Monsanto products available over the counter, Roundup and Rodeo making glyphosate one of the most widely used and well-known herbicides on the market,
If there is one pesticide that represents the “fast food” quick-fix generation, glyphosate would likely be it, the McPesticide of toxic chemicals.”
Our county does not use herbicides to treat road signs, telephone poles and guardrails.
Hopefully, we can stop the state from treating Route 47 and Route 9. The governor’s mail address: Gov. Jon Corzine, Box 001, State House, Trenton, N.J. 08625. His phone, (609) 292-6000.
Commissioner of Transportation R. Kolluri’s phone is (609) 530-3536.
RUTH FISHER
South Dennis
To The Editor:
It is my opinion that Jack Fichter`s piece in the May 24. Herald “It`s the Price She Charges, Not Her Looks,” should be required reading for the incoming council in Cape May City.
I read somewhere that Cape May was going to make an effort to be more tourist friendly. I’m not a tourist. However, I have been a resident of lower Cape May County for over 40 years. I’m in the market for a little friendly.
The first week in May, I called City Hall about beach tags. Ever since their inception, I have pur-chased five tags for anyone who might drop in during the season.
I was informed that each seasonal tag would cost $25. The cut off date for a discount was April 1. I had to think about that. Later that month, a local publication printed the area beach tag rates. Cape May Point, Sea Isle City, Avalon, and Stone Harbor not only had less expensive daily weekly and seasonal rates, but without exception, all used Memorial Day as a cut off for discounts, almost two months after Cape May.
This policy seems to have a deliberate pecuniary ring to it.
How difficult would it be in this modern age to have a computerized address book and send no-tices to regular customers?
ANTHONY NOTTURNO
Villas
To The Editor:
We are so sorry to hear about the issue Susan Brown (June 14) is having with these so-called insurance companies. We just had the same experiences with our sister, Lydia. Our family consists of 11 siblings, so you can imagine the great loss of one. There is a tremendous emptiness with our sister gone.
Sadly she died two month ago. We fought to get her in the best cancer center possible but it was rather difficult without the right insurance.
We hope things work out for her and would like her to know that she and her family are in our prayers when we pray for God’s Kingdom to take place on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9,10).
Regarding Brown’s dilemma, our hope is not in insurance companies but in God’s Kingdom. That is what Lydia also put her hope in.
DIANE VALENTINE and FAMILY
Wildwood
To The Editor:
I am the spouse of Roberto Font Deane, a celebrated sixth grade teacher at Sandman Consolidated School in Lower Township.
Parents and students alike know “Mr. Deane” as a teacher who cares greatly about the character and academic success of each of his students, always striving to instill good moral values and maintaining the highest of standards.
Roberto is truly focused on his students and their future, to the point of personally providing awards and treats often in the classroom. As Superintendent Joseph Cirrinicione, fellow teachers and staff know only too well, Deane insists on wearing his Sandman monogrammed shirt and tie, contrived years ago by Roberto himself.
Yes, he has high standards and expects his students and school to always strive to be the best.
Roberto is sincerely committed to portraying a professional image, yet a fun educational experience. Often bringing cultural differences and tolerance to students’ awareness such as an interactive lesson on Three Kings Day.
I know that Lower Township’s children and their parents have been so very fortunate to have Roberto Deane in the classroom all of these years. My Roberto has taken much pride in his work, always seeking to be a good role model and friends to his students.
Based on the multitude of cards, and awards, Roberto continues to receive from present and former students, as well as parents, I believe it is high time that the Lower Township School Board recognize that this very giving and caring human being has feelings and a family as well.
It deeply saddens me to see the hurt look on Roberto’s face these days.
He so very much believed in his school district. He has always been there for all of them, now he needs their love and support, and Roberto stands up in an attempt to attain equal benefits.
I urge all of his friends to attend the next meeting of the Lower Township Board of Education on June 27 at 8 p.m. at Mitnick School, 905 Seashore Road, Cold Spring.
HERB RUSSELL
Court House
To The Editor:
It seems that we “outsiders” are the only ones who can see what is happening to The Wildwoods? (Note the “s” which means all three towns.).
In the June 7 letters, Robert A. Mock of Turtle Creek, Pa. hits the nail on the head and echoes the many letters that I have written to local publi-cations about what is happening to your towns.
I’m sure local leaders won’t agree with Mock.
I relate the exorbitant demolishing of properties for cash and building of overpriced, boring condos, to a runaway freight train. In a pleasant conversation with Mayor Troiano, he claims that I am wrong. Well, with all due respect, try to stop what is happening. But then, money rules.
I haven’t seen any report of what the crowds were like over the Memorial Day weekend, except some reports that motels were full and there is demand for rooms throughout the summer. Well, there are fewer motels aren’t there?
Once the momentum of tourists abates and they find out that the area just isn’t the same, things will change, I think. It’s inevitable that remaining motels will raise rates due to supply and demand. Unaffordable lodgings for a family of four or more will hurt the area. When that happens, I’m sure the tourist bureau will blame it on high gas prices, greater competition from other tourist destinations, cheap travel packages, people staying closer to home, etc. Every excuse except the fact that The Wildwoods and their officials turned their back on middle-class tourists with families and let greed take over under the guise of improvement.
I believe that the local officials do want to do what is right for the area and see it prosper. It’s just that they can’t see the forest for the trees.
There was a good thing going in the late 90’s. People were coming back. A run down properties would have sufficed. But, once that train started rolling, it has begun to wipe out everything in its path.
Oh well, maybe the people who invested in these overpriced, boring condos will be around most of the summer and spend their money in town and will compensate for the lowly tourists. They’ll have to go to the water parks to have access to a pool.
Maybe the people who can afford to rent these condos will eat out every night and lower themselves to walk the boardwalk and play SKILO every night.
Most of them will have a nice white vinyl picket fence, however. Maybe the businessmen that are wanted with their seminars will get WI-FI connections on the piers so they can conduct their business and spend their expense money on The Great White. I guess it’s not all that bad!
MIKE SMALLEY
West Mifflin, Pa.
