Over a decade ago, some people and I started getting together to discuss important issues facing Cape May County. I have turned this space over to the group to make an appeal to you.

Please Join the Conversation

By the Cape Issues group

For the last 15 years, a number of us who live in different parts of the county have been getting together monthly to talk about the big issues that really matter here. Because we have the good fortune to live in a democratic country, we meet and discuss problems to be sure regular folks like us are listened to by our elected leaders when they spend tax money. In our September meeting, we decided to focus on these big areas: Housing for workers, better roads, improved schools and making government more open. We’ll still keep an eye on other issues, too.

We have selected these primary topics because of their overriding importance to our long-term health.

Workforce Housing

There is a big shortage of affordable homes for workers, and it’s getting worse, much worse. Some folks who own investment homes are renting them out on Airbnb, or selling them to folks outside the county for vacation homes. People from outside of the county with high-paying jobs often outbid locals. This is a huge problem because our tourist economy needs lots of local workers for restaurants, hotels and attractions. Some big employers have bought homes for their workers, but others can’t, and they struggle to find enough staff. This situation has been made worse by government trying to help people who can’t afford their rent or house payments. They appeal to government for relief and are frequently able to remain in the home without paying. This leaves the property owner in a financial bind, and then, some get out of the property business.

As a result, the government’s big heart results in less housing available. One homeowner told us that because of all the difficulties with renting out his property, he has simply let it stand empty. Some homeowners only do short-term rentals to avoid dealing with tenant laws. A young person I know recently purchased a 40-year-old, two-bedroom, one-bath home on the mainland for $250,000; that is a multiple of the price similar homes sold for only several years ago. The lack of affordable homes and the buying of mainland homes as vacation spots are causing our county’s population to shrink, especially the school-age population.

Our elected officials need to provide the leadership to rectify this; zoning changes are the major culprit. In years past, if you could only afford a simple house, government restrictions did not stop you. We might also consider redevelopment in the North Cape May, Rio Grande, Cape May Court House, Swainton, Seaville and Marmora town centers that prioritize workforce housing. We should also consider things like mobile homes and tiny houses as options for young residents.

Transportation Infrastructure

Getting around is important for our county because lots of people visit and live here. The easier and safer it is to travel, the better our economy does, and the more likely we will avoid a disaster like Maui. The U.S. is having more natural disasters, and our roads aren’t getting better. Our bridges are getting fixed, but the old road to Philadelphia is getting more crowded, increasingly by workers who live in Cumberland County.

Education

For Cape May County to grow beyond our great dependence on tourism, we need to improve our schools. Even our best schools rank below state average, and many much lower. As we all are joyfully aware, we live on an incomparably beautiful, exceptionally desirable peninsula and on adjoining islands. As a result, almost half of our houses are second homes. With the internet enabling people to work from their homes here, how many would bring their families and enroll their children in our schools if they were as good or better than the state average? This is not idle talk. One person at the Herald conveyed his concern about raising his children here, and another moved to our county only after his children were out of school.

Governmental Transparency

We think everyone should be able to go to a public website and easily find stuff like budgets, contract information, job listings, maps, meeting notes, laws and plans without bugging the staff. When you ask for info, public workers should respond and not keep things secret. We also want public officials to be respectful when they answer questions from people at public meetings.

If you would like to join in our nonpartisan conversation, please write the Cape Issues group at capeissues@cmcherald.com.

———

From the Bible: Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17