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Jan. 15-21
Parking Revenues
Parking in Cape May County resorts is a problem that defies a solution. Parking woes are a constant complaint every summer season. Parking is annually on the agenda of governing body meetings. It is a subject for public comment, as residents complain about the added influx of vehicles that seem to accompany a rise in the short-term rental phenomenon. But parking is also big business in several county towns.
Of the 16 municipalities in the county, seven manage parking through seasonal pay-to-park plans. All seven are resort towns that face the ocean: Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor, North Wildwood, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and Cape May. The seven combine to produce over $9 million in revenue in a period of about four months.
In terms of the actual revenues received in 2022, Ocean City at $3.5 million and Cape May at $2.2 million were the big winners in the parking sweepstakes. Both North Wildwood and Wildwood each brought in over $1 million. Smaller amounts were realized in Stone Harbor ($431,951), Wildwood Crest ($428,023) and Sea Isle ($252,699).
Most of the towns that charge for parking also have a limited number of seasonal parking permits for sale subject to various conditions. In Sea Isle, some residents recently opposed the planned hike in parking permits, set to go up by $200 but reduced by the City Council to a $100 increase in response to the opposition.
All seven towns also use the ParkMobile smartphone app. For three of those towns, Sea Isle, Stone Harbor and North Wildwood, the app is the exclusive way to pay for parking. The others maintain areas of meter parking.
The experience this past summer had Stone Harbor looking at options at a recent council meeting. Cape May is also looking at whether ParkMobile, with all of its added fees, is the best option for the city.
In the midst of it all, nestled between Sea Isle City to the north and Stone Harbor to the South, sits Avalon as an oasis of free parking.
Mixed Messages on EVs
The state’s acceptance of the Advanced Clean Car II standards puts New Jersey on a path to new car sales that must show an increasing percentage of electric vehicles up to 2035 when 100% of new cars sales must be EVs. The response has been one of strong support from several environmental groups to concern from business and utility operators that the requirement removes consumer choice and puts an unacceptable burden on an electrical infrastructure that will not be ready by 2035.
Cape May County auto dealers displayed the full range of reaction to the rule, from a shrug and a statement that car dealerships adjust to change all the time to those who feel any transition should be driven by customer choice and government fiat.
Concerns exist over the expected range of a fully charged vehicle, cold weather impact on that range, the time required to charge a vehicle, available infrastructure, new vehicle cost, and, for some, safety worries.
The cars are gaining acceptance by the public and more will be on the road each year. Let’s hope we’re ready.
Winter Weather
With the combination of record cold air and a string of back-to-back storms, the mid-January snow cover is reported to be the most extensive in the last two decades. Snow analysis by the National Weather Service shows that snow cover nationally is at 56%, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.
The ice and cold in the county on Saturday, Jan. 20, was enough to cause the closure of the county zoo to the public. It closed county senior centers across the county, as well.
The big problem for our area will be beach erosion. In North Wildwood, the ocean breached the dunes along 13th Avenue, prompting the town to again ask the state for permission to build a bulkhead between 12th and 15th avenues.
Erosion in the borough’s north end beaches has Avalon officials already preparing for a 2024 back passing project. In Stone Harbor the municipality will experiment with its first scraping of sand from the just offshore sand buildup in order to bolster the dry beaches.
The extreme cold follows on the heels of what officials say was the warmest year on record in 2023. The year also saw 28 weather- and climate-related disasters that toped $1 billion in damages. Scientists argue that the way the Artic weather patterns are changing due to climate change actually favors more polar vortex disruptions.
Happenings
An Oceana study found that 80% of ships violated federal speed limits in areas where sea mammals have been harmed and killed by ship strikes.
The 18th annual Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge raised over $300,000 for Special Olympics New Jersey.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd) announced the successful securing of $10.3 million in community project funding, directed towards enhancing public safety and job creation in South Jersey.
Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead, charged with strangling her son last spring, has chosen a judge, not a jury, to decide her case. She faces charges of first-degree murder, third-degree murder, and possession of a weapon with criminal intent, with her trial scheduled for Monday, Feb. 12.
Holly Beach Train Company, one of the last model train stores in South Jersey, stands as a nostalgic gem in Wildwood, with owner Larry Lillo sharing decades of joy with customers.
Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation reforming New Jersey’s liquor license laws, addressing scarcity by targeting inactive licenses, establishing new mall licenses, and easing restrictions for breweries and distilleries.
One Wildwood man was arrested Saturday, Jan. 13, and is being accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile victim, while another Wildwood man was arrested Monday, Jan. 15, and is being charged with physically abusing a juvenile.
Ocean City settled litigation with Klause Enterprises, agreeing to pay $20 million for a former car dealership property at 16th Street and Simpson Avenue, more than twice the amount agreed to in a 2018 deal.
Cape May City Council introduced an ordinance updating tree protection policy, streamlining the process for tree removal.
Gov. Murphy signed a bill expanding eligibility for free school meals, benefiting over 60,000 families with an annual household income of up to 224% of the federal poverty level.
Middle Township Mayor Christopher Leusner shared results from a joint program between the township’s police department and Volunteers of America at a recent Township Committee meeting.
Economist Oliver Cooke presented his 2024 economic outlook at the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon on Thursday, Jan 18.
Two 10-year-old boys from Middle Township played key roles in securing a trip to the International Silver Stick finals in Ontario for their Atlantic City Sharks hockey team after a successful regional tournament.
Cape May fishermen challenged the cost of government monitors, backed by conservatives aiming to challenge the Chevron deference doctrine.
Spout Off of the Week
Cape May – I noticed a trend whenever someone points out the flaws in EVs they are automatically accused of not caring about the environment~! I have always supported EVs but I don’t believe we set a year to make gasoline cars obsolete. It should happen naturally. When Alexander Graham= Bell inventor of the telephone in the late 1880’s, nobody set a date to eliminate the telegraph and Morse Code is still used today!! Let’s not set a date to completely eliminate gas cars, it’s not helpful
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