Margate Commissioner John Amodeo ‘has a really big mouth’. That’s the word from WPG Radio’s, Harry Hurley, as he spoke to listeners on Friday morning 8/16. Why won’t the Margate Commissioners share their thoughts on rebuilding the Margate Boardwalk?
‘Sometimes leadership works against their own people’, says Hurley as he chatted with Director of Margate Boardwalk Committee, Glenn Klotz, on the air. Listen below to Hurley & Klotz:
Glenn Klotz: ‘They’re mostly afraid of losing. That’s why the Margate Commissioners are attempting to shut down any debate. The Commission doesn’t seem to have any problem being on one side or another, on these kinds of issues. Acting like a bunch of deer frozen in the headlights of an oncoming tractor trailer’.
A standing room only crowd, overflowing into the hallway. The Margate commissioners, Amodeo, Blumberg and Mayor Becker, getting an earful.
Why are the Margate Commissioners so afraid of polling residents?
Glenn Klotz
The pros & cons of rebuilding the Margate boardwalk. Why not take a poll ? Take the residents temperature. Are they for… or against… rebuilding the Margate Boardwalk ?
Listen to Audio >
Changing the character of Margate? Too late for that. You just got a giant golf attraction / semi-amusement park smack dab in middle of town. Let’s not forget plans for an Amherst Ave water park. And how about those high-rises next to Lucy? Nice. The governing body has already started to transform this once, sleepy little town.
To date, only one of three commissioners (Blumberg) have hinted at their thoughts on re-building the Margate Boardwalk.
Did you know? Margate Commissioner Maury Blumberg not only attend the boardwalk committee’s presentation last month, but Mr. Blumberg actually signed the petition….requesting the city polls it’s residents. All of them.
“A Margate Boardwalk for the 21st Century”
Glenn Klotz, President of the Margate Boardwalk Committee, followed recommendations from Commissioners Amodeo and Blumberg.
- Mr. Blumberg suggested that Klotz collects 500 signatures. Glenn collected 613.
- Mr. Amodeo recommended to Klotz that a poll be taken. Glenn agreed.
- The Mayor of Margate, Mike Becker has mainly played neutral in all of this. Nervous that a poll may not come out in his favor?
Margate Commissioners, and a vocal handful of beach block homeowners, wouldn’t mind seeing the Margate Boardwalk discussion go away. The 3 Commissioners have yet to take a public stand, yes or no.
Read the 26-page, Rebuilding the Margate Boardwalk report here.
Also presented to the Commission: Safety study by Stockton University professor. Safety would likely increase by having a non-commercial boardwalk. Beach block homes would benefit from a boardwalk. That’s all due to having more eyes on the area. Keeping tabs on less trafficked, potentially vulnerable, beach blocks.
The Margate dunes created blind spots. 14 ft of sand hides questionable activity, or someone in need of help.
Jay Weintraub, President of the Margate Homeowners Association, presented results of a poll his group executed. A majority of those polled are pro-boardwalk.
- 400 yes
- 186 no
- 52 not-sure
Many would like a Margate boardwalk, but have concerns about cost.
Some local real estate execs lobbying hard for NO boardwalk. Afraid that home values would be affected. Too late for that. The dune project already stripped away ocean views and easy beach access.
Surprising. Local real estate execs were quiet leading up to Summer 2017, as #1 asset of Downbeach was being changed forever. Industrialized. Pretending the ‘beach & water view’ didn’t matter that much.
Good news? A boardwalk would soften the blow. A rebuilt Margate boardwalk would stabilize…or increase values….because the ocean and beach would be more accessible.
The Margate Boardwalk committee has submitted its presentation & signatures to elected leadership. What’s next? Will the Margate commissioners:
- Take this request seriously. Research & discuss?
- Take temperature of taxpayers, conduct a poll?
- Hold a referendum. Should we rebuild boardwalk?
- Lay low. Bury head in sand. Wait til it all blows over.
Army Corps of Engineers. Friend or Foe?
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