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I recently read that the Borough of Beach Haven is making efforts to attract more tourists and attract more teens. My question is was there a conscious debate among taxpayers that we collectively as taxpayers wanted to attract more tourists. I am not stating an opinion one way or the other. But I think there should be some thought into whether we want more toursits in the town or not. What kind of town do we want since it is our town? And what are the pros cons and implications of each choice on taxes, police, traffic, quality of life ect.

Thank you Sandpiper. Commando, I LIVE in Barnegat Light. You really need to lose that chip on your shoulder. And Tim is right, it is people like you that drive the captains of the Miss Barnegat Light to total distraction. I once watched an idiot on a wet bike force one of the large head boats to a stop in the Inlet because they were skiing around right in front of them. That wasn't you by chance was it Commando?

True (T), False (F). or Sometimes (S):
1. Big Chip (S)
2. Annoy boat captains (F)
3. Ignorant of Navigational Rules (F)
4. In 6th grade navigated 13'3" Boston Whaler through hull on Miss Barnegat Light's maiden voyage through BLI (T)
5. Having fun with silly posters on this site (T).
6. Long term knowledge of LBI (T)
7. Always enjoy the best of The Island (T)

Hi Sandpiper,
That's bull nose dolphin (not bottlenose dolphin -- in other words, it's not flipper). These fish are marketed as "Mahi Mahi" - great to catch and eat! God forbid, if you sold this fish (not mammal) as "dolphin", we Americans would not come anywhere near it. The Spanish call it Dorado -- maybe you read the book "Old Man and the Sea" by that guy Earnest Hemingway; he loved it.
I understand that Ignorance is bliss...But please Google an image of a "Bullnose Dolphin" so that you understand what you're eating when you order Mahi Mahi.
By the way, everyone wants to save the dolphin (bottlenose), but who is saving the Tuna!

Commando re: Dolphins - I don't eat anything with "fins" no matter what kind of nose they may have. I also cannot visualize myself taking the kids out on a fishing trip and hauling in a big fish. I can see myself being pulled overboard by one :) Santiago, I am not.
Seriously, you need to ditch the chip. Looking down on people does not make them look up to you.
Looks like a great weekend ahead- get out there and enjoy yourself.

Happy Labor Day weekend to all!!

Tourists are important to keep the Island's economy strong, for business owners and homeowners who rent. But, if attracting tourists to Beach Haven means relaxing the rules, that is the wrong approach. Maybe it's the right approach for the business's that the Mayor owns, like some people have suggested, but it's the wrong choice for Beach Haven. Personally, I think it is a conflict of interest to be a Mayor and own 2 bars and a liquor store.

Misslbi I am curious and have no love for the Beach Haven government, but exactly what do think the Mayor should do for a living since the job does not pay a living wage? Should the Mayor's position be restricted to a person of independent means? This is why a larger council is needed.

I agree with MissLBI. The Mayor has a clear conflict of interest. He owns a business in town that depends on tourists to make money. The more tourists the more money for the mayor. That is not necessarily in the best interest of the homeowners of the town. We do need more checks and balances on the government and more homeowners represented. The problem is that the fact that many homeowners dont live there year round makes it ideal for the more to pursue his own financial agenda. What businesses does the Mayor own?

Hose B, my question still stands - what kind of business would you allow the mayor to own? Can he own a restaurant? A museum? A bar? A landscaping business? Does he have to be wealthy enough to not need employment? Don't get me wrong, I think the current BH is not good but can be fixed by voters this fall if they choose a council form of government. My point is where do you draw the line.

I do not think there can be restrictions of what businesses a Mayor can own but there should be a conflicts of interest policy whereby the Mayor would recuse himself on issues that directly benefit him. Many small town mayors are constrained by conflicts of interests policies.

Think of what would happen if the Mayor owned a local landscaping business and announced an initiative to require more trees planted by homewoners in Beach Haven - would that be a conflict of interest?

Here is an example of a Mayor looking out for his own interests and not the interests of the homeowners:

BEACH HAVEN - Mayor Michael Battista is hoping a resolution will be passed at Monday's Board of Commissioners meeting to remove a restriction from his liquor license for the Marlin Bar and Restaurant to allow drinking in an alleyway.

The alleyway is between the Marlin and 308 Package Goods and Deli, which is also owned by Battista.

The resolution seeks to overturn an order made last year by an administrative law judge - an order that was later upheld by the state Attorney General and Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

ROTFLMAO! Good one:

"I do not think there can be restrictions of what businesses a Mayor can own but there should be a conflicts of interest policy whereby the Mayor would recuse himself on issues that directly benefit him"

These laws already exist but this is NEW JERSEY where a mayor who was recently ARRESTED not only failed to recuse himself on a vote to remove himself from office, but voted that he should stay! Now THAT'S a conflict of interest that makes the crook Batista look like a babe in the woods.

The solution is to get a council of 6 plus a mayor where there can easily be dissension that benefits the citizens.

The BH mayor cannot vote on that as he will be told by the town solicitor. His friends - the other boardpeople - can, however, and that is how things are done.

Just my opinion, but as a tourist who vacations every summer in Beach Haven, I think if you want to increase the number of tourists to the island, you must lower your costs. In Wildwood and similar places, they offer discounts and family packages. Coupons for food, bike rentals, shops. They have After Prom and Spring Break Packages for the teens, etc.
And if I can be frank, it cheapens these places. It definately has a carnival feel to it.
Do you think that would fly in Beach Haven? It seems to me, Beach Haven is more layed back and classier then that. Would the 2 for 1 Hotdog Coupons and Free Arcade Token Nights be better for Beach Haven? Those of you that rent your homes would need to offer these "Family Fun Days" Packages. Example...In order to get the rental fees you get right now, you would need to throw in extra incentives like Free Children's Theater Tickets and Free Bike rentals. Breakfast coupons to Uncle Wills and Fantasy Island Ride Tickets. Ofcourse, I am just giving examples. But, that is what Wildwood, Point Pleasant, Seaside Heights and others do. Ofcourse, these places have mega hotels offering these "packages". In Beach Haven, hotels are limited. It will be you property owners who will need to come up with these costly incentives.
People are looking for deals.

If people want the Wildwood,Point Pleasant,Seaside atmosphere then thats where they should vacation. If your looking for something other than the carnival enviroment for your family then you come to places like this island. It all depends on what kid of person or family you are and what you want. I personally and do not know of any of my neighbors who would rent to after prom or spring break teens. The carnival enviroment is better suited for that!

We all need to get involved because the mayor and his businesses would love for Beach Haven to turn into a Belmar Wildwood or Seaside. The Mayor would get very wealthy and our town would be destroyed. I can tell you that the homeowners and taxpayers of Beach Haven do not want that - even the people that rent their homes to help pay the mortgage. Most people that rent only do it to pay the mortgage and once that is paid they will not rent anymore.

No - We do not want more tourists. We dont want to encourage a carnival atmosphere. Please Please Please

silly, silly silly...More over reaction. Do we only have 2 choices? No tourists or a carnival.
What about a well planned approach where townspeople actually get involved in the process. Oh, wait...That would take some real effort. let's just complain instead.
BTW, is Cape May a carnival?

The downturn in the economy has provided an opportunity for those who are able to take advantage of it. Right now its still a buyers market for anyone looking to purchase on the island. But that wont last forever! Its also given us more and better happy hours ,entertainment and dinner specials. Enjoy it while we can. There is an ambiance here that attracts a certian type of individual and family. I personally dont see that changing any time soon.

The downturn in the economy has provided an opportunity for those who are able to take advantage of it. Right now its still a buyers market for anyone looking to purchase on the island. But that wont last forever! Its also given us more and better happy hours ,entertainment and dinner specials. Enjoy it while we can. There is an ambiance here that attracts a certian type of individual and family. I personally dont see that changing any time soon.

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