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June 14, 2013
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
Page 43
The Dispatch
Forever In Memory Of Our Founder, Dick Lohmeyer (May 25, 1927-May 5, 2005) The Dispatch, Serving Greater Ocean City Since 1984, Is Published By Maryland Coast Dispatch Inc. Weekly On Friday Mornings MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 467 Berlin, Md. 21811 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd. Berlin, Md. 21811 PHONE: 410-641-4561 FAX: 410-641-0966 WEBSITES: www.mdcoastdispatch.com www.facebook.com/thedispatchoc J. STEVEN GREEN Publisher/Editor editor@mdcoastdispatch.com
HOW WE SEE IT Use Perspective On Season’s Surge
Ocean City is changing for the worse. That’s what many have concluded after a stormy couple of weeks on the crime front to kick off summer. We say let’s allow the season to progress before we start referring to Ocean City as downtrodden and dangerous. There is no question late-May through mid-June can be a challenging and disturbing time for Ocean City. Many of the crimes of late have raised public safety questions, but they are not unlike incidents from previous years. That may be difficult to believe, but it’s true and records confirm the same kinds of arrests being made now were made last year and the years before. Ocean City becomes a metropolitan city this time of year and with that surge in population comes urban problems. It’s understandable for locals and visitors alike to be concerned when they hear of a stabbing, drug deals and traffic stops leading to guns and huge brawls on the Boardwalk in the wee hours. None of that has any place in Ocean City, but we need to exercise some caution and perspective before jumping to extreme conclusions. What makes this year seem different is the perception many have while observing the resort’s guests as they traveling through town and, more specifically, while walking the Boardwalk. It’s not a wholesome bunch and it’s not the visitors many expect to see in Ocean City. In fact, they look violent and in some cases are, and they are not here to enjoy the beach, bays and Boardwalk. Instead, they look as if they are intent on fighting, raising hell, doing drugs and drinking. It’s disturbing to see this group of miscreants with their disgusting sense of entitlement seemingly growing each year, but we do believe they are the minority of our visitors. What we need to do is balance our concerns and fears with the working knowledge that this is June in Ocean City. Problems are going to arise when tens of thousands of graduates come to Ocean City looking to celebrate. Combine that with weekends that are jammed with heavy-drawing events and there are bound to be concerns. What needs to be addressed by the city’s leaders is whether the city wants to continue to host these sorts of events during this time of year. We are not ready to push the panic button and join the group who believe Ocean City is losing its family-friendly image. That will need to be revisited in a couple weeks when the graduate season has ended and families begin converging on Ocean City for their vacations. Typically, the disturbing incidents that make up every June are long forgotten come July and August when Ocean City, and we look forward to observing that over the coming weeks.
Between The Lines
By Publisher/Editor Steve Green
The Ocean City Mayor and Council could be soon taking up the familiar issue of baggy pants, which have become increasingly prevalent in the resort in recent years. The issue of adopting a new standard for decency making it illegal for pants to be worn too low below the waist is not new, as Councilman Brent Ashley addressed the issue in 2011 but did not get much support, even from his closest allies at that time. The headline I recall writing at that time was something like, “Ashley Wants Resort To Be State’s ‘First Crack-Free City.’ ” Ashley appears to have a new lease on the issue now with the City of Wildwood, N.J. establishing an ordinance this week outlawing baggy pants on its Boardwalk. That resort’s ordinance specifically states, “The waist-band of shorts, swim-trunks, pants and/or skirt shall not be worn more than 3 inches below the wearer’s waist, interpreted to mean at a level below the crest of the ilium, so as to expose either skin or garment underneath.” The ordinance continues, “the City of Wildwood has received numerous complaints from residents and visitors who frequent the City’s Boardwalk and consider certain dress, or lackthere-of, of a certain proportion of persons on the Boardwalk as offensive, indecent and alarming to themselves and their children … the City of Wildwood markets its Boardwalk as a family friendly environment with its residents and businesses relying heavily upon the tourism industry …” Wildwood’s ordinance even requires people to wear shoes and shirts on the Boardwalk, meaning no bathing suits allowed. A citation for not less than $25 can be given to violators with subsequent offenses resulting in higher citation amounts. This is an interesting issue, one that comes with constitutional concerns. Wildwood, N.J. Mayor Ernest Troiano has been quoted by multiple media outlets on the matter, and he said the city’s legal team evaluated the issue and it’s believed the ordinance as written will be able to overcome any court challenges about it being unconstitutional. With a flurry of emails circulating this week among Ocean City Mayor and Council members and Tourism Commission members, it appears a certainty this issue will soon be discussed at City Hall. What is unknown is whether the support is there to move forward some sort of ban similar to what Wildwood did this week. Berlin landed its new town administrator this week, and it appears the marvels of technology went a long way in expediting the process. The new town administrator will not start her duties at Town Hall until sometime in the fall, but the town should be applauded for filling its current vacancy in quick, affordable fashion. It was indicated by Mayor Gee Williams that Skype, an Internet-based program that allows for video face-to-face conferencing through the computer, played a huge role in the process. That’s a great thing, but I do find it ironic that the same town utilizing this technology also requires voters to stuff their handwritten choices into wooden boxes on Election Day. Personally, I find this style of voting charming in today’s computer world, but I figured the irony was worth a mention. Judging crowds is tricky business in Ocean City, but demoflush estimates confirm the tourism season has been lighter than usual thus far. In fact, demoflush reveals a disturbing trend -- dating back to the last week February, average crowd totals have been down from the same weekend the prior year for the last 15 weekends, including a 18percent drop on Memorial Day weekend and a 24-percent decline last weekend. The most recent weekend averages compared to the same time period last year are as follows: May, first weekend, 127,386, down 8.4 percent; May, second weekend, 181,090, down 5.2 percent; May, third weekend, 231,548, down 17.8 percent; May, fourth weekend, 176,596, down 9.9 percent; and June, first weekend, 204,647, down 23.5 percent. Demoflush has its critics, and the doubts are justified, but it’s a useful tool when comparing crowds from year to year.
NEWS DEPARTMENT
SHAWN J. SOPER News Editor Sports Editor
ssoper@mdcoastdispatch.com
JOANNE SHRINER Staff Writer
joanne@mdcoastdispatch.com
TRAVIS BROWN Staff Writer
travis@mdcoastdispatch.com
SALES DEPARTMENT
TERRI FRENCH Account Executive Entertainment Editor
terri@mdcoastdispatch.com
JEANETTE DESKIEWICZ Account Executive
jeanette@mdcoastdispatch.com
MANETTE CRAMER Account Executive
manette@mdcoastdispatch.com
ART DEPARTMENT
CINDY WARD Art Director
art@mdcoastdispatch.com
JENNIFER T. O’BRIEN Graphic Artist COLE GIBSON Graphic Artist Webmaster
BUSINESS OFFICE
PAMELA GREEN Bookkeeper Classifieds Manager
classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Disturbing Budget
Editor: There is no acceptable excuse for the Worcester County Commissioners’ ram-rodding their June 4 budget vote. This is not, by a long shot, Bud Church’s first time pulling this. As long as we allow it, you can be sure, it won’t be his last. Regardless of any circumstances, we deserve genuine representation from our elected officials. Commissioner Jim Bunting was our sole consistent voice for fair and open governance. Whether the others were respecting “politically correct” protocol or were, themselves, blindsided is understandable (somewhat), but Church’s tyrannical act must still be reconciled. Therefore, although the budget was passed, “due diligence” must now be restored by objectively, publicly and openly revisiting probably all non-essential major expenditures. One significant example is the horrendous across-the-board (2.0 percent and 1.5 percent) pay SEE PAGE 45
The Maryland Coast Dispatch (USPS #015125) is an official and legal newspaper for Worcester County. Periodical postage paid at Berlin, Maryland, and additional mailing offices.. The Maryland Coast Dispatch, 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, Md. 21811, is published weekly on Friday mornings, 52 weeks a year. Subscription rates are $75 per year, $55 for six months. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Maryland Coast Dispatch, P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Maryland 21811. Maryland Coast Dispatch offices are located at Route 346 and Graham Avenue, Berlin, Maryland.
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