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The Herald and The lantern

Wednesday. January 7.1981

Time for Concern to Match Growth

Cape May County's population growth of just under 36 per cent in the past decade is cause for reflection and great concern by every man and woman who now calls tne Jersey cape home — and especially those among them who are the leaders of its political subdivisions. And of these, probably none are important at this time than the men and women who constitute the various planning and zoning boards. Since New Jersey is a so-called Home Rule state, it falls upon the shoulders of the citizens on planning and zoning boards to wejgh carefully the various requests that are coming before these local units with greater frequendy, as the amount of open space on the Jersey

Cape begins to dwindle in the face of this population increase. PERHAPS THE GREATEST DANGER, g enerally speaking, facing most of Cape May ounty’s 16 municipalities is the temptation to change the overall character of the Cape from its present country, rural or town atmosphere to that of a suburb and city. One may safely say, it would appear from statewide population trends, that many of those making the Cape home in the past decade were seeking to get away from the urban sprawl, not bring it with them. In addition to political leaders on the community and county levels, a great deal of the burden and responsibility for shaping the near future of our beautiful area must lie with the landowner, particularly the farmer. Here the

temptation is to sell off or subdivide in the face of escalating land sale prices. There are those among us, sadly, who will do anything for money; who incorrectly view capitalism as a system designed solely to increase the wealth of the individual while decreasing society’s wealth by dispoiling the land and the water and the natural habitats and resources. UNFORTUNATELY, MAN HAS more often than not created troubles wherever he has gone in search of progress and the better life. Usually, people mean problems; the more people, the greater the problems. Given a limited area, a relatively few people may enjoy the good life which clean air, water and plenty of room provide. But it does not follow, in fact it is obvious, that the good life cannot be shared by increasing the people and spreading thin the natural attractions and amenities. All of us here must very quickly come to realize that if we attempt to citify the Cape, if we permit too many people to settle here, we will be providing for the ruination of the area. As always, it falls upon the individual citizen to not only be responsible in his or her everyday actions but also to help set the course for the future. Political leadership cannot force a citizenry to go in directions it does not wish to go Large landowners too often sell off their land for development and take their money and leave — for open spaces somewhere dis

UUIl. , . AND SO IT IS THAT THE people must raise their voices and their expectations about the future of the Jersey Cape. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t stand in the way of progress, that you can’t prevent unwanted or unnecessary growth. ’ / If you care, share ydor concerns with your friends and neighbors. Then go out to each month’s meeting of your local planning and zoning board — your borough commission, township committee and city council meeting as well. Let your political leaders know there are people who really care about their community. All too often, the only people attending these meetings are developers, real estate interests and their representatives. And, sadly, quite often these are the people who make up the vocal membership on the boards themselves. Show up, pipe up. Pitch in to save the Cape.

— The Herald

Salt Water License Issue Pops JJp Again

by lx>U Kodia About the time we think the salt water license issue has befjn laid In r&>\ to me one brings it up again The most re cent-emergence comes m the State of Delaware, where we .ire told that the matter is about to become a public issue which- might or might hot wind 149 in a battle in' the legislative halls * We were told that they' are going after the license again in Delaware. We were also told that the reason Delaware has been selected again for legislative debate and possible action is }hal the proponents of the license feel that that state will be the easiest to tdpple. Once again the issue is plain and simple—let Delaware fall and it will become attractive’for other states to join in. That seems to be the thrust of the pro-license people Why does this concern you if you do not live in Delaware?? Perhaps not at all, unless you happen to fish in Delaware, or even iri Delaware Bay Let Delaware get a license and the harassrpent of fishermen will follow, especially when

John H. Andrut II

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the pro-license boys look with greedy eyes on all those boats and fishermen in the'bay at the height of the weakfish and drumfish runs. YOU CAN HAVE A SAY in a public forum on the salt water Jan. 24 and 25 at the Nur Temple Shrine building at the intersection of Routes 13. 301 and 40 in New Castle. Del. The license issue will be debated at the Delaware Sportfishing Show on those two days. I will be a panelist and will be speaking in opposition to the creation of a salt water license. Those of you who have read my columns know that I have been unalterably opposed to any salt Water license. I can tell you categorically that if the fishermen and the business community did not speak up against the license in the past and if they do not continue to oppose it now. the license will pass at some tim*in some state and we’ll all face the problems of fees, harassment, bureaucratic waste and excessive regulation. Let po one kid you . there is a big difference between licensing fresh water fishermen and salt water fishermen. First and foremost, the fresh water fishermen is the sole beneficiary of the license fees he pays. He faces no competition from commercial fishing fleets—domestic or foreign—and his money is not used to do research and for managment programs which wijl benefit a long list of other people including the consumer, the local fish markets, fish processors, the commercial fishing industry. the foreign fleet and even fishermen in other states Most fresh water fish live and die where they are put or where they are bred. Salt water fish move all over the place and know no boundaries. IT WILL BE SHEER STUPIDITY to pretend that if Delaware licenses fishermen it will make fishing better for them. It will only lead to higher fees to fish, limits on sire and numbers, enforcement of countless new regulation and creation of a bureacratic monster which will require more license fees and mote financial support to keep moving. We have heard, too that this time, in an effort to make the license more palatable to Delaware fishermen, some of the salt water license money will be diverted to building ramps and providing access for fresh water fishermen. In

any event, the arguments against the salt water license far outweigh the so-called benefits. Make your protest known. Send a letter now to the head of Delaware’s Senate and tell him how you feel about this issue. Write Sen Richard Cordrey. c/o Legislative Hall. Box 1401, Dover. Del.. 19901. Or if you know any of the Delaware legislators personally, write or contact them and register your protest with them. If you fish in Delaware but do not live there, let someone know just how much you do contribute to the state’s economy. Lou Rodia fs an avid fisherman. He is asst, director of Public Affairs for the county.

The Torch Is Passed