Some Thoughts On Beach Fees

by Tom Tamacclo . I read with Interest the item concerning hikes in the beach fees for Cape May City. My concerns fall in two areas: \\ Increasing Economic exclusion of people from enjoyment of a natural resource; 2) Self-perpetuating bureaucracies! Area i i The question of beach ownership is age-old and will continue to arouse controversy. Cape May City has apparently decided it at least has conservatorship over the beach and can therefore fix the price of admission to it. I find l it alarming that beach fees will jump over 100 percent in one.year. Why not make it $10 per day per person next: year? Financially our family can bear the increases over the years, but what about families in the loiver-income brackets? We also use the streets and roads in the Cape May area. Why not set up toll booths at each bridge and charge $21per car to get on the island? Think of what Cape May (or a chosen few)*could do with that revenu^l - WHEN FEDERAL AND state funds dre used to restore beachfront, as they have been used many times in the past, then the people of the 50 states become part owners of the end product What right - legal, e hical, or moral - does Cape May‘have to charge people for access to something they have, in efffect, alreadjjpaid for? Area 2: In the spirit of President leagan’s call for citizen violunteerism to'do jobs formerl > done by government, 1 Challenge the Cape May'beach fee staff (for that matter Sny such group on the Jerseyi shore) to donate their summer time to perform this job. What a grand and pleasant way to spend one’s summer. Fresh air and sun-

shine teamed with fiscal prudence: what an unbeatable v combination! , ' >* I fear that without this volunteer effort, soon almost all the beach fee revenues will go to pay the beach fee staffs salaries (or is that what happens now? Who knows?) Such salary expenses wouldn v t exist if it weren’t for the imposition of the beach fee in the first place. Who really benefits by this program, the public at large or a select, chosen few? : v - If we’re serious about lessening government’s role in our lives,, then let’s Biart in small ways right here at home. Eliminate the beach fee bureaucracy! Tom Tamdccie now of Frederick, Md., is a former Cape May resident.

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Feathered Lift For Peace Cause

by Marilyn Ciccarone . i

Many thanks to Ima Byrd for bringing thC Dove of Peace to the county library when the movie War Without. Winners was shown. Their presence graced the

A ‘Giant Step’ ' For Integrity

by Charles M. Lenftoer

Freeholder Gerald Thornton is a couregeous man. Courageous because he has taken a "giant step” toward restoring public confidence In the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority. We have aU been reading about the State Commission of Investigation inouiry into the purchase of the forme!- menhaden plant and we have all been hearing that the FBI has been investigating the same. -i As citizens, we are entitled to know the circumstances surrounding the dealings which are conducted by our government,'Mr. Thornton is attempting to restore public confidence in the MU A. As a taxpayer, I have the highest praise for Mr. Thornton because he has taken the initiative to defend the integrity of government and

the people it serves.

The people of Cape May County must have the highest ethical and business standards represented in their public servants who conducted this $1.4 million menhaden plant transaction and when the smoke clears, the people of Cape May County will be solidly in Freeholder Thornton’s corner, because he is doing the right thing—standthg up for the people and their hard-

• 'Editor Adv 'rtising Director Qenerdl Manager Publisher

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POBoxO* Cold Spring. N.J. OHM

Without. Winners was snown. meir ymyem.* p-m-d tai dollars!

discussion period and proved out the old adage "Birds of

•a feather flock together. t . | i Charles M. Leusner is a Court House resldenl and a

Mrs. Byrds gentle observations of the gathering \ J

(HeraW and Lantern Feb. 24) strengthen tmr fledgling >'candidnt. /or Middle, townehip Committ...

Peace Movement in Cape May County and increase Our

hope. ' Let the Dove know that we will continue, on a wing and a prayer, to work to remove the threat of nuclear

war from our world.

MarJIyn Ciccarone is president of the Jersey Cape Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament.

Bird Sanctuary News Is Good i by Mrs. Herbert Francis Campbell No Ane is more delighted than I to learn that the feportU read (re. the plfins for Stone Harbor Bird Sqnc- , tuary oking partially developed) is incorrect. I am one of the thousands who appreciate the Sanctuary. . ( I also have a great respect for Stone Harbor folks — particularly those dedicated friends who.devote their time and knowledge to the Rescue Squad. Thanks for printing the good news that our Bird Sanctuary is safe. Mrs. Herbert Francif Campbell is a resident of Ocean

View.

Sharing: The Facts

by Loretta F. Saggiomo

The Board would like to clarify a point you made in last week's article in Regionalization. While the school districts of West Cape May and Lower Township do share a number of services, the hot hrikh program and the classroom space problem to which you refer were not reciprocal arrangements nor

were they linked in any way.

In 1972, the Lower Township School District began a satellite hot lunch program to tHe West Cape May District, The West Cape May Board of Education continues to operate and pay for this service in this current

school year.

From 1976 to 1979, the West Cape Mag School district rented classroom space to Lower Township. There was a great deal of cooperative-arrangement involved. However, the Lower Township District paid a rental fee. We wish to stress that we do share services and a mutually beneficial relationship with our neighboring school districts, but your mention of the agreements leading to the two particular programs was not factual. Loretta Saggiomo is secretary of the West Cape May .

School Board.