EQUITY AND RESPECT FOR ALL

Letter to the Editor of the Coaster Published July 6, 2023

Equality, respect, protection of human and civil rights, fairness, freedom of and from religion. These are all unalienable rights protected by the U.S. Constitution.

Neptune United was created to respect and protect human and civil rights throughout the Township of Neptune. To that end, Neptune United has recently addressed the following issues:

Food Insecurity: Neptune United held a food drive and donated 168 pounds of food to Fulfill Food Bank in Neptune, NJ.

Safety: Fires are dangerous anywhere, but particularly in Ocean Grove with its density. Ocean Grove’s rented tents and cottages had never been inspected by the Township. Due to the actions of Neptune United, the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association’s tents and cottages have now been inspected. A win for safety!

Fairness for Everyone in Neptune: There is an associated fee for Neptune Township’s mandated safety inspection of all rental units. Until this year, the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association had been exempt from safety inspections and fees. Thanks to Neptune United, more than $100,000 in fees have been collected by Neptune Township than can be used for important issues within Neptune Township. It is critical that all citizens in Neptune Township be treated with equity and fairness!

Beach Access: Ocean Grove’s beach is the only beach in Neptune Township. It is closed on Sunday mornings, unlike other beaches. According to the Public Trust Doctrine and Green Acres Funding, beach access is permitted even when the beach is “closed.” Neptune United members have been accessing the beach on Sunday mornings for several weeks, peacefully and respectfully.

Boswell Park: The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association recently placed a large sign in Boswell Park commemorating Reverend Boswell, the President of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association in the 1920s when the Ku Klux Klan (the KKK) was invited to speak in the Great Auditorium. Neptune United aired its serious concerns to Neptune Township, who maintains that particular park. The KKK was and continues to be a despicable hate organization, and supporters should not commemorated.

Neptune United advocates for the rights of the diverse populations of Neptune Township. Let’s all work together to make certain that all people are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve!

Aliza Greenblatt

Ocean Grove

(Note: emphasis added here for ease of reading.)