Dear Editor,
So now we the taxpayers will hire a lobbyist ( or is it a den of lobbyists) to do in the Mayor's words 'work to find a site for the dredge spoils and assist in the permit process once that is done.'
Since this preliminary lobbying fee is a mere $55K Mr. Devligger sees it as simply an " experiment." No matter that if our " lobbyist experiment" is successful then public tax dollars are on the hook for $20 million +.
Mr. Hartzel commented " that's the way to play the game" or some such words of an old fashioned cynical politician.
We are to be reassured that 'our' lobbyists have connections with Federal & State elected and appointed officials.
It is our tax dollars that are being used by our Mayor and Council to try and change environmental law for the benefit of a small minority of Yachters by undoing Environmental regulations. This runs counter to the interests of the public and businesses in Ocean City.
Perhaps it is "the way the game is played" in the USA. We see this in our Legal System- guilty unless rich.
Most decent Americans are disgusted by the corrupt way things operate in America today. Now we the taxpayers in OC are accomplices and I find it personally disgusting.
Who are the Mayor and Council serving: the small minority of Yachters or the Ocean City public and business interests? Are not environmental laws made to protect the public interest? Obviously OC government sees it differently!
In the words of that 'wise political philosopher' Donald Trump: "I have had some lobbyists and I've had some very good ones. They could do anything."
Too bad the citizens of Ocean City who are under constant threat of flooding can't afford a phalanx of Lobbyists to address their concerns. In a just society their concerns would 'Trump' those of yachters!
Sincerely yours,
Steven Fenichel, MD
