Dear Friends,
At last night’s City Council meeting, I reported that the administration is prepared to commission a study on constructing a parking deck in Ocean City. This comes at the request of council members and Boardwalk and downtown business owners.
Until we get an idea of what it might cost, where it might be built, and what it might earn, it’s impossible to know if this should be a priority among our infrastructure needs. As always, we will gather the facts first.
In the meantime, our Community Services Department is continuing to work to bring back a reliable shuttle system for the summer season.
The routes would connect points across the length of the island to the beach, Boardwalk and downtown, and the OCNJ app would allow waiting riders to track the location of the shuttles.
We conducted an economic development study in 2019, and visitors identified car-free transportation as one of their top recommendations for Ocean City.
Our annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration will be at noon Monday at the Ocean City Music Pier. I want to encourage everybody to attend.
This year we will honor Drena Garrett, Michael Hartman and Bill McGinnity with our Community Service awards, and we’ll give a shout-out to last year’s winners: Kathy Thompson, Jennifer Bowman and Mike Morrissey.
Intermediate School students Nolan Arceo, Sydney Halliday, Sarah McAlister and Borana Bixha will read their winning essays.
The Rev. Marcia Stanford will offer a welcome and prayer, and the Rev. Gregory Johnson will deliver his version of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
The event always brings the community together, and we’ll have a luncheon from Chef Charles for everybody after the ceremony ends. I hope to see you all on Monday.
Look for the bridge lights to turn green in support of the Eagles. I know the odds are against us, but wouldn’t it be great to beat Brady again?
Finally, Michele and I would like to send our thoughts and prayers to the family of Sea Isle City Mayor Len Desiderio, who lost his father this week.
The Desiderio family have been leaders in the community throughout Sea Isle City and Cape May County.
Visitation will be 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18 at the Godfrey Funeral Home in Palermo and 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19 at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Sea Isle City, followed by a funeral Mass at 12 p.m.
Warm regards,
Mayor Jay A. Gillian
