Categories
bayshore recovery

An urgent summer request from Baysave

We are very close to reopening a number of community support programs after several years of shutdown:
– Redesigned boat launch
– Boat and kayak rental
– Emergency boat services
– Educational programs
– Oyster shell recycling
But we’ve simply run out of recovery funds and need to ask for your support to raise $12,000 to get us past this last financial barrier to reopen services this month.

Baysave took over the public programs after the business at Money Island Marina closed in 2019. The current regulatory and legal environment makes many of these important services unsustainable by a private business and so long term public involvement is required. Permanent solutions probably will not happen until later this decade. We estimate 2030. Meanwhile, Baysave is trying to keep alive the basic services like docks, boat launch, boat and kayak rentals, bait and ice, and educational tours. We’ve taken our recovery efforts as far as we could without external support. We are now very close to being able to reopen programs to the public, but now out of funds to get us past that last barrier.

You probably know that the past few years have been difficult for us. Most of the key people in our community from before the Covid era are no longer with us. Our small community suffered an unusually high rate of death and disability. Those who survived still lost months of work time in recovery. Meanwhile, local people out of work spurred an unprecedented rash of crime, stealing and looting items from the closed buildings and work yards here. The financial aid that helped other business communities recover never arrived here.

Storm Isaias during the Covid shutdown caused more physical damage to the marina facilities than any other storm, including Sandy. Since this was likely a localized disaster, no source of recovery funds was available. We’ve made progress each month and the important major infrastructure is now rebuilt or planned for reconstruction. We lifted the boathouse, raised the road, upgraded the water well system and electrical services, and completed many smaller projects.

We were forced to invest in increased security protections before attempting to replace the stolen equipment. Next week Baysave will implement new AI-assisted technology to help deter illegal harvesting at restorative aquaculture sites here. This technology is expensive to install and requires a monthly monitoring contract, so we need to expand ongoing revenues from rentals and boat launch use to sustain this protection. Finally, we need to cover the cost of liability insurance that is increasingly difficult to find at an affordable price for a small operation like ours. But we have some new options as soon as funds are available.

Your generous donation can help us get past this final obstacle to reopening services immediately this month.

Baysave is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation registered with the State of New Jersey. Our web site is Baysave.org. Donations can be mare online though https://paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2054623, or in person. Contact Tony Novak, controller, at 856-237-9199 with any questions.

Categories
bayshore Money Island New Jersey sustainability

Trouble at the shore

I am posting this reluctantly because of the danger of racial stereotyping. But we are dumbfounded to explain why more than 4 out of 5 cars of visitors to Money Island this summer season (excluding residents, workers and government vehicles) are Asians from Pennsylvania. We’ve been tracking the state source of traffic based on video license plate data at the suggestion of a regional business development group since the spring. I prepare compilations of random sample traffic data in an attempt to quantify the total traffic and the trends. The original idea was that we might use increased traffic data to request additional state funding. However, the project seems to be back-firing on us as we’ve uncovered so much illegal or controversial use. I am on site daily and do interact with or at least see most visitors. A significant portion of these visitors seem to not understand English language. This complicates the issue. The transformation of visitor demographics and behavior came suddenly and unexpectedly.

While most visitors are good guests, some cause problems either intentionally or unintentionally. At a basic level, the state has not responded to requests to supervise their adjacent property, install trash containers or portable potties. The township and county have not responded to requests to replace road signs (like no parking on bridges) town down in severe weather. We’ve offered funding for replacement signs but still no response from local government. I’ve been physically assaulted by troublemakers twice in the past year here. One of those instances was when I was breaking up a house robbery. I’ve also reached a point of frustration with those who apparently do not speak or read English, thereby providing an excuse to ignore my verbal requests (like do not park blocking construction equipment), ignore the private property signs at the commercial spaces, and ignore a range of other ordinances – not just seafood harvest rules. The original community concerns focused on harvesting of illegal fish, crabs and oysters. But it’s gone far beyond that Fish and Wildlife issue. Apparently the troublemakers also have no reservation about dumping their trash and pooping in the open on the beach. I am not exaggerating when I say that it seems impossible for such a small number of people to dump so much fast food trash. In former years the primary trash on our rural beaches was beer cans an bottles apparently from local visitors. Now the trash is almost all fast food containers brought in be the long distance visitors. Police are not useful in this situation; that’s a whole different issue. Again, it’s only a minority of the visitors who cause problems.

This year I tried a program to allow guests who identify themselves and ask for permission to use my property. But today I lost my temper with a group who has strewn fast food litter all over the property, helped themselves to my fishing and crabbing equipment and pretended to not understand what I was saying (although later one did communicate in English). It’s disturbing. This weekend the problems worsened. Yesterday one of the Asian visitors tried to con me in a crab business deal in a text message conversation. In another unrelated incident Saturday, I reported an attempted financial crime (apparently some type of bank check fraud) to state police and they declined to get involved. I didn’t fall for either of the con game attempts but it was disturbing that this is happening when it never happened before. Overall, the strategy of being a good host for visitors seems to be failing.

I know that the respectful Asian guests are embarrassed by the few bad apples and they are aware of the risks they face in racial stereotyping. Two of the Asian guests are now friends who have been coming here for a long time. I plan to ask their advice this week since they seem to have insight into some of the possibly cultural issues. But at this point I’m leaning toward cutting off all property access except to owners, their guests, and Baysave members. Any other suggestions are welcome but we will not tolerate any discussion that is based on racial profiling or an “us vs. them” mentality.

UPDATE 7/21/2021: In the days following this original post I sought additional comment and advice from multiple sources. One Asian professional friend whose opinion I respect and value in past instances confirmed that much of what I report is a cultural issue and he clarifies this is different from a racial issue. This adviser plus a couple other Asian friends say that disrespect for the environment is actually a cultural thing in Asian countries and that it carries over to some of our country’s Asian people. While almost all of my cultural peers would be ashamed to dump trash on the roadside, apparently some in this culture are not. An example came up in conversation: overharvesting of small crabs was told to be commonplace in Asia (but I did not attempt to verify this outside of our conversation). Another Asian professional friend shows his personal embarrassment with the issue but offers no solutions except the phrase “a few bad apples”. We are all clear to point out that he problem is not limited to Asian visitors. It just happens that hey make up the majority of visitors this year. The primary local Division of Fish and Wildlife officer is clearly aware of the issue and we apparently share similar reservations. I exchanged text messages with our mayor but have not spoken yet. A county official offered empathy but no suggestions. Yesterday my one neighbor and I picked up a tremendous amount of trash from the one block in front of our houses. It filled up two construction bags; more than we’ve ever seen here before. The majority of the trash is fast food containers: Wawa, Burger King, Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts, etc. My neighbor complained to me that his family is disgusted by the smell of human urine and feces on what used to be a pristine beach. Then

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, last evening Lance and I took a walk down Bayview Road, something that we usually do each day but stopped when this recent heat wave came. The amount of trash on the roadside and beach is more than I have ever seen before. There is additional beach erosion from vehicles getting stuck in the sand at two places. It really made me sad and angry that the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection purchased this beach and then did not take care of it and allowed our formerly beautiful pristine neighborhood to deteriorate to such a wrecked conditions. Late last night the security system showed that there was an additional trespasser on the boat yard who bypassed security barriers. I have had time to inspect for signs of theft
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, trash or damage yet. I’ve not made any decision on a course of action yet but am inclined to revoke all free access to our properties; limiting only to owners, members and their guests. That won’t help address the problem of those who trespass or those who trash the adjacent state properties
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, so we’ve made no decisions yet. I simply do not have the money required for upgraded live security (as we had for so many years when Bruce was alive). There is a possibility of increased automated security: drones, floodlights, sirens, etc. But that would be more expensive than Baysave can handle right now. We discussed the possibility of volunteers watching the properties. That seems unlikely from a practical perspective. We will continue to look for additional options.

Categories
bayshore climate change Delaware Bay Money Island New Jersey

May 2020 sets global high temperature records

May 2020 was the warmest month of May on record 1 with global temperature records going back to 1880, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Of the 140 years of records, all ten of the warmest Mays have been in recent years. While it didn’t feel especially warm locally

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, most of unseasonably warm atmosphere and water this year was felt in Asia.

Locally here on both sides of the Delaware Bay coastline it felt like a cold, wet and windy month. We were wearing winter coats outside into the beginning of the 4th week of May. Other signs in nature, like annual crab migration, wild and agricultural plant germination and marsh grass growth, indicated a delayed or slower month of May than we’ve seen in other recent years.

A male osprey perched near the couple’s nest on May 12 , 2020. The meadow is still a brown color because the new growth of marsh grass is not yet grown.

1 Actually May 2020 is reported tied with May 2016 as the warmest months of May on record

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Categories
bayshore sustainable redevelopment

Thanks to local businesses for help and advice!

A huge thanks to Seth Goldstein, Michele Harris and Joel Payton for generously offering their time yesterday for an impromptu master mind brainstorming session. Also thanks to the always amazing Ashley Owens standing in as coordinator for Powermatch to pull it together. We met on Zoom for an hour Friday morning to bounce around ideas for the re-opening of Baysave’s activities at Money Island, NJ (moneyislandmarina.com) in rural Cumberland County NJ. These ‘pop-up’ strategy sessions are just one of the many benefits of being a PowerMatch member. Obviously recent events have rocked our world but we see opportunities as well as challenges ahead.

Seth Goldstein run’s Goldstein Media (https://goldsteinmedia.com/)

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, an influential small business in Doylestown Pennsylvania (my old hometown). His down-to-earth practical approach to marketing has always impressed me. His advice yesterday was spot-on.

Michele Harris runs Harris Investigations (https://www.harrisinvestigations.net/). Her ambition and managerial accomplishments are renowned. At this point, I’m just waiting for her firm to announce worldwide expansion. Michele has always been a great resource for no-nonsense advice.

Joel Payton is an insurance broker (https://paytonagency.com/) who developed a niche in regional farms and rural businesses and is now building a practice in Medicare related protection. He’s helped me many times; and god knows that my insurance issues are never easy!

Ashley Owens runs Ashley Assists (https://www.ashleyassists.com/). She’s the very definition of effectiveness and executive skill. (So much so that she sometimes intimidates me).

Powermatch (https://www.powermatchonline.com/) is originally Philadelphia area based organization that is now growing nationally. Powermatch

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, IMO, is the best in the industry at helping small business people to develop remote relationships. I’ve developed many great relationships through my long term membership. I’m proud to call it’s founder Sara Rosenberg a long time friend and adviser and wish her the best during this sudden unplanned period of homeschooling.

Just two more mentions: Norristown super-attorney Jim Monaghan (https://norristownbankruptcylawyers.com/) and painter extraordinaire Dan Collins (http://dancollinspainting.com/), both supporters of the marina community, spoke with me at length in telephone conversations this past week offering their help and advice. I’m grateful to all these successful small business owners.

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Categories
bayshore crowdfunding environmental justice

Xspero network now includes 120 South Jersey businesses! Please join

Last year Baysave became joined as an Xspero charity beneficiary and promoter after introduction through the Millville Chamber of Commerce and the Vineland Chamber of Commerce. In short, Xpero is a cell phone based service that promotes local businesses and financially supports local nonprofit organizations. I found that Xspero is a great business with strong people and a great concept. But I suspected that it would take them a long time to reach ‘critical mass’. Yesterday Xpero announced that their network has grown to 120 local merchants. We see that many of our local favorite merchants are included.

Baysave is pleased to be an Xspero affiliated charity

We are asking you to please do two things:

  1. Download the Xspero app on your phone and name Baysave as your designated charity.
  2. Check out the list of merchants and make a $25 purchase on your phone in advance of your visit.

This was their email announcement yesterday:

“XsperoTM is growing everyday thanks to supporters like you! We now have more than 120 south jersey businesses in the Xspero Network!

Don’t forget to shop within the Xspero Network, because 20% of your Xspero purchases goes to Baysave Corporation!

Finding new favorite restaurants, salons, auto mechanics, and more are an added bonus to making purchases you can feel good about!

Check out our updated list of great Xspero Merchants below and don’t forget to turn your phone’s notifications to on and your location sensor to always allow in order to get reminders to use Xspero when you’re at or near one of these excellent local merchants!

Check your Xspero app for new merchants often!”

Merchant Address Town
The Piccolo Cafe 3569 E Landis Ave Vineland
Pizza Queen 1383 South Main Road Vineland
Golden Palace Diner 2623 S Delsea Dr. Vineland
Outlaws Burger Barn & Creamery 1370 S Main Rd Vineland
Health Foods Plus, LLC 502 E. Landis Ave #B Vineland
Vann Auto Group 899 South Delsea Drive Vineland
Salon Millennium 1881 S Delsea Dr Vineland
Wall Pro Paint 2832 Dante Ave Vineland
Anny & Melissa Multi Services LLC 541 E. Landis Ave Vineland
South Jersey Landscape Supply 1363 South Delsea Drive Vineland
Pure Aire 920 N. Delsea Drive Vineland
South Jersey Shirts 2242 S. Delsea Drive Vineland
Parrish Sign Co., Inc. 2242 S. Delsea Drive Vineland
Maplewood III of Vineland 200 N. Delsea Drive Vineland
Main Auto LLC 2515 S. Main Road Vineland
BH Furniture 585 N. Delsea Dr. Vineland
Merighi’s Savoy Inn 4940 Landi Ave Vineland
Mary’s Hallmark 3600 E. Landis Ave, Ste 16 Vineland
The Greenview Inn @ Eastlyn Golf Course 4049 Italia Ave Vineland
Al’s Shoes 639 E Landis Ave Vineland
Back To The Juicer 714 E. Landis Ave Vineland
Brass Frog Photography 742 E. Landis Ave #1 Vineland
T & F Camera Shop 1362 S. Delsea Dr. Vineland
Juvante Formal Wear 735 East Landis Avenue Vineland
Budget Muffler and Car Care Center 4 N. 8th Street Vineland
Five Points Tuckahoe Rd & Landis Ave Vineland
Tri City Products 2192 S. Delsea Dive Vineland
Cilantro Mexican Restaurant 523 E. Landis Ave Vineland
Salon Fabrojae’ 782 Brewester Rd Vineland
DNS Solutions 2898 S. Main Road Vineland
Anytime Fitness 301 S Main Rd Ste D5 Vineland
Steven L Rasner DMD 2106 W Landis Ave Vineland
Dominick’s Pizza 1768 S. Lincoln Ave Vineland
Dusharms Pro Footwear Inc 8 N. Main Rd Vineland
Uncle’s Garage 1016 S. Delsea Drive Vineland
Diamonds & Design 1181 E. Landis Ave, 1183 Vineland
Peace Love Yoga 3722 E. Landis Ave Vineland
Eagle Mobile Electronics 759 N. Delsea Drive Vineland
Bagel University 1406 S Main Rd Ste 3 Vineland
LaTorre Hardware 1607 S. Delsea Dr. Vineland
The Spot 618 E. Landis Avenue Vineland
Tuckahoe Bike Shop 2151 Rte 50 Woodbine
D & M Discount Fuels 49 Remsterville Rd Woodstown
Matteo Kitchens 20 Old Salem Rd Woodstown
Morroni Custom Clothing 138 Gentry Drive Swedesboro
Sal’s Coal Fire Pizza 501 N New Road Somers Point
Suffolk Stables 1418 Old Indian Mills Road Shamong
Mathnasium Math Learning Center 141 Tuckahoe Road Sewell
Educational Technology Professionals, LLC Salem
Lisa’s Place 957 Main St. – Canton Rd Salem
Tuckahoe Bike Shop 2151 Rte 50 Woodbine
Niblocks Pork Shop 94 Quinton Marlboro Rd Quinton
Forty Embroidery & Design LLC 389 Harding Highway, Ste 8 Pittsgrove
The Find Shops 1207 U.S. 40 Pilesgrove
Sharon Kay Flooring Concepts 194 N. Broadway Pennsville
Preferred Termite & Pest Control 194 N. Broadway #2 Pennsville
Upper Sandwiches 1222 Route 9 South Palermo
Route 50 Trading Post 67 Route 50 Ocean View
Teresa D’s Bruncheonette 3075 North Route 9 Ocean View
Abella Salon & Spa 601 E 9th St Ocean City
La Cucina Ristorante 1205 Tilton Road Northfield
The Honey Tree 331 Tilton Road Northfield
Naomi’s Cafe 801 Tilton Road Northfield
Cedar Rose Vineyards 431 Kenyon Ave Millville
Bogarts Bookstore & Cafe 103 N. High Street Millville
Colonial Flowers 311 N. High Street Millville
Mike F Business 600 G Street Millville
Positivly Parties 1101 Cedar Street Millville
Andrea Trattoria 16 North High Street Millville
Darryl Barnett Photography 336 Reick Ave Millville
Philly Pretzel Factory – Millville 2132 North Second Street Millville
El Guacamole 110 N. High Street Millville
Old Oar House Irish Pub 123 N. High Street Millville
Wildflower Vegan Cafe 501 N. High Street Millville
BJ Roasters 233 N. High St Millville
Millville Nutrition 10 E. Main Street

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Pampered Pup Luxury Pet Resort 2709 Mays Landing Road Millville
Pets Plus 4450 E Black Horse Mays Landing
Shore Clean Auto Care Center 452 Route 9 South Marmora
Ernest and Son Sub Shop 2110 New Road Linwood
Tacocat 2110 New Road Linwood
BC Hair Salon 203 W Delaware Ave Landisville
Reyes and Shine Office Space 240 S White Horse Pike Hammonton
Erco Interior Systems 32 N. Delsea Drive Glassboro
Games on the Go 116 Green Ave Glassboro
South Jersey Florist & Gifts 191 S New York Road Galloway
4 A Star 75 Iroquois Drive Galloway
McGettigan’s 19th Hole Tavern 500 South New York Road Galloway
Atlantic County Harley-Davidson 219 East Whitehorse Pike Galloway
Highland Carpet 1736 Dutch Mill Road Franklinville
Triple Oaks Nursery & Florist 2359 Delsea Drive Franklinville
Elmer Door Company 465 Rt.40 Elmer
Joe’s Butcher Shop 711 Gershal Ave Elmer
The New Dodges Market 55 Chestnut St Elmer
Voros Plumbing & Heating Supply P.O. Box 789 Elmer
Fred Harz & Son, Inc 26 Chestnut St. Elmer
Stir it Up 6825 Tilton Road Egg Harbor Township
Atlantic City Sub Shops 6825 Tilton Rd Egg Harbor Township
Your Chiropractor Inc. 6825 Tilton Road Egg Harbor Township
Deltona Tires 6700 Black Horse Pike Egg Harbor Township
Viet Pho 1500 Almonesson Rd Deptford
SEK Productions 1920 Kennet Ct. Cherry Hill
Music Stop 1027 Route 9 South Cape May Court House
Jarett Mutts Photography LLC Camden
Sidelines East Sports Bar 1202 Tuckahoe Rd Buena Vista
Richland General Store 1275 Harding Highway Buena Vista
The Pickwickian Tavern & Smokery 1252 Harding Highwa Buena Vista
Bellview Winery 150 Atlantic street Buena
Muncie Restaurant and Bar 528 N. Harding Hwy Buena
Cordivari’s Restaurant 3004 W Brigantine Ave Brigantine
Lairsons Electronics 1036 N. Pearl Street Bridgeton
Kat’s Kreations 2 Cassidy Court Bridgeton
Russell’s Automotive Sales & Service Center 712 Landis Avenue Bridgeton
Everfresh Salads 2 Cassidy Court Bridgeton
Dutch Country Meats 2 Cassidy Ct Bridgeton
Giovanni’s Collision Center & Recovery 531 E Commerce St, Bridgeton
D – Lee’s Deli & Cheese 2 Casside Ct. Bridgeton
Dusty’s Custom Auto Detailing 875 N. Pearl St Bridgeton
Tommy’s Auto Repair 875 N. Pearl St. Bridgeton
Atlantic City Cruises 800 N New Hampshire Ave Ste 6 Atlantic City
Vagabond Kitchen & Tap House 672 N. Trenton Avenue Atlantic City
Categories
bayshore Delaware Bay environmental justice New Jersey

Resist!

“Resist much. Obey little”. – Walt Whitman

“Resist much. Obey little.”

It’s now been more than 30 years since I first learned firsthand the impact of government corruption

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, bribery, extortion and plainly bad policy execution on the deteriorated Delaware Bay shore communities. I was living and working in Ocean City, New Jersey and has some initial success is environmental justice issues in our neglected communities on the east coast by building relationships and educating elected officials on relevant issues. A property owner at the bayshore wondered if I could have the same impact here. So now it’s been more tha15 years since I’ve actively worked for better environmental policy in Cumberland County on the west coast of New Jersey. I have no positive results to show for it. I was diverted and pushed into working with federal and state law enforcement investigators instead by reporting crimes, the resulting death threats and even the investigation of a failed attempt to shut me up through attempted murder. As far as I know, none of those crimes has been prosecuted. We hear that a book is coming out soon that covers some of the wild adventure.

Baysave has accomplished much thanks to the generous support of the community. Yet our overall effectiveness was slash at the knees by disingenuous government actors that caused us to lose more time and money to fighting hostile government actions than we could have done if we worked together. By my estimate, the State of New Jersey could have purchased the entirety of Money Island at a lower cost than they will spend fighting against us and limiting the role of other agencies and environmental groups here. It is shocking, maddening, illogical, inefficient and wasteful of public resources.

Meanwhile, over the past six difficult years “Leaves of Grass” has become my most often read and cited source of literature as a source of inspiration. This week I am reminded that little has changed here in our world. There is still evidence that high-powered greed empowered by government controls us. The incidents of government bad behavior in the past month were dizzying and are still confusing. But I’m still here spreading the word; perhaps a bit more selectively than in the old days. Only by speaking up do we have any possibility of escaping the pattern of rich politically-connected individuals trodding down the rights of the majority citizens who call this place home.

Here is the full text of “To the States” by Walt Whitman in Leaves of Grass:

“To the States or any one of them

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, or any city of the States, Resist 
much, obey little, Once unquestioning obedience

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, once fully enslaved, Once fully enslaved, no nation, state, city of this earth, ever after-
ward resumes its liberty. “

Categories
bayshore government history Money Island

A history of NJ environmental injustice

This is a draft copy of part 2 of a two part response to a request for comments to the environmental justice executive order 23 issued by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. The final compiled and submitted comment is available here.


Statement of Tony Novak

, Money Island, New Jersey

I’ve had an unfortunate history of exposure to environmental injustice by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and, more recently, the New Jersey Attorney General’s office. The purpose of this writing is to supplement a verbal statement I gave on March 11 at a Listening Session focused on Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 23 on environmental justice. My stories below offer timely comment in response to the “Environmental Justice Executive Order No. 23 Guidance” that says (emphasis added):

New Jersey’s low-income communities and communities of color have been exposed to disproportionately high and unacceptably dangerous levels of air, water, and soil pollution, with the accompanying potential for increased public health impacts. In addition, E.O. 23 recognized that communities that are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation often face other serious problems beyond environmental issues, including health risks and housing challenges”.

The Guidance cites the EPA definition of “fair treatment”:

“Fair treatment” means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or policies. The examples listed below clearly show that the state has not met this standard of fair treatment. My examples show how the NJDEP is placing an unjust and impossible burden of compliance on the people most damaged by climate change effects at a time when we are least able to raise the funds necessary for legal representation to address these attacks and to meet the state’s expensive land use permitting fees.

The location of all of the examples is Money Island, Downe Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey, a small rural community noted in the Department of Community Affairs’ Municipal Revitalization Index as a low income and otherwise disadvantage community.

This listing of  examples of environmental injustice intentionally omits names, dates, site references and case numbers. Those details have already been provided to appropriate investigators.

Rejected bribe attempt

My first unfortunate exposure to NJDEP injustice began in 2010 when a woman who did not know me came to my house to dispute the verbal instructions I was given by other NJDEP officials and our local building inspector. I was fixing a broken dock and bulkhead. A short time later, maybe 2-3 weeks, a man came who obviously knew who I was said he could fix it with a direct payment to him. I reasoned that there was no way he could no of my predicament without ‘inside’ connection to the NJDEP person who visited me earlier. He specifically said that he represented the NJDEP and that the payment must be in cash. He did not give an amount that I was supposed to pay. I recognized it as a bribe and said that I would have no part in that scheme. A neighbor later told me that he was facing the same type of attempted bribe solicitation. That combination of interactions led to my application for a “Zane exemption” to avoid the need for permitting. That application was eventually denied, several years later, for the implausible reason that me and all my six neighbors moved our bulkheads from their original position. Our former State Senator wrote a letter asking the NJDEP commissioner to open a line of communication to negotiate this misunderstanding. I challenged the plain lack of credibility of the NJDEP excuse with a higher level official. He did not dispute my points said he would get back to me. He never did. He was then transferred to another job and says this matter is no longer in his jurisdiction. Over the years I’ve told the story of attempted bribery to many people in government and law enforcement. Almost no one seems surprised and nobody ever offered to take any action.

NJDEP entrapment

The second disastrous integration came in 2012-2013 in the month before and after superstorm Sandy. I made a written proposal for the state to acquire land that I proposed to buy from a bankruptcy trustee for transfer to the state at my inherent cost. I saw this proposal as a way where the state might acquire open space property at a lower than market price and I might be able to recover what the former owners owed me that I wouldn’t otherwise recover in the bankruptcy. Officially the proposal was under consideration but in private verbal communications the NJDEP officials gave every indication that the proposal would be successful. The state kept the offer open for about five years before declining interest in the properties. They declined interest in the properties on the same day that they notified me of their intent to prosecute Baysave for violations on the properties offered. I referred to this as “NJDEP entrapment” in later court filings.

Participation with US attorney’s investigation

Following superstorm Sandy there were a handful of investigations of credible accusations of government fraud. A neighbor said that he was working with a US attorney from New York and asked if I would give a supporting statement. I gave an interview by telephone but never received interrogatories, a subpoena or anything else in writing related to this. The interview focused on an earlier death threat I received that claimed to be from a government official. I told the investigating attorney of the death threats I received, I gave her the caller ID where the one telephone threat, and indicated how they could verify my report with an earlier NJ state police report. I never heard anything more except that my neighbor said the US attorney decided to not prosecute the case “because there was not enough money involved”.

Ignoring erosion and altered water flow risk

From 2004 until 2014 I was involved as a citizen in the planning of a bulkhead intended to save our community from sea level rise. The original engineering plans were modified around 2015 “because we didn’t have the money”

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, according to the project engineer. A different private engineer said the altered plans would have devastating erosion effect on the adjacent properties (my properties) due to increased water flow past the adjacent property. I expressed my concerns in a formal timely comment on the project submitted to NJDEP. Initially the project engineer offered to add some features to mitigate the damage of the altered project design. Later he told me that he that a superior in government prohibited from speaking to me. NJDEP never answered the erosion risk inquiries that I submitted by certified mail and follow up telephone calls. The visible damage in 2017 and 2018 resulting from this lack of appropriate project risk management is shocking to those who have lived here for many years.

Manipulated water quality report

In 2014 the NJDEP issued an odd local water quality report. Having an educational background in natural sciences and some aspects of this water testing field, I recognized the testing methods as scientifically unsound. The preliminary issued report was loaded with factual errors. It appeared to be more political propaganda than science. I spoke with the report’s author several times who promised to discuss the matter after the final report was published. I arranged an interview for the scientist with a local reporter. The scientist then said he was forbidden from talking to me or any reporter about the false water quality report. Downe Township later hired its own researchers to oppose the obviously bad findings of the state’s report.

Denial of arbitration

NJDEP launched a series of ‘notice of violation’ complaints against properties owned by Baysave (later owned by me). Some of the complaints are valid and some are errors. Several people inside and outside of government told me that these matters are typically resolved through arbitration. I made a formal application for arbitration. The NJDEP denied my application for arbitration. The NJDEP official who runs the arbitration process said this was the first time in her long tenure that the state had denied an arbitration hearing. I do not know the reason that

Ganging up with the Attorney General

The NJDEP is using the virtually unlimited manpower, budget and legal muscle of the state’s Attorney General to bully me nd make it impossible to fight their past misdeeds and false claims. In late 2018 the NJDEP and the Attorney General teamed up to close our businesses because I did not have the money to advance pending land use permit applications. As a result, the six or several water-based small businesses that operated from our property are now closed. We were financially ravaged by superstorm Sandy and have not yet recovered. The timeline demanded for payment of legal permitting costs demanded by the Attorney General are impossible.  We all agree that we all want the same outcome – full compliance with all land use permit regulations – but we disagree on the consequences of that process taking longer than the state demands. I am using this story as a textbook case of environmental injustice; bad behavior by government against its most vulnerable people.

Denial of participation in related programs

NJ Clean Marina Program – In 2014 I took a lead role in engaging local residents, business owners and visitors to participate in New Jersey’s Green Marina Program. It was important to our educational mission to change the culture and thinking of the local waterfront community to be more aware of environmental issues. It took about two years and cost Baysave and its neighbors about $3,500 to complete the program that transformed our local operations. At the completion of the final inspection, the program administrator told me they “had run out of funding” and could not certify us under the program. Two years later he admitter privately that an unnamed NJDEP oficial blocked our participation.

New Jersey Sea Grant Pump Out Station Program – The most basic need of humans in a waterfront community is a wastehandling system. In 2013 we patnered with professional firms firm to design a waste handling system like those used at similar marinas. We had trouble getting final approval to construct the system. In 2017 the program administrator admitted that NJDEP official blocked the approval but declined to name the official who took this action.

No response from state executives

I’ve personally made calls, emails, web forms and letters to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General asking for a opportunity to address these concerns of unjust actions by state officials. None of my communications have been answered.


I am asking the Governor of the State of New Jersey to “call off the dogs” of hostile legal action by the Attorney General against the state’s most vulnerable citizens, a community noted as a low income outlier in the Department of Community Affairs’ Municipal Revitalization Index, struggling with the devastating effects of climate change. Instead, we should resolve this through negotiation. I am asking the NJDEP to come to the negotiating table ready to discuss sources of financial resources and a realistic timetable to reach the end result that we all want: full compliance with all land use regulations. This is a solvable issue. There is no need for the state to be ruining lives and businesses simply because of the slow pace of post-Sandy economic recovery here at Money Island. It is wrong and unjust for the state to treat those of us who contribute so much to the long term sustainability our environment as common criminals simply because we lack the financial resources to immediately meet state land use requirements.

Tony Novak

Baysave

March 22, 2019

Categories
bayshore climate change New Jersey sustainability

Goodbye Bayview Road

Tomorrow my neighbors’ houses on Bayview Road at Money Island NJ will be torn down by a state contractor. Hardly a day goes by when someone doesn’t ask me “Why?” Yet even with as many times as I had to respond to this question, I still don’t have a neat concise answer. More disturbing, I don’t have an answer that I really believe. Some former homeowners here would say they were unable to handle the high costs associated with rising water levels. Others, like our mayor, call it “NJDEP terrorism” as the state threatened massive fines against us without offering any source of funds to address the new environmental challenges. At least a few of my former neighbors would say they were just scared away by what they saw happening around them.

I still wonder about the thought process that went into my neighbors’ thinking about selling and moving out that caused them to act differently when negotiating with the state compared to what they told me in person when we talked last. I was surprised  and apparently the local government was equally surprised that 100% of the neighbors across the bridge elected to sell their properties. The overall buyout completion rate is 80%

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, according to NJ Blue Acres office, indicating that normally a few houses remain after a buyout. It might have had to do with the bridge itself that was badly corroded and appeared to be collapsing prior to the buyouts. Ironically, the bridge repair and seawall construction were completed after the buyouts were planned.

No doubt this is am emotional and sad time for many. Looking at the photos, I think of the happy times I’ve had as a guest in many of these neighbors houses in earlier times.  I also think of the few neighbors who later blamed me for causing the state to acquire these houses.  I try to not think too much about the bizarre events that led to death threats and even an attempt on my life by an angry neighbor and a politician for my role in trying to preserve this community.

After tomorrow only two houses will be left on Bayview road. My home office is one of the two and this site is proposed as a research/educational facility for the future. The only reason these two properties were spared the devastating impact of higher and more violent wave action is because we are protected by a half million dollar sea wall, sand berms, and more sturdy pilings that elevate the buildings.

Many other questions come up at a time like this. Is the state’s strategic retreat policy sound? (Surely we can’t afford to relocate our entire New Jersey coastal population inland!)  Will we be besieged by another round of ‘disaster tourists’ after the tear downs (like after Sandy)?  Or will the area’s use as a nature preserve bring positive change? Will the state step up it’s legal harassment against the two remaining homeowners?  How will we cope with wilder wetter weather and the flooding ahead? What physical accommodations will be necessary to accommodate higher water levels and more damaging erosion?  Will my floating barge-based infrastructure construction designs  gradually become accepted under state regulations or will  I continue to clash with the older dry land building codes? We just do not know the answers to these questions yet.

We do know that the future of Money Island is bright. It is the region’s second most productive seafood landing port. The local seafood industry is now entering a significant growth phase based on new technology and changing water conditions. Money Island remains an important research and recreational spot. Millions of dollars are being spent here to sustain and redevelop the area in a sustainable future.

We also know that we won’t be the last residential community to grapple with these strategic retreat questions related to the removal of homes. I just wish we weren’t among the first to have to figure out where to go from here.

Categories
bayshore New Jersey sustainability

NJ building code change applies to bay structures

In March of 2018 the Uniform Construction Code was modified to exempt many types of minor work from permitting requirements. This is important because many bay structures do not qualify for building permits. Find the details here.

This change in building permit requirements does not affect other laws like CAFRA and NJDEP requirements.

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Categories
aquaculture bayshore blue claw crabs Money Island

Tuesday October 30 grant ceremony

For immediate release
Contact: Tony Novak, 856-237-9199

CRAB INDUSTRY REVITALIZATION GRANT CEREMONY TUESDAY OCT. 30

Baysave is pleased to announce that a grant ceremony will be held Tuesday October 30

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, 2018, 11:00 at Money Island, New Jersey to present a check from New Jersey Community Capital THRIVE grant. The grant is focused on revitalizing the local blue claw crab industry. The press release from the donor is posted here.

Money Island, located on the bayshore in Cumberland County, is New Jersey’s second most productive seafood landing port. The tiny working waterfront community is struggling for survival under government-imposed costs in the midst of ongoing regional economic depression. Climate-related events, including massive costs from superstorm Sandy recovery, further hurt the recovery of the local seafood industry.

The Delaware Bay blue claw crab population is healthy yet about half of the 312 commercial crab licenses issued by the State of New Jersey are underutilized. Many licensed crabbers are not happy with current economic opportunities so they stay off the water. Baysave proposed establishing a shared use physical facility for the landing, storage and processing of crabs by independent harvesters as well as helping to organize a watermen’s cooperative to improve the marketing and business operations of crabbers to increase their bottom line.

The majority of the grant award will be used for state permitting costs. While the local industry has been in operation for more than seven decades, none of the docks or supporting infrastructure, have ever been permitted by authorities. “New Jersey has a ‘one size fits all’ fee schedule for land use permitting that works well in the northern part of the state but has been impossible for the economically deprived bayshore region. The permitting costs exceed the land value here. Only now are some of the region’s largest seafood companies beginning to tackle this expensive legal requirement” says Tony Novak, CPA Controller for Baysave.  By having a fully permitted crab landing and storage facility for smaller independent crabbers, Novak expects that more investment will then be available for crab processing

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, marketing and distribution systems to boost income for the local industry. Baysave has already announced plans to offer financing of equipment for crabbers who want to expand their production and hopes to offer vessel financing soon.

Novak notes that this grant is only 1/6 of the amount of funding needed to transform the waterfront community to a sustainable operation but is a welcome positive first step that, he hopes, will draw other investors to the opportunities in regional seafood industry expansion.

“We are grateful for the efforts of Cumberland County Economic Development Director Kim Ayers and the help of Jeff Kaszerman New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants for working with us to find this opportunity”.

Baysave is a 501(c)(3) association registered as a New Jersey charity. The mission is to connect government, educational, nonprofit and industry resources to support sustainable aquaculture.