News
WILDWOOD — Beautiful beaches lure visitors to this county and those visitors in turn spend money at local businesses. The business community, therefore, should urge politicians to push for increased funding to protect the beaches.
That was the message Howard Marlowe, a Washington lobbyist who specializes in natural resource protection, presented to the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce at a business luncheon at the Boathouse Restaurant on May 15.
As chamber members chewed their crab cakes, Marlowe said the U.S. government has a general lack of emphasis on beach funding. In this year’s budget approximately $100 million has been set aside for beach projects, while European countries will spend $3 billion on their coastlines, he said to the 100 or so assembled business leaders.
Marlowe’s firm, which represents only local governments and non-profit groups, is currently lobbying for local projects in Avalon and Middle Township.
Lawmakers in this country are afraid to increase beach funding because it means raising taxes, he said.
The lobbyist told chamber members they should email or fax their federal representatives thanking them for past support and asking them for more support.
“Senators (Frank) Lautenberg and (Robert) Menendez as well as Congressman (Frank) LoBiondo are all excellent,” Marlowe said noting how much they work to garner funding for local projects.
“Our system of government works best when people speak up about issues that are important to them,” he said. If people remain silent, they are essentially voting for business as usual, he suggested.
With tourism being the No. 1 industry on both the state and county levels, beaches should be very important to local businesses.
John Kelly, who gave the chamber’s membership report, said that while he attends different events and talks with visitors, the first thing they mention is the beautiful beaches.
He said the chamber should do what it can to maintain that resource.
Chamber President Vicki Clark said Marlowe’s presentation was both informative and timely as the county was still recovering from a Nor’easter May 12 that impacted the already fragile shoreline.
“Our beaches are a national treasure,” Clark said. “They’re also part of our infrastructure, like roads and bridges, and need to be maintained adequately for tourism as well as safety.”
She said it would be better to spend tax dollars proactively rather than reactively as the government was forced to do in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
“If they had spent money to fortify the levies and protect the coast, in the long run they would have saved a lot of money and more importantly a lot of lives.”
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com
That was the message Howard Marlowe, a Washington lobbyist who specializes in natural resource protection, presented to the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce at a business luncheon at the Boathouse Restaurant on May 15.
As chamber members chewed their crab cakes, Marlowe said the U.S. government has a general lack of emphasis on beach funding. In this year’s budget approximately $100 million has been set aside for beach projects, while European countries will spend $3 billion on their coastlines, he said to the 100 or so assembled business leaders.
Marlowe’s firm, which represents only local governments and non-profit groups, is currently lobbying for local projects in Avalon and Middle Township.
Lawmakers in this country are afraid to increase beach funding because it means raising taxes, he said.
The lobbyist told chamber members they should email or fax their federal representatives thanking them for past support and asking them for more support.
“Senators (Frank) Lautenberg and (Robert) Menendez as well as Congressman (Frank) LoBiondo are all excellent,” Marlowe said noting how much they work to garner funding for local projects.
“Our system of government works best when people speak up about issues that are important to them,” he said. If people remain silent, they are essentially voting for business as usual, he suggested.
With tourism being the No. 1 industry on both the state and county levels, beaches should be very important to local businesses.
John Kelly, who gave the chamber’s membership report, said that while he attends different events and talks with visitors, the first thing they mention is the beautiful beaches.
He said the chamber should do what it can to maintain that resource.
Chamber President Vicki Clark said Marlowe’s presentation was both informative and timely as the county was still recovering from a Nor’easter May 12 that impacted the already fragile shoreline.
“Our beaches are a national treasure,” Clark said. “They’re also part of our infrastructure, like roads and bridges, and need to be maintained adequately for tourism as well as safety.”
She said it would be better to spend tax dollars proactively rather than reactively as the government was forced to do in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
“If they had spent money to fortify the levies and protect the coast, in the long run they would have saved a lot of money and more importantly a lot of lives.”
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com
