To BYOB or not to BYOB in the historically 'dry' family resort? That is the question.
To BYOB or not to BYOB
Atlantic City Weekly received this letter on July 19, 2011 regarding the debate about BYOBs in the "dry town" of Ocean City.
At the end of June, Atlantic City Weekly received another letter of similar proportions about the BYOB debate, which was published in the 7/7/2011 issue of Atlantic City Weekly.
Here is the most-recent letter. Please leave your thoughts and comments below.
"I am a full time resident of Ocean City and support BYOB for a number of reasons, personally and civically. I consider a glass of wine as essential as meat and potatoes with a meal. Ocean City deserves a vibrant downtown. The town citizens should determine this issue with a vote, instead of being dictated by a few that it won’t happen?
"Recently my wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary with a delightful dinner in Cape May. Even with liquor licenses and BYOB, I hardly consider Cape May a rowdy town. There is no comparison with the diversity and excellence of Cape May’s restaurants to ours. Then we returned to Ocean City along Asbury Ave. thru the wasteland that we call downtown, …what a disappointment. There’s no one there; closed, empty stores. The ubiquitous nail salons will soon define our downtown. Are once a week minstrels, clowns, magicians, and other acts the catalyst for improving business at night? Where’s the government and business leadership to give us a year-round business environment? Doesn’t the City owe us more than a boardwalk?
"I would have a lot more respect for the opposition of BYOB if it weren’t for the blanket ‘no change’ approach. When the Blue Law was repealed, I didn’t see any business or ride operators take the high road and not stay closed in deference to the “intent of the founding fathers”. Take for example, Chick-fil-A, their stores nationwide are closed on Sunday, that’s standing for a principle.
"Let’s get our heads out of the sand and recognize that alcohol has never been absent in Ocean City. While our Deeds do not permit the sale or manufacture of alcohol, it has no restriction on its consumption. An Ordinance restricting the manufacturing and sale wasn’t enacted until 1909; a ban on public consumption of alcohol wasn’t enacted until 1984, 105 years after the founding of Ocean City. Now, another 27 years later, we’re reconsidering the 1984 ban. This is not a shoot from the hip process. Every change in public policy benefits someone. So to claim that only greedy restaurants will benefit is extremely shortsighted. Who had the most to gain from the condo change?
"Since my letter to the [Ocean City] Sentinel in January, I had many locals say that they wish they could come out and support BYOB, but they fear for their jobs and/or relationships. In the privacy of a voting booth, they can express their true feelings on the issue without retribution. While I support the BYOB initiative, I will fight to end any sale of alcohol in Ocean City.
The only way to be fair to all of the constituents of Ocean City is the endorsement the Petition as a democratic policy vehicle. I urge all eligible voters to sign the Petition and permit full unfettered voting, demonstrating the real sentiment of the people. Otherwise the special interest groups blocking the process win, that’s hardly representing the people. So, “silent majority”, get out and endorse the Petition or your fate is sealed to others, the nightly exodus to out of town restaurants continues, and our downtown withers.
— Richard Bernardini, Ocean City, NJ
[Editor’s Note: Modifications to this letter to the editor have been made for space or clarity.]
What do you think about this issue? Leave a comment below.
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1. Anonymous said... on Jul 19, 2011 at 01:31PM
“A friend and I occasionally meet up for lunch during the week when our schedules allow for it. We both live in Ocean City. We both leave Ocean City to go to BOYB restaurants in Marmora, Linwood, Somers Point, and other local cities because we prefer our hand selected wine over a standard establishment list who select their wine to make the largest profit per glass. Every time we have sushi, thai, italian, and so on, we are spending $40-60 outside of town. Multiply that by locals, even those on the mainland that may actually come into town for a decent meal, and tourists, and you are missing a rather substantial market of revenue. Customers will have a choice to BYOB or not, but we are left with no choice, therefore spend our disposable income in a municapility that has the best interest of generating revenue for small businesses in mind, drawing more spending consumers into their town, and progressing from old traition to new.”