A barricade blocks access to steps leading to the Promenade at the beach block of John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Sorry, folks, Sea Isle City’s beaches will remain closed until further notice during the coronavirus pandemic.
City Council made that clear Tuesday after one local resident urged city officials to reopen the beaches as soon as possible.
Vince Agovino, who lives on 43rd Place, asserted that the number of people on the beaches is “really minimal” at this time of year.
Agovino said he enjoys walking on the beaches and surfing and is anxious to get back to his routine again.
He told Council that he believes the social distancing guidelines ordered by Gov. Phil Murphy during the coronavirus outbreak can be maintained if the beaches are reopened.
However, Council President J.B. Feeley responded that there was “close contact” among beachgoers before the shoreline was closed on March 27.
Feeley explained that the city would like to reopen the beaches as soon as possible, but they will remain off-limits for the foreseeable future while the coronavirus crisis continues.
“We don’t have a date in mind as of yet,” Feeley said of reopening the beaches.
For now, the beaches, Promenade, playgrounds and all of Sea Isle’s municipal buildings – with the exception of the first floor of City Hall – remain closed to the public.
City Council’s meeting Tuesday was closed to the public, but people were allowed to listen in and ask questions by teleconference. Agovino was the only person who spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting.
A sign attached to the fence surrounding one of the basketball courts explains why Sea Isle's recreation facilities are closed now.
In the meantime, barricades, police tape and warning signs block access to the beaches and the oceanfront Promenade, which is also known as the boardwalk.
“Absolutely no beach or boardwalk access,” says one of the signs, followed by eight exclamation points for emphasis.
Sea Isle and most of the other Jersey Shore communities have closed the beaches and boardwalks during the pandemic to promote social distancing.
As of Tuesday, Cape May County has had a total of 179 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and suffered 10 deaths from the virus. Sea Isle has one active case of coronavirus and one other person in town has recovered and is off quarantine, according to the county health department.
During the Council meeting, Mayor Leonard Desiderio read a statement stressing the need to follow the governor’s “stay at home” orders to help slow the spread of the virus.
“These orders have closed all non-essential business, have banned all but essential travel, and have restricted all residents to their homes other than for essential activities and engaging in outdoor activities,” Desiderio said.
“In addition to following and enforcing the governor’s orders, and based on the authority given to local government as part of those executive orders, the city has closed the beaches, the Promenade, all playgrounds and facilities; and in conjunction with the county we’ve banned short term rentals until further notice,” he added.
Desiderio noted that local residents remain worried that out-of-towners will visit Sea Isle and possibly spread the coronavirus.
“I know concerns have been expressed about visits to the city, but I want to be clear on this – the city has no authority to close off access to the island and we have no authority to prohibit folks from going to their property, whether it be a first or second home,” he said.
The mayor closed his remarks by urging the community “to stick together now more than ever.”
“We will not beat this unless we stay home, avoid contact with others, and follow all of the governor’s restrictions. I can’t stress this enough,” he said. “We will come out of this stronger than we’ve ever been.”
