By JACK FICHTER and DAVID NAHAN/Cape May Star and Wave
CAPE MAY — A few days after Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian closed the resort’s Boardwalk and beaches last week, on Friday, March 27, Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio did the same.
On Monday, Mayor Chuck Lear said Cape May was following suit. There was no announcement whether Wildwood was doing the same.
Cape May closed its beaches and Promenade until further notice by an executive order effective 12:01 a.m. March 31.
The order notes in light of the current COVID-19 epidemic and to further protect the health, safety and welfare of residents and visitors to Cape May and pursuant to an executive order by Gov. Phil Murphy, the beaches and Promenade are closed. The order is signed by City Manager Jerry Inderwies.
He said too many persons were gathering in close proximity on the Promenade on Sunday, particularly near the Cove Pavilion. Inderwies said the city monitored the situation for the past two weekends.
“The weather is getting nicer and we need to send a message that Cape May City is taking it seriously and utilizing everything under the executive order by the governor we can possibly do to combat the virus,” he said.
Inderwies said the order was not a knee-jerk reaction but based on observation. He said after observing Sunday’s activity it was clear that the next step was too just restrict use of the beaches and Promenade.
Residents may still walk in their neighborhood but the city could not allow persons from out of town to come to Cape May for recreation on the Promenade and beaches, he said.
“It’s not safe,” Inderwies said.
Persons violating the city’s executive order as well as those who aid or abet the order are subject to arrest and prosecution as disorderly persons.
Desiderio announced Sea Isle’s beaches and the oceanfront Promenade are closed to the public until further notice.
“Sea Isle City’s beach and promenade are our greatest attraction, and as such are a prime spot for social gatherings that we’ve been ordered by Gov. Murphy to stop,” the mayor said in a news release issued late Friday morning. “Our challenge in local government is to take the necessary steps to ensure that we enable everyone to comply with the governor’s orders not to have social gatherings and to maintain proper social distancing.”
“While we understand that the beaches and promenade are desirable locations for permitted activities, such as running and walking, we must consider the potential for unnecessary close contact occurring,” the mayor said in the release. “Accordingly, the city is closing all beaches and the promenade to public access, effective immediately. We understand this may be an inconvenience to some folks, but please know that this measure is being taken for the health and safety of everyone.”
For additional information about facility closures in Sea Isle City, visit seaislecitynj.us.
In Ocean City last week, people were still riding their bikes and walking on the Ocean City Boardwalk after Mayor Gillian’s order, but by this week all of the entrances to the beach and Boardwalk were blocked.
The city installed large barriers in front of the ramps and parked police vehicles there as well. At the small beach entrances, the city used snow/sand fencing stretched across the entrances.
The blockades weren’t stopping everyone, but activity had dropped dramatically.
On Monday, Sgt. Patrick Randles of the Ocean City Police Department said officers are conducting routine patrols in the Boardwalk area and advising people they are not permitted there.
He said the department has not issued any tickets and that “everybody has been compliant at this time.”