Common Sense For New Hampshire

From Doherty’s op-ed piece in today’s Press:

“Eliminating beach fees sounds very attractive, and is politically popular, but upon examination, it proves to be unattainable. It dies, along with other politically popular ideas, because it runs into the adage that “nothing in life is free.” Someone always pays.”

From a recent post on Belmar’s Facebook page:

Mayor Matthew J. Doherty today announced that the Borough of Belmar was awarded a $650,000 grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to make streetscape improvements on Main Street between 10th Avenue and 5th Avenue.
“These improvements to Belmar’s Main Street enhance the appeal of our downtown and will attract more customers to our restaurants, retail shops, and other businesses in the area. This award assists Belmar’s recovery from Superstorm Sandy and will support Belmar’s continued growth as a tourist destination for the metropolitan area and beyond.” Said Mayor Doherty. “I extend our gratitude to Michelle Brown and the NJEDA team for this grant award.

From the Press Op-ed:

“Our current system of paying for the beach is both fair and provides options to consumers. First, if you don’t go to the beach, you don’t pay for it. Putting the expense of cleaning, providing public safety and providing lifeguards onto taxpayers who never step foot on the beach is unfair.”

From nj.com, Jan 5, 2013:

Mayor Matt Doherty has continually expressed Belmar’s hope for bipartisan political support in the quest to rebuild the town’s boardwalk by Memorial Day, a project expected to begin next week.

A Democrat, Doherty has praised Republican Gov. Chris Christie for providing critical support for Belmar’s campaign to rebuild the boardwalk, obliterated by Hurricane Sandy, that has served as the engine for the Jersey Shore town’s economy.

Christie vowed at a town hall meeting in Belmar last month that he will be at the anticipated dedication ceremony for the new boardwalk this upcoming Memorial Day.

So perhaps that is why when he looked at the delay in the final passage of the entire $60 billion Hurricane Sandy relief bill, Doherty’s dismay was expressed in as blunt a fashion as Christie’s disrespect for the current Congressional leadership.

“The Republican leadership in the House of Representatives is pathetic,” Doherty said on Friday after passage of approximately $9.7 billion in Hurricane Sandy aid by the House and Senate.