The latest, Sweeney behind it. I hate that JO, I think there was a time when something was important to fishermen and he voted several times against us.

nj.com
Dec 26-2012
The Jersey Shore is still digging and drying out from Hurricane Sandy, the most destructive natural disaster in its history. So what’s the latest recovery strategy from Trenton?Free beaches!
It’s an idea that panders to bennies everywhere who resent being forced to shell out $5 or more to sit on the sand. But it ignores the reality that Shore-goers are used to safe, clean beaches — and that someone has to pay the lifeguards, cops and cleanup crews.

A proposal from Sens. Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Michael Doherty (R-Warren) ties beach tags to the money Shore towns want for post-Sandy beach repairs. Under the bill (S2368), any town that takes state or federal aid would have to offer free beaches and restrooms.
“Where taxpayers are paying for beach restoration, they shouldn’t be taxed a second time just to walk on the sand,” Sweeney said.
But the plan pinches off money to maintain the beaches.

Take Belmar, which sold $3 million in beach tags last summer for lifeguards, police, bathrooms and other beach-related costs. That’s roughly 15 percent of Belmar’s total budget.
Or Long Beach Township, where $1.7 million in 2012 beach tag sales paid the lifeguards. Taxpayers covered everything else.
The bill comes, too, as Sweeney considers challenging Chris Christie for governor.

“It’s a good sound bite,” said Long Beach Township Mayor Joseph Mancini, who doesn’t like the bill. “But it just doesn’t work.”

would let Shore towns keep 2 cents of the 7-cent state sales tax to recoup lost fees. But that requires a constitutional amendment.

Wherever you go to the beach, someone pays for lifeguards or trash pickup. Instead of taxes, like most other states, New Jersey sells beach tags. It rankles, but the user bears the cost.
Taxes fund highways, but we still pay Parkway tolls. NJ Transit will get millions for Hurricane Sandy repairs, but no one suggests they stop charging commuters.

Beaches belong to everyone, and increasing access is noble. Repairing storm damage is a public responsibility, however, separate from summertime maintenance.
Who doesn’t want to see beach tags disappear? But keeping beaches safe and clean isn’t a cost Shore towns should shoulder alone.