Some Reflections On Local Current Events

Some Reflections On Local Current Events
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•Although they run the risk of appearing heartless, the Ocean City Mayor and Council would have set a disturbing precedent if they had given away the requested free parking in the Inlet for a new planned charity event next May.

Organizers of Lyme Disease Awareness Walk-Run were seeking a couple hundred free parking spots to be used by organizers and attendees in the Inlet parking lot on May 14, 2016. The council worried about the time of year and the precedent it would set for other like-minded events.

May, driven largely by popular annual special events, is a busy month in Ocean City. On the weekends, an argument could even be made it’s busier than June for many businesses.

This particular request would probably not be a huge deal in regard to taking up needed spaces because it’s an early-morning event, but it’s the precedent the city was rightly concerned about. With this decision — albeit harsh on the cover to reject a non-profit’s innocuous request — the city now has set its own standard that can be referred to in the event future requests are made.

•It appears Berlin will have a choice next year when it comes to its next mayor. Although she doesn’t want to go on the record in the media because the election is still 10 months away, Councilwoman Lisa Hall has made it clear to everyone she will challenge Berlin Mayor Gee Williams for his next term. Most of her reasons stem from her belief that Williams is leading the town toward too much growth too fast.

During his interview with us last week, Williams was asked about being challenged by Hall. This part of the interview did not make it in the paper, however, and we wanted to include his comments.

“I welcome anybody who has a commitment to run for this office… It’s the voters’ decision. The people in this community will have a chance to make a very significant choice. We can basically continue to build on what I think is a legacy of success politically, economically and culturally that began at least 30 years ago versus basically wherever the spinning top stops on any particular day, and I mean particular day. That’s going to be the difference,” Williams said. “If the people don’t think I’m doing the job, I want to know and they should get someone else. I will be disappointed, but I think can find a lot of different things to do that are very rewarding. This is the most rewarding job I have ever had and the poorest paying job I have ever had, but that’s just fine and I knew that coming in …”

•The stalled attempt to restrict overnight access to Sunset Park in downtown Ocean City seems like such a simple one, but it’s giving town officials some heartburn apparently because months after first being broached there is no official decision.

Sometimes government overthinks matters and this is an example of just that. There is no reason why the city shouldn’t close the park from 10 p.m.-7 a.m. if there are public safety concerns with homeless people sleeping there overnight. Until the intricacies are revealed that have led to the delay, we will continue to believe this is a simple matter that needs to be approved.

•In a part of the lengthy interview that was not included in the paper this week, Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan discussed the performing arts center in Ocean City and addressed the city’s approach with it. Meehan expressed what many have been saying this year, although it runs counter to general perceptions. The facility is doing what it was intended to do, he said, despite the fact it’s not drawing as many as concerts as many in the community expected.

“We knew it was going to take a little while to establish a calendar of events. Our first initiative was to get those who currently use the convention center involved in the performing arts center. It was there to enhance the experience our current users have at the convention center and to secure them as future clients. This is big business for our town and there’s a lot of competition from other areas for these groups, like Starpower [cheerleading competitions],” he said. “We introduced them to the performing arts center to use as their stage or as their platform to enhance their events here in Ocean City. It has worked dramatically. They have all fallen in love with that center as their main stage for their events. I think that has really helped us solidify some of that business here in Ocean City. Almost all of the big events are using that center for things like opening ceremonies, lectures, entertainment … it has allowed them to grow their events. That part we have succeeded in.”

The issue with that is the general public is largely unaware that’s happening on the inside during these mostly private gatherings. They just see months passing with just a few bookings announced.

“The second step is getting promoters to book the facility and we have made some strides on that. I think you are going to see that calendar start to expand. As the principals at Team Productions have said, you have to establish the venue first. You have to get people used to coming to that venue and sometimes that takes some time,” Meehan said. “I think you are going to see it do just as we expected it to do moving forward. It’s going to continue to provide additional amenities for existing clients and I think you will see additional entertainment moving ahead.”