Ocean City Boardwalk Merchants Start Petition To Reopen

OCEAN CITY, NJ — The Ocean City Boardwalk Merchants Association created a petition calling for Governor Phil Murphy to allow their businesses to reopen with safeguards. Many Ocean City boardwalk businesses say they've financially struggled and cut their workforces during the coronavirus pandemic.

Their change.org petition has more than 900 signatures as of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

"In short, it’s past time for Governor Murphy to allow Ocean City Boardwalk businesses – retail, restaurants and amusements – to fully open with safeguards in place before it is too late for our businesses and the workers we employ," the petition says.

The Boardwalk Merchants Association released a survey Friday regarding their business's financial difficulties. Seventy-six percent of local boardwalk merchants say business is down at least 50 percent.

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Ocean City closed its boardwalk from late March until May. Since then, the state has loosened some restrictions, and some businesses such as mini golf have reopened recently. But others, such as amusement parks, remain closed.

"We simply cannot survive even another month of this," the petition says. "It is time to open all local Ocean City businesses. Today."

Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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