Ocean City Residents Protest Law To Quiet Down Boardwalk

Ocean City Council passed an ordinance Thursday that bans Boardwalk entertainers from using amplifiers or from playing so loudly that people hear their music more than 30 feet from the Boardwalk. While some residents have favored the decision, others have spoken up against it.

A discussion on the Facebook group OCNJ Chatter "The Talk of Ocean City, NJ," a 17,000-member group for community matters, showed some residents think the ordinance goes too far.

"Give me a break between the kids,people, arcades,noise is a problem for the very short season here in OC everyone should just chill," Maxine OBrien wrote.

"And we wonder why we were voted most boring NJ town?" Robin Miller Dranoff wrote, referring to a recent MSN list gave Ocean City that honor.

"Buy ear plugs for the people complaining. You shouldn't need too many. LOL," wrote Tom Cacialli.

"As someone who vacationed here for most of my life and now live and work here for the past 10 years I think it’s sad that anyone complains about this," wrote Stacy Sullivan Demcher. "My family loved the “street performers” when we vacationed here."

Boardwalk entertainers will still be able to perform. But the new law limits their volume.

“This change is simply to prohibit amplification because of the feedback we got from the public and the merchants,” City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson told Council during the meeting.

One merchant in the Facebook group expressed support for limiting some of the noise.

"I'm fine with it (boardwalk entertainment), enjoy it, benefit from itother than when it runs long--- but the band can be very loud and there are people with children who wish to sleep," said Marke Johnson, who has worked at a motel around the Boardwalk since 1990.

Some members were fine with the noise compromise, such as Robert Kramer.

"If people are an annoyance or out-of-control they should be stopped," Kramer wrote. "Otherwise let people that spend money and support the shore keep doing what they're doing as long as they're not on drugs or alcohol."

Several people also shared their thoughts on the Ocean City Patch Facebook page.

"It is a resort. If you don't want too loud, stay home," Mary Buoni wrote.

"Without light amplification, a typical acoustic guitar or singing voice can barely be heard 10 to 15 feet away over the noise of a busy summer crowd," Ken Wilson wrote. "The boardwalk is a place that should be shared and enjoyed by EVERYONE."

"Let's do something about this; let's not let this drop!" Chris Leibrandt wrote. "Any city councilperson that voted for this idiotic law, let's see to it that this is their last term in office! Let's make a big deal about it! An let's get this law overturned! Who's on-board?"