Taxgate

I live in a Shore Rd. condo building that is located in one of the three easternmost blocks of Long Beach, the 600, 700 and 800 blocks. We received notice recently that our annual Beach Entry fee will be increased to $10,000 this year, up from $9,200.

Ten grand to enter our Long Beach Park of sand and sea. Our beach is part of Long Beach as much as our boardwalk, Park Ave, Kennedy Plaza, or the Long Beach Library. We don’t pay a separate Long Beach tax to use these areas, our city tax includes them—why the beach—our backyard?

Our condo building, as the other buildings that abut the dunes on those three blocks, have dune crossovers. These crossovers were rebuilt after Sandy, as was our famous boardwalk. As I understand it, all of it was built with federal funds. Why do we homeowners who use the beach entry, as the crossovers are called, have to pay a separate tax to use them?

There is no shoveling of snow off-season, there is only the occasional nailing of a loose board now and then, just like the boardwalk. Where does justification of the ten grand come in?

We pay for season beach passes to use our beach on top of that entry fee. Our homes have a gate that leads to the dune crossover. In season there is a pass checker there to see that we have a pass to enter the beach, the same as if we were a visitor who enters from Edward's Blvd. after taking the train from NYC. He pays, we pay.

Yes, we do get a resident discount on the pass but—whoopee, it’s still a charge to use our backyard.

All Long Beach residents must pay to use our beach. We pay Long Beach taxes, we pay higher taxes for beach proximity, we pay for various permits, we pay parking fines for zealous parking enforcement, isn’t that enough?

If not, the city might consider pay turnstiles for Art shows at Kennedy Plaza, or even City Hall. And perhaps an E-Z pass set-up on boardwalk ramps for bicycles—and strollers.

Hey, it’s more bucks.

I know Long Beach is in financial difficulties due to past administration incompetence, and our city is hard pressed to improve our current financial lot but do you have to break our backs with an 8% increase on an already ridiculous entry fee? At a time when retirees are saving up for a trip to Stop and Shop?

The City Council is holding a meeting to advance this issue on May 2nd, Tuesday evening, 7:00 pm. You are invited to attend and air your thoughts. You may also email your thoughts to your City Council members:

Jbendo@longbeachny.gov

etreston@longbeachny.gov

rlester@longbeachny.gov

kmcinnis@longbeachny.gov

tposterli@longbeachny.gov

The beach is our back yard, why can’t we play in our backyard without paying three times for it— especially this ridiculous taxgate?

( 5-4-23 Since publishing this post the Long Beach City Council on 5-2-23, decided not to increase the beach entry fees above. Much thanks to all who supported our effort to stop the increase. Well done!)

(Update: Although we are grateful the City Council didn't increase the condo beach access fee, we still think the whole fee should be abolished)

Be well,
Leebythesea