When it comes to painting streets, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright each have their individual way of handling the legalities and authorities of the action.
Last week, at the Sea Bright Council meeting, residents and council members alike voiced concern and frustration over their long efforts to have crosswalks painted in three different locations along Ocean Avenue, a state highway.
Council members and others noted the number of beach goers, the number of beach clubs, and the frequency of road crossings by pedestrians on the busy road. A former councilman has also pointed out a blinking light and crosswalk are especially needed by the north entrance to the borough. Coming across the Highlands Sea Bright Bridge, there is no warning the next area is both residential and pedestrians trying to get to the ocean side of the highway. Yet the state has not responded to their many pleas for assistance and protection before anyone gets injured.
So Ocean Avenue remains without the needed crosswalks.
At last night’s Atlantic Highlands Council meeting, Borough Administrator Robert Ferragina, in a detailed explanation about how the gay pride flag got to be approved for flying below the American flag on the Borough Hall flagpole, explained he had first received a request to have Gay Pride colors painted along a crosswalk. The administrator researched it, found it is not proper nor authorized, and declined the request for the multi-colored painted crosswalk.
So Atlantic Highlands is flying a Gay Pride beneath the American flag, bringing dozens of people to a meeting in support, and offending a former Mayor who is also a retired Army officer and proud of the nation’s standard flying high and alone.
Last month, with no action at any meeting, and no apparent objections, workmen closed off a portion of Waterwitch Avenue near Huddy Park, to paint a crosswalk with the multi colors of Gay Pride. The crosswalk is adjacent to the park named for the Revolutionary hero who was reportedly hung at the park site. The administrator had indicated, when questioned about the multi colors that were on the crosswalk, that somebody requested it it did not cause any problem, so he allowed it.
So Highlands has a multi-striped crosswalk that few people appear to notice or comment about, and it appeared there with no red tape, no discussions, or outpouring of people at a council meeting.
Perhaps, in the interest of protecting its residents and guests, Sea Bright should take a tip from Highlands. Or maybe the contractor building the new Rumson Sea Bright Bridge could slap a few brushes of paint along Ocean Avenue near that bridge to create a crosswalk. It would be temporary, only until the bridge is completed, and might save lives. It’s doubtful anyone would complain red tape was omitted to accomplish a safety goal.
