Long Branch, NJ – With the new renovations bringing in people from various locations, some Long Branch locals feel they are being pushed out and pushed away. The beloved Summer Beach parties that takes place every Saturday will no longer be in affect at its location. Though the summer beach parties have been in existence for nearly 9 years, it was one complaint by summer renters/OceanFront residents that cancelled the rest of the Summer Beach Party schedule. Lonnie Rawls, who is the DJ and organizer of the event, feels like he is being pushed into a wall and forced out by complainers who live on the OceanFront – where most only rent during the summer months. Several complaints from the residents and the City of Long Branch cancelled it.
“I’m going to need some serious support because the city of Long Branch just cancelled all beach parties due to complaints from residents of Beachfront North. If you really care about these events please speak out to the city council, mayor, etc.
For past 9 years there hasn’t been any unruly events or out of control people and for some these residents feels as though they own the oceanfront.” –
The city doesn’t support or advertise the beach parties like they promote the concerts in pier village and west end park. Not once have they offered any promotion. – Lonnie Rawls
Lonnie Rawls is a local of Long Branch, NJ, just like the many people who attend his Summer Beach Parties. We’ve covered some of the beach parties, and they have been nothing but great music and fun for the family to enjoy on the Long Branch beach ocean front. The party is either at the head before you enter the colder-sac of Pier Village, in front of Ocean Place Hotel, or near Rooney’s and the town homes, in the stage area that is used for other entertainment. The beach party runs from about 5pm – 10pm, bringing all different great crowds, demographics, from various locations, and walks of life.
Many are comparing the move to cancel the summer beach parties to the infamous Eminent Domain case of Long Branch that forced many out of their homes on Ocean Avenue. Because of the law, many lifelong residents had to give up their homes for new projects. Projects that you see today like Pier Village, its apartments, stores, and further down town homes by Ronney’s. The City of Long Branch has a full schedule of music concerts to take place at Pier Village, where residents can hear the music. But yet, the summer beach parties were cancelled.
Many residents feel they are no longer a part of the city, where many of them have called home since birth. Since the building of Pier Village, locals find less and less people of their community working in those establishments and living in the new homes built.
As one person expressed on Facebook,
“Now this latest stunt by the “strangers” or new residents of the waterfront have called in a complaint to the city stating ” The beachfront parties ” brought a “different crowd” to the waterfront and that many of these “Outsiders” “Bennies” “Summer renters” what have you has a problem with very frankly the indigenous long term residents of the city. These summer parties are in total 7 saturday out of the summer months between the hours of 5pm to 10pm and offers many to have an opportunity to enjoy themselves “All races”. This is the very issue with exclusion of a certain demographics of people. These kinds of ideologies are the very thing that continues to divide us. The summer parties at the beach brings music as the gravity that brings unity and enjoyment to so many! Rich,poor,black or white all have had an excellent time at these parties! Do Not let these people ruin it for all make your words heard at the next city meeting council meeting is August 23rd at 7:30 Lonnie Rawls we stand with you!”
Lonnie Rawls says he might have secured a place at the Jerry Morgan Park but that is still no consolation as the event is called “Summer Beach Parties”. Jerry Morgan is about two blocks West from the beach.
