Jersey Shore Homeowners Being Shamed For Blocking Dune Construction
SURF CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Homeowners on Long Beach Island who are holding out on allowing sand dunes to be built to protect the shore from another hurricane are being shamed publicly.
Many residents have signed easements giving the government permission to finish building or raise dunes on the Jersey Shore island. But some neighbors have refused to sign, CBS 2's Don Champion reported Thursday.
"There's no logical reason other than people are being selfish," said Mike Nichols, one of the homeowners who has signed an easement. "We're scared, and we want to be proactive. We've got to do something here."
Nichols has posted the names of the holdouts in his Surf City grocery store, telling them that they're welcome to shop there only after they sign the easements. Some of those who have not signed have reported being harassed by neighbors.
Attorney Kenneth Poro said the 20 or so homeowners whom he represents are concerned about language in the easements.
"A first-year law student would read that easement and say don't sign it," Poro said.
"The particular language in there about what they can and cannot do -- 'they' being government -- again gives people apprehension that they don't want to sign the current document."
Gov. Chris Christie is even jumping into the battle and has threatened to take property through eminent domain.
"I'm not going to let selfish people who own property on the beachfront stand in the way of building these dunes," he said.
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