STUPID! The best advertising is GOOD WORD OF MOUTH! Help us rebuild our towns, homes and business's and you will have plenty of advertising. Spend that 3 million on us...YOUR LOCALS

Are you kidding me! You have familes without homes, towns still in ruins, towns not sure what they want to do, a lack of a dune system and your concerned about TOURISM. Where is your heart? Are you only concerned about the $$$$. What have you done to help the people in your community? How much $$$$ is you give them? What are you planning to give them so that maybe they to can have a summer! Shame on you!!!

It's great that the state is rebuilding route 35 and Seaside Heights is rebuilding there boardwalk however the State of New Jersey and Toms River township should be ashamed of what they are not doing.
After 138 days we still don't have a telephone/electric pole on Coolidge Ave (ocean block) Ortley Beach but we hear that 60 plus pilings a day for the boardwalk makes a lot of sense to me. Just a lot of words from the front office of Toms River Township, don't believe what you read, if wasn't for the ministries helping us nothing would be done.

I love the pot calling the kettle black! Forget tourism and just give us the money (LOL) ... Ever stop to think how much property taxes would be without the tourism money that goes through the shore towns?

Shame on your greediness and share the shore... We're all in this together.

I'm still in one of those hotels and here's what I 'm hearing.

Mass Exodus! No body wants to rent near the water because of there losses and owners are talking about walking away from thier life savings, and there goes your tax payers.

Why don't we resurrect the Cyba Giegy Effect and empty more so you rich buddies can purchase at dirt priced.

OMG!!!! Seriously, Vicari, go comb your hair for your next photo op.....i have 7 family members without homes, and see plenty more on this site who also suffering, and your main priority is Tourists? You make me sick to my stomach...........

As there is a need to get the livelihoods of some our local business yes of course many locals are business owners , The seaside boardwalk should take a back burner to the homes and residents business that can be rebuilt in time for summer hell yes . But to say hey we are open is not only pushing it its a lie . Come on down so we can complain to you even better advertise the criminal treatment of those effected . That roller coaster can rot in hell as far im concerned isnt the Boardwalk a basic mono ply any way . Fix the hurt displaced yes. come on ten weeks of business is it worth lossing your whole tax base for I think not . There be plenty construction worker to support the towns restaurants and bars . Homeowners should top every list . Not a Board walk that residents have to compete for Fema grants to rebuild there homes but god dam lets not forget the board walk you have a business there then pay the price and help pay for the boardwalk that you have taken so for granted . every one has rights but I believe the right to have a roof over your head trumps all .

Ortley will be section 8 housing in 3 years. It will look like Seaside motels do in the winter for 365 days a year. Wait and see.

I'm one of the fortunate ones, I'm back in my home even though I had 2-2 1/2 ft of water go through my home We my family has little furniture and had to take numerous personal loans out to buy beds and other items for my family which put me in debt. I'm on social security dissability not able to work because of severe health problems and no help from F.E.M.A or S.B.A. It seems all they want is to help bussinesses get ahead and the hell with the people who lost all. total lose of my personal items not including items that cant be replaced is more then we can afford.My Town and its people on both main land and beaches took it hard and most are struggling to get by day by day. Shame on this Country and our state for not giving their all to help us all to get back to an almost normal life. They the Government would rather let Illegals become citizens and give them health benifits and housing and the American people pay the toll. Tired and fed up. Tired of Politics and down and out. God bless the survivors because our politicians don't. Angry in Toms River

I always hated Vicari and never voted for him ! What has done for anyone Nothing just him self he help's! Sad what I seen and heard folk are still with out and I see the home's placed out on the street's ,just waiting for the help they need,yes my work is slow and I have been out doing clean up for family ,friends the folks that have no one else to help.Really have you been on the street at all vicari? I hold back tears of what I grow up with and it's gone,will come back but not the same ,but I know it was the person and no you ! I can say this, you are not a local so go back to were you came from ,you have no heart just a wallet for your own kind!

Ortley beach will never become section 8 to many people love it there , in time beach property will get its value back because everything will be new and updated , I think there will be not much of a summer this year , to many repairs still need to be redone . We should be glad things are happening at the end of the day we all benefit

The family, who could just barely scrape up enough dough to take the kids to Seaside for the day, is now going to pack-up and head to the Outer Banks for a long weekend, give me a break. Heads up Joe, people will not come to New Jersey because you spent money on a billboard outside LAX.

i have 7 family members who lost all, trying our best to help them out, where is vicari trying to help us ? not.....he will never get my vote again!!

Would love to know from what perch he is viewing this.Are the tourists coming to watch. Plus i am sure that they will find some other pocket to put some of that 3 million.

Stupid politicians , they still think "tourism is possible " there are homeless people out here .There is fema not giving towns good maps ,building codes not final so we can get an idea of what is ahead of us .This mess will take years to clean up and even the plans made for the boardwalk and rt 35 should be subject to environmental and scientific review before being rushed through for "tourist" season. Stafford township still has copper being stolen out of houses .Bring in the tourists so they can be robbed .I`m sure they want to step on all the nails and crap in the water left by sandy. This was a MAJOR disaster and even the D-nut gov and his stooges are in over their heads . Jersey STRONG seems to mean JERSEY SHORE STUPID !

Tourists are welcome for a day or a week during their vacation and bring $ to the businesses. How about all of the $ that the businesses are losing out on because all of the locals who are unable to live in their homes. Tourists come and go and can be counted on for a few dollars during the summer months. Locals are a constant and can be counted on all year long for the $$. I would imagine that the tourists will visit our area and think what a god awful place. It looks like the gettos. Houses in disrepair, empty lots, construction debris on the side of the roads, vacant houses, for sale signs on every other house etc. Think again before you want to advertise our Jersey shore for vacation. If they come you will lose them forever the way it looks now. I know where my house is (BHW) it's a ghost town.

politicians are taken this situation has a low priority ,if affected they will know what to do an when to do it ie;grants etc,they have lost their way...also they think they are self employed not working for the tax payers.lets organize a protest where the crowds are,we need to be noticed an taken serious,

Have they lost their minds??? Greedy lowlife scum!!! They just don't get it !! Let the people & the beaches "heal" for God's sake!!

Skitch...your comment is SO SO TRUE!! There's still so much devestation around.....it looks ssssoooo bad!! Dont they realize what a mistake that could be??? If people see the shape of these towns what are they going to think???? I know if that was me I would be pissed off cuz Im spending my hard earned $$$$ vacationing in a ghetto ghost town?

barbara how many family members of yours are affected ? is it 7?

I can't believe how selfish you people are. Me...me...me. That's all you think about. It's a shame that people are still not back in there homes, but its not my problem. Like I keep on saying, the world don't stop just because your not receiving any money yet. Grow up and stop looking for handouts.

Make sure in your ads to promote tourism that you include pictures of the hundreds of houses on the barrier island still remaining in the same condition as it was day one after Sandy hit us. The vast destruction still remains to the homes along 35 North and 35 South. We have been forgotten by the local, state and federal politicians. How can any visitor drive through our towns and enjoy themselves seeing the destruction around them. I know that I would not rent anywhere that showed so much devastation and homes, peoples lives and future were abandoned by the government. Children of the summer seeing this would ask their parents why the homes are not fixed and the reply would be " These residents got punished by all branches of our government and can never go home again". Restore the Shore is only a dream and the dream has turned into a nightmare for all of us who resided on the barrier.

Maybe the beach might be ready, but will the water quality be ready?

I really don't think that the area will be ready to go for the summer. If you have been to the island, you would understand...its much worse than the pix you see. The "experts" are saying that most of the NY tourists are most likely going to stick to Long Island beaches, not only because of less damage, but also to support their own state after Sandy. As far as the ads for SC, etc, they have been advertising every year. Nothing new. NJ tourists may just go down a bit further instead.

Were is the $$$ that i have paid the Insurance company all these years??? Not even an advance which stinks, Get this one next door is a zone A, the other side is a AB Zone & i am in the middle & was told i am a V, who are these Fema people? Sounds like they do not know how to read a map? This is what happens to people who are honest, hard working, & never handed anything, but the cheaters get it all. Go Figure!!!

JCP&L doesn't even have a plan yet to restore power to the east side on route 35 North after almost 4 months, get the infastructure rebuilt entirely and people/Tourist will come back.

Build the boardwalk. Sounds good to me. We need people to vacation here in the summer or we are doomed.

i really think people will be coming if not just to see what happened during stupid storm sandy..so any business open will get some revenue..only if they are lucky enough to be one of the few..3 million on ads seems like alot...i agree word of mouth goes a long way

I agree that it's one BIG LIE ! People think we r back to normal so that Seaside Broaddwalk does not lose out. Majority of the homeowners on the barrier island are suffering. Millions are going to the wrong people. No aid from FEMA or SBA loans. It's a crime. They have not approved the removal of the 10% income reduction on casualty losses yet. Like every other disaster. Vote them all out to get them to move. The state of NJ needs to grant a tax deduction for this disaster. All these will help put money in the hands of the disaster victims. Screw the brodwalk

I am a believer that in the YEARS it will take to clean up all the damage, the tourists will still come to "see" the beaches, although we will be digging holes to pee or use the ocean, while wearing very thick-soled water shoes. Use the advertising $ to clean up...not on false advertising.

Let's say all the people were back in their homes. Then the selfish ones would start complaining that the boardwalks and beaches aren't fixed. It all has to be done. Remember It's not all about you. Makes me sick.

It seems to me that you make a lot of people sick with your heartless comments. So I guess you wouldn't take $$ to fix your car if it was damaged, or to rebuild your house if it burned down. I guess you must just like shelling out $$ to insurance companies for fun. Or maybe you don't have insurance- then please don't expect any" "handouts" if even a disaster befalls you.

Went over to the seaside area this week to patronize local bussiness. How in the hell are people from out of the area going to feel welcome when the police are watching
every move you make and stare you down like you are a criminal. It is very uncomfortable and you start to think are they gfoing to pull me over and find some excuse to write a ticket. I just left and will never go back this year. The amount of state police is a waste of tax payers money and the locals and we all know how many times the seaside police have been sued for over reacting. Mr mayor you need to make people welcome even the locals and I have heard this from many people.

K.C. Pitching tents on the beaches on Memorial day if you still are not back in our homes is really not a bad idea. One picture is worth a thousand words and the press would gobble it up. We need to do this to show that we still have not been made whole, but ignored . Memorials to what we had before Sandy and what we have today-nothing. Let the tourists see how much the greedy politicians care about us.
Can we organize something rather than do nothing? Everyone is off that day and it could bring our woes to fruition. Maybe we should sit on the beach with cups to take donations from the tourists to help with the rebuiding of our homes. Hell, we are homeless now, and know whatever is donated would get to those in need and bypass the velvet pockets of our politicians.....

I am so glad that ORTLEY BEACH is now repopulating. Now if someone will help us find our house, we would like to repopulate. Haven't seen anyone or heard from anyone in Toms River except the tax collector. I think very few people have any idea of the damage that Sandy did to Ortley Beach! Pretty soon Beach Badges go on sale. HA!

There are homes in areas around Seaside that are nowhere near ready to be occupied. We don't need sightseers (or worse) on our already damaged properties. Security is of utmost importance to us; we can't afford to lose more than Sandy already took.

Just because some peoples homes are not yet ready to be occupied don't mean the you people have the right to stop the state from funding a promotional broadcasts for tourism. That is ridiculous. Your problem is with the insurance companies not with the state or people like myself that just want to enjoy the summer. Grow up... So selfish indeed.

Some whens the last time you were over there. Lets hear your promotional pitch for Lavalette, Ortley and Seaside hgts its almost March so you have March April and part of May. You may think that it has to be a holiday to start the season but your wrong as soon as the weather gets nice people start to filter down for the day or weekend. Do not tell people that the shore is going to be ready and disappoint them when they do show up. Politicians have been known for not telling the truth. Maybe this weekend you can ride through these towns and honestly tell me they will be ready and while your at it interview all the people who are not in their houses. Wake up.

Too much damage.
Too much squabbling and mismanagement.
Too much of the under insured and uninsured.
Too much opstanance.
Too little money from the right places.
Too many expecting the government to buy them out of their problems.
Too many believing they could or should build once again on the sand.
This whole thing is way out of control.

Far too many Moronic statements regarding the summer tourist season, we need the Bennie dollars in the county if not our taxies will go up and not temporarily but permanently once they have those big tax bucks coming in they will never lower them and you all know it! Pray that the bennies come back as soon as possible, I have the same feelings about them as most in the county but we need them!

Kurt- I could not agree more

It will be a summer of construction, boardwalks and some cleaned up beaches. Just seeing the joggers back, will bring a sense of the shore recovering. Advertising money or any funds need to be allocated for rebuilding, bigger, Shore-themed Playgrounds! Beach playgrounds will be missed.

sad i cant get my easter candy from berkeley sweet shop like i have been doing for as long as i can remember

Billy Jones you make me sick !! Toms River is getting $5 million in federal funds to pay for police, firemen, DPW cleanup,rebuild the boardwalk, sand replenishment. I know a people who own multiple homes in Seaside who rent to people on welfare collect from the state of N.J. And you claim Ortley people are looking for a handout ? We paid our taxes since nineteen sixty, flood insurance and homeowners, made this our primary home,then Sandy came along. We all want what is do us- we want to go home!!!

No because you weren’t nearly ready for Sandy and you will not be even close to turned around for the season. You believed that God and Government where going to protect you and the white night from DC was going to make everything all better. OPPS. Your Bad! Guess what your cash that really wasn’t yours anyway all went to the Middle East Ha Ha Ha. Foolish little Obamaites.