Posted on 07/05/2020 1:07:06 PM PDT by lightman
OCEAN CITY, N.J. — Strolling the boardwalk on a public relations mission and, arguably a lifesaving one, two Ocean City officials were out Saturday to award blue tote bags of goodies to families wearing face masks on a very different Independence Day at the Jersey Shore, one coming during a pandemic.
It was harder than you’d think. Michael Hartman, events coordinator, and Mike Allegreto, community services director, had to walk from the Music Pier to the Wonderland Pier before they found their first eligible candidate.
“Hey!” Allegreto shouted to a mother holding her 8-year-old daughter’s hand. “Thank you for wearing your mask on the Fourth!”
“Oh,” said Leah Schiff, slapping the air. “Well, thank you!
“It’s important to me and,” Schiff continued, waving daughter Shira’s hand, “to her.”
Shira had mentioned to her mother that she noticed most people in the beach resort weren’t wearing masks.
“But I told her that we’re supposed to,” Schiff said, slinging the bag of rewards over her shoulder, “so we are.”
On the Fourth of July, the Ocean City boardwalk was busy, but the beach was crowded. There were many clusters of groups, but the beach was so packed with sun-seekers that most couldn’t possibly have abided by the six-foot social distancing rule that has been in effect as a coronavirus precaution.
Dave Bergen, city spokesperson, said on average about 50,000 people visit the Jersey Shore town on a holiday weekend, and he didn’t expect this weekend’s numbers to be far off. Saturday was most likely the best day for beach-tag sales for the season so far, after numbers dropped in May.
On the boardwalk, water and amusement rides were open, as were mini-golf courses. While people were supposed to wear masks, most didn’t. Hence, the tote-bag handouts.
“Families are going to have to get used to wearing masks on rides and in restaurants,” Bergen said.
On Saturday, New Jersey reported 303 new coronavirus cases, and 25 more deaths. In Pennsylvania, 634 new cases and three more deaths were reported.
By pushing mask-wearing and urging Jersey Shore revelers not to be “knuckleheads” by ignoring coronavirus safeguards, Gov. Phil Murphy is trying to avoid the kind of alarming backsliding that Florida is experiencing. The Sunshine State on Saturday reported more than 11,000 new COVID-19 cases, setting a daily state record.
Trying to encourage mask-wearing, Ocean City spent part of Independence Day rewarding those wearing them with tote bags stuffed with beach towels, water bottles, city-branded T-shirts, and gift cards for some of the most popular boardwalk businesses.
Hartman and Allegreto found Jeff Giacoponello and his 12-year-old son, Andrew, from Warwick, Bucks County, in line at Manco & Manco Pizza, and told them to use the gift card to the pizza place tucked inside.
“We wanted to say thank you for wearing masks,” said Hartman, “and helping to keep Ocean City safe.”
Jeff Giacoponello, who was wearing a Marvel Comics-themed mask, said he absolutely wears it on the boardwalk and would wear it in a restaurant, but conceded he didn’t think it was possible to wear it all the time.
“I probably won’t wear it when I go biking tomorrow,” he said.
And then, on the boardwalk at Ninth Street, Allegreto spotted more good examples of model visitors.
“Excuse me, guys,” he said to Kate and Mike Stutzel of Emerson, Bergen County. “I just wanted to thank you for keeping your masks on.”
Holding a giggling 18-month-old Violet upside down, Kate said of life amid a very contagious virus: “It can be a little scary.”
That’s why Hartman and Allegreto were out there. They would hand out at least two dozen more reward bags on their boardwalk stroll.
OR...
an experiment in CCP style "social credit"?
Ocean City NJ is a great family-friendly place (dry town); it is like the polar opposite of Seaside Heights.
Don’t know why people should be rewarded for following laws, but then again sometimes cops give out lottery tickets to people for wearing their seatbelts...
Shira had mentioned to her mother that she noticed most people in the beach resort weren’t wearing masks.
“But I told her that we’re supposed to,”
Wrong. Only when you can’t socially distance are you supposed to outdoors.
It was harder than you’d think. Michael Hartman, events coordinator, and Mike Allegreto, community services director, had to walk from the Music Pier to the Wonderland Pier before they found their first eligible candidate.
—
Good. Herd immunity is developing in spite of the best efforts of government despots to thwart it.
Tax dollars. Carrot on a stick. But glad they aren’t spreading their breath.
With a mask, it cuts the cough or sneeze or breath down to within inches compared to several feet without. Every bit helps.
I guess you think that we should wear masks EVERMORE??? GOOD FREAKING GRIEF! What has happened to Americans?
[Don’t know why people should be rewarded for following laws, but then again sometimes cops give out lottery tickets to people for wearing their seatbelts...]
A mask cannot stop a virus, only spew. Corona-19 is .03 microns, same particle size as roughly as smoke. Put on your mask and BBQ something. If you can smell it, imagine that the smell of Corona 19? Masks as a waste f time.
I’m in OC for the holiday with my wife and children. Most people are not wearing masks outside. Nearly all the entertainment businesses are *giving out* masks so you can enter their business. Some food vendors are doing it as well, even though they’re all takeout or seating on the boardwalk.
The remaining 30-40% are wearing masks when they’re not needed. Sitting on the beach, riding bikes, far away from others, etc.
MJ
I think there’s plenty of evidence & good articles about the details on wearing these masks that people should start realizing how unnecessary these things probably are. Of course, those who want to wear them just for the novelty of it...I guess they are welcome to. They will probably vote for Biden,too just out of force of habit.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.