The Press of Atlantic City is reporting that the boardwalk closure ordinance previously discussed in this subreddit has been approved by the Board of Commissioners. Please remember to keep your comments civil and in line with the rules of this subreddit.
>Article by Haram Shahid
>WILDWOOD — The Boardwalk is gearing up for the summer and for “the juveniles,” city officials said Wednesday evening.
>The city Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance requiring the Boardwalk to close from 1 to 5 a.m. year-round. The regulation will take effect May 13, just weeks before Memorial Day weekend.
>The ordinance drew heated debate during a public hearing at City Hall, where Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr., Deputy Mayor Steve Mikulski, Commissioner Krista McConnell and others heard arguments from business owners, residents and police supporters over safety concerns, staffing shortages and the impact on late-night tourism.
>“This is going to blow up right in their faces,” said Oswald Salvatico, 65, a former landlord and Wildwood resident. “The kids will make plans to go elsewhere in town, and they’ve got another issue on their hands.”
>Business owners and residents called for increased policing rather than a time restriction, but officials said the department is operating with significantly fewer officers than in past years while seasonal demand continues to rise, limiting the ability to rely on enforcement alone.
>“We are between 30 and 50 officers short compared to what we normally have,” McConnell said. “There aren’t enough people wanting to be officers or applying for the police academy anymore.”
>Troiano also cited violent incidents in other destinations, including shootings and large unsanctioned teen “pop-up” gatherings in Virginia Beach, Virginia; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Jacksonville, Florida; and Philadelphia’s South Street, saying the city is trying to avoid similar situations.
>“Kids now are just different,” he said. “They have no respect for police, and we’ve seen what they could do just years ago.”
>Troiano referenced Memorial Day weekend 2024, when Wildwood declared a state of emergency and temporarily closed the Boardwalk amid widespread unrest involving large groups of teens and young adults. Similar incidents occurred in Ocean City, where a 15-year-old was stabbed that same weekend.
>Still, business owners, particularly those operating restaurants and eateries, said even a small reduction in late-night hours could cut into a key revenue window during peak summer weekends. Some asked for a 30-minute extension, suggesting a 1:30 a.m. cutoff.
>“That half hour is a big difference. It can mean $500 to $1,000 on a busy night,” one business owner said. “That’s money that would go back to the city and to families.”
>Officials said the ordinance is not intended to eliminate activity but to create a consistent cutoff time and reduce strain on emergency services during peak crowd periods.
>“This is not intended to be overly harsh,” McConnell said, adding the cap “will be adjusted as necessary.”
>Officials also said there are no plans for audio announcements to clear the Boardwalk, noting instead that signage will be used to inform visitors of the overnight hours. Officers will not be actively clearing people from the area, and those in the middle of transactions — such as waiting for a cheesesteak or receiving services like tattoos or piercings — will be allowed to finish.
>“This is simply a safety situation,” Troiano said. “This is a tool that allows us to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done.”