Activists Again Attempt To Ruin Fun

You know what you don’t want to think about next time you’re strolling along the boardwalk in gorgeous 75-degree weather? The boards you’re stepping on are from the rapidly-shrinking Brazilian rain forests! And you’re doing your own special part to participate in the systematic destruction of our planet’s ecosystem by buying a “I’m not as think as you drunk I am” t-shirt on the boards.

Yep, that’s certainly not the feeling you want when you drive two hours to Wildwood or Ocean City for a little R&R or an easy one-night stand opportunity. Well, too late, suckers! Next time you’re down there you’re going to think about how you’re walking on Brazilian wood. Hey, maybe the wood was even assembled by sweatshop workers! Well, I don’t really know that would work, so I guess not.

Brazilian wood is valued due to its durability — it can support cars driving on the boards, be it police or drunk drivers — longevity and attractiveness. But, surprise!, environmental activists don’t want Brazilian wood used, because it hurts the planet to use it or something.

Ocean City has attempted to buy $1.2 million of “responsibly-harvested” rainforest wood, but didn’t get any bids because they requested the wood not be cleaned with puppy guts or whatever.

And, yes, there’s a global warming tie-in, says OC environmentalist Georgina Shanley:

“Ocean City is a very vulnerable barrier island,” she said. “By us taking 1,000 acres of rain forest now, we’re becoming part of global warming and rising seas. We’re actually making our own island vulnerable to flooding in future years. It’s very shortsighted.”

That’s Ocean City’s problem. Fortunately for Wildwood, if sea levels rise like 20 feet the beach will still be 800 meters long, down from its current length of 8 miles.

Boardwalk wood sets off debate in Ocean City [Camden Courier-Post]
March 8: Woman In AC Did Not Watch The Tram Car

Woman In AC Did Not Watch The Tram Car

A woman from Bergen County was arrested in Atlantic City last night for driving under the influence. Probably not all that uncommon. But what was a bit more uncommon was that she was arrested on the boardwalk.

Atlantic City PD Capt. Bill McKnight told the Press of Atlantic City it wasn’t his first DUI on the boards. Incidentally, 24-year-old Raquel Deandrade was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, careless driving and driving on the boardwalk, which is kind of an awesome law to break.

Although it wasn’t the first boardwalk DUI — “They get confused and think it’s a street” — it was a rarity in that it was a boardwalk high-speed chase. Well, high speed for a boardwalk.

[McKnight] turned on his lights and siren to follow the car, but when the woman got to Connecticut Avenue, about five blocks away, she made a U-turn and was heading right at McKnight.

“I had to get out of her way,” he said. She just missed hitting the police car. Then McKnight turned around and started after her again.

Despite the cold, there were a few pedestrians on the Boardwalk.

“I had the siren on not only to stop her but get people out of the way,” McKnight said.

The siren worked on the few pedestrians that could have been hit, but it still didn’t stop the driver. When the chase got to 40 mph, McKnight decided it was to dangerous to continue.

She was eventually apprehended by motorcycle cops. She’s not going to face much punishment, though, as she rolled doubles on her next turn and got out of jail.

Woman accused of DUI, reckless driving after cruise on Atlantic City Boardwalk [Press of Atlantic City]