Today it’s news – tomorrow, it’s history. And by the day after that, it’s politics.
Following the apparent crime wave of the past weekend, some city officials have already implied that the OC Car & Truck Show was at least a partial culprit for the upswing in illicit behavior, a notion that has clear political implications and has already become a matter of public dispute.
With multiple robberies, weapons violations, large-scale fights – including one in which police were allegedly almost overrun by the crowd – as well as a stabbing, the past several days of activity in the resort have generated considerable public outcry and concern that the tenor of the town, and particularly the Boardwalk, is moving in the wrong direction.
“I’m not sure [what caused it], but it was an interesting weekend, I’ll say that,” Council Secretary Mary Knight said at this week’s Tourism Commission meeting. “I think we’ll be getting some data soon on the cost of our police versus the benefit of the car show.”
Convention Center Director Larry Noccolino said at the meeting that the show’s attendance was up 12 percent, but that no problems were reported.
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7 comments:
Motorheads + beer = ?
"Council Secretary Mary Knight said at this week’s Tourism Commission meeting. “I think we’ll be getting some data soon on the cost of our police versus the benefit of the car show.”"
What? Good luck trying to determine if any one specific event contributed to the escalation of violence OC is seeing. This is a classic example of not taking the bull by the horns, showing some responsibility to residents and visitors and passing the buck.
Time to start showing leadership-yes leadership-look it up because it quite obviously none exists in OC anymore. Start by looking no further than Wildwood and the dress code implemented.
It would be amusing if it wasn't so nauseating. They poured millions into targeting this demographic. It was not an accident that these folks decided to visit Ocean City.
Filling the hotel rooms and bar stools is all that matters, AT ANY COST.
Maybe it has something to do with the rapper that had in OC last weekend?
I don't think so 5pm because this stuff has been going on for quite a few years now. It would be really nice if it were that easy to point blame on one particular reason or venue.
I remember previous senior weeks and the graduates were getting robbed left and right and we would sit on the boardwalk and watch the thugs hooting and hollering at the girls who for the most part were very offended and often looked afraid. Word got out and now the decent kids are going elsewhere. Deep Creek is becoming a hot spot for them from what I understand.
Recently OC has become just a heartbeat away from just another city that bleeds. It's only by a stroke of luck that these stabbing, assaults, armed robberies didn't turn into murder scenes. Crime statistics would skyrocket and that would be the end of any meaningful tourism.
The politicians need to stop ignoring this, knuckle down and make some decisions that will be unpopular to certain people but yes, that is what true leadership is all about-solving the problems and not dawdling, dwelling, feigning ignorance nor passing the buck.
A rapper for Saturday night might be a first place to start.
"Anonymous said...
A rapper for Saturday night might be a first place to start.
June 15, 2013 at 7:08 PM"
When you take into consideration that this "Wave of Ill Behaviour" started approx. 2 weeks prior and continued approx. 1 week after the rapper's appearance in Ocean City, it can not be logical concluded that this was the cause.
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