An antiquated ordinance that brought the city national media attention was formally repealed after a unanimous vote from the city council at last night’s meeting.
The ban on bathing attire on the boardwalk went into effect in 1958 and city resident Louise Murray recently implored the council to begin enforcing it again. The story ignited debate in the region despite the fact that the ban had not been enforced in recent history.
Council members voted unanimously to repeal the ordinance last night with little discussion and no residents spoke about it during the public hearing designated to its repeal.
Asbury Park VFW member and resident Lou Parisi spoke earlier in the meeting, though, about a recent incident on the boardwalk when a group protested the ban on the boardwalk and one of their members was arrested for allegedly exposing himself. The incident was caught on video and posted to YouTube.
The police officer involved in the situation “kept his calm and coolness under those circumstances,” Parisi said. “I respectfully recommend a letter of commendation be placed in his personnel folder.”
