Mayor of Belmar stands up to disrespect in his town

Written by Frank:

Read the Mayor's July 4th Newsletter

Read the original APP article

If you haven't already heard, The mayor of Belmar Ken Pringle has gotten himself into a bit of trouble over the past week with the publication of the July 4th issue of the Belmar Summer Rental Newsletter. This newsletter chronicles the antics of the so-called "Animal Houses" of the Belmar summer rental community. The primary purpose of the newsletter is to make apparent what is and isn't acceptable behavior in the city of Belmar. Apparently, many violators of the borough's ordinances either have no idea they are doing anything wrong because they had never taken the time to become familiar with the local laws (which are posted on a municipal website specifically for summer renters and other tourists) or simply choose to violate said rules of their own will.

Mayor Pringle introduced the newsletter two years ago with the intentions of helping to reduce the flurry of violations commonly experienced in the summer season from weekend renters. Although the steady drum of summonses, tickets, and visits by Belmar Police did not stop, the Mayor argues that the newsletter has had a positive effect, and city records show a small but noticeable drop in violations since the newsletter began.

But in the July 4th issue, some say the Mayor's use of tongue-in-cheek comedy went too far.

While there is no shortage of material in the newsletter itself, a few particular passages stand out as rousing the most backlash. Throughout the newsletter the term "benny" is used casually and has apparently been used in previous issues without incident. Additionally, in one section of the newsletter, while referencing the website NJGuido.com, the Mayor uses the term "Guido" and "Guidette" several times, which is considered by many Italian-Americans to be a racial slur. At one point an article refers to a group of women from Staten Island as "blondes" and generally references visitors from Staten Island in a comical and exaggerated light. The Mayor has been under fire from many sources after the Asbury Park Press picked up the story, including Staten Island Neighborhood organizations who are calling for boycotts of the popular shore community.

In regard to the buzzwords which have garnered so much attention, BGH has always maintained that it is not race, ethnicity, hometown or place of birth that makes someone a benny, but their behavior and attitude when they enter our homeland and how they treat the community of year-round residents. We have also worked to raise awareness that the term "guido" is considered by many to be a racial slur and that it should not be used interchangeably with the term benny. Needless to say, any serious attempt at broadly generalizing people based on physical attributes is completely inappropriate no matter the forum.

With that said, one must acknowledge the clear humor apparent in the articles. I think it is only fair to mention the only article in which Mayor Pringle used the term "guido" was in reference to the popular website NJGuido.com, which takes pride in the term and does not view it negatively. (Even then, he was remarking largely on comments in the forums where past renters gloated about their inappropriate and largely illegal behavior while in Belmar.) The Mayor used the term only to reference the people who post on the site's forums, who view themselves pridefully as "guidos"; no where else in the letter was the term used. The newsletter also contained language which intricately described stereotypical tourist attire, behavior, and mannerisms, but did so in a comical and attention getting sort of way, rather than as some form of derogatory hate-speech as many tourists have now labeled it.

"In a very positive way, the 20-somethings who consider themselves to be 'guidos', it's not an epithet," Pringle said. "In my own town, I will tell you that there are people who don't like it; but it's like a generational divide on this issue."

I could imagine that some might say that there is a difference between forum members of NJGuido.com and an elected public official, but my take is that the Mayor was trying to relate to a generation of people who don't have negative feelings about the word and don't view it as a racial slur. The Mayor was attempting to show this new generation, who will grow up (eventually) to have families of their own, who may continue to vacation in Belmar, and whose children may continue to vacation there, that spending money in the town is not enough and that one's behavior and attitude remains the key divide between the local and summer populations. Understanding, respect, and cooperation are necessary to prevent Belmar from becoming just another declining "party town" deprived of local year-round residents.

While the Mayor's words were undoubtedly taken out of context by some, Mayor Pringle has apologized several times for his remarks and has tried to explain that he meant no harm by them. He has even announced in the latest and last issue of the Belmar Summer Rental Newsletter, that the borough will no longer be publishing it, along with another apology to anyone who was offend by his statements.

Aside from the Mayor's dubious comments about the patrons of NJGuido.com, I found the rest of the newsletter to be quite funny. People who don't want to be viewed as animals shouldn't act like them when they're on vacation - after all, these towns are where people live. These towns, their people, and their culture are by no means disposable or open to desecration in exchange for summer tourist revenue. No amount of money can buy my dignity. Those who think they can do what they want because they drop some bank are not only ignorant but foolish and rude. Finally there is a political official who is willing to address the matter. No longer complacent to stand by with a smile while wealthy visitors destroy the place he lives in and loves.

The Jersey Shore is my home. This place is special; it deserves my protection, that of the people who live here, and certainly of those we elect to represent us.

Frank of BGH