A Letter from Our Ocean City
To the Residents of Ocean City:
Our Ocean City PAC was established with a straightforward goal: to support a more balanced and open civic process in Ocean City.
In recent years, public records show that a narrow set of stakeholders—namely those in the real estate development community—have had disproportionate influence on our elections. These interest groups have routinely supported and secured candidates who align with their business interests, which is the aggressive development of the island.
The result should not be a surprise. Over the last 10 years, Ocean City has consistently demolished more homes than any city in Cape May County. Thousands of homes in town have been bulldozed, consistently replaced with large duplexes, triplexes, and mansions.
We do not oppose development or its virtues.
A growing tax base is a benefit. What we oppose is overdevelopment that adversely impacts livability issues for our community. And overdevelopment is what has been occurring.
We can’t park.
We’ve lost our sunlight.
And the new construction is designed so neighbors never meet.
This same threat is now facing Ocean City’s iconic Boardwalk.
While electoral participation by the real estate development community is both legal and constitutionally protected, a healthy civic environment benefits from broader representation and a diversity of perspectives.
The PAC’s formation is intended to facilitate that balanced discussion, ensuring that residents who are deeply impacted by election results—but whose voices were previously drowned out—can now be heard.
Our Priorities
The PAC’s platform is focused on three core priorities:
Smart Compromise: Encouraging constructive dialogue around the future of the Wonderland site, with the goal of achieving an outcome that moves us forward, together. We are not anti-hotel; we are for the correct balance of right-sized lodging and Boardwalk facing entertainment.
Smart Budgeting: Advocating for disciplined financial management and sustainable budgeting practices that can reverse the growth of the heavy debt burden created by mismanagement over the last decade. Yes, we need to invest in the City. We just have to do it the right way.
Smart Development: Supporting thoughtful growth that aligns with the long-term character and livability of Ocean City for the people who live, work, and play here. That means building — but doing so thoughtfully.
“At its core, this effort is about participation,” said one of the PAC’s founders, local resident Jim Tweed. “We want to ensure that more voices are heard, that discussions are open, and that decisions reflect the full community—not just a single set of interests.”
Our Ocean City PAC believes that transparency is critical from all participants in our civic process. We support clear disclosure standards and believe that residents deserve access to complete and timely information when decisions affecting the community are being made. You can learn more about our own leadership, funding, and expenses at ouroceancity.org.
Elections are about civic engagement. Balanced discussion. And charting the right path forward. We urge you to join in.
Regards,
Jim Tweed
Chairman
Rich Crawford
Treasurer
Our Ocean City PAC
ouroceancity.org
ouroceancity@gmail.com