“Stronger than the Storm.” This is the motto of the new and improved New Jersey Shore. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, it didn’t look like the Jersey shore would be back in business anytime soon. Those predictions were wrong. This summer, the seaside towns of New Jersey have returned to the vacation market, bigger and better than ever. Thousands, if not millions of vacationers returned to these towns this summer, making it one of the most popular destinations for beach goers.
New Jersey beach towns have come up bigger and better this summer, and their goal is to continue improving. For some towns, they are just hoping to return as strong as before, but for others it means taking initiatives to change. Wildwood, for example, is taking this time to tackle the baggy pants phenomenon. They have passed a law prohibiting overly saggy pants on the boardwalk.
The law itself outlaws bottoms that are three inches or more below the hips. While the law focuses on the pants, the law also outlaws walking barefoot on the boardwalk and not wearing a shirt past 8 PM. This new rule creates a dress code for Wildwood vacationers on the boardwalk. Violators of the new law will be fined $25 initially, but that could increase depending on the offense and the frequency of the violations. The highest fine is $200 or 40 hours of community service.
This is an attempt to create a common standard of decency throughout Wildwood, and Mayor Ernest Toriano truly believes that this is one way to accomplish that goal. Mayor Toriano is not the only one who supports the law. Many residents of the Wildwood area approve of the new law and think that it will give the town a better reputation. The city of Wildwood states that the reason for the law is that many families are intimidated by those people on the boardwalk who wear their pants too far below their hips, showing their underwear or bare skin. Mayor Toriano makes it clear that this law “is about decency, nothing else.” He knows that families will not come to Wildwood boardwalk if they are intimidated by or unhappy with people wearing overly saggy pants.
Not everyone is in support of this new law, however. Jack Morey, an owner of Morey’s Pier, does not agree with this new rule. Morey believes that the saggy pants trend is “a reflection of popular culture.” He also believes that Wildwood is a place where people should be able to dress how they want. “This is a good old tacky-and-proud-of-it-place” said Morey. Some people argue that having a dress code takes away from the Wildwood culture and experience.
Whatever the side of the argument you favor, this new law has already taken effect in Wildwood. So if you plan to vacation there this summer, be warned that you have to pack a belt! What are your thoughts about this new law? Is it unfair or is it necessary to promote a common standard of decency?
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