Long Beach to hike beach pass fees
A file photo of the Long Beach boardwalk. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara, 2006
Long Beach will charge beachgoers more money for beach passes this year, despite criticism from residents who oppose the hike.
The city -- where more than 2 miles of Atlantic Ocean beachfront is a popular summer draw for locals and tourists -- approved the hike after a public hearing Tuesday night. The fare increase was the city's first hike to beach pass fees since 2007.
Under the new price structure, which affects several plans, resident family plans will cost $60 for the season, up from $50 last year. Nonresident families will pay $120, up from $100 last year.
Several residents criticized the fee hike at the public hearing. Some said the burden of fee hikes should be placed on out-of-town beach users.
"We should be looking to get money from people who come down here and use our resources," resident James Lynch said.
Long Beach's financial state necessitates the fee hike, city council member Len Torres said in an interview Wednesday. The city is dealing with a projected $10.25 million deficit for the current fiscal year.
The city expects to raise more than $200,000 in extra revenue because of the increased fees, officials said.
"We think it's now time, since we're in the shape we're in, that we bring that up," Torres said of the fees. "The beach is important to us."
The beach is open on weekends from May 26 to June 23, when it opens seven days a week until Labor Day.
The city's beach pass for nonresident individuals is also going up, from $70 per year to $80. The economy plan, which allows 10 admissions to the beach during the season, is increasing from $60 to $80.
The beach day pass will remain at $12, officials said.
The city council approved the increase, 4-1, after Tuesday night's public hearing.
City Councilman Michael Fagen cast the lone vote against the hike. He said Wednesday that the city should have "displayed a real plan for cutting spending" before it burdened residents with new fees.
"I'm not comfortable with hitting the taxpayers for anything, any additional costs," Fagen said.
The beach is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer season.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
