Seaside Heights, NJ –New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli toured the Jersey Shore on Tuesday, promising aid and restoration following a chaotic Memorial Day weekend marked by unruly crowds, vandalism, and strained local resources.
The visit comes as Seaside Heights grapples with the aftermath of what officials described as “mayhem,” including fights, property damage, and overwhelmed law enforcement over Memorial Day weekend. That mayhem ended with one dead in a Seaside-bound car crash, three stabbed, and over 70 arrested for various crimes.
Fights were everywhere and police were handcuffed thanks to policies enforced by Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin.
Ciattarelli, addressing a small crowd at the Seaside Heights boardwalk, Ciattarelli said he will push for harsher penalties for both adults and teens who come to the Jersey Shore and engage in unruly behavior.
“We need to take back our Jersey Shore from the criminals inciting chaos and violence. Legislators representing the shore communities introduced legislation that stiffens penalties and punishes those responsible for this type of outrageous behavior,” said after the weekend chaos ended.
However, Ciattarelli’s promises are hard to believe by many shore residents and local leaders who remember him voting against a series of “Restore the Shore” bills in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
In 2013, following Superstorm Sandy’s devastation of the Jersey Shore, Ciattarelli voted against a “Restore the Shore” funding bill that would have allocated millions to rebuild battered communities.
The bill, which ultimately passed, provided critical resources for infrastructure repairs and economic recovery in towns like Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant, and Long Beach Island.
Ciattarelli also voted against a proposed moratorium on foreclosures for Sandy victims, a measure aimed at protecting homeowners who lost homes or faced severe property damage. The moratorium sought to give residents breathing room as they navigated insurance claims and rebuilding efforts.
Critics argue his votes would have left struggling families and businesses without vital support during one of the Shore’s darkest periods and many, especially those affected have not forgotten the name Jack Ciattarelli. Luckily, the bills were both passed with strong bi-partisan support and signed into law by then Governor Chris Christie.
“Jack’s here now, talking a big game, but where was he when we were picking up the pieces after Sandy?” said Maria, a Toms River resident who lost her home in the 2012 storm. “His votes hurt us when we needed help the most.”
Ciattarelli’s main opponent, former AM/FM radio host Bill Spadea has remained uncharacteristically quiet on the subject. Spadea is tied to shore area development lobbyist George Gilmore, a convicted tax cheat, sentenced to federal prison by the Department of Justice, later pardoned by President Trump. Gilmore is a paid consultant for the Spadea-affiliated Common Sense Club. He is also one of Spadea’s chief campaign advisors. Gilmore has financial stakes on the barrier island, and many are now saying Spadea will not address the issue because negative attention could further hurt his handler’s development plans and financing ability on at least one major condominium project in Seaside Heights.
The weekend’s unrest, which saw dozens of arrests and temporary boardwalk closures, has reignited debates over how to balance tourism with public safety at the Shore. Ciattarelli’s visit, while drawing attention to the issue, has also reopened old wounds for a region still shaped by the scars of Superstorm Sandy.
