Margate Mayor Michael Collins along with esteemed Solicitor John Scott Abbott, were once again on the hot seat during July 18 commission meeting.
Listen to podcast.
Margate neighbors are fed up with public drinking, urination, car sex, loud music and rowdy bars til 4a.
Residents fear a return of the infamous Barbary Coast vibe in Margate, where drunks and debauchery ruled.
Today, most of those classic party spots have been converted to condos and townhomes. Is the pendulum swinging back?
LISTEN TO AUDIO FROM JULY 18, 2024:
Mayor Collins, aka Margate’s ‘Tik-Tok’ Mayor, wants Margate to bring back more bars and party decks. Opponents fear a return of Margate’s ‘Barbary Coast’.
Madison Ave has become a public toilet.
Collins supports more outdoor dining, drinking and music on both private and public property. Critics of the Mayor say Margate is still milking the no longer needed COVID-19 rules.
Legendary Robert’s Place a nuisance bar? Their outdoor party area around the corner on Essex Ave. is too close residential homes. Adjacent homeowners taking legal action, wanting stricter enforcement of noise ordinances.
Memories in Margate nightclub also targeted as a nuisance bar.
Last weekend, a neighbor counted 78 instances of Memories patrons urinating and vomiting in the streets, on private lawns, between cars and near homes. Some residents forced to park in Longport in order to protect their cars from urine and vomit.
Trash everywhere. Beer cans, plastic cups and trash all along the Amherst Ave Bayfront.
Memories’ restrooms unable to handle large crowds?
Public Comment: Margate needs to close bars, clubs and restaurants by 2am.
Solicitor Abbott angered attendees when suggesting bars stay open 24 hours in order to even out crowds coming and going.
Abbott and Collins still blocking live Zoom video of meeting, prohibiting remote public comment from a majority of taxpayers, the 2nd homeowners.
Solicitor John Scott Abbott scoffed at those in disagreement with his assessments.
Late night chaos is spreading. Ventura’s Green House illegal beach bar. Proposed roof-top party deck at Sunrise Tequila Bar property.
Margate Commissioner of Public Safety, Cathy Horn, being asked to step up in her new role.
Meeting attendees surprised to learn of Horn’s day job: working for Superintendent LaQuetta Small and the Atlantic City School District.
Police Chief Hankinson suggested type of music being played could be blamed for rowdy crowd and increased volume.
Mayor Collins rejecting calls for training MCPD on decibel / volume readers. Those findings could then be used in court.
Reading this article, the nicknames for the city officials is interesting.
Margate back in the day…the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s with the old bars was classic.
All of that is gone with the new wave of second home buyers which bought in the trendy restaurants, etc.
Perhaps, some of that old nostalgia is a good thing?
These new wealthy second homeowners are the reason Margate is loosing its true beach charm.
So, it now seems in hindsight that juveniles congregating at WaWa and on Washington Ave beach are not nearly as offensive as the alleged “public drinking, urination, car sex, loud music and rowdy bars til 4am” described by Margate residents.
And let’s not pretend that anyone was ever concerned as to the juvenile’s safety… It’s all about a small faction of Margate residents “needing” something or someone to complain about….
Difference is that Margate’s coffers will benefit from allowing businesses extended operating hours resulting in increased revenue at each establishment by serving more alcohol and food.
Free spending patrons do not want to be hassled by authorities, or residents, and will continue to treat Margate accordingly as a summer playground.
What’s next to complain about?
Those kids hanging out at WaWa were not bothering anybody.
I don’t think there were any issues with them.
Back in the day, kids use to hang out all over Margate and most of them were local kids back then.
Got to get rid of that beach block parking ban from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm?
Your thoughts?
Is the “counter” of the alleged infractions and appointed or voluntary role. While I don’t doubt that some of the awful things described are occurring, I do highly doubt that they are occurring with that frequency and not being exaggerated for dramatic effect.
And another issue that needs to be raised – if patrons leaving bars and clubs are SO drunk as alleged, there are issues of risk and over-serving that these business need to address – perhaps including extra security outside.
Unfortunately, Margate doesn’t have a business tax. There is no benefit to Margate taxpayers. Only to the business owners.
When I was much younger, I went to Amherst Ave at night. The famous Barbary Coast. It was a poop hole. Fun for young adults and drinkers.
Our past city leaders knew this was not good for most of Margate and they took steps to make Margate a ‘Residential Community’.
It worked and thousands wanted to buy and enjoy Margate. We had growth and prosperity.
Should Margate go back to the Barbary Coast? No!
Rentals are down. Short-term rentals are down. So is the integrity and quality of our city leaders.
Maybe Mayor Collins needs a bar by HIS house. Commissioner Cathy Horn too.
Meeting attendees (Margate residents) should be embarrassed to be described as “surprised to learn of Horn’s day job: working for Superintendent LaQuetta Small and the Atlantic City School District” given this information was widely published and disseminated leading up to the May 2023 Margate election.
Hello surprised Margate residents…. get your heads out of the sand and do your own due diligence. How is her day job remotely relevant to her role as Margate Commissioner of Public Safety or the issues presented in the article? Not at all!
What is the inference or innuendo was intended as Superintendent LaQuetta Small and/or the Atlantic City School District have zero relevance.
As a Margate resident, I am best described as “surprised”, not by Mrs. Horn’s employment, but to learn how deep myopic attitudes run in a small but vocal faction of residents.
Small wasn’t accused of the things she has been in March 23!
Margate did become one of the places to be at the shore. Addition of more bars will take away from the atmosphere of several years ago, a place to relax
Case in point: We’re close to the “new” Memories. It’s no longer the place Jerry Blavat once owned. It now imports patrons on Jitneys from who-knows-where. The noise continues till 3am.
People leave late at night/early morning, completely out of control. Vomiting, urinating and littering on any nearby property.
I’m unable to vote in Margate. I get no break on taxes for or any other fees. I pay as a citizen with no rights
Why would anyone who lives in Margate full-time would support a Mayor who has such backward ideas.
Yeah, I’m a shoobie. Most of the folks living in Margate are the same. Try seeing what the city would be like without our taxes.
That’s not a threat. Just the reality if these guys in office allow places like Memories to multiply.
Actually, without the shoobies, Margate would still be the sweet, peaceful little beach community it used to be. Streets lined with cute little bungalows and window boxes full of flowers…kids could safely ride their bikes and residents could safely drive their cars without worry of shoobies going the wrong way on one-way streets and blowing through stop signs. By mid September, when we get our town back, Margate somewhat resembles those good ole’ days. Can’t wait!
Without us, you WOULD still be the Barbary Coast
If you recall a shoobie takes a bus from Philadelphia and brings a lunch to eat on the beach.
Your new neighbors drive here in 100,000 cars and bought million dollar homes. Far from the old days.
I’ve been here 21 years. I enjoy the restaurants and bars and think the Amherst Avenue area is beautiful, not trashy. I’ve not seen anyone urinating or vomiting in the street. Most people I encounter enjoy all aspects of our awesome town. Just saying….
I feel sorry for the people living around Memories. The stories the residents are recounting, at the commission meeting, are very disturbing. It’s disappointing to hear that police are rude to these desperate residents. Hopefully the residents can put their heads together and try to figure out a way to put Memories out of business. It also sounds like they should hire a lawyer. They must be so frustrated with the Margate commissioners! I can’t believe that Commissioner Abbott suggested allowing the bars to stay open 24 hours! Not too smart!
Memories has been a night spot for decades. There is such a thing as “buyer beware.” If you don’t like the neighborhood, don’t buy/build in it! NJ is lined with beach communities. Maybe you can’t afford Stone Harbor? That’s your problem. Maybe think about relocating to another area…Ocean City has no bars! Go for it!
I feel like all the people complaining about the bars on Amherst should have either not bought in that area, or just bought a place in Ocean City.
I bought in Margate for the bars and restaurants.
Stop complaining. It’s the Jersey Shore.
Amen! Exactly my thoughts!
Real Estate agents should disclose to potential home buyers that Margate officials are now allowing outdoor party decks and public drinking almost everywhere.
if you are not a fan of it plz move away