Defend Brigantine Beach recently held a fundraiser at Sophia.
MARGATE - Defend Brigantine Beach held a fall fundraising event Saturday, Sept. 30 at Sofia restaurant in Margate. Sophia, which supports the organization's mission, provided the venue and appetizers for the event, which was attended by more than 200 supporters.
Local legislators speaking at the event included NJ Sen. Vince Polistina, Assemblywoman Claire Swift, Assemblyman Don Guardian, and Brigantine Mayor Vince Sera. Former Margate Mayor Vaughan Reale emceed the event.
Defend Brigantine Beach is a non-profit group comprised entirely of volunteer citizens who have been working to stop the Atlantic Shores and Orsted industrial wind turbine projects. The organization believes that these projects will harm marine life, ocean views, commercial and recreational fishing, tourism and reduce real estate values.
Sera said the City of Brigantine and other communities are considering joining litigation against the federal and state agencies, industrial wind turbine companies to send a united message to Trenton that South Jersey beach communities will not tolerate offshore wind in their communities.
Keith Moore, the group's government affairs director, said the organization is working to expand its ranks to include the Downbeach communities of Ventnor, Margate and Longport.
We have to take a united stand as all of the beach communities in Atlantic County, he said. We need to work together to demand that our county commissioners step up and do their jobs to stop these programs due to the significant negative impacts that these projects will have on our county and beach communities.
Since Dec. 1, 2022, more than 70 large whales and 385 small whales and dolphins have perished to date off of NJ shores. Defend Brigantine Beach, Save LBI, Save the East Coast NJ, and Save the Right Whales Foundation have been working diligently to provide evidence whales are as a result of sonar testing for the project.
