For some Asbury Park, N.J. residents who were looking to show a little more skin this summer, the city council turned them down
During a meeting Wednesday, Asbury Park officials rejected a proposal to designate a topless beach on the city’s north end.
The 8th Avenue beach would have played host to the topless bathers if the proposal had gone through.
The city council threw out the proposal after city attorney Fred Raffetto pointed out that public nudity is already forbidden by two Asbury Park ordinances.
“There is no intention to change those ordinances,” Mayor Ed Johnson said.
The idea of allowing women the option of bathing suit tops had already caused controversy among locals.
Advocates argued that a topless beach would increase publicity and tourism profits for Asbury Park. Others did not support the idea at such a popular family destination.
Especially with more families visiting Asbury Park these days, some residents argued, topless women walking around would deter tourists.
“This is a family town. It would be a disgrace to be out there with children on the boardwalk and have them looking at body parts that don’t belong to them. I’m proud of Asbury Park right now,” city resident Stephanie Miller-Dekle said.
Elderly residents of a 26-story apartment building that overlooked the 8th Avenue beach also didn't seem to keen on the idea.
Reggie Flimlin, a yoga studio owner, who enjoyed tanning topless in Miami and Europe, led the charge for making tops optional in the shore town. She was obviously disappointed with the decision.
"It's a shame,'' she said. "They had a real opportunity here to embrace women's rights in Asbury Park. It's discouraging."
The destination famously-named in Bruce Springsteen’s 1973 album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., could have gotten another 15 minutes in the spotlight should the measure been approved.
But now Asbury Park will have to settle for publicity from The Boss, not from breasts.
