12/03/2025
Did you watch Mita's press conference today? Let's cut through the spin:
🔹They keep insisting that tomorrow’s vote is about “rehab” or “redevelopment”—not a hotel. Yet Eustace Mita himself sat there, alongside those making this claim, saying this vote is the only way he can move forward. You can’t claim it’s not about a hotel while the hotel developer is thanking you for the green light. And he never explained why this is the only path he can accept. Projects are built every day using traditional zoning tools. There is no reason he can’t do the same.
🔹Wes Kazmarck – a member of the subcommittee– tried to argue that it can’t move forward without more information from the experts. But there are four planning board experts on the subcommittee. And it can hire more expertise. Moreover, under rehab, the planning board won’t provide ANY information on what to do with 600 Boardwalk, it will just look at its current condition. The subcommittee —with its existing expertise— is where they CAN and ARE looking at the options. Wes even acknowledged they’ve talked about Wonderland at every subcommittee meeting. Something’s not adding up.
🔹Eustace Mita said "There's nothing wrong with the subcommittee process, but it has nothing to do with 600 Boardwalk." We're glad he supports the subcommittee, but he's wrong that it has nothing to do with 600 Boardwalk- it is looking at the zoning options for that property as well as the whole Boardwalk, ensuring there is a fair and sustainable vision for the future of the entire Boardwalk.
🔹Caitlin Quirk’s claim that redevelopment status is necessary to “bring the developer and council to the table” is flat-out wrong. They can negotiate anytime (apparently some Council members have even been meeting with him privately), and the Master Plan process can also adjust zoning. The only thing redevelopment does is provide tax abatements and shift leverage to Mita. Let’s not kid ourselves: he’s not pushing this process out of civic goodwill. He’s doing it because it benefits him financially and gives him more power.
Bottom line: Don’t get distracted by the word games. The current progress is working efficiently, and is the best and fastest path forward. Voting for rehab would slow down this progress and only advantage the developer and his vision for a hotel. It’s that simple.
If you don’t want Ocean City’s first high-rise hotel to appear on our Boardwalk, come to the Council meeting tomorrow and make your voice heard.
For more facts about what's at stake, visit:
RAISE YOUR VOICE Get Involved! It was because of the community’s involvement over the summer—your many calls, emails, and letters to Council—that we achieved a 6-1 vote against considering rehabilitation for the Wonderland site in August. It’s clear that we need to bring back this public pre...