Our injunction was denied. The NJDOT has started demolishing the Highlands-Sea Bright drawbridge. The Citizens for Rational Coastal Development had what I believe to be our final day in court, July 14, 2008. Proudly, our lawyer Stuart Lieberman stood before Judge Lawrence Lawson in Monmouth County Superior Court in Freehold, alongside the attorneys for the Borough of Highlands and the NJDOT, in an 11th hour attempt to stop the demolition of the Highlands-Sea Bright drawbridge.
Despite Stuart’s best efforts and those around him, the injunction was denied. The judge found that we did satisfy the “irreparable harm” prong, (finally) but the judge found that the relative hardship favored the NJDOT, because they have been planning this bridge project for 20+ years and that the bridge is in need of repair or replacement, and therefore they would be hurt more than us, if this project were stopped.
I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked so hard on this project. Many of us, stood up for what we believed in and made our voices heard. Donations of time, money, resources and ideas were generous, all in an effort to save our drawbridge. Unfortunately it was obvious that we could no longer save our bridge. I fear that this marks the end of the communities on either side of the drawbridge, as we know of them today. First, it was the development of Long Branch, now it is this big bridge. What will be next? The development of Sandy Hook, the widening of Ocean Avenue or four lanes through downtown Sea Bright? No one really knows. So we shall see.
One thing we know for sure. It will never be the same here and for this reason I am sad … very sad. With any luck, we have opened the door for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office to show others. Don’t mess with the people of Highlands, but only time will tell. Many thanks once again to all of those who believed in this project and that we could make a difference because we did.
Shirley Olman
Highlands