Waiting for justice on W. Long Branch helistop

As a resident of Oceanport, I appreciate your ongoing coverage of the "Helicop-ter hell" that my family and others have suffered for more than two years. I also noticed your editorial of Sept. 29 wherein you admonish Sea Bright to "play by the rules" in regard to their helistop problem.

Isn’t it time that local politicos, newspapers and citizens demand that Mr. Bloom and his associates in West Long Branch also play by the rules? All of the reportage seen to date indicates that they are running an illegal — let me repeat that — an illegal operation. Neither Mr. Bloom, West Long Branch nor the state Department of Transportation has yet been able to produce the permits and documentation that would allow the use of this helipad as a commuter service. If the level of permission granted Mr. Bloom is used as precedent, then I may as well go ahead and open a helipad in my driveway.

I was called by the state as a witness to testify in this matter and dutifully missed work to attend the scheduled court proceedings in West Long Branch on Oct. 5. After waiting an hour, I was surprised to hear the prosecutor announce that they had "talked to Mr. Bloom," who was nowhere to be seen in court. After approaching the bench, I was informed that the case "wouldn’t be tried today." Last week, I received notification that the hearing was now scheduled to be heard Dec. 21 — the delay of any proceedings for at least a third time.

How convenient for Mr. Bloom. The court now sets a date squarely in the Christmas holiday season when witnesses may well be unavailable. In the meantime, I assume that Mr. Bloom and his associates will continue to line their pockets with their contempt for the local citizenry and their above-the-law actions by running their illegal operation full steam for at least another two and a half months.

Will West Long Branch continue to issue summonses and fines to Mr. Bloom over the next months? Or is he to be given a free ride while we residents suffer in our shaking homes? Just wondering.

I was always taught that justice delayed is justice denied. Clearly, the rules change when the well-being and safety of hundreds of plain old tax-paying citizens is weighed against the luxury of transport for a few non-local, well-to-dos.

Mark Stenroos

Oceanport