A potential Ocean City ordinance could limit the display of vulgar merchandise on the boardwalk

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Ocean City Council plans to pass a new ordinance that has some boardwalk business owners’ worries. The ordinance would limit the display of obscene material and language on merchandise on the boardwalk.

Several business owners believe this is a terrible idea. Laura Simmons, who owns Beach Daze on 12th Street, said she doesn’t understand the new legislation. “I understand the city is trying to clean up the boardwalk, but the way they are doing it is so unfair and ridiculous that it is a week before the season starts.”

She was one of the few owners and managers willing to speak on the controversial ordinance that would remove the displays of shirts, jerseys, and chains. “They want to kill our business; they want us to not have merchandise available to the customer. When our store is 32 feet off the boardwalk, the customer cannot walk up and see what I offer.”

A tourist named Margaret, who was visiting from New York, claims she understands the direction the city is headed. “I find it all comical. I guess the older you get, the more amusing it is, but if you’re going for more children, I can understand the concept of wanting to pull it back.”

Simmons claims it’ll affect businesses that have been on the boardwalk for decades, citing that not all businesses are being treated the same. “But yet the next block down, the brass balls saloon, bad ass cafe is right there, big as day on their board; “around 50 percent, and maybe more, that’s more than half.”

WMDT reached out to town officials, and they could not provide comment.

The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Ocean City has decided they will delay further decision on the ordinance until after the summer season.