Residents raise concerns about flag displays, Superfund resolution and fire museum at Long Branch meeting

Several residents used the public-comment period at the Long Branch City Council meeting on April 9, 2025, to press the council on distinct issues ranging from flag displays at the beach to environmental legislation and questions about a fire-museum building sale.

Phil Falcone, a Long Branch resident and member of the city’s green team, thanked the council for work to reduce single-use plastics and asked the city to identify priority locations for refillable water-bottle stations at the beach, promenade and parks. Falcone also raised concerns about six Israeli flags displayed on private property that are highly visible from public beach space, saying some residents find the display “unnecessarily provocative.” He cited New Jersey statute 52:3-4, which he said requires that a collocated American flag be at least equal in dimensions to a foreign flag flown, and urged the city to review its code (he referenced a provision transcribed as 247-4) for clarity on public display rules and permit processes.

Falcone asked whether organizers of upcoming town beach sweeps (he…