Boston Globe — A New Jersey mayor makes waves over beach access in Rhode Island

A surfer prepared to launch at Narragansett Beach in March 2020.STAN GROSSFELD/ GLOBE STAFF

By Brian Amaral — The mayor of Jersey City owns a house in Narragansett, and has waded into the battle over how the public — including local surfers — use the beach.

The subject was coastal access and the place was Narragansett, so it’s no surprise that at a virtual Narragansett Town Council meeting, even in the depths of January, things got a little heated.

Councilman Patrick Murray had gone on a bit of a rant about, among other things, people who don’t live in the area full time and complain about people using the area. Local oceanfront property owner Steven Fulop fired back.

“In my entire life I have never been as embarrassed by an elected official as I have been by the conduct of Patrick Murray tonight,” Fulop said. “He didn’t make one cogent point other than being the loudest one and drowning out every council member that tries to have a dialogue.”

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