OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
MARCH 10, 2023
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
PARADE
ST. PADDY’S DAY IN OC
Resort festivities set for Saturday for first time in three years if weather holds out– Page 21
FREE
Bus, tram fares slated to go up one dollar Cost of all-day bus pass will increase to $4 with successful public hearing By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (March 10, 2023) An Ocean City Council majority advanced a request this week to raise both bus and tram
fares $1 for the 2023 season. At a meeting Monday, council members voted 5-1, with Councilman Peter Buas opposed and Councilwoman Carol Proctor absent, to raise all-day, year-round bus fares from $3 to $4 and Boardwalk tram fees from $4 to $5. Members of the city’s Transportation Committee unanimously recom-
mended the changes in hopes of increasing revenues for both divisions. “Considering the increase in expenses in fuel and in drivers and in the cost of providing the service, we felt these recommendations were warranted,” said Mayor Rick Meehan, who serves as chairman of the Transportation Committee, at Monday’s meeting. “Bus fares have not
been increased since 2011, which is 12 years. We figure we’ve held that rate as long as we could.” He contended that even with the increase to $4, which is set to go into effect following a public hearing, the all-day bus fare is still the “the best deal in town.” The change is expected to bring in See COUNCIL Page 4
Wage talks divided by geography Opinions on tip earnings shift based on location
JACK CHAVEZ/OCEAN CITY TODAY
HMRA EXPO
Potential buyers from the area lodging and restaurant industries pack the convention center Monday during the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association’s annual vendor showcase. HMRA Executive Director Susan Jones said this year’s show was one of the best of all time.
Oceans Calling lineup to be revealed Tues. Promoters slated to spend millions more this year on bringing in top performers By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (March 10, 2023) As the sting of the cancelation of last fall’s Oceans Calling Festival still lingers, organiz-
ers are laser focused on this year’s event, which is leaning toward featuring a more popular music lineup in a potentially bigger footprint. The massive three-day event is planned for Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 downtown on the beach and inlet and will feature dozens of bands and artists playing for an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 attendees per day.
Ocean City Director of Tourism and Business Development Tom Perlozzo said this week that organizers C3 Presents are putting more money into this year’s entertainment lineup, which is set to be revealed Tuesday. “They increased their budget significantly over the event last year and will invest millions into the producSee FESTIVAL Page 4
By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (March 10, 2023) The fight to end sub-minimum wages for tipped restaurant workers found its way in front of the Senate Finance Committee on March 2 with advocates — and restaurant servers — on both sides of the argument. “This bill is essential, particularly during the recent covid pandemic, to support thousands and thousands of restaurant workers in Maryland and hundreds of thousands of restaurant owners who are raising wages to recruit staff in the worst staffing crisis in the history of this industry,” said Sen. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles). “We’re asking for support to end this crisis.” Ellis went on to claim that the current business model disproportionately affects women and people of color and is rooted in the emancipation of slaves whose former owners created the system to take advantage of free slaves. “A small subsection of tip-wage workers make a lot of tips,” Ellis said. See WAGE Page 3