A proposed Netflix production is stirring up holiday controversy in a Jersey Shore town, where some residents and business owners worry filming could disrupt cherished Christmas traditions.
Netflix wants to film scenes for an upcoming series called “Trigger Point” in Ocean County’s Lavallette on Dec. 7 and 8, according to local officials. But the production could mean delaying some of the borough’s holiday decorations until after filming wraps.
Officials say the streaming giant plans to shoot a driving scene along Route 35 and doesn’t want holiday lights or decorations hanging over the roadway or on utility poles while cameras are rolling.
“They want to film after we would typically have those decorations up and they don’t want us to put them up until after the filming,” Mayor Walter LaCicero said.
That would mean the decorations wouldn’t be in place as usual for Lavallette’s annual Christmas tree lighting, scheduled for Dec. 5.
The proposal isn’t sitting well with some local business owners.
“To me, it’s just disrupting our hometown Christmas feel the borough and the business association tries to give to our residents and visitors,” said Rebecca Malloy, president of the Lavallette Business Association.
Malloy already has Christmas merchandise on display at her shop, with plenty more on the way.
Restaurant manager Becky Christensen also expressed concerns about changing the town’s holiday traditions.
“We’re a small town. We love our traditions,” Christensen said.
“I believe that we should be able to be decorated for Christmas for one of our biggest events. Definitely our biggest event in the winter time,” she said.
Officials say there would be no restrictions on holiday decorations at homes or businesses.
Still, some business owners are pushing back against the proposed filming schedule.
“I know several businesses that already submitted letters discouraging the Netflix shooting. So hopefully we can work together and come maybe to a better timeline,” Malloy said.
Netflix has offered to pay Lavallette more than $17,000 to cover expenses associated with the production, including police and parking, according to borough officials.
LaCicero said he supports allowing the shoot to move forward as proposed, citing potential benefits for local businesses.
“So I think it would be advantageous to the business community without putting much pressure on the residents as far as displacing them for any period of time,” LaCicero said.
NBC10 reached out to Netflix for comment but did not receive a response by the broadcast deadline.
For now, the hope is that a compromise can be reached. The Lavallette Borough Council will ultimately decide whether the proposed production moves forward.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.
