Quote:

While it's an aggressive solution, I kind of like this idea.

Do you know of anywhere else this has been done?

I know the long history of that park.

The inability (or otherwise) of the JCPD to effectively clean up a quarter acre leads me to be convinced that the only solution is a green acres swap of the land by the city and the land developed.

Market rate condo building.

Problem solved; neighborhood improved.

I would invite Chief Comey to your meeting. I videotaped a Chief Comey meeting with the NAACP. The chief said he would give patrols to certain problem streets.
Yvonne

Thanks for the post, Yvonne.

I don't have cable TV, so it was nice to be able to check out a local interview like that on YouTube. I also like how you have a lot of your other interviews posted at the bottom of the page on SpeakNJ.com -- very convenient!

I've never been to your website before, but I noticed from your bio that you, as a longtime community activist, were instrumental in having the Angel Luis Ramos Playground built from what was a formerly empty lot on Wayne Street.

I've been living on the same block as the playground for over 7 years now. While I have seen occasional crackdowns on the rampant drug dealing that goes on over there in the park, it seems to be just as bad now as when I first moved here. And it goes on while families are gathering and children are out and about playing.

While it's nice to have a place for kids to play, do you have any recommendations on what to do about this ongoing problem (as well as the late-night loitering, public urination, loud music and street fights this park seems to regularly invite)?

I know some ideas discussed include a gate that would be closed and locked nightly or a police booth that could be manned from mid afternoon until late at night, but these ideas seem to just fizzle and go nowhere.

In case you haven't seen it yet for yourself, you can read more about local residents' disgust on JCList.com's Wayne Street Issues thread.

Thanks in advance for your help and for any advice you can offer.

The show is tonight @ 10:30, Tuesdays @ 9:00 for the month of July.
Yvonne

Speak NJ interviews Ricardo Kaulessar, the reporter from the weekly paper Jersey City Reporter. He has written over 1,000 articles since 2003 on Jersey City. Ricardo makes insightful comments on the 2009 election for mayor.
Yvonne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qS4_ON1tXw