New Jersey town cuts down all the trees in town square to deter homeless population

[Me.]

New Jersey town cuts down trees in town square to deter homeless population

"LAKEWOOD, N.J. – A New Jersey township cut down all of the shade trees that once lined its town square in a controversial move designed to prevent homeless people from spending time there.

Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles said the decision was made after a recommendation from the Police Department Quality of Life Unit, which the township said was triggered by numerous complaints from residents and township employees about homeless people defecating and urinating in the area.

“They (homeless people) were harassing people, defecating between the cars and residents were complaining,” Coles said.”

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/08/30/new-jersey-town-trees-homeless/7937772001/

Township Chops Down Shade Trees In Park To Keep Homeless People Out

“A New Jersey township is facing criticism after cutting down the trees in its town square to prevent homeless people from congregating in the shade.

The trees in Lakewood Township’s town square, also known as Red Square, were chopped to the ground earlier this month, local news outlet The Lakewood Scoop reported at the time. But the story gained renewed attention after the Asbury Park Press covered the situation this week.

Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles told the APP that the township decided to get rid of the trees due to an unspecified number of complaints about homeless people “harassing” others in the square, as well as the presence of human feces. The police department’s “Quality of Life Unit” then recommended that the township chop down the trees, according to Coles.”

https://news.yahoo.com/township-chops-down-shade-trees-012457423.html

Some of those trees were huge but I guess they couldn't think of a better solution.

[Jersey Devil]

1. No surprise coming from Ocean County

Anyone from Jersey knows Lakewood (and Ocean County) is a very strange place. That's "down the shore" near Seaside Heights, all the retirement communities and about the Trumpiest part of NJ.

[Me.]

2. It Is Unimaginable To Me That Someone Would Come Along & Simply Cut Down All Those Trees

It is so wrong on so many levels

[Jersey Devil]

4. Not to mention that they can't possibly have much of a homeless problem.

I mean, like Lakewood isn't even a city. It's just one of hundreds of little towns in NJ. If you blink twice while driving you will have passed it. Where are all these homeless people coming from?

[Jersey Devil]

6. Forgot to mention that trees don't really grow in Ocean County anyway

True! The soil is all sandy and the trees are all stunted. Pine trees only grow about 15 feet tall at the most and in fact pine trees that grow to normal heights everywhere else in the state are called "scrub pines" in Ocean County. The only good part about that area is the ocean and beaches and the fact that it is the area where the Jersey Devil lurks.

[padah513]

3. +1000

[Hortensis]

5. How's the tax base? Looks like a cheapest approach to the situation

and one that decreases the appeal of the community. Uglification.

[Me.]

9. Don't Know THe Answer About The Tax Base

But I am willing to bet that the ramification of this will ultimately have unexpected costs

[JustAnotherGen]

7. +1

[bahboo]

8. I don't think they truly understand "Quality of Life"....

jesus...