Lakewood (NJ) cut down Town Square trees to deter homeless [View all]

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southpaw
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Aug 29, 2022
@nycsouthpaw
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A New Jersey town cut down all the shade trees in its central square to dissuade unhoused people from spending time there.

app.com
Lakewood cut down Town Square trees to deter homeless
Lakewood mayor said the decision was made after a recommendation from the Police Department which was triggered by numerous complaints from residents.

southpaw
@nycsouthpaw
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The Township of Lakewood has a whole chapter of its municipal code devoted to the protection of trees and a four member Shade Tree Commission.

ecode360.com
Township of Lakewood, NJ: Protection of Trees
Ch 19 [Editor's Note: Prior ordinance history includes 1971 Code §§ 4-19.1 — 4-19.9 and Ordinance No. 2003-29] [Ord. No. 2010-95] Indiscriminate, uncontrolled and excess destruction, removal and...
3:27 PM · Aug 29, 2022

https://www.app.com/story/news/local/jackson-lakewood/lakewood/2022/08/29/lakewood-nj-town-square-trees-cut-deter-homeless/65420495007/

LAKEWOOD – The township cut down all of the shade trees that once lined Town Square in a controversial move designed to prevent homeless people from spending time there.

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.

Claudia Romero, who works in a tax preparation company across from the Town Square, said that one day she found human feces on the sidewalk in front of her office and then submitted a complaint to the township. The township did not say how many complaints it received.

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