3rd District Community Rights?

by: firstamend07

Thu May 17, 2007 at 07:42:36 PM EDT

Should the State be able to totally ignore the wishes of those who live in a community that might be effected by a State decision?

On Saturday a Rally will occur at South Woods State Prison. It is being organized by the Legislators who represent the people in the Cumberland County communities that are opposed to having a Civilly Committed Sex Offender Unit moved into their area.

It is a Unit that has been in existence for over 9 years in North Jersey. Now that it has reached its maximum occupancy the Department of Corrections Commissioner George Hayman, on his own, and with no consultation of the Bridgeton and Cumberland Community, has made South Woods State prison the " primary" destination for these Civilly Committed Sex Offenders. He said so himself at a Senate Budget Hearing.

No known " Plan B" , just move a North Jersey problem to South Jersey.

Both he and his boss , the Governor, apparently feel that this is perfectly fine.

Is it?

Just because you can do something does not mean that you should do it.

Governor Corzine should have demanded that his Commissioner of Corrections have open discussions with both the Community and the three Legislators who represent the 3rd District. State Senator Sweeney, and Assemblymen Burzichelli and Fisher cannot continue to be ignored by the Corrections Commissioner George Hayman.

The Department of Corrections leadership over the past few years has shown a strong tendency to arrogance, so their part in this backdoor manuever is not surprising. I however expected more from Corzine.

A successful Rally on Saturday will create a rift between the South Jersey Democratic Party and a Democratic governor.

Is this what Corzine wants? Is there no one in Corzines inner circle that can make George Hayman respect the good people of Cumberland County?

firstamend07 :: 3rd District Community Rights?

Tags: sweeney, Cumberland County, corrections department, (All Tags)

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3rd District Community Rights? | 2 comments

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I guess it takes public demonstrations for the arrogant Dept. of Corrections Administration to even talk to the people of this community.

Where is the " open" Corzine Administration?

South Jersey Town Protests Proposed Relocation Of Sex Offenders To Their Area
Friday, May 18, 2007 - Millennium Radio New Jersey
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Dave Polaski
This weekend, a South Jersey town will voice their opposition to a proposed plan that would bring a significant number of convicted sex offenders to their neck of the woods.
The New Jersey Department of Corrections is considering the relocation of at least 350 convicted sex offenders from lock-ups in Kearny and Avenel, to the South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton. The city's mayor, Jim Begley, says although the D.O.C. claims other options are on the table -- it seems to him like it's a done deal. "This is really a slap in the face to the citizens of Bridgeton."
Begley says not only would such a move lower morale and create a "stigma" in Bridgeton, it also presents a legitimate threat to the area -- once a convicted sex offender gains freedom. "They usually 70-percent of the time will reside within the community that they're released into."
This can endanger the safety of residents in Bridgeton and surrounding communities, according to Begley. "If they put them back out on the street, they have the best chance of having a recurrence, and Bridgeton doesn't need that."
Begley calls the proposal a waste of taxpayer dollars. "It would cost the state $8-million to move these 350 sex offenders. They should return this money to the citizens of New Jersey."
The rally, which is scheduled for 11 A.M. Saturday across the street from the prison, is expected to attract local and state officials, as well as a significant number of residents. "I don't think you'd ever get a meeting with residents of the city and have them welcome these people with open arms," Begley explains.

By: Dave Polaski

by: firstamend07 @ Fri May 18, 2007 at 11:45:55 AM UTC

DOC vs. Community (0.00 / 0)

Article published May 21, 2007
Prison plan opposed
By JOE GREEN
Special to The Daily Journal
djlocalnews@thedailyjournal.com
BRIDGETON -- Angry residents gathered Saturday on a grassy lot almost in the shadow of the high gray walls and barbed wire of South Woods State Prison.
They assembled to rally against a state Department of Corrections proposal to make New Jersey's largest prison a preferred site to house some of the state's worst sex offenders.
Sen. Stephen Sweeney joined Assemblymen John Burzichelli and Douglas Fisher, all Democrats whose district includes the prison and its surrounding neighborhoods, hosted the rally held in the industrial park just outside the prison.

About one-quarter of all state inmates in New Jersey are housed in prisons in Cumberland County.
Sweeney said moving sex offenders to the area could "demoralize the momentum" the county has built in recent years.
"It's the wrong image for this community," he said. "This county is united to say 'Not this time.'"

George Hayman dn the Dept. of Corrections is hoping this will all go away.

It will not.

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by: firstamend07 @ Mon May 21, 2007 at 10:43:39 AM UTC