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Trenton’s city council is considering three new laws they say will help them combat the rowdy crowds gathering in front of City Hall on weekends – many drawn to the East State Street area by NJ Weedman’s Joint.
The gatherings have become known as “Club City Hall,” initiated jokingly last year by social media posts made by the Joint.
The council will have first readings tonight for ordinances that would require:
- A 12 a.m. closing time on non-bar establishments
- Mandatory use of off-duty city police officers for events or gatherings reasonably believed to be over 50 attendees
- Liability for businesses to pay for safety and cleanup for disruptive crowds.
Mayor Reed Gusciora, police officials and councilwomen Yazminelly Gonzalez and Jasi Mikae Edwards announced the moves on Wednesday at a press conference inside City Hall.
“What we want to say is enough is enough,” Gusciora said.
The unruly crowds are costing police overtime, about $10,000 already in the past few weekends.
Police arrested four people last weekend including one person accused of assaulting a police officer.
The mayor said his administration wants people to come to the city. They have plans for more options in the downtown entertainment district, like the city’s hotel reopening someday, and other restaurants.
“But we’re not New Orleans, we’re not there yet,” Gusciora said.
A man was shot and killed on the block this summer and another was wounded during the boisterous gatherings, which sometimes continue to 4 a.m.
City officials did not mention Weedman’s Joint, or its owner, longtime marijuana activist Ed Forchion, but the 12 a.m. closure is aimed at his establishment.
Forchion’s Joint has no liquor license and he’s successfully fought the city to stay open as long as he wishes. He’s said it’s akin to an all-night diner.
As for the crowds, Forchion has said he has little control over what people do outside his business, even if they are there because of it. He maintains that many never enter the Joint, they just hang out in the block.
“Everyone’s pointing the finger at me, and there’s nothing I can do,” he told NJ Advance Media last week.
Before the city announced the new measures, Edwards held a “Take Back City Hall,” event on Friday night, starting at 10 p.m. in hopes of dissuading the chaos.
Fights did occur after her event concluded and many are shared on social media, like this one. (Caution: video includes violence and profanity.)
The councilwoman has been vocal about the City Hall issue on her Facebook page.
Police spokesperson, Capt. Lisette Rios, said more police will be on East State Street every weekend. They will disperse crowds when needed, and officers are not there to escalate.
“We’re not going to tolerate disorderly behavior,” Rios said. “The people engaging in these behaviors are adults who know better.”
Residents deserve peace, safety and quality of life, she said.
And officers, if they are assaulted, she warned: “That behavior will get you arrested.”
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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
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