Andrew Chang said he was concerned about the number of cars parking on Clucas Brook Road because of the limited visibility and other safety hazards for bicyclists, including his three children who bike to the library. Chang said that Clucas Brook Road leads to the hike-and-bike trail that connects The Hills community to River Road Park and the library. After Chang spoke, a member of the audience who was against the ordinance, reportedly said, "Go back to China," which elicited a vehement reaction from Committeeman Douglas Stevinson. "That's not civil discourse, "Stevinson said, adding that the remark and other remarks he had heard were "complete crap," "shameful," "repugnant" and "unacceptable." ==================================== Trump supporters claim 'political interference' by Bedminster GOP over parking ordinance Mike Deak MyCentralJersey.com BEDMINSTER – Despite criticism that it was political persecution and a violation of constitutional rights, the Township Committee on Monday unanimously adopted an ordinance that limited parking on Clucas Brook Road next to the Clarence Dillon Public Library. The ordinance came under fire from organizers and participants of rallies in support of former President Donald Trump at the designated "free speech area" at the library property at the intersection of Route 206 and Lamington Road. They told the Township Committee that the ordinance would infringe on their rights of free speech and assembly because they would have to find a new place to park before gathering at the free speech area. But Mayor Lawrence Jacobs, who said the all-Republican Township Committee has been accused of being liberals and "anti-Trumpers," said the elected officials "have to stand up for our residents." He emphasized there was "nothing political" about the ordinance. "Our role is to support Bedminster residents in the neighborhood," he said. "The neighborhood has put up with a lot for a very long time," the mayor said, noting that many of the objectors to the ordinance do not live in Bedminster. "We don't have to make it easier for you and less convenient for our residents," Jacobs said, explaining that the Township Committee is not taking any action to prevent rallies at the intersection, which have been common on weekends since Trump, who often stays at his Trump National Golf Club three miles west on Lamington Road, became president in 2016. The public hearing on the ordinance "devolved" after a neighborhood resident told the Township Committee that he supported the ordinance. More:Lincoln Project using geofencing at Trump Bedminster Andrew Chang said he was concerned about the number of cars parking on Clucas Brook Road because of the limited visibility and other safety hazards for bicyclists, including his three children who bike to the library. Chang said that Clucas Brook Road leads to the hike-and-bike trail that connects The Hills community to River Road Park and the library. After Chang spoke, a member of the audience who was against the ordinance, reportedly said, "Go back to China," which elicited a vehement reaction from Committeeman Douglas Stevinson. "That's not civil discourse, "Stevinson said, adding that the remark and other remarks he had heard were "complete crap," "shameful," "repugnant" and "unacceptable." Stevinson later said that it was "kindergarten behavior" and the criticism demonstrated an "incredibly myopic view." He said the ordinance was "not driven by any political reason" but that neighborhood residents should "get some relief." Jim Stadtmueller, who lives on Lamington Road opposite Clucas Brook Road, said his Saturday mornings have been disrupted by "rowdy out-of-towners from both sides of the aisle" who have shown "no regard for the neighborhood." He said there has been chanting led by bullhorns, loud music and car horns from Route 206 prompted by rally attendees' asking motorists to blow their horns in support of Trump. One time, Stadtmueller said, a "sacred moment," the baptism of his granddaughter in his backyard during the pandemic, was interrupted by "people yelling profanities." "More needs to be done to control the noise," he said. At the beginning of his term in office, both supporters and opponents of Trump congregated at the free speech area. But now most of the people gathering there are supporters. But critics of the ordinance were not swayed by the neighborhood residents. Terry Beck, a Hillsborough resident who wore a "Bikers for Trump" jacket, said there hasn't been any problems since she began organizing rallies more than six years ago. "My correction officers, bounty hunters and biker clubs now suspect this is all against us," she said, adding the ordinance was "harassment, unnecessary and probably political persecution." She said the ordinance was a violation of civil rights. Beck added she has received permission from a property owner across Lamington Road from the library for participants to park there. Beck also said that law enforcement officers had not told her of any problems about the gatherings. A man from the Ocean County community of Waretown said he drives two hours to the rallies "just to show support for my president." "I'm not here to create waves," he said. "I'm here to wave flags." However, if the ordinance passed, "I won't drive for two hours and not have a place to park my car." He also said "there seems to be an angst about people expressing their opinion publicly. That's legal still." A Woodbridge man said the parking ordinance was a violation of the First Amendment. "You should be ashamed of yourself," he told the Township Committee. "You're standing in the way of patriots." A Manville woman said the ordinance was "political interference." "The fact that you guys are Republican and are supposed to be on our side, it's very confusing," she said. "You guys are not supporting the president." A Peapack-Gladstone man said that if the ordinance passes, "you're going to wake a sleeping giant." He said there are many Republicans in Bedminster who will allow parking in their driveways and parking lots. "You do not want bearded, bald-headed guys like me walking down your liberal neighborhoods waving flags," he said. "Donald Trump told us to keep fighting," he said. "I take it literally." Email: [email protected]
Andrew Chang said he was concerned about the number of cars parking on Clucas Brook Road because of the limited visibility and other safety hazards for bicyclists, including his three children who bike to the library.
Chang said that Clucas Brook Road leads to the hike-and-bike trail that connects The Hills community to River Road Park and the library. After Chang spoke, a member of the audience who was against the ordinance, reportedly said, "Go back to China," which elicited a vehement reaction from Committeeman Douglas Stevinson. "That's not civil discourse, "Stevinson said, adding that the remark and other remarks he had heard were "complete crap," "shameful," "repugnant" and "unacceptable."
==================================== Trump supporters claim 'political interference' by Bedminster GOP over parking ordinance
Mike Deak MyCentralJersey.com
BEDMINSTER – Despite criticism that it was political persecution and a violation of constitutional rights, the Township Committee on Monday unanimously adopted an ordinance that limited parking on Clucas Brook Road next to the Clarence Dillon Public Library. The ordinance came under fire from organizers and participants of rallies in support of former President Donald Trump at the designated "free speech area" at the library property at the intersection of Route 206 and Lamington Road. They told the Township Committee that the ordinance would infringe on their rights of free speech and assembly because they would have to find a new place to park before gathering at the free speech area.
But Mayor Lawrence Jacobs, who said the all-Republican Township Committee has been accused of being liberals and "anti-Trumpers," said the elected officials "have to stand up for our residents." He emphasized there was "nothing political" about the ordinance. "Our role is to support Bedminster residents in the neighborhood," he said.
"The neighborhood has put up with a lot for a very long time," the mayor said, noting that many of the objectors to the ordinance do not live in Bedminster. "We don't have to make it easier for you and less convenient for our residents," Jacobs said, explaining that the Township Committee is not taking any action to prevent rallies at the intersection, which have been common on weekends since Trump, who often stays at his Trump National Golf Club three miles west on Lamington Road, became president in 2016.
The public hearing on the ordinance "devolved" after a neighborhood resident told the Township Committee that he supported the ordinance. More:Lincoln Project using geofencing at Trump Bedminster Andrew Chang said he was concerned about the number of cars parking on Clucas Brook Road because of the limited visibility and other safety hazards for bicyclists, including his three children who bike to the library.
Chang said that Clucas Brook Road leads to the hike-and-bike trail that connects The Hills community to River Road Park and the library. After Chang spoke, a member of the audience who was against the ordinance, reportedly said, "Go back to China," which elicited a vehement reaction from Committeeman Douglas Stevinson. "That's not civil discourse, "Stevinson said, adding that the remark and other remarks he had heard were "complete crap," "shameful," "repugnant" and "unacceptable."
Stevinson later said that it was "kindergarten behavior" and the criticism demonstrated an "incredibly myopic view." He said the ordinance was "not driven by any political reason" but that neighborhood residents should "get some relief." Jim Stadtmueller, who lives on Lamington Road opposite Clucas Brook Road, said his Saturday mornings have been disrupted by "rowdy out-of-towners from both sides of the aisle" who have shown "no regard for the neighborhood." He said there has been chanting led by bullhorns, loud music and car horns from Route 206 prompted by rally attendees' asking motorists to blow their horns in support of Trump. One time, Stadtmueller said, a "sacred moment," the baptism of his granddaughter in his backyard during the pandemic, was interrupted by "people yelling profanities." "More needs to be done to control the noise," he said.
At the beginning of his term in office, both supporters and opponents of Trump congregated at the free speech area. But now most of the people gathering there are supporters. But critics of the ordinance were not swayed by the neighborhood residents. Terry Beck, a Hillsborough resident who wore a "Bikers for Trump" jacket, said there hasn't been any problems since she began organizing rallies more than six years ago. "My correction officers, bounty hunters and biker clubs now suspect this is all against us," she said, adding the ordinance was "harassment, unnecessary and probably political persecution."
She said the ordinance was a violation of civil rights. Beck added she has received permission from a property owner across Lamington Road from the library for participants to park there. Beck also said that law enforcement officers had not told her of any problems about the gatherings.
A man from the Ocean County community of Waretown said he drives two hours to the rallies "just to show support for my president." "I'm not here to create waves," he said. "I'm here to wave flags." However, if the ordinance passed, "I won't drive for two hours and not have a place to park my car." He also said "there seems to be an angst about people expressing their opinion publicly. That's legal still." A Woodbridge man said the parking ordinance was a violation of the First Amendment. "You should be ashamed of yourself," he told the Township Committee. "You're standing in the way of patriots." A Manville woman said the ordinance was "political interference." "The fact that you guys are Republican and are supposed to be on our side, it's very confusing," she said. "You guys are not supporting the president."
A Peapack-Gladstone man said that if the ordinance passes, "you're going to wake a sleeping giant." He said there are many Republicans in Bedminster who will allow parking in their driveways and parking lots. "You do not want bearded, bald-headed guys like me walking down your liberal neighborhoods waving flags," he said. "Donald Trump told us to keep fighting," he said. "I take it literally." Email: [email protected]