Christ Episcopal Church in Toms River, New Jersey, says they’re not for sale. The city says otherwise.
On April 30, the Toms River town council voted 4-3 to advance an ordinance opening the door for the city to purchase the church and five other properties to build two public parks. Should the church (or any of the other properties) refuse to sell to the city, the city says they’ve authorized themselves to take the church’s 11-acre property by force via eminent domain.
Why? According to the mayor, the city needs some new pickleball courts, and the 160-year-old church is in the perfect location.
The possible church takeover is just the latest development in a monthslong battle between city officials and Christ Church, who hoped to erect a 17-bed homeless shelter on the property. Now, some have suggested that the potential seizure is direct retaliation against the church for offering assistance to the city’s homeless community.
Helping the Homeless
Though it was the town council’s eminent domain vote which made national headlines, the fight between Christ Church and Toms River has been simmering locally for months.
Christ Church had been working with the Affordable Housing Alliance on plans to build a 17-bed homeless shelter on their property. When making their case to the city for zoning approval, they argued that Ocean County has no permanent homeless shelter, and that their shelter would help their struggling neighbors get back on their feet by feeding them, putting a roof over their head, and connecting them with mental health and job training services.
Complaints Roll In
But that erupted into scores of complaints from local residents, who argued that the homeless shelter would both make the area unsafe and tank property values, a debate which has engulfed the small waterfront community.
"I don’t care if you are going to call me a NIMBY, I don’t care if you are going to call me a racist. I am not, I am a taxpayer and I just don’t think it’s fair," said one local woman, arguing the shelter would be a “magnet” for additional homeless people to come to her neighborhood.
Another resident argued that allowing Christ Church to open a shelter could open the door to other community churches helping the homeless, too. “I am adamantly opposed to this application because I see bigger than just this one issue, I see bigger than this application," explained one man. "I am concerned that this is going to open a floodgate that can't be closed."
The town's mayor, Daniel Rodrick, has opposed other efforts to house the homeless in the past. Rodrick targeted a volunteer-run kitchen with ties to Jon Bon Jovi and tried to shut it down because its food services were so popular with the local homeless population.
Church and Seizure
As Christ Church sees things, there’s a direct line between their desire to open a homeless shelter and the city’s hope to convert their pews into pickleball courts.
They say they didn’t even get any advance warning that their entire existence was being put to a vote at the town council, and they were tipped off about the vote only hours before.
Emotions were high during that initial town council meeting – and that was only a vote on whether to advance the ordinance. The final vote on the land-seizure ordinance will come later this month, just days after the town council also votes on approving or rejecting the church’s plans for a homeless shelter.
“It’s just really shocking and surprising and very disappointing,” said church rector Reverend Lisa A. Hoffman, who argues that building a soccer field and pickleball courts are not a “legitimate reason to seize the property.”
“It is clear and obvious that the township and mayor are acting in bad faith and have ulterior motives,” wrote church attorney Michael York. “It is blatantly illegal, improper, and violates the United States Constitution, as well as numerous New Jersey laws and case law,” he stated. “No town has ever done this, let alone done it to a church and it's clearly retribution.”
The city, however, emphatically denies the vote is in any way related to the church’s desire to put up a modest homeless shelter on their property. They say the church is sitting on valuable land which could be used by the entire community.
“It's a great location,” said Mayor Rodrick. “We’ve had our eye on it for some time.”
What Happens Next?
The next hearing on the church’s future is scheduled for later this month, but what do you think? The church believes that the motion to seize the church via eminent domain is both improper and illegal, a blatant retaliation against them for daring to assist the city’s homeless population. But the city says the homeless shelter has nothing to do with it, and that the new parks and all their amenities are a necessary development to build out the city’s downtown area.
Toms River just really, really needs some new pickleball courts.
What is your response? Is the city retaliating against the church? And is it in the best interest of the community to seize the church and put up a new park?
48 comments
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Clay Serenbetz
If you believe the only place in Tom's River for a pickleball court is the church's property, then I have a bridge over the Toms River to sell you. More likely, the town is suffering from a pandemic of aporophobia. Toms River tends to vote republican based on voting results in recent elections. In my opinion, this evidence supports my theory.
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Steven Ferrell
Stop with the political crap.
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Brian Hand
The issue is not political. It’s about not being appropriate for the area and taking the surrounding residents and businesses into consideration. There are plenty of more suitable areas for a homeless shelter and the people supporting it don’t have to live next to it.
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Patricia Ann Gross
But there are better ways to handle the problem than the city confiscating the church's property. They, could find alternate pickleball locations and the church could find an alternate location for the shelter, although, that is the more difficult part, because aside from abandoned properties not fit for human living, few areas would welcome the shelter into their neighborhood. Some of the comments were apalling, one even stated that it would open the floodgates for other churches to follow suit, which, by the way, is what Jesus taught - take care of the poor. He and his disciples were homeless and relied on the hospitality of strangers as they traveled. "Suitable areas" for a homeless shelter include flood plains and rat-infested vacant houses.
I worked for eight years with primarily homeless people, and most of them were not there because they wanted to be. Many prefered the streets to having a family split up or breaking into an abandoned house with no electricity or running water. How much disruption is 17 people going to make anyway?
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Noreen Schifini
Do not be fooled, this is COMPLETELY political. The Mayor of Toms River is a vindictive and petulant bully in addition to being a proven liar. He forcibly closed a "tent city" run peacefully for over a decade by a local minister (all funded through private donations) has fought repeatedly with County Government about providing warming centers during the winter months and is currently fighting with John Bon Jovi about a pay it forward non profit community restaurant (look it up...JBJ Soul Kitchen) Christ Episcopal Church has served the community for over 100 years and currently runs a food bank, hosts 12 Step meetings and is an anchor of the community. The "homeless shelter" proposal has been completely misrepresented as all they asked for was a 17 bed overnight space, it has never been billed as a long term shelter. Pickles all over people, what a sad state of affairs
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Najah P Tamargo
Najah Tamargo-USA
Pickle ball courts as opposed to helping the homeless? That just shows how "unchristian" those politicians are. My vote is (excuse me) HELL NO!!! People come first.....NOT PICKLE BALL!!!!
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Nicholas J Page
Oh great another kick for the homeless I thought church and church property could not be sold unless the church agreed. Where would the homeless go to for shelter warmth and company and food.
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Daniel Todd Kamm
That's just another way of sweeping the homeless problem out of view....
A typically suburban activity, my father played pickle ball, tournaments, fundraisers, etc. until he died (not from the sporting activity itself) and all of those environments were quite well appointed by the sponsors and participants....
Nothing against the sport which seems dominated by geriatrics like me and my father before me... but there is another agenda here...hmmm.... pickle ball court or helping the homeless?
Please...tk
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Mountainsage
I seriously doubt if EVERYONE in Tom’s River plays pickle ball so I doubt this single use would validate the imminent domain acquisition. This seems like a preemptive move on the city’s part to prevent the church from using the property as they see fit (to do their religious work.) where is the compassion and brotherhood?
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Kevin James Bogan
It’s not imminent, it’s eminent. I’m just trying to be helpful.
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Lawrence A. Benson
This sounds to me as though there is room for negotiation. Perhaps the trading of property/s so that the elite can have their "Pickleball Courts" and the poor and homeless can have a place to rest. Just a thought.
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David Cuevas
I Remember the Old Yankee Stadium being knocked down to make a Park. But then the Community got together and said if you make a Park in the place of the Old, you need to rebuild a New Stadium across the Street. In which they did. You would think they do that with the Pickleball Court but they won't. Just like The New Yankee Stadium the Pickle ball Court will be overpriced and only meant for the Rich.
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David Cuevas
Unfortunately even in my youth I have seen Churches, Parochial Schools and even Rectories (if I'm spelling that correctly) knocked down to make room for either Parks or Condominiums to be built in it's place. Low Numbers of Attendance from Parishioners and Crime Rates have soared in other places. I understand that a lot of people have to prioritize responsibilities but these has to be another way to deal with this, sadly I don't have the answers.
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James Mounts
As I have said in response to several other articles, planning boards rule. As far as a trade goes, the government must pay a fair price for any seizures, so the church will be able to purchase property in an area more amenable to their plans, and build what they wish.
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Clay Serenbetz
My humble church was built at the turn of the 20th Century. It's a special sanctuary that is irreplaceable with today's architectural trends. In other words, you can't rebuild it somewhere else, as in my opinion, it's a landmark.
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James Mounts
Then you should petition your local planning board to have it declared so. If your neighbors agree with you it will be so designated. If not, tough. Planning boards rule.
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Colleen McAllister
This is obviously in retaliation for the church wanting to build a homeless shelter. The city council needs to stop blocking this shelter and support it instead
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
Though I am not a Christian, I am on the Church's side here. They are trying to do Good. The Town is not.
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Donald J Rothschild Jr
This is another example of so called “Christian” republican politicians choosing which parts of the bible they will follow and which Christian denomination. Whatever happened to helping their fellow man? Oh that’s right, that person must be one of us. Typical.
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JaZe
Homelessness is the big issue that needs to be resolved nationwide. It is a dirty word. People s circumstances leed them to that situation. Not everyone has the capacity to survive and do well on their own. A shelter is far more important in humanitarian values than pickleswhatever.
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Rev Ned
I got in big trouble w/ some family members last Thanksgiving for reminding those gathered that the first Thanksgiving was Native Americans showing kindness to refugees, who just showed up. Christofascists gotta hate.
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John Alex Paxson
Everyone on the Town Council should be fired...Pathetic humans!!!!
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John P Maher
YEAH in JUST ABOUT EVERY TOWN in AMERICA, U S A THAT IS !
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John P Maher
GOD BLESS AMERICA, BUT IT SEEMs AS THOUGH THE RICH HAVE FOUND a WAY TO B S GOD " ALSO "
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Stephen P Singleton
The concept of "freedom of (or even from) religion, seems to me to include a place for religious expression and worship. If a principality considers church property that valuable, then make an offer to the congregation to buy the land at a commensurate rate! Give The People the chance to choose. ANY attempt to just " seize" the land would be, in my book, immoral and should be illegal.
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Steven Ferrell
There has to be other places, other already vacant land that pickleball can be built on.
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Brian Hand
The Mayor is not only threatening to take the church property but also 3 small marina properties in close proximity. If he's doing it mainly to stop a 17 bed homeless shelter it can be done by just stopping the variance needed to do so. Taking the properties is a stretch. No one other than the surrounding homeowners and businesses should have a say in having a homeless shelter there anyway. If there was an impact study done, the surrounding property values would definitely suffer! Bon Jovi has one of his Soul Kitchens 5 miles away of which I never see open. Having a soup kitchen at our library was a joke and he should have done it at his own location… Or better yet have all the homeless up to his house in Rumson and see how his neighbors would feel! The people screaming at the last council meeting were mostly bible thumping outsiders yelling "Re-pent" to anyone opposed to the shelter. They should help the homeless people there get jobs so they can take care of themselves instead of pushing for a shelter in our community. There’s plenty of property down by Ciba Geigy/Oyster Creek. Go put a shelter down there!
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Just Me
The “homeless people” are downtown because there are, well …. WERE, places for them to sit, rest, find nourishment (thanks to Bon Jovi’s Soul Kitchen), be protected from weather under a gazebo, use of the restrooms at the Library, get a cup of coffee at 7-11 …. They wouldn’t have to congregate there had they not disrupted the encampments which were away from neighborhoods, and out of sight from anyone who didn’t know where they were. Thanks to the non-profit group(s), and many volunteers who either with the non-profit, or on their own, or with a church gathered clothing, blankets, food, personal items, tents and whatever else they could provide to help sustain the less fortunate.
Where would you suggest some of these homeless people “get a job” without the means of maintaining proper hygiene, or transportation, or proper clothing, just among a few obstacles. They are not all young physically able people that have become disenfranchised. It may surprise you to know that there is a fair share of older victims mixed in as well. Unexpected things happen in life that not everyone is able to work their way out of. Where do people go when their home is foreclosed or their rental lease is not renewed or lost due to unforeseen circumstances? Businesses, restaurants, stores are closing all around Toms River. Where are these jobs that “they should go to”? How many veterans come home after serving and cannot find employment or housing? Thank God T2T foundation is building a program including affordable housing for our veterans.
I respectfully believe that you are woefully uninformed as to all of the dynamics that contribute to homelessness. Addiction, mental illness not withstanding. How thoughtful of you to suggest the town build a Shelter at Ciba-Geigy or Oyster Creek, or perhaps the farmland in Lakewood area where all of the barrels of toxic waste were buried. Out of sight out of mind?? We all have one life ….. if you have a comfortable life, with a nice home, reliable transportation, nice clothes on your back, a well stocked pantry, a livable wage, then you are very fortunate. Imagine one day through some tragedy you lose it all and there is no one who can help you. Imagine. It may surprise you to learn that you may find a few homeless people who previously lived that life. There but for the grace of God go any of us. At the very least, please have some compassion.
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Brian Hand
It’s not a matter of compassion. If you don’t live in the proximity of the church then your opinion is irrelevant. Take a homeless person into your home if you want to preach. The Ciba Geigy/Oyster Creek area has been tested and deemed safe. This area is congested enough without a homeless shelter and loitering. The downtown parking garage around the corner has had tents and tarps put up with homeless staying there. We are not California and do not want that here. There is a few schools nearby and that is a red flag also because of the loitering and mental issues. Last month there were boats broken into with homeless found sleeping inside. Another dock had the gate broken with empty whiskey bottles left on the dock. So much for harmless and law abiding. The church should have just kept what they were doing all this time and not filed for a variance for a homeless shelter. No, we don’t need more parks or a pickle ball court. That whole idea is pathetic. Yes there are jobs out there. Unfortunately the people I have talked to don’t want to work. They collect social security and spend it on alcohol/drugs then food if there’s any money left. Bettering themselves and putting a roof over their head is last on the list. When they don’t want or take help from their own family that is also an issue. This ill conceived thought by the church should be abandoned and stick to all the other charitable programs they sponsor that are a permitted use.
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Michael Hunt
So do nothing for the homeless community then? That's certainly going to solve the homelessness problem. Just sweep 'em up and put 'em somewhere where you don't have to look at them? No matter how much you want to deny it, this is a matter of compassion and you clearly don't have enough.
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Rev Ned
Kindness ain’t popular in MAGA Murika!
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Rev. Donut
Ya know what's Not popular in MAGA but does seem to be popular in Dumocratic slime hole cities?
It's the lawless cowards and thugs attacking robbing, beating and injuring or worse, old men and women walking on the street. And, doing it repeatedly.
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Michael Hunt
Do you have examples of these things occurring in "Dumocratic slime hole cities"? As some one who lives in one of those cities, these things certainly do occur, but not at any insane rate that makes me concerned about walking downtown by myself.
In reality, the crime data doesn't really support the idea that Democrat run cities are more violent or dangerous than Republican lead cities. There's actually very little difference. We're better off discussing what we can do to reduce crime instead of blaming one political party. https://manhattan.institute/article/red-vs-blue-crime-debate-and-the-limits-of-empirical-social-science
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Brian Hand
Did you actually read the article you listed? There are democrat and republican counties in each state, so comparing state isn’t factual if there is more than one or the other. If you look truthfully, Democrat run counties are the slime holes. If you want to get away from the democrat filth in north jersey, people move to southern jersey or the shore. Look at a red/blue map of counties of any state and compare where the problem lies. The blue counties in NJ are where the problems are. That’s not prejudiced or racist, it’s just facts.
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Michael Hunt
Yes, I did read the article, did you? If so, you seem to have missed the part where they talk about state vs. county comparisons and you definitely missed the conclusion: "Our analysis, however, makes a very simple point: it is very easy to change the conclusion by manipulating the data in very simple ways.... It seems to us that it would be far more productive to spend that time and effort debating the merits of actual policies, as opposed to measuring the effect of partisan leanings in the population."
You clearly have a prejudice against Democrats which is why you consider counties run by them to be "slime holes." I have lived in both red and blue counties and states in my life and in my experience, living in the blue, Democrat run parts of our country have been immensely better than my time in red areas. That's not because I think Republican run counties are "slime holes" or some other pejorative you can throw at them, it's because the blue cities I lived in suited my needs better. I wouldn't describe a single place I've lived in the US as a "slime hole" and certainly not the liberal metropolitan cities I've had the pleasure of living in.
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Carl Törnell
I suggest they build the pickleball court on Mayor Rodrick's property by eminent domain instead. He'll be welcome to stay in the shelter.
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John Alex Paxson
Down with Pickleball!!
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Sheri L Kurdakul
Tennis was all the rage at one point. Now, abandon tennis courts lie cracked and dilapidated in numerous neighborhoods (just like shopping centers and malls). It's a shame that Tom's River chooses to abandon their people when, given our economy, some of them might find themselves in a similar situation. Then they'll wish the church and its homeless shelter offering refuge and food was there.
As for a need for facilities? Toms River Township offers several neighborhood tennis courts for recreational use. Shelter Cove Park, Chadwick Beach Park, Bayside Park, and Bey Lea Park all feature tennis facilities. Additionally, Clifton Ave Park and other locations within the township may offer tennis courts, according to the Toms River Township website. Let's convert some of those!
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Jeffery D. Sanders
Curious... How many here home the homeless on their own properties? We can criticize as much as we want but what about our own hearts? Does not God own everything? Maybe He wants to use HIS homes to house the homeless? Maybe He want this homeless issue to be resolved by us, in our homes? Then maybe we can go talk with all the people at the pickle ball courts taking church 'outside the four walls'? Seriously ya'll. If WE housed the homeless this would be a non-issue. So who is really the 'bad' people here? "He who is without sin cast the first stone". We love pointing our religious fingers as did the Pharisees but as the saying goes there are always 3 fingers pointing back as us. "If MY people, which are called by my name (Call themselves Godly), shall humble THEMSELVES, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from THEIR wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive THEIR sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chron 7:14. I propose this is not a "Church vs City " problem this is an us problem. Note: I will be the first to be gut honest/transparant and say I'd rather put that responsibility on someone else at this point in my life but I am willing to look in the mirror and be honest with myself and God. I'd rather pay (Donate) someone else to be the good Samaritan than open my own home. (BTW. I have spent many a night sitting with a homeless person having the opportunity to hear their story. Praying with them (seeing a few get healed!!) and buying them some food. That is a true honor!)
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Michael Arthur Lueras
Ironically the use of Eminent Domain is the best Final Solution to The Homeless Problem. To wit: If any sheltered space that could be used as housing or could be easily converted into housing sits unused for more than one month it should be confiscated by The Federal Government of the U.S.A. and utilized as housing for The Homeless. The problem of homelessness in the U.S.A. is national in scope. Therefore The Federal Government of the U.S.A. should intervene on a nation-wide basis to solve the problem of homelessness through the use of Eminent Domain. Amen?
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Kenneth Lee Whitehurst
Sadly, my church has encountered resistance from our neighbors as we sought to establish a shelter for homeless men. Neighbors from the community between the church and a large golfing community showed up to oppose the shelter at a hearing mandated by the Zoning board. I was truly amazed at how visceral their responses were. I have housed the unhoused in my home often and applaud any church, community group, and individual who do the same.
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Steven thomas woodworth
church's, religion, faith are under attack for so long, as well as the faithful. what's happening to our society? It's good thing the church is trying to do, and much needed in the area. Hundreds are put up in hotels in the winter months there when things are slow. If that many who opposed it would work together the problem of the homeless would be much less. It's just common human decency. Prayers to soften their hearts. In Jesus name.
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Rev. Donut
It's much more important to build a "Pickle Ball" court for the obese, old, mostly uppity, women to go out, stand around in $400 dollar outfits and hold their $80 plastic paddle and drink their boxed wine on the sideline and talk about how they all used to be the star of their Jr. High Tennis team.
That's their new racquet.
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Scott Staunches
Once upon a time, churches of any religion were considered sacred. I mean, they've only been there for 160 years...My understanding of the Constitution and eminent domain is that it is only to be used for "big projects" for the benefit of the common good, like highways and power grids. This seems just a little "off." And Heaven forbid that the church try to help those among us that need it most. (I kinda thought that's what churches were here for.) I don't care what the politics are, or whose side is on what side. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. If these "NIMBY" people gave up one $10.00 coffee a week and donated the money, we could help lift a lot of neighbors up, and cumulatively improve all our neighborhoods. And yes, I DO what I can in my neighborhood, thank you for asking...
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Kenneth Kling
Messing around with a group who is willing to take your problems on and deal with them is truly bazar. This mayor could be forced to recon with the homeless issue without ANY support from anyone. He's probably anti-something or non-religious or both. Pickleball over taking care of people is a bit absurd, and taking on the faithful is stupid. The people elected this jewel of a man they should be the ones to deal with him. I'm sure there is a parcel of land elsewhere that would work equally fine. It seems like the dude wanted his own news cycle.
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Kenneth Kling
Messing around with a group who is willing to take your problems on and deal with them is truly bazar. This mayor could be forced to recon with the homeless issue without ANY support from anyone. He's probably anti-something or non-religious or both. Pickleball over taking care of people is a bit absurd, and taking on the faithful is stupid. The people elected this jewel of a man they should be the ones to deal with him. I'm sure there is a parcel of land elsewhere that would work equally fine. It seems like the dude wanted his own news cycle.
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Kenneth Kling
Messing around with a group who is willing to take your problems on and deal with them is truly bazar. This mayor could be forced to recon with the homeless issue without ANY support from anyone. He's probably anti-something or non-religious or both. Pickleball over taking care of people is a bit absurd, and taking on the faithful is stupid. The people elected this jewel of a man they should be the ones to deal with him. I'm sure there is a parcel of land elsewhere that would work equally fine. It seems like the dude wanted his own news cycle.
Sounds like Tom’s River NJ is a very “christian” town… so much for following the teachings of the “christian” savior! (A lot of sarcasm went into the creation of this post.)