As it threatened at the last status conference, Lakewood has filed a motion to shut down the Lakewood Tent City. A copy of the motion papers is attached. The hearing has been scheduled for Friday, November 18th at 9 a.m. at Judge Foster's courtroom at the Ocean County Courthouse, 100 Hooper Avenue, Courtroom 7, in Toms River. Please mark your calendars and spread the word. As many of us as possible should be at the November 18th hearing to show that we care about the residents of Tent City and all of Ocean County's homeless. The date/time could change, and if so, we will let you know. We will also be in touch about other ways that we can take action to help not only those in Tent City, but all of New Jersey's homeless.
Basically, Lakewood is arguing that even though they are members of the public with no place to sleep but the public woods, the homeless are "trespassers" whom Lakewood has the right to remove. As stated in a footnote (on p. 1 of the legal brief), Lakewood "is not seeking the immediate ejectment" of the homeless -- but is seeking a court order "that no new persons are permitted to occupy the Property" and for "an orderly vacation of the Property by the Defendants" -- whatever that means. This law firm will prepare papers to oppose the motion. Stay tuned for further information.
Jeffrey J. Wild Member of the Firm Lowenstein Sandler PC
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