By: Adeja Shivonne
Newark’s Ironbound Business Improvement District (IBID) and Councilman Michael Silva erected an 8-foot fence around Peter Francisco Park, claiming it was necessary to prevent homeless individuals from damaging monuments and driving away business. However, Jeff Wild, an attorney and Trustee with the New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness, criticized the action, stating, “If this is public land, it is unconstitutional under New Jersey’s constitution and New Jersey law.” The fence has sparked a debate over the balance between public access and the rights of vulnerable communities.
Comments