New Jersey
New permit requirements cause New Jersey minister to pause charitable giveaways days before Thanksgiving
LAKEWOOD, N.J. — A New Jersey minister who has spent over two decades helping people experiencing homelessness says his efforts have been put on hold right before Thanksgiving.
Minister Steven Brigham, president of the nonprofit Destiny’s Bridge, and volunteers provide food and supplies to those in need in Lakewood, including on holidays.
“I would come out here to the town square twice a week and set up tables, and we would give out clothing and food to the poor,” Brigham said.
Lakewood resident Darlene DiDonato told CBS News New York she’s been struggling with homelessness for years, but says Brigham helps ease some of the burden.
“It’s not easy to be out here,” she said.
“I think it’s trying to force the homeless out of the town”
Brigham says when he came out earlier in November, however, there was a sudden change.
“The captain of Lakewood P.D. came up to me and said, ‘Minster Steve, you need a permit to be out here.’ I said, ‘I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and I haven’t needed one in the past,’ and he said, ‘Well, you need one now.’ So I was a little upset,” Brigham said. “I think it’s trying to force the homeless out of the town.”
Brigham reached out to an attorney, who has been in touch with the township.
Township asks organizations to fill out contract to use town square
The township now wants all organizations to fill out a “Hold Harmless Agreement” – a contract – in order to use the town square. The mayor says there have been issues.
Lakewood Mayor Raymond Coles said in a statement:
“Lakewood township prides itself on looking out for the welfare of all our residents. We have teams out daily working with the homeless and others in need. We have a robust housing rehab program and our homeless prevention programs help keep folks in their homes when they are going through tough times or need a hand to keep their homes habitable. We are the fourth largest town in NJ and have one of the lowest eviction rates in the state.
“We always work with organizations who wish to help those in need. All we ask is that they help us schedule their efforts to ensure that we know who is using our facilities and help prevent anyone who may wish to exploit the most vulnerable among us.
“We also have a responsibility to our residents and employees to make sure they have a safe environment and do not encounter any form of harassment while they go about their day.
“To paraphrase Dicken’s, this is the time year that want is felt most keenly. Lakewood is committed to providing those in need with a safe place to lay their heads and will work with anyone who seeks to provide help to those who need it.”
The mayor told CBS News New York Brigham is welcome to set up in the meantime, but Brigham is not convinced.
“I want something in writing to make sure that we’re going to be able to come out here and the other organizations are going to be able to come out here … I’ve got a lot of clothes and a lot of blankets that I want to get out here, and they need it,” Brigham said.
He would normally be out on Wednesday, but he says he’s going to hold off until he gets legal input. He hopes to return next week.
MOORESTOWN, N.J. (WPVI) — Ten people, including several students, were hospitalized Tuesday after a school bus crash in Burlington County, New Jersey.
The collision happened around 3 p.m. at Borton Landing and Hartford roads in Moorestown.
Township officials said in a Facebook post that a car and school bus collided at the intersection, injuring six students, the bus driver and three occupants of the passenger vehicle. All injuries appear to be minor, officials said.
“We have been made aware of a bus accident on one of our routes. There are no significant injuries for our students,” Moorestown Township Public Schools said in a statement.
The remaining students on the bus were taken to a nearby school, where they were picked up by family members.
School counselors will be available this week to provide additional support to students.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
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An alleged drunk, wrong-way driver was arrested following a crash on Interstate 80 in Warren County, officials said.
Robert Felegi was driving a pickup truck west in the eastbound lanes in Knowlton when he crashed head-on into a New Jersey State Trooper’s vehicle near milepost 1.4 around midnight Tuesday, State Police said.
The trooper had emergency lights and sirens activated while trying to alert motorists of a hazard ahead, authorities said.
The trooper suffered minor injuries, while Felegi was not hurt.
Felegi, 67, of Middleport, Pennsylvania, was charged with assault by auto and driving under the influence.
He was brought to the Warren County jail ahead of a detention hearing. An attorney for Felegi is not listed in court records.
investigation, and no additional information is available.
TRENTON, N.J. (WPVI) — New Jersey casino workers, who are pushing to permanently ban smoking in their workplaces, held a rally in Trenton on Monday.
A hearing was held to discuss a lawsuit that aims to close the smoking loophole in the Garden State.
For years, casino workers have been pursuing protections against secondhand smoke in their workplaces.
RELATED | Judge allows smoking to continue in Atlantic City casinos, dealing blow to workers
New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act largely bans indoor smoking, but casinos have a long-standing exemption.
The lawsuit filed last April by the United Auto Workers, which represents dealers at the Bally’s, Caesars and Tropicana casinos.
In August 2024, a judge ruled in favor of the casinos to allow smoking to continue.
“Casino workers are expected to clock in to work every day despite inevitably facing a toxic environment that could cause countless health issues, including cancer, heart disease, and asthma,” said Nancy Erika Smith, the lawyer representing Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) and the UAW on Monday.
“We’re asking the court to find the exemption in New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act unconstitutional and void it immediately. We hope this case will serve as a precedent for casinos across the country to close their smoking loopholes and stop poisoning their workers,” added Smith.
The casinos have warned that thousands of jobs and millions in gambling revenue and taxes could be lost if smoking was banned.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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