Tag Archives: Trenton

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Upcoming Free Events to Enjoy in the Mercer County Area

By Giada Schwam

There are many events in Mercer County that are free or little to no cost for participants. Below are a list of a few events ranging from therapy sessions to community booths that are of no charge for all who attend.

  • Every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., the Trenton Twist at Downtown Trenton hosts an all-day shopping and cuisine event. From various ethnic foods to different local works of art, all who attend have the opportunity to experience the local culture of Trenton. A mix of games, arts, books and food are all available at Downtown Trenton. Various local artists ranging from fashion to novelists are sharing their work at these events. Contact 609-577-1173 for more information.
  • Terhune Orchards Winery is hosting a recurring “Weekend Music Series” each week on Saturday and Sunday until March 30, 2025. The event, held at 30 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, New Jersey, takes place from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. In cool weather, seating is inside the wine barn with fire pits. Attendees of all ages can enjoy s’mores, hot cocoa kits and tasting flights. Local artists perform live music from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, with styles ranging from Jazz and Blues to Folk and Rock. In addition to music, Terhune Orchards Winery will host trivia on Feb. 7 and March 7 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Attendees will test their knowledge, have fun and win prizes with DJ Iron Mike. Categories will include entertainment, history & geography, sports, and “Name That Tune.” More information can be found at https://www.terhuneorchards.com/winery-events/.
  • Every Monday at 7 p.m., the SMART recovery program hosts a group meeting at the Peer Recovery Center at 3525 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 903, Hamilton, New Jersey. The Self-Management and Recovery Training program aids those struggling with addiction and strives to build a better life. These recovery programs help people cultivate motivation, cope with unwanted urges, work through emotions and live healthier. They also host a variety of other events, such as yoga, meditation and Qi Gong. Check out their website, https://meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/7691/ for more information about their events and programs.
  • Every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., the Creative Change Counseling Inc. hosts a LGBTQ+ Alcoholics Anonymous Recovery Spectrum meeting at 325 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 908, Hamilton. These events will have the same premise of AA, where people will share their experiences and plans for recovery. These group recovery sessions are geared towards LGBTQ+ individuals, but all are welcome.
  • The Mercer County Library System hosts free events for the community daily at each of their branch locations. Events include storytime, painting, music, board games, free play and babytime. In addition to events designed for children and families, the libraries host events curtailed to adults, such as introductory technology courses. Adult courses include accessing telehealth appointments, navigating Google Workspace, guided meditation and learning English. Teen courses range from crocheting to playing chess. Due to limited space, registration is required in advance in order to attend. Head to https://mercercounty.libcal.com/ for more information or to register for an event.
  • Every Monday at 8 p.m., the Creative Change Counseling Inc. hosts a peer recovery program for first responders. Located at 3525 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 903, Hamilton, New Jersey, Neil Tucker hosts a group session for first responders. Anyone can attend in-person or on Zoom to share their experiences and support for other first responders.
News

The Sleeping Ban: How Could the Supreme Court Ruling Affect the City of Trenton?

By Mika’il Malik

The U.S. Supreme Court issued an important ruling on homelessness, in a 6-3 decision on June 28, 2024. The Court upheld the right of cities to ban and penalize outdoor sleeping and camping, even when shelters are unavailable. 

According to NPR, this decision overturned lower court rulings that argued such bans constituted cruel and unusual punishment, sparking debate about the balance between public order and humanitarian concerns.

According to WHYY, homelessness increased 12% nationwide compared to last year, and now people are forced to choose between sleeping and breaking the law. NPR also reported that critics have argued that this ruling “criminalizes” homelessness without addressing its root causes, further marginalizing those in need.

However, supporters claim it is essential for public safety, ensuring that people use the available resources and attempt to maintain order in cities. 

Although not many cities have yet issued a complete ban, some cities have been utilizing this ruling, and are taking action against the homeless community. The town of Grants Pass, Ohio, which won the Supreme Court ruling, is allowed to start issuing a $295 fine to anyone sleeping outside.

Additionally, according to the New York Post, after Atlantic City officials discovered a homeless encampment under its boardwalk over the summer, they have been working on preventing people from setting up any camps. Since the Supreme Court now allows bans, Atlantic City’s council is now considering implementing one.

The City of Trenton and nearby areas are not immune to these problems. As homelessness increased by 31% in the Mercer County area within the last year, according to Anchor House’s website — an organization that provides services for youth facing homelessness this new decision, if implemented in Trenton, could further exacerbate the challenges for many people.

Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora recognizes how impactful this decision is on the Trenton community, stating that the City will “take a more compassionate approach, balancing the need for public safety with the necessity of providing support to those experiencing homelessness,” in an interview with The Streetlight.

Additionally, Gusciora said “it is reasonable to enforce a ban on sleeping in public parks and playgrounds, as these are spaces meant for children and families to enjoy without concerns about safety.” But he affirms that, “Our goal in Trenton is not to criminalize homelessness but to provide the necessary resources and opportunities for people to rebuild their lives.”

Gusciora pointed out that programs like “ARRIVE Together,” help ensure that interactions with homeless individuals are handled sensitively, and pairs police officers with mental health professionals.

Additionally, Trenton benefits from a strong network of organizations, including the Rescue Mission, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, HomeFront and Arm In Arm.

These organizations work together to provide food, shelter and essential services for those in need, ensuring the homeless community receives dignified care. Gusciora said that the City of Trenton will “remain committed to lifting peo- ple up while ensuring our public spaces are safe for everyone.”

The U.S. Supreme Court issued an important ruling on homelessness, in a 6-3 decision on June 28, 2024. The Court upheld the right of cities to ban and penalize outdoor sleeping and camping, even when shelters are unavailable. 

According to NPR, this decision overturned lower court rulings that argued such bans constituted cruel and unusual punishment, sparking debate about the balance between public order and humanitarian concerns.

According to WHYY, homelessness increased 12% nationwide within the last year. Now, people are forced to choose between sleeping and breaking the law. NPR also reported that critics have argued that this ruling “criminalizes” homelessness without addressing its root causes, further marginalizing those in need.

However, supporters claim it is essential for public safety, ensuring that people use the available resources and attempt to maintain order in cities.

Although not many cities have yet issued a complete ban, some cities have been utilizing this ruling, and are taking action against the homeless community. The town of Grants Pass, Ohio, which won the Supreme court ruling, is allowed to start issuing a $295 fine to anyone sleeping outside.

Additionally, according to the New York Post, after Atlantic City officials discovered a homeless encampment under its boardwalk over the summer, they have been working on preventing people from setting up any camps. Since the Supreme Court now allows bans, Atlantic City’s council is now considering implementing one.

The City of Trenton and nearby areas are not immune to these problems. As homelessness increased by 31% in the Mercer County area within the last year, according to Anchor House’s website — an organization that provides services for youth facing homelessness —this new decision, if implemented in Trenton, could further exacerbate the challenges for many people.

Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora recognizes how impactful this decision is on the Trenton community, stating that the City will “take a more compassionate approach, balancing the need for public safety with the necessity of providing support to those experiencing homelessness,” in an interview with The Streetlight.

Additionally, Gusciora said “it is reasonable to enforce a ban on sleeping in public parks and playgrounds, as these are spaces meant for children and families to enjoy without concerns about safety.” But he affirms that, “Our goal in Trenton is not to criminalize homelessness but to provide the necessary resources and opportunities for people to rebuild their lives.”

Gusciora pointed out that programs like “ARRIVE Together,” help ensure that interactions with homeless individuals are handled sensitively, and pairs police officers with mental health professionals.

Additionally, Trenton benefits from a strong network of organizations, including the Rescue Mission, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, HomeFront and Arm In Arm.

These organizations work together to provide food, shelter and essential services for those in need, ensuring the homeless community receives dignified care. Gusciora said that the City of Trenton will “remain committed to lifting people up while ensuring our public spaces are safe for everyone.”

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Medina Health Clinic To Provide Free Specialty Healthcare in Trenton

By Rebecca Heath and Tori Duym 

Members of the Trenton community gathered in April to celebrate the grand unveiling of Medina Health Center’s community clinic, a primary care facility located in the heart of the city that will offer free healthcare to underserved communities. 

Several speakers, including founder and chairman Sajid Syed and Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, took the stage to share their appreciation for the support the clinic has received, and express their excitement for the journey ahead. 

While addressing the crowd, Syed explained that this concept has been a vision of his for a long time, and said that he is “blessed to have been given this opportunity to serve [his] community.”

Through partnerships with providers, many of whom will serve as volunteers, the clinic will aim to dismantle barriers to equitable healthcare access for the immigrant and homeless populations in Mercer County, according to Gusciora. 

“It’s going to have a major impact because we have many people that do not have insurance,” he told The Streetlight. “We have a lot of migrants that are coming in here, and there is really a huge underserved community…That’s why you have doctors who are donating their time to come, and to make sure that that void is filled.”

Although there are medical facilities that are slightly more accessible for those who do not have the means to afford expensive primary care, finding specialist providers that offer affordable care is extremely rare. 

“That’s what’s different about this,” said Nashon Hornsby, Assistant Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Health. “They pull together specialists to meet the needs of those who are uninsured and underinsured.” 

“It’s a wonderful thing to see a new access point, because anyone who tries to access care, even with insurance, you’re waiting months to try to get into places,” Horsnby said. 

While Medina Health Center originally launched in 2014, according to board member Arshe Ahmed, the organization’s new clinic represents a shift to “frontline” primary care that expands their original model. Previously, local medical centers such as Capital Health and Robert Wood Johnson referred patients to Medina Health, who subsequently visited specialists in their respective offices. 

“We weren’t brick and mortar before; we were a clinic beyond walls,” Ahmed said. “Now we want to sort of serve from that frontline and say, let’s start with primary care and the specialty care stuff will stay.”

In light of recent hospital closures, including St. Francis Hospital in Dec. 2022, Abdul Mughal, a physician and hematology specialist, emphasized the importance of accessible care in the Trenton community. To expand the clinic’s reach and impact, Mughal said he hopes to continue to engage in partnerships with nearby health facilities, as well as host more events to “get the word out and the passion that we have for what we’re doing.”

“I think the need is there, and we’ll grow with time,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll have other resources that we can reach out to. We will be able to serve more people.”

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Bridging Gaps in Healthcare Accessibility: A Spotlight on Capital Health’s Community-Centric Approach

By Tanzim Didar 

Healthcare is a fundamental need; however, there are many inequities within the system. Almost 13 million people say they know a friend or family member who has died because they couldn’t afford care, according to CBS News.

According to HUD Archives: News Releases, on a single night in January 2020, 580,466 people, about 18 out of every 10,000 people, experienced homelessness across the U.S. — a 2.2% increase from 2019. 

Much of healthcare in the U.S. is not affordable and thus not given equally. However, there are many nonprofit clinics that are dedicated to addressing these disparities.

Katherine Stier, director of marketing and public relations for Capital Health, a nonprofit hospital located in east Trenton among other locations, shared her insights on nonprofits and how they help the community.

Capital Health’s main hospital, which is a level two trauma center, is located on Brunswick avenue in Trenton. They have an additional hospital in Hopewell, which is located across the street from the Trenton airport. 

“I handle the community education events at Capital Health,” Stier said. “I’ve been here for about seven years and Capital Health has been in Trenton for 50 to 80 years.”

Stier, who has worked in healthcare for 25 years, said 90% of hospitals are for profit. 

“As a nonprofit, we don’t really make money,” Stier said. “We always try to take in medicare and medicaid patients, because everyone has a right to care. We also have balance because there are people who have healthcare insurance and they pay, but when you walk into our emergency department, some individuals don’t have health insurance, so we work with individuals to tighten up on a paying system or government substance.”

Stier said Capital Health implements initiatives that helps sure each individual patient is receiving the care they need.

“All in all, we take care of everybody,” she said. “Some hospitals only take some kind of insurance or payers, letting them decide who they can take in or not, but we do not do that here.”

Given the demographics of Trenton, a lot of individuals do not have health insurance or may not be citizens, and are afraid to go to the hospital, so Capital Health tries to take care of many individuals and make them feel comfortable. 

“We also have a mother baby clinic where we take care of people, so there are a lot of different events and care given,” Stier said. “We run a food pantry every week through Arm and Arm and we go to different sites and hand out food. We are really involved in Trenton beauce the CEO is all about Trenton and the community. He feels that with the healthcare system, it’s really our basic goal to be the center of the city because if you’re healthy, you don’t need to go to our ER. We want to keep everyone healthy.”

Since its establishment, Capital Health’s mission statement has never changed. They have always been committed to serving the city of Trenton. 

“I’ve always been in healthcare,” she explained. “So, I started off at a children’s hospital, where 93% of every dollar went towards patient care, so patients don’t need insurance. I would see some of these children come in who were paralyzed and missing a limb, and they would leave with a prosthetic arm, leg at no cost and or even get back surgery, basically things that would help them live their life at a better quality.”

“For me, it’s always been an involved process,” Stier added.”I just see the good there is. The facility is always making sure individuals are fed and getting free screening they need. Some of our doctors are the most compassionate people I have ever met in my life. They give so much of their time and energy to work these free screenings, give lectures and make sure everyone receives what they need. If I can just tell their stories, then I have done my job.” 

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Trenton Through the Lens of Alternative Art

By Brie Wells

Tyrese Douglass and Gia Richardson, two young local artists, have chosen to share their vision for alternative art in Trenton through the medium of sketches. Tyrese, also known as “Reese,” was a born and raised in Trenton, and has been using art as a way to express himself since his childhood. Gianna Richardson, also known as “Gia,” developed her love for art when she was eight years old after moving from her hometown of Wilmington, Del. to Trenton, N.J.

The two met in elementary school and later developed a relationship in high school, where they began to collaborate on pieces while sharing a deep passion for art. The pair chooses to create art in their home, allowing their creative process to develop in the space in which they inhabit.

In settling on their art style, Reese developed the pen name “Starboy” and Gia penned herself “Stargirl TD.” The inspiration for both names sparked from personal values and experiences from their lives, which have led them to where they are today. A pen name is a descriptor that marks the designs of an artist; Both artists feel that their pen name is a perfect representation of who they are.

“It represents my name and my favorite number,” Richardson said. “The ‘G’ represents my first name and the ‘S’ represents my family name, and my favorite number is two.” Inspiration for the focus of their art often comes from their surroundings, the internet and whatever they can think of. Coming from a large family, four brothers and three sisters, Reese hopes to one day follow in his older brother’s footsteps and work in a museum as an art curator.

Both find solace in creating art to different types of music, with Reese preferring smooth jazz and Gia preferring rap music. As they prepare to create their own works, they both lean toward pens, mechanical pencils and markers to translate their ideas onto the page.

Both plan to go to art school and hone their craft as they continue to experiment with different mediums. Gia hopes to channel her creativity into tattoo artistry. With their hopes, both have become passionate about framing and showing their art to the world. “We want to show people how much we love art and all the different art genres we can do,” Richardson said.

Both artists continue to reside in Trenton and hope to share that the city brings so much joy to their hearts. They urge other aspiring artists “to never to give up.” Although only 19 and 20 years old, the two artists hope to continue to bring their art all over the world while paying homage to where their journeys began: Trenton, N.J.

News

Trenton Water Works Disappoints Once Again

By Gabrielle Wells

There are over 83,000 people living in Trenton, New Jersey alone, and in this densely populated city, thousands of people rely on the Trenton Water Works (TWW) to supply them with clean drinking water. TWW describes itself as one of the largest publicly owned urban water utilities in America. According to their website, they supply 27 million gallons of Delaware River Sourced drinking water per day to thousands of customers located in the Mercer County area. Their geographical reach includes Trenton, parts of Hamilton Township, Ewing Township, Lawrence Township, and Hopewell Township, often reaching around 225,000 people.

Although TWW states that their goal is to supply clean drinking water to thousands of residents in Mercer County, they have often fell short of this goal. Over the years, residents have complained about contamination, discoloration, and boil water advisories and TWW’s lack of communication in alerting its consumers about the hazards of their water content. One constant and recurring problem is their repeated Boil Water Advisory Notices. The most recent Boil Water Advisory was issued September 27th, 2019. This notice stated, “Trenton Water Works is advising residents in Trenton, Hamilton Township, Ewing Township, Lawrence Township, and Hopewell Township to boil your water until further notice. Chlorination levels (a water disinfection process) are too low due to an equipment malfunction in TWW’s water-distribution system. TWW personnel are working to rectify the problem.” The notice then went on to advise residents to feed household pets with bottled water, to not swallow water while in the shower, and to continue to boil water in order to make sure that all bacteria are killed.

Even though the boil water advisory was issued in September 2019, residents still complained in December about the quality of water coming from their pipes, claiming that water was coming out of the taps purple or pink, which TWW explained was due to a water treatment chemical that was safe to ingest.
The constant testing has unearthed a much bigger problem, which is the presence of lead in the drinking water. According to TWW’s lead program, lead can get in the water via old lead services lines already connecting older homes and buildings to the water main. As water travels through these service lines, the corrosion on the lines add lead into the treated water leading to contamination of water delivered to consumers. Lead can be very toxic and as a result the EPA requires that every water system must contain no more than 15 parts of lead per billion in tap water. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that no amount of lead ingestion is safe.
According to the Trenton Water Works Annual Consumer Confidence Report for 2019, 12 out of 102 areas tested revealed to have 19.7 parts per billion of lead located in the water from January to June. From July to December, 12 out of 106 areas tested revealed to have 17 parts per billion of lead located in the water. These results are way over the limit of the EPA guidelines and can have damaging effects on the population.

Constant ingestion of lead can have many negative health effects and can even prove to be deadly. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, levels of lead in water systems should be at zero because lead can bioaccumulate over time and become harmful to the body. The most at-risk population to exposure is young children and infants due to the fact that lower exposure than adults can still prove to have significant physical and behavioral effects. The EPA states that lead exposure can cause damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, shorter stature, learning disabilities, impaired hearing, and impaired formation and function of blood cells.According to the EPA’s website, low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in future behavior and learning problems, lower IQ , hyperactivity, anemia, hearing problems, and slow growth. In rare cases ingestion can cause coma, seizures and even result in death in children. In adults lead exposure can lead to cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure, decreased kidney function, and reproductive problems.

On January 9th, 2020 Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora officially started the Trenton Water Works $150-million Lead Service Line Replacement Program in efforts to protect residents from lead in their water. According to TWW website, this program will include upgrades to the water-filtration plant and water-distribution system, decentralized water storage, in-house engineering, improved security, control technology, facilities upgrades, and heavy equipment replacements. Mayor Gusciora stated, “Our plan is to remove all lead services from TWW’s system within five years, in addition to making significant upgrades to TWW’s water-filtration plant, water-distribution system, and facilities.” The new program will replace around 36,700 lead and galvanized steel water service lines within five years. In December, construction has already started to fix the lead lines, ahead of the official announcement from Mayor Gusciora and will continue for the next couple of years. One can only wonder if Trenton Water Works will deliver on its promise or once again fail the people of Trenton and other townships.

News

The Census Counts on You

By Kristine Spike

Once every ten years, the U.S. government conducts the census. This started back in 1790 and is critical as the census accounts for numerous aspects. Often argued to be the most notable is the fact that the census is responsible for the number of seats each state receives in the House of Representatives. However, the census also determines the amount of government funding different areas receive. This includes programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP), etc. One issue with the census presents itself time and time again. Are individuals being underrepresented or missed in the census count? This directly correlates to the amount of funding that areas receive, and it is no coincidence that the underrepresented areas are the ones that lack a multitude of resources, as well as areas with a large number of people experiencing homelessness.

For the first time in history the census is now available online. This is revolutionary and makes the census more accessible to millions of people; however, this still poses a huge problem. There are an estimated 19 million Americans who do not have fixed broadband services. That being said, efforts have been made in Mercer County to make sure that everyone is accounted for through Complete Count Committees. People need to know that the census is taking place before they can worry about filling it out. The federal government has commercials, and mail advertisements, but for people with limited internet/TV access and no mailing address, these are not effective measures.

Complete Count Committees in Mercer County have utilized resources such as ad space on billboards,in bus terminals, and on busses themselves, and have canvassed at various community locations. The advertisements are marketed to certain target groups. They specifically incorporate messages for groups that have had low response rates in the past. For example, Black and Latino men ages 15-28, and people with disabilities are featured on the advertisements and billboards due to their lack of representation in the prior census. Also, members of the committee have gone door to door and even to shelters leaving fliers with information on what the census is and how to fill it out. These have been distributed in Spanish and English in order to reach as many people as possible.
After ensuring people know about the census, the second phase is helping people complete it. There are three ways to complete the census: online, by phone, or paper (mail) response. In order to help with online responses, The Complete Count Committees have set up various access centers where people can come in and quickly complete the census. These areas currently closed due to Covid-19 but will reopen when deemed safe. Another option is by phone. By calling 844-330-2020 (English speakers) or 844-468-2020 (Spanish speakers) people are given the option to efficiently answer the questions through the phone. Note there are also 59 other languages the census is offered in, see (2020census.gov for full listing).

The committees have been working tirelessly to ensure that as many people in Mercer county are counted as possible. Currently, the response rate is at 49.2% for the county; however, the closer that number is to 100% the better. Additionally, it is important to note that particular areas fall beneath that number. Trenton for example is currently only at a 30% response rate, well under the current response rate. It is important that all communities within Mercer are counted.

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has made the committees change some of their plans. Tarry Truitt, a consultant for the Trenton Area Nonprofit Complete Count Committee, has called it, “an interesting time.” Recent events have shown just how important representation is. The census is taken into account when roads are built/repaired, where shopping plazas are located, and even where hospitals are built. It is truly crucial that people in Mercer county are accounted for. Since most people are not able to leave their homes currently, the social media that was already being utilized to draw attention to the census is now receiving a second wind. Of course, commercials and videos are being utilized, but there has also been a push to get advertisements in local newspapers as this reaches more of the individuals in the target audience. Plans are being made to reach as many people as possible once the country reopens due to COVID-19.

The census has been extended until August 14th, fill it out- Everyone Counts.

News

Anchor House Receives Approval for Brunswick Avenue Facility

By Jared Kofsky

A non-profit serving youth and young adults experiencing homelessness could soon be expanding its presence in Trenton’s North Ward.

Anchor House, Inc. received approval on July 17 from the Trenton Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) in connection with its proposal for the premises at 868 Brunswick Avenue. The organization sought a use variance in order to turn the house at the site into “office space on the first floor and residential use on the upper floors for up to four individuals,” according to a legal notice.

The facility would include four bedrooms, a common kitchen, and a living area, the notice stated. All of the residents of the house are expected to be between 18 and 21.

Anchor House already operates a shelter for youth and the Anchorage Transitional Living Program for young adults. The non-profit also facilitates the Anchor Link and Anchor Line spaces at the corner of South Broad and Beatty Streets in Chambersburg.

The ZBA’s decision was memorialized in September, according to the notice. for the proposed adaptive reuse of the building is not yet clear. No updates from Anchor House, Inc. regarding the project were available by publication time.

News

New Jersey Cities Differ in Approach to Panhandling Policies

A sign in Newark informing drivers and panhandlers about the new panhandling ordinance in the city. Photo by Jared Kofsky/The Streetlight.

By Kristine Spike

A 2016 report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that an estimated 553,000 people are experiencing homelessness nationwide. Some behaviors of individuals experiencing homelessness are being criminalized is by new policies.

Newark, for example, has passed new municipal ordinance to ban panhandling within city limits. Officials with the Newark Department of Public Safety reported that in May 2019, police handed out more than 250 summonses for panhandling, which can have a maximum fine of $500.

Newark Police are also enforcing a “delaying traffic” ordinance, which prohibits drivers from stopping to give cash to those requesting it. In May, 90 summonses were issued. Tickets given for delaying traffic cost $50, plus a court fine.

Newark officials have stated that these policies have been enacted as a public safety effort. In addition, officials report that they have increased outreach efforts. For instance, Newark’s ‘Hope One’ is a mobile police vehicle that offers Narcan kits, detoxification, rehabilitation recovery support, mental health services, and transportation to treatment facilities. Hope One also works to make identification cards accessible to those experiencing homelessness so that the individuals can obtain services such as assisted housing. Trenton does not currently have a Hope One program, though a list of community partners that perform comparable services can be found in The Streetlight’s Mercer County Resource Guide.

The main concern is whether or not such panhandling policies will extend to Trenton and its surrounding areas. Currently, the short answer is no. The City of Trenton has recently revised its policy on begging and panhandling. City legislation states that “the City Council recognizes a constitutional right to beg or solicit in a peaceful and nonthreatening manner.” The legislation in Trenton goes on to mention that “an increase in aggressive solicitation throughout the City has become extremely disturbing and disruptive to residents and businesses.” These findings led to the passing of a new article to update and clarify the panhandling regulation. The recently passed Trenton ordinance goes on to define “aggressive”, stating that following or approaching individuals at night, or near ATM machines, amongst other behaviors, all are considered to be “aggressive.”

This clause reportedly serves to protect the rights of citizens, while aiming to harbor a safe environment. The City aims to keep intact constitutional rights while also reducing the “disturbance” that panhandling can cause when it takes an aggressive form. In a phone interview, New Jersey State Police Trooper Ryon Barclay stated that as it stands, there is no reason to expect change in the current panhandling laws, adding that the current policy is clearly defined and has a goal of “protection of all citizens.”

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The Highlight: Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora

For the last several months, New Jersey’s capital has been under new leadership. W. Reed Gusciora, a former state assemblyman and adjunct professor at The College of New Jersey, was sworn into office as Trenton’s 56th mayor in July. With the 2018 Point-in-Time Count finding that overall homelessness has increased in New Jersey, The Streetlight wanted to know how Gusciora is planning to address the issue on the local level. Here is a preview of Managing Editor Jared Kofsky’s Q+A with the mayor, which was conducted in late November.

The Streetlight: Why do you think Trenton has such a significant population of people experiencing homelessness? What do you think the cause [of homelessness] might be on the local level?

Gusciora: On the local level, a lot of it is mental health and addiction services are needed. The other thing is that we’re such a transient town. We have four train lines, people can walk across the bridge from Morrisville, and because it’s the capital, they feel that they can get the most assistance here. We have a lot of churches that offer food assistance [and] we have the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, so there are a lot of outlets that the homeless population can take advantage of.

The Streetlight: The Rescue Mission is the only general population emergency shelter in Mercer County. With Newark adding seven shelters, are there plans to open a city-run shelter in Trenton?

Gusciora: We can look at that but we’re focusing on transitioning to more permanent housing. I don’t think just offering more temporary shelters is necessarily the answer.

The Streetlight: What projects are you envisioning as part of an increase in transitional housing?

Gusciora: The Rescue Mission has a good model where they have rooms for temporary shelter but then they have a long-term temporary shelter where [people experiencing homelessness] have actual rooms assigned to them and they actually have apartments that they can stabilize long term until [clients experiencing homelessness] are able to get off on their feet. The Rescue Mission is not strictly temporary overnight housing and that’s something that we have to look for rather than just offering temporary shelters. The other thing is that we are the state capital so we need the state and the county to be very much a partner because if you look at the other communities that surround us, they offer very few homelessness services and they really need to step up to the plate so that everyone doesn’t just get funneled into the capital city.

The Streetlight: If you could have it your way as mayor, what would that look like to have other communities step up to the plate?

Gusciora: I think that they should have an obligation to offer some kind of temporary housing and bring the services to them directly, whether it be mental health or addiction services, rather than just give somebody bus fare to the capital city. I don’t think that really is responsive.

The Streetlight: Is there any plan specifically for increasing services addressing youth homelessness such as or in addition to Anchor House?

Gusciora: Well there’s other organizations such as LifeTies. A big consequence of homelessness are LGBT youth that seem to be tossed out of their family’s structure and as society gets more tolerant, that will be less of a problem but nonetheless, it’s critical to offer those services as well but there are other organizations that are willing to step up to the plate such as LifeTies.

The Streetlight: Do you think then that homelessness should be addressed by non-profits or should the city government play more of a role?

Gusciora: Well the problem is that the City doesn’t have the resources to handle the problem itself so it does have to rely on faith-based initiatives as well as general non-profits. If the State of New Jersey paid dollar-for-dollar in their property taxes because of all the tax-exempt properties that they occupy, they would give the City $45 million, but yet last year, we got $9 million in transitional aid, so we can’t keep going back to our own tax base to pay for such programs so we really need for the state and the county and even the feds to step up to the plate.

Selected questions and answers have been slightly condensed for spacing purposes.