Homeless, Drug Issues Draw Officials’ Ire As League of Municipalities Starts Anew

SCHELLINGER’S LANDING – A heated discussion surrounding drugs and homelessness dominated the Cape May County League of Municipalities meeting Jan. 25 at Lucky Bones restaurant. 
Guest speaker Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) cited the opioid epidemic as “the issue of the year.
“It’s in rural areas, it’s in suburban areas, it’s in urban areas, and it’s overwhelming our society, it’s hurting our young people, and it’s a real problem, and a devastating issue,” he said.
Van Drew praised former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for his efforts, as well as provided updates as to what’s being done at the state level to combat the issue.
“There are more treatment centers, there’s going to be more with education for younger people to realize what this can do to them, and there’s going to be more in general with that, and more that’s going to unfold as the year goes along,” said Van Drew.
Christie, in his final State of the State Address Jan. 10, announced the launch of “a one-stop website (reachnj.gov), and a hotline, (1-844-REACH-NJ), to make it easier to access treatment,” along with other initiatives. (Read Christie’s address here).
Van Drew encouraged league members “to make sure at the freeholder level, social services level, every level that we’re getting what we need down here.
“We have a problem here, we have to face it, and we need to make sure that our people are being treated the way that they should be.”
“We can talk the talk, but I haven’t seen walk the walk, and I think we need to concentrate on Cape May County,” said Stone Harbor Council member Joan Kramar. “We have a terrific epidemic here of drugs, especially in lower Cape May County. I don’t see anything being done.
“In order for some of those tent cities, one behind (Rio Grande businesses), to get any kind of help, they need a permanent address, or they need an address. They don’t have an address. They live in that tent city.
“I understand that they get vouchers to go to a motel. They sell the vouchers to get drugs. What are we doing? What can we do to help?”
“New Jersey has done more than almost anybody, and I believe that part of the issue is that we have to make sure that we’re linking up with the statehouse, linking up with the governor’s office with this issue,” Van Drew responded. “Gov. Christie originally, give him credit, put the program in place, and there is a program for homeless as well, so if there are homeless issues then they absolutely can get help as well. They will help homeless; they will help people that are in motels, or they will help people that are in four-bedroom homes, so part of the walking really has been done, and now we have to make sure that it is actually happening in Cape May County.”
“How do we move forward with this?” Kramar asked.
Van Drew suggested contacting the governor’s office, or his office. “I will certainly contact the governor’s office and get them on board.”
More questions from Kramar solicited a response from Avalon Council member Nancy Hudanich, who is also superintendent of the Cape May County Technical School District. She mentioned organizations working locally to combat the issue, including members from the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office visiting area schools. “Through education and working together, there are so many agencies,” she said. “They are doing it.”
Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton, addressing Kramar, said, “They (homeless) can’t sell the vouchers. When they call in for that night, they call the homeless hotline, they get a number, they take their name, and they have to go in with identification, and their name, and that number.
“The problem arises because they’re required by law, once they have a voucher, to go to the motel, that the next day they’re supposed to show up to social services and be evaluated to see what services we can provide them, and what their needs are. Well, they don’t show up. And when they don’t show up, then they’re sanctioned by the state.” The only time the sanction is waivered is during a Code Blue, he said.
“The state has been working on this,” Thornton continued. “We have been working with the state. We have hired probably six people as investigators in the Prosecutor’s Office in order to address this issue.
“For the homeless issue, we spend over $1 million a year on homeless people, and fortunately, we’re using the federal money on homeless so that you’re not burdened with that cost.
“We have the chief of police from Middle Township, Lower Township, we meet and we discuss these things over and over again. We have Cape Assist, Cape Counseling, all those drug programs, but one of the problems is bail reform because now somebody gets arrested on a drug charge, within 48 hours they’re released, and they’re back out on the street selling drugs again.”
“Can I speak now?” West Cape May Mayor Carol Sabo asked. “We have done nothing to address this homeless problem, and Gov. Christie has done nothing to address the opioid problem. It’s lip service to a problem that requires a lot more than an 800-number.
“We need concrete services, we need a hospital that you can detox at, we need a homeless shelter, we need housing, not just vouchers, we need housing that people can live at because if you don’t have your basic needs met, you can’t see yourself forward to get treatment. That’s what we need in this county.”
“Right now, we put somebody in a hotel for $50-$60 a night,” responded Thornton. “Atlantic City Rescue Mission, for $35 a night, will put them in there, they get medical care, they get drug counseling, they get job counseling and they get all their amenities.”
Sabo, speaking over Thornton, said, “We could use one here in this county.”
“That’s a pretty good deal for us, and we’re also working with them trying to get the facility in Wildwood open for that very reason,” Thornton continued. “Atlantic City Medical Center, our rescue center, will use that, so don’t say that we are not addressing this.
“The senator has been with us in these meetings trying to address this problem. This is not an easy problem. These are not easy people to help,” he continued.
“I know because I’ve worked with those people,” Sabo said.
“And I compliment everybody that helps, but the issue is when you talk about creating a shelter in the County of Cape May, you are talking about a major burden here,” said Thornton.
“We had the money for a jail though,” said Sabo.
“You’re absolutely right, and I can tell you why,” said Thornton. “If we didn’t build that jail, and we had to move 200 prisoners, it would’ve cost us $12 million a year every year.”
“Can we do better,” asked Van Drew. “Absolutely! Should we do better? I’m sure.
“We’ve been involved with Cape Assist and Cape Counseling, particularly Cape Assist. My chief of staff is on the board there trying to do everything we possibly can think. Nobody is sitting on their butt and not trying with this. It’s hard and it requires us not to yell at each other, but to come together and figure out how we can make it better.”
Medical Marijuana
Van Drew said he voted for, and to expand, medical marijuana “because it does help some people.” He was met with applause when he said he is opposed to recreational marijuana.
“I don’t know if we have a tremendous need for more recreational drugs,” said Van Drew. “I just don’t think it’s something that we need to rush into now when we don’t really know all the effects and problems that it can cause in a community, and we certainly don’t know what to do when accidents occur, and how to really measure if that person has been using recreational marijuana, and is way over the limit or not, we have no accurate way of doing that. Before we legalize it, I believe we need an accurate way of doing that.
“I do believe we should decriminalize it, and not have people sitting in jail,” Van Drew continued. 
Installation
Van Drew administered the oath of office to the league’s 2018 officers. They are President David Bennett, Woodbine Borough Council member; First Vice President Mary Tighe, Sea Isle City City Council member; Treasurer William Kehner, Sea Isle City City Council member; and Secretary Constance Mahon, Wildwood Crest administrator.
Second Vice President Beatrice Pessagno, Cape May City Council member, was nominated and will be sworn at the next meeting.