Urgent Message from Mayor William James to the Citizens of Gloucester City

April 29, 2008

"I hope that you all are up for the fight, for it is my intention to take whatever action, no matter how drastic and explore whatever venue, no matter what the cost to prevent this from happening", Mayor William James 

Dear Citizens of Gloucester City,

Today I met with a representative of South Jersey Port Corporation regarding the proposed relocation of the Camden City Methadone Clinic to the Port Facility in South Camden.  As I expressed my extreme displeasure with the plans to go forward with the project I was informed that a new location for said clinic has been identified.

The new location explained to me is the Air Products Facility directly on the right-hand side at the base of the Broadway Bridge. I've been advised that this is a recently identified location that the Port facility owns.

After expressing my thoughts on the matter, I advised the Port representative that the fight is on and that I would do everything in my power to prevent this from happening. 

After the meeting I contacted the Mayor of Camden City.  And spoke with her regarding the new location selected by the Port.  Mayor Faison was unaware of this new development and expressed her deepest concern as she no more wants the clinic at her entranceway than we want it on our entranceway.  The Mayor referred me to The Camden City CEO former Superior Court Judge Theodore Davis.  Judge Davis called me back later in the day and was caught off guard by the new information.  The Judge promised that he would look into the matter and expressed his concern with placing the clinic anywhere near a city entranceway.  He further advised that he would be contacting Joe Balzano of South Jersey Port as well as the Counsel to the Governor's Office. 

I hope that you all are up for the fight, for it is my intention to take whatever action, no matter how drastic and explore whatever venue, no matter what the cost to prevent this from happening.  The statistics don't lie, the clinic offers services to approximately 700 drug addicts a day and with all of our efforts to beautify our community entrances and exits in progress this would be absolutely devastating to our efforts not even taking into consideration the societal impact this facility and clientele would have upon our community and the Broadway Corridor.

We have already met with our neighbors in South Camden regarding the proposed plans of placing the clinic within the port facility and now with this new plan in existence I feel as though it's time to step up to whoever is responsible and forbid them from again dumping upon the City of Gloucester and the City of Camden. 

I know we have a lot going on right now but I am placing this project at the top of our agenda.  This situation that we face will have a dramatic impact upon the present and future quality of life within our community and I hope every one of you (members of Council), the news media and the fine citizens of Gloucester City are behind me for the "Good Fight".



William P. James
Mayor of Gloucester City

Comments

[Sam Bowers]

Unbelievable what are you a moron. If the people of gloucester that are scum bag dope heads want help they can take the bus up to camden and get it. To bring this methadone clinic into gloucester would be the dumbest thing we have ever done.

[unbelievable]

I read on hear that they sell the drugs in front of the clinic. Whose fault would that be, I'll answer that, it would be the police department not doing their job in those towns. Does anyone read the Newspaper about how many drug arrests the police make in our town in a month, plenty. Our guys are doing their job, and I'm sure they would be watching any rehab place intently because its an easy arrest catching a pusher. The clinic is needed in our town because the problem is here as well as everywhere else. We are not the exception like so many people think. What is our city thinking. Don't they want our citizens that are in trouble to get the help they need. Stop acting like it doesn't exist here.

Grateful
Isn't that why Mt. Ephraim blocked off Station Ave?

[Paul Street Price]

Temper tantrum? Hardly. Alcohol and drugs a big part of Gloucester City? HELLO - THEY ARE A MONSTROUS EPEDEMIC IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! Lose your tunnel vision, nurse. Apparently you are not aware that the reason people are protesting this clinic is because the addicts are illegally selling not just methadone, but various other drugs directly out front. Its not about money or politics. Your views are simple and naieve. Enough said.

[Grateful]

Dear Methadone Clinic Patient, Good for you in beating your addiction, but have you watched that Fox News video? It is really scary! People are selling their Methadone right in front of the building! You can't believe that that's a good thing to have in any neighborhood. I have an idea - let's completely block off the street where Gloucester ends and Camden begins. That way we won't have all that drug traffic going through town!

[loveanurse]

To: Methadone Clinic Patient: I applaud you-I am in agreement with you-it really wouldn't change the town, only the people in the town can change it. Gloucester is very political-look around, most of council, police and the paid firemen are related in one way or another. BROTHERS, SONS, UNCLES, COUSINS etc. And if they are not related they are in "TIGHT". They run the town the way they want, with no foresight of what they are doing, and won't fight if it doesn't benefit them. Yet as soon as they decide they don't like something, they want to jump the gun and form together to stop it.

The majority (not everyone) who lives in Gloucester, says that they are not discriminative towards others, color, race etc. However, there are other discriminations going on--this methadone clinic is just an example. I would rather see a bus drop someone off for treatment-no matter what the addiction or the type, then continue to see the users and pushers walk down my street.

Alcohol and Drugs are a big part of Gloucester City - lets band together to change that instead of having a temper tantrum over a medical facility- who's mission is treatment - even with the payoff involved.

I think that if it was actually in Gloucester, and that Gloucester was benefiting from the generated income, they wouldn't say anything and the Major wouldn't even make a peep, and the people who live here wouldn't even know it was coming-like ever other back alley deal our city government does behind our backs. They won't even publicize a job opening cause they save it for family and friends.

Lastly, To Ping Pong: I have no relation to any police officer, fireman or council in Gloucester City or surrounding--remember the purpose of this comment posting is to hear opinions,and to express your own. It is not to accuse people or try to name who is writing them. - You have wrongly accused a family.

[Paul Street Price]

Yes. I can say I never touched that crap... junkie

[Methadone Clinic Patient]

My point is that bringing the methadone clinic to this town, is not going to make it any worse than it already is, nothing could!! From now on take a look around, look at the hundreds of people you see getting off the bus coming FROM CAMDEN, WHERE THEY JUST COPPED THEIR drugs, OR COMING OUT OF THE MANY, MANY BARS OR LIQUOR STORES THAT OUR WONDERFUL, FAIR CITY HAS TO OFFER, THEN TELL ME THAT OUR CITY WOULD BE WORSE WITH A DEFINITE RECOVERY CLINIC, BECAUSE LET ME TELL ALL OF YOU, I AM RECOVERED!!!!!! AND I AM DEFINITELY NOT A DERELICT, NOR AM I A HYPOCRITE, NOR AM I FAKE!!!! AND ALL OF THAT, I CAN BE PROUD OF, CAN YOU SAY THE SAME?

[Tell the truth]

The mayor is going to fight huh? That's funny because the rumor that is going around like crazy is he is getting ready to step down...never saw that coming did we Billy Boy. Now see if you can figure out who will replace him.....You got it the guy who is pulling his strings MARCHESE!!!

[Concerned Citizen]

Mayor James,

Kudos! We can no longer accept our City being a dumping ground for projects that no other Town wants or needs. It is time to stand up for ourselves and fight back. There is power in numbers and we all need to get involved in saving our City. Advise the citizens of this City what you want them to do and they shall respond. Thanks Mayor James for your tenacity in this important matter.

[Gus Danks]

Mr. Mayor,

Although I am not a resident, I am for anything that promotes Gloucester and makes it an even better place to live and visit. A methadone facility is something that's necessary to help people get back on track again, but locating near city entryways doesn't benefit either city. It also would certainly not even be convenient to those who require its services. Gloucester is undergoing some very positive changes. You are as right as you can be to oppose something like this on the front steps of Gloucester.
Gus Danks
Barrington

[Ping Pong]

If I'm not mistaken, Chief Crother's has family that are nurses. His wife,daughter, and daughter in law are nurses, is this in some way a payback to the mayor. Naughty Nurse's

[UNITE AND KICK BUTT]

GOD BLESS YOU, MAYOR JAMES, FOR ADDRESSING THIS SO BOLDLY.I am thankful for and proud of your actions! All citizens of GLoucester need to unite and join energy, talents, time, ideas, resources, and responsibilities to fight this adamantly.
How about a letter or postcard writing campaign? They say that each letter sent via "snail mail" is considered to equal ten votes. Our library and churches and schools could open up one evening, provide sample letters for individuals to copy, and mail off. I will be happy to compose sample letters is needed. Citizens can donate boxes of envelopes from local dollar stores, writing paper, and/or a book of stamps. One thousand letters would send a powerful message. Our schools could have students in grades 3 - 12 also write letters. THERE IS POWER IN THE PEN.
How about phone calls to elected county and state officials and other decision makers? Publish their names and phone numbers. Broadcast them on Channel 19. List them here on the blog. We all can take the time to make a phone call or two and express our dismay.
How about an organized protest at the suggested location with posters and the media show casing the unity in our fight against this? Again, every church, family, individuals, school etc.. need to be willing to come out for an hour one night and show that Gloucester City WILL NOT tolerate being turned into a cesspool.
Fellow citizens, it's game time. Batters up. Let's show the state what we are made of.
BIll, please keep us posted on what is going on and what we can do.

[Burlington Street Barry]

I will judge anyone I want. Especially needled up, infected streetwalkers who could possibly be that much closer to my hometown.

[loveanurse]

This is probably the last piece of the puzzle to turn Gloucester City in to "Little Camden", as many people have referred to it for years. It is definitely the wrong place to put this type of facility, in our opinions anyway. Can't it stay where it is? Maybe we should look at the client el, that go to this facility, we can't judge them. We can't just assume that they are the scum of the earth because they go for a medical treatment-not everyone on methadone, is or was a junkie. Lots of intelligent, business minded, successful people have additions due to injury and illness, that they need to overcome.

However, because of the primary location being in South Camden, it is more likely that the above "type of patient" would not be using that location unless it is the most convenient. --But listen there are alot of residents in Gloucester City that probably are going there for treatment, as well as the surrounding towns. They actually are already here living in this town and think about it, they most likely aren't that "type of patient" either.

GOOD LUCK in this battle, fight as long and as hard as you can, Major James, some people of Gloucester are just hoping that this is not a diversion technique, to shadow all the problems you and your department are having. And to try to make us forget about your neglect for Gloucester City.

Keep this in mind--Methadone is a MONEY MAKER, and MONEY TALKS, and in the end those with BIG POCKETS usually win the WAR.

Mr. Mayor,
Thank you for the tenacity you display in the fight against the placement of this new clinic so close to the heart of Gloucester City. This is the last thing we need. I myself, as I am sure most of the residents and buisness owners, are behind you 100% to ferouciously defend our fair city from whoever it may be that thinks they can dump thier social garbage on our front door step. The terms "BY ANY MEANS NECCESSARY" and "NOT IN OUR TOWN" play over and over again in my mind. GLOUCESTER CITY WILL NOT PLAY HOST TO THE DERELICTS OF A NEARBY "RECOVERY" CLINIC.

I'M READY TO FIGHT FOR OUR CITY .... LETS STOP THE MADNESS !!!

Mayor James,

Thank you so much for standing up for the residents of Gloucester City on this one! I hope all your efforts pay off and we are not yet again dumped upon.

Thanks,
Proud Resident