Seaside Heights, NJ – The Jersey Shore was rocked by a violent weekend that ended with one person dead, three stabbed, and over 70 arrested. Many lawmakers are now blaming the Democrat controlled legislature, Governor Phil Murphy, Attorney General Matthew Platkin and bad parenting for the sharp increase in violence.
New laws passed by the majority Democrat legislature in Trenton, bills signed into law by Murphy, and policies that handcuff police to deal with minor crimes by Attorney General Platkin they say, are handcuffing police.
This weekend, shore area Assemblyman Paul Kanitra, a top contender to lead the Ocean County Republican Party into the future, lashed out at the state of affairs in New Jersey blaming Democrat lawmakers for making it harder to enforce law and order at the Jersey Shore.
One candidate running for governor is also slamming state officials for the criminal and juvenile justice reforms enacted by Governor Murphy, but only one is taking what happened in Seaside Heights sriously.
Jack Ciattarelli, who was endorsed by President Trump earlier this month was appalled by the mayhem in Seaside Heights.
Jack Ciattarelli
“We need to take back our Jersey Shore from the criminals inciting chaos and violence. Legislators representing the shore communities introduced legislation that stiffens penalties and punishes those responsible for this type of outrageous behavior,” Ciattarelli said. “It’s time for the Democratic majority to enact these laws and allow the police to do their jobs.”
Ciattarelli said once he receives the nomination as the Republican candidate for governor, he will also work to continue to remove the Democrat lawmakers who have handcuffed police and put public safety in jeopardy all across New Jersey.
Ciattarelli will be visiting the boardwalk in Seaside Heights today.
Bill Spadea
The former radio talk show host who usually has a lot to say about everything has been unusually quiet on the subject. Spadea has not publicly mentioned the wild weekend. That could be because he’s under orders not to. Spadea’s chief consultant, Ocean County Chairman George Gilmore and campaign operative probably doesn’t want the bad news to get out.
Gilmore and his wife, Joanne, hold a significant interest in Seaside Heights and Seaside Park development. Gilmore is associated with a failed boulevard condominium complex struggling to get financing to proceed, and allegedly is a paid consultant for other Seaside Heights and Seaside Park development interests through his position as lobbyist and his wife’s stake in an engineering company, which also has interests across the barrier island and Ocean County.
Bad news for Seaside Heights means bad business for Spadea’s chief political consultant and advisor. Seaside Heights has long been one of Chairman Gilmore’s political and financial honey pots.
Spadea, who has rallied hard against the Phil Murphy administration’s criminal justice reform has clammed up when it comes to violence at the Jersey Shore.
Spadea visited the Point Pleasant this weekend and marched up and down the boardwalk with small handful of supporters waving Spadea for Governor signs. He did not mention the mayhem taking place just a few miles to the south.
Mario Kranjac
Kranjac has not addressed the incidents directly but has sharply criticized the Murphy administration’s policies and vowed to repeal dangerous criminal and juvenile justice reforms that put New Jersey residents in danger daily.
The Democrats
None of the Democrat candidates running for governor publicly addressed the situation. The policies enacted by the Governor’s office were supported fully by each candidate. Throughout the weekend, Democrat candidates continued their regurlary scheduled campaign events, ignoring the topic completely.
