JACKSON, NJ—The new landlord of the Jackson Crossing Shopping Plaza is under fire after a resident claims the owner recently removed a statue that stood in a fountain, allegedly for religious reasons.
The artistic statue that previously graced the Jackson Crossing Shopping Center (see photo) was demolished by the new owner. This is how it now looks. Apparently, the Jackson Township beautification committee(is there one?) doesn’t care,” a Facebook user posted to a Jackson Facebook page operated by an out-of-town resident.
The fountain itself had not worked for years prior to its removal. Now, the same old crew that has been spreading rumors on Facebook in Jackson is using the photo to attack the Orthodox Jewish community, claiming the statue was removed for religious reasons and that, somehow, there is a greater conspiracy involved going on here.
We confirmed today that the statue, featuring scantily clad women outside the Jackson Diner, is gone. It has been for more than a year.
The landlord said the statue belonged to the personal collection of the strip mall’s previous owner, Vito Cardinale. Under the sale agreement, Cardinale omitted the statute from the sale. Cardinale reportedly removed the statue at the sale to return it to his personal possession.
There was no nefarious intent, after all. The man who built the fountain wanted to keep the statue for himself after the sale.
