Photo by "Bru Mill" / Facebook causing a stir in Jackson Township.

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.

Photo: landlord accused of tearing down statue at jackson crossing

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.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.