Audio: Council candidates weigh in on Morristown bars

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Morristown’s council candidates seem to agree on one thing: Extending bar hours to 3 a.m. would be a bad idea.

Third Ward candidate Ed Ramirez goes further, saying bars must start taking responsibility for behavior of patrons before someone gets hurt.

'THIS IS NOT A SHANTYTOWN': Morristown council candidate Ed Ramirez had strong words for local bars during a candidates forum. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
'THIS IS NOT A SHANTYTOWN': Morristown council candidate Ed Ramirez had strong words for local bars during a candidates forum. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

“Drinking and young people only go so far, until they get in their cars or walk down the street throwing bottles into people’s homes. That’s got to stop,” the Republican write-in contender told a candidates forum on Oct. 17.

“Bars have to take responsibility for some of that. They get these kids ossified and then nobody has control.”

Ed asserted that Morristown is over-relying on neighboring police forces to deal with bar issues.

“Mutual aid…doesn’t mean they come and help you every Friday and Saturday night,” Ed said. “We need to start addressing the bar trade…This is not a shantytown with bars going to rule this town. This is a beautiful place.”

The forum was moderated by New Jersey League of Women Voters President Toni Zimmer.  This AUDIO clip runs about four minutes.

Here are highlights, in order of appearance:

DENIS CIKLIC, Democratic challenger, Fourth Ward:

  • Do not support extending 2 am closing time
  • Way too many issues of  people leaving bottles on Wetmore, public urination, etc.

ALISON DEEB, Councilwoman, Republican, Fourth Ward:

  • Supports needs of residents–believe they don’t support extended bar hours

REBECCA FELDMAN, Councilwoman, Independent, First Ward:

  • Ratable base means being friendly to business, but…
  • Police costs highest between 11 pm and 3 am; doesn’t want to burden taxpayers any further
  • Oppose any extension of bar hours

NAVEEN NAVIPURAM, Republican challenger, Second Ward:

  • Strongly supports downtown businesses, but…
  • Costs outweigh benefits of extending bar hours

ED RAMIREZ, Republican write-in candidate, Third Ward:

  • Vehemently against it; would march against it
  • “Drinking and young people only go so far, until they get in their cars or walk down the street throwing bottles into people’s homes. That’s got to stop.”
  • “Bars have to take responsibility for some of that.”
  • “They get these kids ossified and then nobody has control.”
  • Town is over-relying on help from neighboring police departments.
  • “Mutual aid…doesn’t mean they come and help you every Friday and Saturday night.”
  • Warns someone will get hurt
  • “We need to start addressing the bar trade…This is not a shantytown with bars going to rule this town. This is a beautiful place.”

RALINE SMITH-REID, Councilwoman, Democrat, Second Ward:

  • “Absolutely not.”

STEFAN ARMINGTON, Democratic candidate, Third Ward:

  • “Bars have more of a free ride in town than is appropriate.”
  • Parking a major problem; bar owners don’t provide parking for “their drinkers.”

READ MORE ABOUT THE MORRISTOWN COUNCIL RACE

FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS: The League will moderate a forum for Morris Township committee candidates at 7:30 pm on Oct. 24, also in the Presbyterian Parish House at 65 South Street, Morristown.  The League also has compiled a nonpartisan analysis of next month’s state ballot question on sports betting.

MORRISTOWN GREEN: Our favorite color... except for webcasts. Here's what the council candidates forum looked like, during those rare moments when it wasn't crashing. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Council candidates at Morristown forum on Oct. 17. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

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