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Residents press council for action on speeding, loud vehicles and recent violent incidents; city promises traffic study and patrols
Summary
Multiple residents told the Long Branch City Council on April 23 that speeding, loud vehicle music and a pattern of violent incidents on Broadway are creating safety concerns; business administrator said the traffic division will collect speed readings and install digital speed signs and patrols will be increased for noise enforcement.
Several Long Branch residents used the public-comment period on April 23 to press the council for action on neighborhood speeding, loud-car noise and recent violent incidents in the city.
Julie Berg, a Wall Street resident, described persistent loud car music that causes her house to shake and said a straightaway on Norwood has effectively become a drag strip where vehicles “gun it” and reach high speeds. Janet Rackham, who lives nearby, said her home has been struck by vehicles twice and that she has observed tire tracks in her yard. Both asked for more police presence and enforcement.
The business administrator responded that the city’s traffic division will investigate, install digital speed signs to collect readings and boost patrols to address noise complaints. The transcript records a promise to “put up some digital speed signs, get some readings of exactly what's going on there, and then make sure patrols are boosted for the noise.”
Separately, resident Nick Diegel Yalmo raised concerns about two March murders and multiple stabbings, saying businesses and residents are afraid and urging the council to take measures to restore confidence. Mayor Ballone acknowledged the public’s concerns, said public safety is a priority and noted the city has a public-safety director and administration working on responses. The mayor said some incidents happen unexpectedly but asserted the city is addressing safety.
These comments prompted council members to thank residents for their testimony; no ordinance or budget action on public safety was taken during the meeting. The transcript records a follow-up direction from the administration to deploy traffic staff for data collection and to increase patrols for noise enforcement.
