Comments on: FIREWORKS CROWD PROMPTS POLICE REVIEW

By: Citizen Cliff

Citizen Cliff — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 04:39:01 +0000

Scale it back. Why are we throwing a party for all these out-of-towners?

How big is this going to get? What’s the point? how does it benefit anyone?

By: more stupid

more stupid — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:40:03 +0000

What do you do with all the booze collected ?

By: Stupid

Stupid — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:31:56 +0000

Kevin,

Are you out of your mind ?
Why would a volunteer want to risk harm by trying to keep drunks from crossing a plastic tape line ?
The Fire Police are for use as traffic control,not crowd control !
You sound like one of many who have NO idea the danger our TAXPAYERS, and visitors are put in every year for this event.
Hwy 35 is a State Hwy, not so easy to shut down for your entertainment.
You seem like a nice guy, but you are as naive as the rest of em who think there is nothing wrong with what has happened to this event over the years.
I cant stand the FACT that tax dollars are used to support this over rated, filthy, friggin frat party.

By: Kevin Donohue

Kevin Donohue — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:54:32 +0000

JB,

I sholud have said they can keep out VERY intoxicated people. It won’t be problem to pick them out. If there’s a question a trained Police Officer(or bartender) can make the final call.

By: Kevin Donohue

Kevin Donohue — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:51:17 +0000

Notsure,

I think it could work since:

1. Basically you’re just closing off Front St. (and maybe the Rte. 35 bridge) with cheap wood or metal barricades. Even platic “police line” tape can be used. Volunteers placed every 20 feet or so could prevent people from slipping under even plastic tape.

2. You would not use paid police officers to protect the access points. I see dozens of “Fire Police” & other volunteers every year. If these volunteers can direct vehicles, they can certainly direct people at the access points. The volunteers would call nearby police at the first sign of someone trying to get past them. Very few people would try, especially when anyone who does is immediately arrested.

3. One other thing you’d need are large well marked liquor collection containers where people can voluntarily surrender any liquor they have before trying to go through the access points with it.

By: JB

JB — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:59:41 +0000

Not sure how the town would be able to successfully assess those who are too intoxicated to be allowed entry. I think the crowd was too thick in some spots for even a mounted policeman. On the “East Side” of town, we had a turbo flow of humanity down Mechanic, Spring, E. Front and Washington Sts. In front of Riverview Med, many teens were too drunk to walk around spectators, others too drunk to stay out of the way of LB and Fhold motorcycle cops, who did a great job escorting ambulances to the hospital. I took a hit on this site last month because of the post-party mess on my street and conceded these types of events are a comforting and much anticipated event. But this year’s crowd was whacked and truly scary.

By: sickofit

sickofit — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:13:00 +0000

How about we just keep the Red Bankers in Red Bank and let all the stupid Bennys stay home that minimizes crowd sizes and fights by a lot. All the out of towners are the ones that cause trouble. I can’t tell you how many times i was pushed or shoved to instigate a fight. If you really enjoy seeing our fireworks then come and keep to yourself, this town doesn’t mind you coming to enjoy something we provide, but if your in a mood to fight our police, me, or any of the residents of this town then I’m bringing a baseball bat in my pants leg next year.

By: redbankrefugee

redbankrefugee — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:30:40 +0000

notsureanymore yes it was called the Hunt In Middletown

By: Just saying

Just saying — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:14:03 +0000

I have very early memories of my parents taking me down to Marine Park with my siblings, setting up a blanket on the grass, and watching the fireworks. It was crowded but hardly choked with people

Haven’t been in years. I can’t imagine putting up with all that’s described above for a 20 minute display. A shame really that my experiences are not attainable to the kids of today. Progress. Sigh.

By: notsureanymore

notsureanymore — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:17:39 +0000

Pro sporting facilities are designed with crowd control in mind. Red Bank is an ad-hock maze of streets and transportation corridors with a major hospital plopped right in the middle of it. With all respect Kevin, while your ideas are well thought out and smart, I just don’t see how logistically it could be made to work. There is not enough enforcement to man the barricades, there are too few mounted patrols available in the area even if all the local towns volunteered their services. There should definitely be a dedicated area for families and seniors but how wold they be transported too and from. This event has simply outgrown our towns ability to host it as is.

It is a shame that youngsters can’t behave with civility and young adults can’t police themselves. Sometimes necessity dictates change. Would a calamity such as a stomping death or mass injuries sustained during a crowd herding incident force a change? Why not get ahead of the curve and scale this thing back.