Hudson County View
Instagram photo via thoughtstream .
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“This case is about the people’s right to speak and protest against a government policy. Our clients were using public sidewalks to express themselves and should be subject to the same laws as everyone else who uses them,” ACLU-NJ Legal Director Jeanne LoCicero said in a statement early this afternoon.
“These officials went to court to insulate themselves from opposing views. It’s not just a misuse of public resources, it’s also unconstitutional.”
The December 8th temporary restraining order, granted by Hudson County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Jablonski – who has since become the county assignment judge – included a number of specific parameters if protests were to continue, as HCV first reported.
ACLU calls Hudson County exec’s restraining order ‘extraordinary.’ It wasn’t meant in a good way.
Updated Dec 15, 2020;
An ACLU attorney called the temporary restraining order filed against protesters by the Hudson County executive and five freeholders “heavy-handed” and an “extraordinary” action Tuesday after asking the court to expedite the case.
The TRO was filed by Tom DeGise on behalf of himself and Freeholders Anthony Vainieri, Tony Romano, Albert Cifelli, Kenny Kopacz and Caridad Rodriguez after a group began protesting nightly in front of his Jersey City home over the recently approved county contract with the federal Immigration, Customs and Enforcement to detain illegal immigrants at the Hudson County jail.
Hudson County View
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Prior to the public portion, the board voted on at least two agenda items of note: purchasing 800 mattresses for the Hudson County Correctional Facility for $168,000, as well as 10 new vehicles for the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
Specifically, the HCPO was seeking 10 Chevrolet Malibu LS 1FL Sedans for $167,760.
Both items passed easily, with the mattress purchase being approved unanimously (9-0) and the vehicles being approved 8-1, with Jersey City Freeholder Bill O’Dea (D-2) voting no.
At the November 24th freeholder meeting, the ICE contract was renewed for up to another decade, after just over 10 hours of discussion, by a vote of 6-3.
Holding a grudge: More than 50 speakers rap Hudson freeholders again over ICE deal and restraining order
Updated Dec 12, 2020;
The clash between immigration advocates and Hudson County officials continued Thursday night with more than 50 speakers scolding the freeholders over renewing a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and filing a restraining order against protesters.
Amy Torres and Kason Little, two people named in a temporary restraining order filed by County Executive Tom DeGise and five of the six freeholders who voted in favor of the ICE deal to house detainees at Hudson County jail, appeared in person at the freeholders’ regular meeting to criticize the freeholders and DeGise.