Every week and weekend people from out of town flood into the Raritan river near south bridge street and 206 using the access provided by the Raritan River Greenway access point. Parties begin early in the day and are fueled by alcohol and charcoal barbecues on the river. People are illegally parked in front of the Somerset Surgical Center as well as DC electrical contractors.

At the end of the day, when everyone packs up to go home dozens of trash bags, litter, alcoholic containers are left behind for the citizens of Somerville and Raritan to deal with.

Police refuse to enforce litter laws, and the public consumption of alcohol down by the river. After speaking with enforcement officers we were suggested to speak with the county as its their property to deal with and manage. We will be following up with videos every week to see what can and will be done to handle this situation.

We don't mind that they are enjoying the waterways that NJ has to offer we just wish they would keep it as clean or cleaner then they found it as they pack up to go home.

If you have any other photos or videos you would like to share please send them to this email address.

CWIRaritanRiver@gmail.com

Thank you.


Approximately 3:00 today and people were still showing up. I called Somerville PD to report it and the dispatcher said they were sending an officer, but I didn't stick around to see if anyone actually showed up. I drove over to Duke Island Park afterwards to see if I could speak to a Somerset County Parks ranger. I was able to and here is some more info.

They are well aware of the full extent of the problem. They were going there everyday for awhile but have no authority to really do much about it (can't write tickets). I was told that they filled a dump truck with garbage one day. The Fire Dept has been there as well. Apparently the Somerville PD thinks that this is a County/Parks issue and won't do anything about it (note that the sign in Brandy's post from a few days ago says no alcohol by Somerville Borough ordinance).


 At Washington Valley, Parks has been working with Bridgewater PD and they have been writing tickets. It's not that I want people to get in trouble, but I don't see this ending until tickets start being written. Park rangers have now been instructed to not go there for safety reasons (some things were being said in Spanish while they were there to the effect of "we should just throw them [rangers] in the water and end this now").


The Ranger recommended that we call/write/email the Somerset County Freeholders. I also recommend reaching out to the Mayor. Please also call Somerville PD any and everytime you see this. If we make our voices heard and file enough complaints, eventually something will be done.
Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Somerset County Administration Building
20 Grove Street
P.O. Box 3000
Somerville, NJ 08876
Telephone: (908) 231-7030
Email: FreeholdersOffice@co.somerset.nj.us
Mayor Dennis Sullivan - dsullivan@somervillenj.org
Councilman Granville Brady - gbrady@somervillenj.org
Councilwoman Jane Kobuta - jkobuta@somervillenj.org
Councilman Thompson Mitchell - Fire Commissioner - tmitchell@somervillenj.org
Councilman RanD Pitts - Police Commissioner - rpitts@somervillenj.org
Councilman Fred Wied V - Public Property Chair Term - fwied@somervillenj.org
Council President Roger Vroom - Public Works Chair - rvroom@somervillenj.org
Somerville PD - 908-725-0331

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