The tall young man standing in front of 58 Beacon Ave. in the Heights is holding what looks like a marijuana cigarette. When asked if anyone on the block between Baldwin Avenue and Christ Hospital is selling drugs, he says nothing and then starts to laugh.
“No, there’s no drugs being sold around here,” the young man said.
Almost everyone concerned about the state of Beacon Avenue near Baldwin, including the Jersey City Police Department, would disagree.
Since the beginning of June, the narcotics department of the police department have set up surveillance of the area and made arrests of people in possession of marijuana, according to Deputy Police Director Edgar Martinez.
“We have been receiving a lot of calls about the area on Beacon,” said Martinez on Thursday. “We have been sending undercover patrol cars to watch the area. We know about the problem and we have been hitting it.”
According to Martinez, the police made three arrests on June 9, in which a total of four area residents were arrested for either possession of or attempting to purchase what Martinez described as CDS (controlled dangerous substance) marijuana.
Martinez said that a 15-year-old male Beacon Avenue resident was arrested for possession of marijuana. Also arrested at the time were three young adults, who were charged with wandering to commit a CDS offense or walking in the area in an effort to purchase marijuana.
Martinez said the three suspects were spotted in the area of 58 Beacon Ave., where the group had been observed wandering near.
“Police saw that the suspects were about to use the marijuana and arrested them,” Martinez said.
Martinez added that Cruz tried to hide a cigarette pack in which officers found a small amount of marijuana in a tied up bag.
A number of residents on Beacon Avenue said they have complained in the past to the police about the area, noting that the police drive through the area and move on.
“The cars just move through and that scatters the dealers,” said one Beacon Avenue resident who did not wish to be named. “Then they all come back.”
In response, Martinez said he was unable to divulge the extent of police investigation into the area and how long the police have been watching the area, but stressed law enforcement officers are working on the problem.
“The police department is vigorously going after the drug problem on Beacon Avenue,” said Martinez.
Martinez stressed that one very important action local residents can take, is to call police about any crime, no matter how seemingly insignificant.
“It could be a quality of life crime like drinking in public or something else,” Martinez stated. “But we have to know about it to act on it.”
Martinez added that police department representatives have addressed many of the neighborhood associations in Jersey City, urging the community groups report crimes.
“We need the residents of the neighborhoods to be the eyes and ears of the police department,” said Martinez. “We can’t do it alone. The police department wants to build and keep a relationship with the neighborhood associations.”
Councilman Steve Lipski, in whose ward Beacon Avenue is situated, has also heard about the drug sales on Beacon Avenue.
“The problems with Beacon Avenue are at least number three on the list of resident’s complaints at my neighborhood meetings,” said Lipski. “It comes up all the time.”
Like Martinez, Lipski stresses resident involvement in helping to solve the drug problems on Beacon Avenue.
“Organizing citizen groups would be a very helpful idea,” Lipski said. “The citizens in the area need to form watch groups to inform the police on what is going on.”
“A community effort would be the best way to help the police with this problem,” Lipski added.
Another Beacon Avenue resident, a mother of two children who did not wish to be identified, spoke about what concerned her the most.
“You see the deals going on from when the kids get home from school and into the late night,” said the Beacon Avenue resident. “They attract all the wrong crowds and it hurts the neighborhood. We worked hard for this neighborhood and we don’t want to lose it.”
The number to report any criminal activity to the police department is (201) 547-5391.