Newark, N.J., may ban chain-link fences

[Justin Thyme]

NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey's largest city wants people to mend fences — their own.

Newark's city council is expected to consider a proposal this fall that will establish uniform requirements for businesses and homes that have fences.

In the words of one city planner, out of fashion are barbed wire and razor wire that make the city look like "a war zone,"and chain link fences in front of houses.

In style are fences with tubular metal bars and awnings that cover all that unsightly barbed wire.

The issue is emblematic of the crime-plagued city's ongoing attempts to remake its image — from the ground up.

Many of the regulations being considered have been on Newark's books for years, even decades, but are scattered across various parts of the municipal code and have been enforced sporadically.

One of the enforcement efforts caused a stir last year when the city asked small businesses in some areas to remove barbed wire from fences that border sidewalks, per a 1966 ordinance. Some business owners complained that burglaries rose as a result.

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Okay, even the libertarian side of me can understand a city not wanting their main streets lined with chain link fencing topped with barbed wire but instead of banning the fences doesn't it make more sense to curb the reason for needing the fences? I've seen parts of Chattanooga fenced up with chain link and razor wire that wasn't there ten years ago and I don't like it but is banning the fencing the answer?

[RuneDeer]

I heard recently on NPR that Newark was listed somewhere as one of the most desirable US cities to live -- in 1966. However, one year later, a series of riots took place and the city never recovered.

[fuzzyscot]

i can just see the business owners, "sure, I will take down the razor wire, if you let me install claymores instead"

[ScarlettP]

Maybe they should look to the Bahamas for the answer. They use chunks of broken glass embedded in concrete on the tops of sender block walls and catwalks. Clean up all those broken beer bottles of various colors and make bright, sparkling mosaics. Two birds, one stone.

[osrb]

They say they do not want it to look like "a war zone," well I have been there it is one.

[Bob]

I was thinking wouldn't it be better to reduce the need for barbed wire around businesses... [shrug]

[gridbug]

In style are fences with tubular metal bars and awnings that cover all that unsightly barbed wire

A little bright paint and a few artificial flowers and you can make that razorwire downright cheery!

[Warkitty]

I've been there too. It isn't ALL bad. After all, without Newark we'd not have Janet Evanovich novels to enjoy.

Y'all say that as if you think no one has been trying to combat the crime.

[HonorH957]

Just what I saw from the train as we headed to New York looked like a war zone. We had originally planned to drive to Newark to catch the PATH directly to Ground Zero, but friends who had visited there recently told us to catch the NJ Transit train down near Dix and ride it to Newark, then catch the PATH. One of my friends had her car stolen out of the PATH station parking lot when she was last up there, so we did the train from Hamilton to Newark then caught the PATH.

Saw lots of chain link fences as well as razor wire and the such in many areas along the train route.

[Justin Thyme]

Parts of Newark are nice. I've stayed there a number of times and never had a problem. I've seen the blighted area, though and it isn't a place I'd want to be after dark.

[vanstheman]

Sept 27, 2009 12:42:06 GMT -5 RuneDeer said:

I heard recently on NPR that Newark was listed somewhere as one of the most desirable US cities to live -- in 1966. However, one year later, a series of riots took place and the city never recovered.

Grew up a few miles and went to high school in Newark during this exact time period.Don't remember Newark being a "most desirable" city to live in 1966.Although the business district thrived with suburban workers bussing in to the insurance companies to work,and the Italians still had nice neighborhoods and controlled the political power structure,the "Negro" population was powerless,increasing in poverty and joblessness,and was beginning to give up on the MLK "dream" of non-violent protest.
The mosques were beginning to spread words of direct confrontation,the protests became more impatient and the mood was changing.The spark was an arrest of a black cabdriver and the rumor of his death in custody...it all went downhill quickly and I saw it all.
When I returned to school a month later,the smoke was still bellowing everywhere,every store/business had been burned or looted,and everyone was worse off than they were before.I had many friends who were black,but things had changed and the hatred on both sides was evident and terrifying.Things were never the same and the black panther movement had the grips of the inner city...even the competition in sports against other inner city schools became scary and confrontational,but I stuck it out 2 more years and got out.
The story of Newark is not "cut and dry....there's many layers,and plenty of blame to go around.

[LimitedRecourse]

I also lived near Newark for a little while...they really need to work on actually HAVING yards before tidying them up. Not the cleanest place in the world, but I've seen worse.