Was there trouble at the Reservation?

I was driving toward Livingston at about 5:30 and came upon blocked roads in Newstead, scores of cars trying to get out of the reservation, cops everywhere, a Sherriff's vehicle screaming past and the east bound lane of South Orange Avenue closed. Was there an event?

A large party with between 1000-1500 attendees. The party was held in the reservation without the proper permits. It was shut down by the Essex County Police with the assistance of So Orange & Maplewood. Crowds were dispersed without incident. So Orange streets were cleared out by 8pm.

OMG. How does someone plan an event that size without realizing they need a permit???

Social Media.

It's an interesting legal gray area. You are free to go to the park to picnic. You can invite select friends to meet you there. But somehow it can become designated an "event" (say, having your wedding there) and then you need a permit, and these permits are not inexpensive it turns out:

http://www.essexcountyparks.org/_media/_data/EssexPermit/special-event-permit-application-20150115083840.pdf

sprout said:
Social Media.

That and the radio.

this party happens every year on different weekends. it can be a nightmare for neighbors, people using the reservation and trying to drive through the area

My Lord, they should be fined within an inch of there life. A permit (and advance notice to the Authorities) would have amounted to a dollar a person.

My kid had to get a permit to film in the Rez last month. Five or ten people and some cameras = $2000 permit.And no one in the community was disturbed.

Looking at the application, I thought the fees were pretty reasonable.

They should be fined for putting quotes around "THE 2ND ANNUAL."

Just read on Facebook that the reservation was left totally trashed with debris and garbage all around. Not only should they be fined but they should be made to come back and clean it up and then the rest of the reservation just because

LL_ said:
Just read on Facebook that the reservation was left totally trashed with debris and garbage all around. Not only should they be fined but they should be made to come back and clean it up and then the rest of the reservation just because

Indeed. Cretins.

That's awful. They should each get a ticket for littering.

And now I'm pretty sure they simply avoided a permit despite knowing they should have applied for one. At first I was thinking that I could understand someone not realizing permits were required, but at those numbers and with such bad behavior, I'm convinced they are just cheapskate lawbreakers... and inconsiderate slobs.

This really ticks me off!! I want the police to come down hard on those organizers. (and then the county should get some compensation too!) Grrr...

Look at the poster ...this was a frat party. The sponsors are two chapters of the Iota Phi Theta collegiate fraternity. I did a little googling and the two chapters were from NJCU (epsilon chapter, "everbangin") and Montclair State (Gamma Iota chapter, "go hard or go home").

Should the universities and/or the frat's national organization be involved in cleaning up this mess?

CLK said:

Should the universities and/or the frat's national organization be involved in cleaning up this mess?

The frat seems to be a service one

Come with us as we take you on a photo trip through the ACR. Iotas and Iota Sweethearts can be found throughout the region doing many things...from community service, campus and community events, fund raisers, participating in social awareness activities and yes, even at parties and stepshows!!

I think it is a social fraternity, but most also have a service component. In any case this would embarass the national, to be sure

My neighbors were in the reservation around 11am and said it was a mess

CLK said:
I think it is a social fraternity

I was trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. I dated a guy in a different fraternity years back and all they really did was drink and smoke pot, though on occasion they switched it up and ate pasta while watching porn.

I wouldn't try to involve the university... if it's frat boys, definitely bring it to the attention of the national.

If Hot 97 radio station was involved, they should be fined too, right?

Yes! The county should reimbursed for cleanup. The universities should also be informed, to sanction those chapters.

The national fraternity’s extensive website uses the term social service.

"On September 19, 1963, at Morgan State College (now Morgan State University), 12 students founded what is now the nation’s fifth largest, predominately African-American social service fraternity: The Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated ®.”

If there was damage or other negative behavior, the national organization is likely to (and should) become aware of it and might indeed impose sanctions on the chapters involved.

I was running on Saturday morning and have never seen it that bad in ten years.

Disgusting... none of us want our tax money to be used to clean up the res after a bunch of drunken losers... They should definitely be fined and given that this was an organized event the authorities should know exactly who to go after...

PeggyC said:
I wouldn't try to involve the university... if it's frat boys, definitely bring it to the attention of the national.

I would involve both. It's disgusting and an embarrassment to any university or organization who has these idiots as members or students. You want to be part of a "service" organization? Good. Get your sorry asses into the Res for the rest of the summer and keep the place clean of everyone else's crap now.

wish there was a thumbs up/like button!

ctrzaska said:

PeggyC said:
I wouldn't try to involve the university... if it's frat boys, definitely bring it to the attention of the national.

I would involve both. It's disgusting and an embarrassment to any university or organization who has these idiots as members or students. You want to be part of a "service" organization? Good. Get your sorry asses into the Res for the rest of the summer and keep the place clean of everyone else's crap now.

Unfortunately, fraternities are more interested in their social activities then their civic ones. South Orange should go after the university - they charter the fraternities and they have the most "face" to lose. They also have the authority to punish any fraternity students involved - and quickly get them involved in remediation. I doubt the national association can do anything quickly.

It does occur to me that being kicked out mid party probably worsens the mess left behind...the organizers are greatly to be faulted obviously.

(I haven't been up since the party...are we talking dropped trash or property damage?)