By KENNY WALTER
Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — Residents, law enforcement, city officials and nonprofit organizations all came together for the annual National Night Out Against Crime.
During the Aug. 2 event held at Slocumb Park, Councilwoman Joy Bastelli said the event promotes a more united city.
“This reaches our inner city,” she said. “We have a lot of diversity here, so we get to touch people and speak with people that we wouldn’t normally get to speak with at other events.
“I consider this event close to my heart. I enjoy meeting the neighbors. These are people who actually live right here.”
The event, organized by the Long Branch Police Department and community group United Neighbors Inc., featured activities that were designed to promote interaction with police and other members of the community. Activities included a police dog demonstration, food, music, games, dancing and prizes for children.
The event was attended by hundreds of residents who came out to listen to music, enjoy the park and learn about the community.
Ronald Cox, president of United Neighbors, said the event goes beyond Long Branch.
“Everything is here for you. I want you to build relationships with other people, get to know some of the police officers and most of all enjoy this,” he said. “This is the National Night Out, it is the one night, not only nationwide but internationally, where everyone gets together to make a stand against crime.”
Jacob Jones, director of the Office of Community and Economic Development, said the popularity of National Night Out has increased significantly over the years.
“It has grown with the people supporting it,” he said. “Right now it is double what we started with.
“It’s great to see the neighborhoods come out and people just enjoy themselves.”
Bastelli, who co-founded United Neighbors in 1993, appeared at the event representing the Long Branch Covenant Church at 355 Joline Ave., one of several nonprofit or religious organizations to appear at the event.
According to Jones, the number of organizations appearing at the event has increased dramatically as well.
“It has definitely grown,” Jones said. “It has grown with the vendors. I count the tables that are here and we don’t have enough tables now for all the people who want to set up tables for the various services and the various agencies.
“They have invited people from the sheriff’s department, local city departments. You look around and see utilities, radio stations, hospitals. They really want this thing to be a community kind of function and it is.”
Bastelli said one of the aims of National Night Out in Long Branch is to be both informative and entertaining.
“It’s a good event with a lot of free things and it’s fun for the kids,” she said.
Jones said one of the more important aspects is to build a relationship between the police department and residents, especially as police-related incidents have been in the news lately across the country.
“With what’s going on now with the police, it is always good to have this kind of event,” he said. “The police are the staple of the community.
“Who in the world wants to live in a lawless society? So you got to have [laws]. Now it is up to the police and the community to establish a relationship to where they can trust each other.”
For Long Branch resident Samantha Durant, building the relationship between the police and the children is the most important aspect of the event.
“I think it is good to bring the community and law enforcement and other agencies together,” she said. “It’s cute and it gives the kids something to look forward to.
“It is very important because in this day and age they are not seeing it.”
Contact Kenny Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com.
