Paterson City Council Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal Dumping with New Fines and Measures

Paterson’s City Council has taken decisive action to address the ongoing issue of illegal dumping in the city. A recent meeting highlighted efforts to enforce stricter penalties, including an increase in fines to $10,000 per violation. The city also reported $115,000 in fines from a single court day. These measures are part of “Operation Clean Sweep,” aimed at deterring illegal dumping and improving the city’s quality of life.

The council discussed the implementation of surveillance cameras to identify and penalize violators, and the Department of Public Works is involved in clearing notorious dumping sites such as Keen Street and Bergen Avenue. Boats abandoned in these areas have been a particular focus, with recent efforts to remove and dispose of them.

The council’s legislative action to amend ordinances and raise fines was emphasized as a critical step in this initiative. Officials acknowledged the importance of community involvement, urging residents to report any illegal dumping activities. The council also highlighted collaborations with other cities, such as Camden, to adopt best practices in managing illegal dumping.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.

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