JACKSON-The Jackson Township council has appeared to have chosen to hold it in this time when it comes to legislating behaviors associated with its growing Orthodox Jewish population. Last week, councilman Robert Nixon said the town will not be issuing violations after a resident complained to the township over a handful of portable toilets appeared in the backyards of some homes in town.
The issues arose from a September complaint lodged with the township by a member of a grassroots group that has been opposing the Orthodox population in town.
“Hello all. Apparently there is a portable toilet spree going on in the town. There has been a portable Toilet in the backyard of [address] for A while now. They have also popped up on New Prospect and Brookwood Parkway,’ wrote Chris Kisseberth, a representative of the Jackson Strong group which has been closely monitoring the activities of Orthodox Jews in town for the past year. “Is there a town ordinance on this portable toilet use? I can see The use for a party or certain construction reasons but who in their right mind would just ”plop” one In their backyard for regular use? Perhaps an ordinance can be made if there isn’t one that would state what allowance is the use of the porta potties?? Please send a response in a timely manner.”
Jackson Strong has been influential in keeping the Orthodox Jews in Jackson at bay through lobbying councilmen such as Nixon, a PBA Lobbyist himself, to enact ordinances to curtail activities that have been associated with the growing Orthodox population.
According to documents released by the township, Jackson Strong has been influential in convincing Nixon and his fellow councilmembers in blocking eruvs, which also led to a township-wide ban on basketball hoops and hockey nets.
“There are no plans that I am aware of to prohibit the use of portable toilets in town and no one from Council or the Administration has discussed the matter with me. I personally do not believe there is a need for the town to act on this issue at this time,” Nixon wrote when asked if the council will respond to a resident’s complaint about their use in a few backyards around town.
Portable toilets exist all over Jackson, on construction sites, alongside the streets on the town’s several roadside projects and in residential yards where contractors are performing work.
The Jackson council, after being warned by the Attorney General over their treatment of Orthodox Jews, has refused to respond directly to SNN on the topic after repeated attempts for comment have gone unanswered.