The Red Carpet Inn Must Go
February 14, 2018
It breaks the hearts of many to see Toms River, NJ in such a poverty-stricken state. While there are several factors contributing to the increase of crime and decrease in quality of life in Downtown Toms River, the issues surrounding the infamous Red-Carpet Inn seem to stick out more than others.
In October of 2017, the town’s Quality of Life Task Force raided the property and arrested 15 individuals. The task force is made up of a mix of police, fire, and code enforcement officials. The reviews of the establishment are very telling, with the hotel having a 2-star rating on Google.
If you’re looking for hotels in Toms River, NJ, it’s likely you’ve seen these horrific reviews. There’s tons of reasons to seek Toms River hotels, especially in the summer considering how beautiful Toms River weather can be. On top of that, it’s around 10-15 minutes away from Seaside Heights and the Atlantic Ocean.
“That place has been a problem for years,” said Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher, while referring to the Red-Carpet Inn. There’s a case in the Toms River Municipal Court that could impose a one-year shutdown, but it would take too long to get the necessary results. Councilman Maurice Hill noted, “[The Inn] had been the source of 750 police calls over the past two years.“
Toms River’s Reputation on the Line
Toms River can be seen in various TV and news media including MTV’s Made and Jersey Shore, HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, and the original The Amityville Horror movie. In 1998, Toms River East Little League won the Little League World Series. The township has what is said to be the second largest Halloween parade in the world.
While those are just only the most notable, Toms River has achieved countless accomplishments that its residents are proud of. Many would argue that the last thing the town needs is a slum which advocates drug use and prostitution like the Red-Carpet Inn
During the January Township Council Meeting, President of Apex United Corp, Chris Doyle, expressed dealing with this harsh reality on a day to day basis. His main headquarters is
“The loss of a big ratable is unfortunate, but it will put other hotels on notice,” said Doyle. “It’s hard to bring employees to the Downtown area when there’s a hotel selling drugs and prostitution right across the street.”
The Future of Toms River & The Red-Carpet Inn
When considering what Toms River is up against, it makes perfect sense to get rid of such a distasteful safe harbor for crimes and transform it into something resourceful. Due to how busy Downtown Toms River is, establishing more spaces to park your car absolutely would benefit the local businesses and schools – allowing their economy to grow.
If you’re not helping the community, the odds are you’re probably hurting it. Why would anyone want to buy a house or raise a family in an environment like this? Fears of this nature are what drives the core value of the community down. We can’t shelter our children from the real world, but we also shouldn’t need to constantly expose them to a melancholic society.
There are many folks who have made mistakes that they’ve learned from and have been offered another opportunity to earn a decent living. There shouldn’t be a person or place so powerful that disrupts communities and brings them to their knees. The community shouldn’t have to put up with motels like the Red-Carpet Inn that profit at the affliction and tribulation of its’ community.
There isn’t a flawless culture that ever existed on Earth, but this resilient community has enough support and ambition to strive for the closest thing to a utopia: a cleaner version of Downtown Toms River. The majority of residents in Toms River all agree – we must get rid of the Red-Carpet Inn. We must set an example for the level of standards we’re trying to set. By eliminating the drug and prostitution safe harbor we can take pride in representing our community. We can restore faith in the businesses and Toms River schools throughout the district.
Imagine all the recovering addicts having a fair chance to rebuild their livelihood by going to school and work, all without having a gigantic building that practically says, “Come stay here and ruin your life.” Eliminating the problem is the solution.
In recent news, there are two ordinances which were introduced at the Township Council meeting. The first authorizes the acquisition of the property by purchase or eminent domain. It included $4.8 million for the purchase, $4.56 million of which would be bonded. Thankfully the ordinances were unanimously approved by the council.
The town is taking all the right steps to make Toms River the best town it can be. It won’t happen overnight, but our town will certainly grow stronger bigger and better. The fact of the matter is our township has decided to spend millions of dollars in the right direction. The Red-Carpet Inn will inevitably be purchased by Toms River, which will restore morality and hope for all. Removing this awful motel creates positive ways for the community to interact and re-establish itself to the culture as a beacon of opportunity.
Edit: This article was written before the Red-Carpet Inn eventually became owned by the Toms River township. More about that can be read about on the Toms River Patch.
