By Paul Goldfinger
There were three of us in court today unofficially representing the citizens of Ocean Grove regarding the Parkview Inn case. There were two editors from Blogfinger and one concerned citizen. We sat together observing the court proceedings. One of us was a paralegal while the other two were newcomers to the court scene. We were among a handful of white people in the room. The majority were black.
You could easily divide the session into two parts, each quite different from the other. In the beginning we saw a parade of poor mostly black people who were before the judge because they had to answer a charge of not paying fines for a variety of reasons. Most of them testified on a TV screen broadcast from the Monmouth County Jail. None of them was represented by a lawyer, and every case was quickly decided by the judge who gave most a simple choice: pay the money or go to jail. For the few who pleaded not guilty, she offered them a public defender. The judge was flexible as she allowed many the chance to pay the fines over time, usually $50.00 every two weeks. But sitting there we got the impression that some of them could not keep their promise. It was ironic to hear the judge conclude each case by saying “Good luck.”
But when the Park View Inn case came up, the complexion of the scene changed dramatically. The lawyer for Neptune Township was an elegant gentleman in a three piece suit. The lawyer for the defense was a woman who sat next to her client. The judge went into private chambers to talk to the attorneys and then she came out and announced that the case would be postponed. Everyone involved in the Park View Inn case, including the three of us, was white.
So what can you conclude about this slice of life described above? Most of you are probably not surprised. This country has many problems having to do with poverty, justice, and race. I believe that most Americans want to see progress in these areas, but we differ sharply as to how to solve complicated social issues. Witnessing reality first hand is a good way to start seeking solutions.