The question of police oversight was addressed during Wednesday night’s Regular City Council meeting. Raised during the public portion of the meeting by resident Randy Thompson, Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn responded by saying, “If you are talking about police oversight, I think we have done a number of things.” Quinn outlined the governing body’s approval […]

With its mission of advocating against drug criminalization by promoting harm reduction, recovery and fact-based drug policies, Help Not Handcuffs got an added boost last week. Through its Community Connections program, Wells Fargo made a $1,000 charitable contribution to the all-volunteer nonprofit. “At a time when donations from the public and private sectors are down due […]

The Asbury Park City Council is expected to announce an appointment for the vacant City Council seat during its Wednesday night Regular Meeting. The seat became vacant April 30 after Joe Woerner stepped down in order to focus on his family and the health of his son Michael. The governing body has until month’s end […]

Help Not Handcuffs founder Randy Thompson is asking the questions: “With needles on our streets and beaches, three times the national overdose death rate and first responders running in every direction to reverse overdoses, why aren’t we considering these proven models of harm reduction strategies?” Help Not Handcuffs’ mission is to eliminate failed drug criminalization […]

Help Not Handcuffs founder Randy Thompson of Asbury Park appeared before the United Nations Informal Interactive Stakeholder Consultation [IISC] Wednesday to outline the harms of the nation’s drug enforcement policies. Thompson said the consequences can be found in everything from related deaths and police brutality to violent physical and sexual assault and drug overdose deaths […]

The City Council will consider a resolution vote to symbolically decriminalize marijuana across the state. A presentation by Help Not Handcuffs campaign organizer Randy Thompson during Monday night’s City Council Workshop meeting asked city officials to lead the state in creating laws that recognize the specific harms prohibition of marijuana causes. Marijuana use is a […]

A holiday toy drive organized by an Asbury Park resident was successful in delivering toys and over $500 in gift cards to a women’s shelter in the city. Help Not Handcuffs, founded by Randy Thompson [shown above, at left], is a community campaign to decriminalize and de-stigmatize substance use disorders and substance use by highlighting […]

Emergency personnel in Asbury Park will soon carry a lifesaving drug that has the power to reverse the effects of opiate overdoses. Asbury Park Police Chief Mark Kinmon just put in an order with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office for 25 units of Narcan, he informed members of the Asbury Park City Council at a […]

In recognition of the recent rise in heroin abuse in Monmouth County, a city resident is leading an effort to put an overdoes antidote in the hands of first responders in Asbury Park. Randy Thompson [shown at right] sought the help of city policymakers at council meetings in January and February, explaining the benefits of […]

The four year term of Asbury Park’s new City Council will be cut short after voters approved a change of government referendum on Tuesday. An election will take place next year in November to select a new governing body. The current five-member council [above] was sworn in on July 1. According to unofficial returns from the Monmouth […]