Speaking to issues of overcrowding, enforcement and loitering, residents voiced concerns about different aspects of living on Red Bank's west side at the Dec. 12 Westside Community Group meeting.

The discussion took place during the crime-watch portion at the beginning of the monthly meeting when Red Bank Police Chief Mark Fitzgerald addressed residents.

Although the group does not normally meet during the busy holiday season in December, Fitzgerald requested the session to discuss the police department's plans to counter the recent string of violent crimes on the west side.

Fitzgerald told residents about his weekend meeting with representatives from the offices of the governor and county prosecutor to discuss Gov. Jon Corzine's strategy for safe streets and neighborhoods, which would make $48.5 million in funding available to municipalities.

"I assure you, we are going to apply for as much as we can and hopefully we are going to get our fair share," said Fitzgerald of the available grant monies for the three-phase strategy.

He added, "I'm thinking this couldn't come at a better time."

He said the three phases of the strategy include enforcement, prevention and re-entry and there is an emphasis on reducing gang violence, violent crime and recidivism.

The December meeting took place two days after a house was burglarized on Shrewsbury Avenue and three days after a music store on the same street was robbed and the owner stabbed and bound.

The meeting also followed the November shootings of two men outside the Montgomery Terrace housing complex on Tilton Avenue, which put the violence occurring in Red Bank at the forefront of residents' minds.

"No one, whether you are a business or a person, whether you're in a private home or in public housing, should feel unsafe in the streets of the west side," Westside Community Group President Amy Goldsmith said Dec. 12.

Commenting on the escalation in violence on the west side, she added, "Fifteen to 20 years ago [Red Bank] kind of got on a new path. Now we're getting on the path that nobody wants to see again. This neighborhood really did change and people were looking out for each other more and the crime levels were going down. I'd say the last three to four months, it's like the world of the west side 15 years ago, and I don't think anybody here wants to keep going down that path."

Fitzgerald said that the governor's office supplied the borough with a tool kit for community resources that includes a list of county and state programs and encourages local assessments of gang problems, stopping the flow of illegal guns and involving the community in identifying law enforcement priorities.

"Now that's basically why we are here and why we put lists together and why we have this dialogue," said Fitzgerald of involving the community.

Another aspect of the program, which Fitzgerald said the police department does routinely, is to combat witness intimidation.

"Lots of times when we're investigating crimes … tampering with witnesses is the more severe crime than the actual offense," said Fitzgerald.

He also handed out a checklist for parents and community members describing gang characteristics and gang prevention techniques.

Also included in the program is an assessment by state police of local police departments, according to Fitzgerald.

"They [state police] are going to come in, review what we've got, make some changes, recommend some changes [if they're reasonable and can be done] and hopefully there's some money involved," said Fitzgerald.

Also included will be an assessment of local gang problems and an initiative to target those who commit violent crimes and work with the community to identify those who commit violent crimes.

According to Leighton Avenue resident Shirley Holden, the initiatives should start with borough parents teaching their children to be responsible for their own actions.

She said, "If you do anything wrong in [public] housing, if your child does anything wrong from [age] 2 to 12 to 25, out the entire family goes because they are trying to create a sense of safety. So that children understand they're doing wrong you get your parent put out. It's a matter of getting the cancer out of the location."

Fitzgerald said he would look into the Red Bank housing authority's policies and said the police department does have programs that reach out to borough youth at the schools.

Another concern of residents was overcrowding in the borough and the poor condition of some of the homes that are being rented out by limited liability companies (LLCs).

"A lot of the LLCs are these guys hiding behind the scenes owning 10 homes and you never actually get to see who they are. These are the real culprits. Behind the degradation of the community are the people who are hiding behind these LLCs who have created the unstable environment," said John Ross, Leighton Avenue.

There were a few complaints at the meeting about tenants committing other public nuisance acts because the landlord did not repair the home's plumbing.

According to borough resident Gene Goellner, enforcement should start with the individual.

"Unless we get a culture of people willing to get tough when we break the law, there's nowhere to go," he said.

Council members John Curley and Sharon Lee were also present at the meeting. The next Westside Community Group meeting will take place Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at River Street Commons.