John Bon Jovi Soup Kitchen is causing more problems than it can be solved, in the opinion of Mayor Daniel Rodrick, Mayor Toms River.
Rodrick spoke to Fox News Digital over the phone, explaining that New Jersey City has a homeless problem that has been exacerbated by Bonjovi and other nonprofits.
“We don’t want to be ground zero because of the homeless. We don’t want to be a dumping ground for the homelessness issue in New Jersey. New Jersey needs to stomp and take care of this issue. They have the resources.
Rodrick has not spoken directly to his organization, which runs Bonjovi, Soup Kitchen, or the JBJ Seoul Foundation, but admits he is frustrated by the opening of the Community Kitchen at the library on the Toms River.
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Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick said nonprofits, including John Bon Jovi’s Seoul Kitchen, are increasing the risk of homelessness in the city. (Kevin Winter/2024 Latin Recording Academy/Getty Images|Mayor Tom’s River’s Office)
“He was already open and ran something in the Silverton section of town. But it’s like a restaurant where people go, paying for food and feeling good that the money is spent on something.
Pop-up restaurant It opened on February 11th and is one of a total of four locations in the state. The diner can pay it upfront and cover the $12 cost suggested to anyone who can’t afford to eat there.
Those who are unable to pay can volunteer in the community kitchen, which is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 2pm in exchange for sandwiches, wraps, bowls and salads.
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In a statement New York PostBon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea, both run nonprofits, and “The JBJ Seoul Foundation and JBJ Seoul Kitchen are committed to ending homelessness through real solutions.
“Through JBJ Seoul Kitchen, we connect people to resources and services. Whether you need employment, mental health support or housing, we try to not only survive, but also remove barriers to prevent prosperity.”
Bonjovi and his wife Dorothea at the location of the JBJ kitchen on the Toms River in 2016 (Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images)
Before Bon Jovi’s organization, Rodrick told Fox News Digital that his concerns began when he was able to close two homeless camps and take individuals to housing after taking office about a year ago. However, the Ocean County Commission later decided to open a warming centre, and according to Rodrick, the nonprofit began “to make people a bus into town.”
Rodrick said raised his concerns But he said, “I’ll do that anyway, engage in nonprofits with various warming centres throughout the state, and inevitably start busing people into town.
“We were forced to dozens of people to be dropped off from downtown every day at the library and caught up in dozens of people. There shouldn’t be a need to walk through a gang of 20 addicted or mentally ill homeless individuals. That’s the real problem here.
He also claims there is “a lot of money chasing this issue.”
“One of these nonprofits, he formed the man, a nonprofit, and within a few years he’s brought in nearly $1 million in revenues, $750,000, according to charity reports.”
After opening the Beat (together everyone) center in Tom’s River, New Jersey on May 10, 2016, people are trying food in the kitchen. Monmouth and Ocean County Food Bank, the John Bon Joe Seoul Foundation, and People’s Pantry have announced locations where families and individuals can access food, employment training and resources. (Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images)
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“So, it’s this little operator that deals with 15-20 people at a time, and three-quarters of a million dollars is a lot of money, so you can only imagine how much money you have for this issue. That’s a big problem.“
He continued, “The solution would be opening shelters because they feel they’re putting them in the bus to create the look of the problem, but the situation won’t improve. [off in Toms River] From everywhere. And what do you do to them when you can’t keep them? That’s a real problem. It’s a mental health issue and a substance abuse issue. ”
“I’m not accusing John Bon Jovi of being in this for profit,” Rodrick pointed out. “We all like his music. And he means well and I think what he’s doing is the right thing to try to feed people. We all managed to agree with it.”
“But we have dozens of people on buses from all over New Jersey and all over the sea counties. I’ve come in from far away from North Carolina and Philadelphia and get caught up in a home where I have to offer hotels and stuff.
Bonjovi opened its first JBJ Seoul Kitchen in Red Bank, New Jersey in 2011 (Paul Zimmerman/Wire imitation)
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Bon Jovi and Dorothea also addressed Rodrick’s claim that some nonprofits actually benefited financially from bringing homeless people. Toms River.
“I don’t know where the mayor thinks he’s trading millions of dollars in hand, but he has no complete knowledge of such programs and has not received such funds,” they told the NY Post. “We invite anyone to the Toms River Beat Center or JBJ Seoul Kitchen pop-up to see what they’re doing to end homelessness and hunger in our community.”
John Bon Jovi (Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images)
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Fox News Digital reached out To Bon Jovicomments from the JBJ Seoul Foundation, Ocean County Commission Committee and Ocean County Library.
Rodrick said Bon Jovi’s community kitchen is scheduled to close in May as it is a temporary pop-up, but after expressing concerns he feels the setup has been “devastated just above the municipality.”
“They intentionally made the problem worse after I complained that they were causing this public safety issue,” he said. “Again, guys, now all nonprofits take people there. Do you want to take your daughter to the library when someone is dying on the stairs? It certainly doesn’t sound like the Toms River, that’s for sure.”
Rodrick said Bonjovi’s community kitchen is scheduled to close in May, but he is still irritated by the general issues of other nonprofits that allegedly bring more and more homeless people into his community. (John Nasion/Getty Images)
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The mayor also said he is considering legal action against “specific nonprofits” that “create public nuisances and sacrifices township money.” This does not include Bonjovi’s community kitchen.
