Holding Officials in Gloucester City & South Jersey Accountable Since 2006
William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews
JEER-YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW
Early Sunday morning, May 3, around 3 AM, a vehicle flipped over at the intersection of Thompson Avenue and Harley Avenue. CNBNews immediately reached out to Gloucester City Police Lt. Jason Flood for basic information about the crash. As of today, no response.
Residents deserve timely updates about serious incidents in their neighborhoods — not silence. Transparency shouldn’t require repeated requests or public shaming.
(Photo courtesy of JerseyNews.)
CHEER–New Flag for St. Mary’s Cemetery
The tattered, torn American Flag that flew over Old St. Mary’s Cemetery has been replaced with a new one. We first notified St. Mary’s Rectory about the flag approximately two years ago, and were directed to contact the curator of the New St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bellmawr, which we did. CNBNews alerted them numerous times over the past 12 months, and this time we were successful.
CHEER—Emergency Alert System Installed at Johnson Blvd. Jogging Track
An emergency alert system has been installed at the Johnson Blvd. Jogging Track. Kudos to the Gloucester City mayor and council for approving the purchase and the installation of the equipment.
JEER-Verizon Trucks Block Market Street Sidewalk Near Cold Springs School Campus
On April 27, 2026, around 10 AM, two Verizon trucks were parked directly across the Market Street sidewalk, just feet from the entrance to the Cold Springs School Campus. The larger truck sat idling with no driver inside, a violation of both state and local traffic laws. The exhaust fumes were overwhelming, and pedestrians were forced to step into the street to get around the blockade. What makes us mad is the fact that the drivers of these vehicles are so inconsiderate of the school children and other pedestrians who use the sidewalk daily, coming and going to the nearby elementary school and the high school.
This isn’t a one‑time problem. Verizon operates an office at that location, and trucks routinely block the sidewalk. What remains a mystery is why local police enforce street‑sweeper violations with enthusiasm, yet ignore commercial vehicles obstructing sidewalks and running engines illegally. Public safety shouldn’t depend on who’s behind the wheel.
CHEER-Firefighters Battle Massive Brush Fire in National Park
On Saturday morning, April 11, the Gloucester County Emergency Management issued an alert about an extremely large brush fire burning in National Park near the Sunoco Refinery property. Smoke plumes were reported as far south and east as Glassboro and Washington Twp. The smoke could be seen as far as the Walt Whitman Bridge. Thank you to all of the firemen and emergency personnel involved in fighting the fire.
JEER-$40,000 Pickup Truck for the UEZ Director
JEER-$40,000 Pickup Truck for the UEZ Director
We continue to wonder why the mayor and council spent $40,000 to buy a 2025 Ford F-150 for UEZ Director Lori Ryan. Is the City so rich that it can afford to spend your tax dollars needlessly? Lori Ryan is the current UEZ Coordinator and Director of Community Development for the Gloucester City Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ). She manages the district’s incentives and business development programs, including facade and signage grants. Why would that position suddenly require the purchase of a pickup truck? Previous coordinators never had one. You have a right to know!
CHEER—Gloucester City Marks America’s 250th Anniversary
The City of Gloucester has decorated the Municipal Building, 512 Monmouth Street, for the country’s 250th Anniversary. The decorations look very nice.
JEER—Judge Apologizes to Man Accused of Attempting to Assassinate President Trump
Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui (above, far right) gave the government until the next day to update the court on where Allen would be held at the Washington, D.C., jail. “Whatever you’ve been through, I apologize for the prior week,” the judge said to Allen, according to USA Today. The latest man charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump received an apology from the judge in his court appearance Monday, May 4. Attorneys for Cole Allen claimed in filings revealed during the hearing that the suspect had been wrongfully placed on suicide watch and denied access to a Bible.
JEER—$550,000 Spent on the Abandoned PNC Bank With No Plan
In 2024, the Gloucester City mayor and council spent $550,000 to buy the abandoned PNC Bank at 500 Monmouth Street. They had no plans for the property, but they spent your money anyway. At times, the governing body has acted as if they are playing Monopoly. Were you aware, Mr. and Ms. Taxpayer, that you have funded the purchase of over 200 properties? This governing body continues to frivolously spend taxpayers’ funds without any explanation or public input. Today, the former PNC property remains empty. PNC left the City in 2023. SEE RESOLUTION: https://www.cityofgloucester.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif5381/f/uploads/132-2024.pdf
Why didn’t the mayor and council ask the city taxpayers for their opinion? After all, it was their money that was being spent to purchase the building.
A search on the internet revealed an article about another community that purchased a PNC property that was also being sold for $550,000. But they invited their residents to a meeting to discuss the purchase. They were able to buy it for less than the asking price. Read: Commission Meets on Purchase of PNC Bank Building.
JEER—Seminar Highlights Ongoing Language Barriers
Recently, an organization held a seminar to show Spanish-speaking communities how to use WhatsApp to communicate better. Liberal New Jersey is a sanctuary state; as such, it comes as no surprise that people are living here who can’t speak English. To become a U.S. citizen through naturalization, applicants must demonstrate an intermediate level of English proficiency, which includes the ability to read, write, and speak basic English. Our Irish forefathers arrived in America in 1892. Although our great-grandparents couldn’t speak a word of English, they persevered and became U.S. citizens. Other nationalities, such as Italian, Germans, Poles, etc., did the same. Why is it that Spanish-speaking people and some other nationalities haven’t succeeded in learning our language?
JEER — Trash Overflowing at the Railroad Right‑of‑Way
The area along the Conrail right‑of‑way near Market Street is once again littered with mattresses, tires, and construction debris. Residents report calling Public Works for months with no response. Illegal dumping continues because enforcement is nonexistent.
JEER — Broken Streetlights on King Street Still Not Repaired
Several streetlights between Monmouth and Somerset have been out for more than six weeks. Residents have reported them repeatedly. Dark streets invite trouble — and the City should know better.
CLOSING THOUGHT
Gloucester City taxpayers deserve transparency, accountability, and basic competence from their government. CHEERS to the residents and workers who keep this community moving forward — and JEERS to those who treat public money like a private checkbook.
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