An open letter from Mayor W. Reed Gusciora and Council President Yazminelly Gonzalez:
City Hall is a place that unites our community—a space for celebration, civic engagement, and shared pride in the capital city of New Jersey. From Juneteenth and cultural heritage events to holiday celebrations and flag raisings, the steps of City Hall have hosted moments that reflect the best of Trenton.
Unfortunately, recent late-night gatherings have taken a different turn. What has come to be jokingly called “Club City Hall” is no longer a harmless hangout. These gatherings, fueled in part by unauthorized nearby clubs and instigated by individuals seeking attention, have brought real consequences: two shootings, street fights, open drug use, illegal parking, and piles of trash left behind.
This is not harmless fun. It’s disruptive, dangerous, and disrespectful—to our property, to our neighbors, and to the spirit of this city.
City Hall belongs to everyone in Trenton. When people refuse to treat this space and each other with basic respect, the City must step in.
Here are some of the actions we are taking:
Increased police and parking enforcement presence during late-night hours;
Enhanced cleanup and anti-dumping efforts;
Amendments to City ordinances to give us stronger enforcement tools;
Pursuing responsible parties for those who vandalize, dump or otherwise deface City Hall.
These measures are not taken lightly—they come with real costs to taxpayers, including overtime for public safety and sanitation workers. But our residents deserve to feel safe and respected, especially in the heart of their city government.
Trenton deserves better, and we’re committed to delivering just that. The mayor and city council are working together to serve the best interests of all our residents.
W. Reed Gusciora, Mayor, City of Trenton
Yazminelly Gonzalez, Council President, City of Trenton
