Key Factors: Trenton, NJ CITY COUNCIL MEMBER'S George Muschal & Kathy McBride, Shuantae Bellamy (CEO HOPE), Dareen Freedom Green, Dion Clark & Minster Lee Ingram


At a recent City Council meeting, Mr. Clark had expressed a safety concern about the News Paper people being out there in the streets seeking to get buyers of their papers. Council Man Muschal went right in to saying it's unsafe, illegal & other pitfall comments about the youths being out there and mentioning to make it harder for them to go out there seeking donations to help them raise funds for their teams equipment, uniforms, bus rentals & etc.. He stated that the police need to start giving out TICKETS and taking the kids MONEY! (Now when they take the money what is the police & Trenton officials going to do with the money)

This could hurt & leave 100's of our city youths from the drill & dance teams, to the sports (tack, baseball, basketball, football) & all others with no way to at times needing to raise $100's of dollars. These youths work hard to make it on TV, Championships, Tours, Showcases and not only do they go out of town to competitions! They come back WINNERS! Trenton Youths have a great report in all areas. 

Our city youths have been doing what is called "Tagging". Tagging is: When they go out & ask members of the public to make a small donation to help their cause.

At the meeting Ms. Council member Kathy Mcbride (who at the time was C.C. President), who has a long history in supporting youth programs-who months back donated (along with other C.C. members) to the North Ward Baseball Little League. Outside of sports she has taken on the Parenting part for other children. Surprised at her comments in regards to this matter that was flipped by Mr. Muschal after Mr. Clark stated about news paper people. Ms. Mcbride  we right in to agreeing with Mr. Muschal, heated and mad I jumped up because I was emotionally HURT at her saying such thing I lashed out many time and was told if I didn't have a seat I was going to be PUT OUT! She go on to say its not SAFE for the kids to be in the streets (which I agree with her), but to mainly point out that its not legal was a line I would have never thought she would have used!

During this same meeting I spoke out in concern explaining to City Council that this has been going on for over 30 years and making it very clear of why they are out there. Even explaining to them that many of these groups have no place to practice but outside in the cold and heat, need uniforms, drums, vans for transportation and etc. And Minster Lee Ingram also, stepped up to the plate in concern with this matter.

At 2nd meeting with City Council Mr. Clark again made it very clear in detail that he was not speaking of the kids but did say he thinks for safety reasons of being hit, people saying things to them and etc there needs to be something else in place. D. Freedom Green, also made public comments with his concern of them being out there and made a suggestion that maybe we get them some things to sell or go out to the shopping areas and etc. to raise donations. Both made very good points but its not just that simple to do. In the townships such as Ewing, Hamilton and etc. they don't allow Trenton residents to come there and take part because our kids are not from their city and they only allow their youths to tag there. Our city don't have the malls, shopping complexes & etc as the neighboring cities do. So, our youths are forced to be on the streets in the areas of high traffic.

Let me make this very clear I & Mr. Ingram is also concern with the safe of our youths out there! We can see and understand the dangers of being out there for kids. We do agree with them on that but we take a turn for many reasons, to take them youths money, give them tickets, calling for more policing to these youths and causing them to have hardships with capital related matters we do not agree with and we're not going to just stand around and keep speaking to C.C. about this. We're taking action and we need your help as well.

Th law speaks clearly about what is called "PANHANDLING" which was put in place by a few business people in 1932 who didn't want the homeless soliciting" in front of there place of business. Our youths are not homeless nor are they panhandling for the cause of what most home-less people would use it for. (Drugs, Beer & etc.)

From what was stated and a very good ideal made by D. Freedom Green, was coming up with somethings for the kids to go out in to the communities to offer for small donations, well as requesting the local churches & businesses for donations (which we have been trying to get them to do for years), Mr. Clark stated doing car washes in Trenton High Lot (only thing about that is most people in that area be on the drive by and will not stop to take up that much time to have kids washing the vehicles).

I and Mr. Ingram is currently working on a few methods that can help them raise the funds that they need. He's working on reaching out to all the local minsters in the area, and I'm using my books & product line as a means to generate more income that I can donate to these youth programs and we're working on seeking a location for them to use to practice and conduct their meetings at. We're also, going to go out in to the communities street by street, ave by ave, blvd by blvd, apt by apt, home by home, business by business & church by church to seek a small donation to help with this cause. We not just going to take this on on the city level but we're also going at it on the state level. Every city we know that has a youth teams has been doing this for decades.

By signing this petition it simple letting the City Officials & Police that we stand behind our youths 100% and we not just going to allow them to come in and take our youths money, give tickets & etc as attacks on them while they are there raising funds for positive matters being harassed by the police its criminals running free in the drug trade, shootings & etc. that's where the police needs to have their attention on and the city council needs to be pushing for more crack downs on criminals not innocent youths who are out doing positive things and most of all REPRESENTING our city. They traveling to NYC,VA, PA and even as far as Las Vegas Nevada. Not one cent was or is given to these youths from the City of Trenton. How else is they going to get it? There is concern people in the public who supports these youths and has been for years and enjoy making small donations because they see these kids with new uniforms, new drums, watch them on tv, read about them in the papers and etc.. In over 30yrs we have not had no TRAGIC ACCIDENT with any child be hitting or kidnapped. 

In, closing I would like to ask if you can please support us by signing this petition which once I reach 10,000 signatures I will be taking this to the Mayors Office & making City Council & Police Director aware of it. To show we support our youths.