The 18-year-old organizer of a July 25 Black Lives Matter protest in Englewood Cliffs said she was billed for police overtime, even though there was a small, peaceful crowd.Courtesy of Emily Gil
A New Jersey teen was billed $2,499.26 for police overtime costs after she organized a BLM protest in Englewood Cliffs New Jersey.
18 year old Emily Gil organized the protest because she believes there is a lack of affordable housing in the Bergen county town. “Englewood Cliffs has dodged affordable housing requirements for 40-plus years,” Gil told reporters. “I find that unacceptable.”
“Please promptly forward your payment to the borough in the amount of $2,499.26 for the police overtime caused by your protest,” Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario M. Kranjac wrote in a letter four days after the 25 July protest.
The mayor said “As with any privately-sponsored event that takes place in the borough requiring police safety, an invoice was sent to the organizer for police overtime since it would be unfair to require our residents to financially support a private event,”
According to the letter from the mayor, the town authorities tried to meet with Me Gil several times to discuss the security arrangements without success. “Your lack of notification left the borough with little time to prepare for your protest so that the police department and department of public works could ensure that everyone would be safe,” the letter states.
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While I applaud Ms Gil’s efforts, I know the cost of housing in Bergen county, and she’s right, it’s not affordable, I also understand the mayor and town council’s position. She put them in a difficult position by refusing to meet with them to discuss the security arrangements.