Essex County’s Blue Line: These N.J. Towns Support, These Residents Don’t

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Municipal officials’ support for the “Blue Line” pro-police movement continues to grow in Essex County. But do their residents and constituents feel the same way?

In the past months, several municipalities in Essex County have chosen to express their support of the national Blue Line movement – “a memorial or a connection or memory between police officers killed in the line of duty and those who continue with their duties in the present” - by painting blue divider lines on public roadways in their jurisdictions.

Essex County towns that have previously expressed Blue Line support include Caldwell, Verona and West Orange.

• See related article: Essex County Towns Join ‘Blue Line’ Movement In Support Of Local Police

Recently, multiple other Essex County towns have hosted their own Blue Line activities. In Montclair, town officials painted a blue line on Bloomfield Avenue near the municipal police headquarters, the local PBA reported on Sunday.

"Pedestrians and motorists will see a blue stripe painted on sections of Bloomfield Avenue in recognition of the Montclair Police Department, a red stripe painted on Bloomfield Avenue, Valley Road and Harrison Avenue in recognition of the Montclair Fire Department and a white stripe painted on sections of Walnut Street in recognition of the Montclair Ambulance Unit," Montclair town officials stated in a Wednesday news release.

“Montclair wants to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all of our public safety officials,” Acting Township Manager Timothy Stafford said. “We feel it is important to express our gratitude in this very public, recognizable way."

In Livingston, officials recently painted a blue line in front of the police station, a red line in front of the firehouse and a white line in front of the ambulance building to show support for all of the first responders in town.

"We have always supported our police officers, firefighters and first aid responders tremendously in Livingston,” Mayor Al Anthony told TAP Into Livingston. “This past year throughout the country has been a difficult one, as police in particular have been faced with constant adversity and threats."

• See related article: U.S. Police, Suspect Death Totals Released: How Many Cops Killed In 2015?

But not all Essex County residents are in favor of the blue lines appearing across their towns.

On Oct. 18, Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia announced on Facebook that town officials wanted to paint a blue line in support of the movement.

“As you see most towns are painting blue lines in support of our police officers,” Venezia wrote. “Bloomfield would like to go one step further. We want to show that police and the community support each other so we are looking for ideas and feedback on how we can add to the blue line. One suggestion so far is a different color symbolizing community around a blue line.”

In response to Venezia’s post, several residents questioned whether a blue line would be a good move for the unity of the township.

• “I support BPD and BFD but wasting money on paint in the street is kind of silly. JMHO.”
• “Not in favor at all. Silly and waste of money. Lots of ways to show support of the police. And please, let's be sensitive to the Black Lives Movement with whatever we do.”
• “My gut reaction is it seems reactionary and divisive. unfortunately symbols like this imply a certain either/or that does not reflect reality. I support the police and I'm concerned about fair treatment of civilians. Lines divide, we need things that unite.”
• “I would say pass on the blue line in favor of a community event.”
• “Honestly I can appreciate the attempt to show support - but isn't it confusing for traffic to start painting all kinds of colors on the road?”
• “Better to spend time improving relations between BPD and the community. Blue lines cost money and accomplish nothing.”

However, other comments expressed strong support for the idea.

• “I believe the Bloomfield Police Officers deserve a small token that will go a long way to the men and women who put their lives on the line every single day for the residents of Bloomfield.”
• “I absolutely love this idea! As a daughter of a retired East Orange Police Officer and a wife of a Newark Firefighter I have the utmost respect for all law enforcement.”
• “I think it's a good idea . I'll buy the first gallon of paint and also help with the painting.”

Others were more ambivalent in their feelings about a blue line in Bloomfield.

• “If the PBA wants to fund it, I'm all for it. But I certainly do not want to pay any more tax dollars to 'show' my support.”

POTENTIAL TRAFFIC HAZARD?

According to the “Remove the Blue Line” Facebook page, in addition to being an inappropriate reaction to the Black Lives Matter movement, the blue lines may potentially be a traffic hazard and violate the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration's Manual of Uniform Control of Traffic Devices (MCUTD).

The Facebook page states:

“Recently, a number of municipalities in New Jersey have been painting thin blue lines in the middle of double yellow-lines on roads to "promote respect for police, law and the state" in response to Black Lives Matter protests against police corruption, brutality and militarization… Beyond the irony of the "thin blue line" actually being a representation of police silence in regards to corruption and domestic violence, these lines present an unacceptable safety risk to drivers.”

The Facebook page continues:

“Under the US Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration's Manual of Uniform Control of Traffic Devices (MCUTD) , the only purposes for which blue paint on a pavement is acceptable is for the marking of fire hydrants and handicap parking spaces. At all times, center lane markings shall be yellow, with no expressed written exception… This violation of MUTCD can cause unnecessary confusion for drivers, which can potentially lead to fatal traffic accidents. The blue line has no purpose on the road other than to promote respect for the law, which ironically is itself violating federal regulations and putting people unnecessarily at risk.”

Are you in favor of painting blue lines on the streets in your town? Tell us why or why not in the comments section.

Photo: Montclair PBA, Facebook

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