Jersey Shore Town Sued After Arresting 2 Men For Filming Council Meeting

Patch.com ^ | 04/30/2025 | Megan VerHelst

[simpson96]

Democrat Mayor LaCicero, center.

[KarlInOhio]

Others named in the lawsuit include Lavallette police Sgts. Adam LaCicero and Justin D. Lamb. Adam LaCicero is the brother of Police Chief Christian LaCicero, according to an Asbury Park Press report, and both men are sons of the mayor. Lamb is also Toms River council president.

A town of devout nepotists.

[metmom]

People who don’t do anything wrong have nothing to hide.

[FreedomPoster]

Imagine thinking in 2023 that you can’t video a public meeting. Insanity. Then again, we are talking about Democrats here.

Heck, my former suburb was videoing and posting council meetings long before Covid, almost a decade before. During Covid, meetings on video were almost a requirement everywhere.

[DownInFlames]

Jackpot

[ConservativeMind]

Sue them to the poor house.

[Beowulf9]

That is probably supposed to say Lavalette, no?

[HYPOCRACY]

Lavallette is a shore town that fills up to about 30k people in the summer. In the winter it’s about 3k people who are mostly inbreds and descendents of inbreds who never venture off their island, except to stock up at Costco. Sort of a beach for those that escaped the Pine Barrens.

[Dr. Sivana]

People who don’t do anything wrong have nothing to hide.

That works better with laws that are just and law officers/judges/politicians who are not corrupt. That's why we have a Fourth Amendment.

I see no problem with taking a video (almost certainly NOT "film") of a public meeting. It is not like the old days when the lighting and cameras could interfere with the proceedings.

[Rinnwald]

A town of devout nepotists.

Like the last time I was there, 40 years ago on a motorcycle trip. I complained out loud why a payphone directory was shredded. Some rando passing outside said, "cuz yer in Joisey."

[Leaning Right]

> After the meeting started, the lawsuit claims both men were arrested by police for filming it without receiving prior written permission to do so. <

But they did have prior written permission! It’s the First Amendment to the Constitution, freedom of the press.

(Which, by the way, does not apply while on private property. But of course those guys were on public property.)

Side note: Notice how the cops acted like mindless drones, “just following orders”.

[Carl Vehse]

The defendents need to be sued jointly and severally with monetary damages sought that will bankrupt the towm and the individuals.

[Alberta's Child]

I’m all about transparency in government, but I honestly would find it bothersome if people from outside my town showed up to videotape my town council meetings.

[Tymesup]

Why would videotaping bother you?

[Leaning Right]

> I’m all about transparency in government, but I honestly would find it bothersome if people from outside my town showed up to videotape my town council meetings. <

I can understand that. But it shouldn’t be near enough to prohibit such activities, and arrest the folks involved. I forget who said it, but whomever it was is very wise:

“The Bill of Rights is meant to protect unpopular [or bothersome] behavior. Popular behavior needs no protection.”

[neverevergiveup]

A town of devout nepotists.

It's more than disgusting, as is Christie.

[Alberta's Child]

I guess it’s the same reason I wouldn’t want them taking photos of license plates in the parking lot.

In my town, I think the town council doesn’t even have an obligation to let you speak during the open forum part of the meeting if you’re not a resident of the town or representing one.

[Rappini]

Sounds like Communist tactics against freedom.

[Orosius]

My family has been spending summers in Lavallette since 1955. I’ve watched the place go from a really relaxed, blue collar beach town of small bungalows, motels, mom and pop bars and restaurants and shops, to an overbuilt monstrosity packed with shoddily constructed Mcmansions and fast food franchises. There are still isolated pockets of the old charm, but they’re rapidly disappearing.

[Theoria]

'I’ve watched the place go from a really relaxed, blue collar beach town of small bungalows, motels, mom and pop bars and restaurants and shops, to an overbuilt monstrosity packed with shoddily constructed Mcmansions and fast food franchises. There are still isolated pockets of the old charm, but they’re rapidly disappearing.'

That's happened to every small coastal town on the Atlantic and Gulf.