YMCA Added As Metuchen Safe Place For Victims Of Hate Crimes

METUCHEN, NJ — The Metuchen YMCA branch is the newest addition to the town's Safe Place Program, an initiative to show support and provide safety for those who may experience or fear experiencing a hate crime, police said.

It now displays the Safe Place decal, a sign that it is a safe place for those in need of help.

The YMCA in Metuchen is at 65 High St. and can be reached at 732-548-2044. It is part of the YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge and South Amboy. You can visit its website here.

In establishing the program, the Police Department noted that "Metuchen is . . . one of the most progressive towns in Middlesex County, striving to be on the forefront of most social issues. Despite this, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual/Ally (LGBTQ+) residents and visitors are still worried they will experience crimes and discrimination related to to the safety of all LGBTQ+ residents and visitors."

To address those concerns the Safe Place Program was begun.

The initiative is a signage program being implemented around the borough. The program allows local supporting community members, businesses, schools, and organizations to have the opportunity to visibly display their support for the LGBTQ+ community.

The program was started in Metuchen in June of 2023, the department said, and has been used in other jurisdictions.

The concept was spearheaded by Officer Kelsey Florczak with the help of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the department said.

Currently the following businesses are involved:

• Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, 564 Middlesex Ave. Suite 28
• Metuchen News, 445 Main St.
• La Rosa’s Pizza, 335 Lake Ave.

The plan is for the Metuchen Police Department to work closely with the community in an effort to encourage reporting and reducing anti-LGBTQ+ crimes, the initiative says.

Participating locations support safe and secure 911 calling. Calling 911 and waiting for police to respond is imperative for suspect accountability, reducing crimes of hate, and showing a borough-wide "no tolerance" policy toward discrimination, the department says.

Any other businesses that wish to participate in the Safe Place Program can call 732-632-8548, and the Police Department will arrange for the installation of your Safe Place decal.