Rodeway Inn In Secaucus Currently Being Used For Homeless Housing

SECAUCUS, NJ — For about the past six months now, the Rodeway Inn in Secaucus has been used for temporary homeless housing by both Union and Passaic counties.

This was confirmed Tuesday by Mayor Mike Gonnelli, who said the town of Secaucus has been fighting this and is trying to have the program ended.

Similar to the way Secaucus was chosen by the state as one of the first towns to have a medical marijuana shop, the town of Secaucus had no say in the matter: Passaic and Union counties contract with the Rodeway Inn and pay the Rodeway Inn to house people there.

"We didn't even know they were there until some activity came forward and we looked into it further and found out they were there," he said. "We are trying to get them out there. I understand Union County will be moving out of there soon."

Gonnelli said to the best of his knowledge, the Rodeway Inn is the only hotel in Secaucus where this is happening.

Secaucus town administrator Gary Jeffas said neither "homeless shelter" nor "halfway house" are the correct term. But he did say:

"This is a hotel and they apparently contracted with some county agencies for placement of individuals," said Jeffas. "Our main issue has been the increase in police activity resulting from individuals that have been placed in the hotel."

Gonnelli said he even asked Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez to get involved.

Some town residents have speculated this has led to an increase in crime in Secaucus.

Gonnelli declined to respond, but he emphasized he would like the program ended. At 2:03 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4, a man crawled in through a basement window of a home on Valley Court, unlawfully entering the apartment, said police. He was confronted by one or more of the homeowners, who called 911; he was charged with criminal trespassing.

The man, a Passaic resident, was not staying at the Rodeway Inn, said the mayor.

"We've been on them ever since we found out about this," he said. "And we are paying close attention to the other hotels (in town)."

Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller formed the SPD vice squad two years ago specifically to deal with vice crime (drugs, prostitution, violence) that occurs in Secaucus motels. "Vice activity will not be tolerated at our local hotels," said Miller in June.