CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Anti-bullying protections for children often end where school property ends. Camden’s mayor signed an ordinance on Tuesday that applies anti-bullying and anti-harassment policy to the whole city.
Camden native Sheila Green says the problem of bullying has gone on for far too long.
“We are now writing stuff to stop all of this from happening. So if you don’t know who we are, get ready, ‘cause here we come.”
Green proudly referred to herself as a nerd, and then she called the mayor and council president nerds, and said the city is done with bullying forever. She and other supporters of the bill are calling it “revenge of the nerds.”
“We — those who were nerds and bullied when we were kids — we have risen,” Green said.
Mayor Vic Carstarphen signed the ordinance into law, calling it a necessary step to protect kids outside of school. The first of its kind in New Jersey and one of just a few in the country, the ordinance creates a nine-member advisory panel of five adults and four kids, and it spells out how to support victims of bullying.
“We, as leaders of our community, have to step up to save our youth, to be there for our youth. They’re our foundation,” Carstarphen said.
The process of reporting and investigating incidents was not fully spelled out, but the penalties for a first violation will come with a fine up to $100, and $250 for offenses after that.
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High school sophomore Jaiden Jiles provided an important perspective as the legislation was crafted, saying it was a good feeling to help with something so important.
“It brings me down to see kids who are bullied for things out of their control.”
It hasn’t been explained yet how people can report bullying incidents or how the city would investigate the claims. Typically the police department handles harassment issues.
The ordinance does say violations will come with a $100 fine for a first offense and $250 for subsequent offenses.
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