(ASBURY PARK, N.J.) — The City of Asbury Park has obtained temporary court restraints against organizers promoting an unpermitted "Asbury Park Beach Takeover 2026" scheduled for June 30, signaling an aggressive stance against unauthorized pop-up gatherings this summer.
OpGov.news obtained a copy of the court order from the City of Asbury Park, signed on June 25, 2026, by Superior Court Judge Owen C. McCarthy. The Order to Show Cause with Temporary Restraints was issued in the case City of Asbury Park v. Nerak Johnson, Janya Reevey, N.C. (a minor by guardian Mytrazure Coleman), S.G-B. (a minor by guardian Lateka Burks), A.S. (a minor by guardian Anthony Washington), and John Does 1-50 (Docket No. MON-C-107-26).
The order directs the defendants, listed above, to immediately stop all promotion of the ‘beach takeover’ — including social media posts — remove existing advertisements and publicly post notices that the gathering has been cancelled. It also bars them from advertising or encouraging any future unpermitted events in the city without first obtaining a special event permit under Asbury Park Ordinance §4-10.
A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Monday, June 29, at 2 p.m. at the Monmouth County Superior Court in Freehold.
City Attorney Kevin N. Starkey, of the firm Starkey, Kelly, Kenneally, Cunningham, Turnbach & Yannone, delivered the message clearly in a June 25 letter to the defendants: “The enclosed Order includes temporary restraints against all defendants. Those Court Order and the restraints require you to do the following: ‘Immediately remove any advertisements or postings promoting the June 30, 2026 “takeover” event, and post notice on social media that the takeover event has been cancelled.’”
Starkey added in a statement: “New Jersey has given municipalities a powerful tool with this law, which Asbury Park is already using in court. The City will not stand by and wait for disorder to occur. We will pursue every available legal remedy to prevent unlawful events from taking place and to hold organizers, participants, and responsible parties accountable when they violate the law.”
Mayor John Moor echoed the tough approach: “We have seen what these events do to communities, and we are not going to let it happen here. Our residents and visitors deserve to enjoy this city safely, and we are going to make sure they can. If you are coming here to cause trouble, turn around.”
The city’s legal action is supported by New Jersey’s new Pop-Up Party Law (Chapter 245 of the Laws of 2026, from bills A4651/S3508), signed by Governor Phil Murphy on January 12, 2026. The legislation was enacted to address large, unruly gatherings organized through social media that have disrupted Jersey Shore towns and other areas.
The law creates specific offenses for inciting a public brawl, including through promotion on social media, with penalties reaching up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine for more serious cases. It also holds participants accountable and imposes significant liability on parents and guardians of juveniles involved, including civil fines of $1,000 for property damage and potential criminal penalties ranging from fines to jail time.
According to the City’s Verified Complaint, the defendants used Instagram accounts to promote the June 30 beach event with slogans like “ASBURY PARK BEACH TAKEOVER 2026” and calls to “REPOST AND SHARE TO OTHER LETS SHOW NGAS HOW WE REALLY #june30th.” No special event permit was sought or obtained.
(Instagram story posts from displaying the promotional flyer for the 'Asbury Park Beach Takeover 2026' event scheduled for June 30, with a 'Cancelled' overlay. Credit: City of Asbury Park.)
At the time when this article was written, the main promotional posts no longer appear to be publicly visible, consistent with the temporary court restraints requiring their immediate removal and the posting of cancellation notices. Although compliance with the court order — or voluntary removal following service — appears to have occurred for the main promotional content, absolute confirmation is not possible. Instagram posts are often ephemeral, can be quickly deleted, archived, or restricted to private or friends-only viewing, meaning direct access to the accounts would be required for full verification.
City officials contend that organizers who bypass the permit process also bypass critical public safety safeguards, including emergency planning, sanitation, insurance, and coordination with first responders.
“Organizing a large gathering without going through the permitting process isn't just a technicality. Those requirements exist for a reason,” said City Manager Adam E. Cruz, city of Asbury Park Safety. “Plans, adequate sanitation, insurance, and coordination with emergency services are what stand between a good time and a serious incident. When those steps are skipped, the risks fall on everyone present, including people who just happen to be nearby.”
Asbury Park Police plan a strong visible presence on the beach and boardwalk throughout the summer and are actively monitoring social media and other intelligence sources. The department urges residents and visitors to report suspicious activity.
The temporary restraints remain in effect pending the June 29 hearing. Defendants may seek to dissolve or modify them on two days’ notice.
This case marks an early test of the city’s use of both local ordinances and the new state Pop-Up Party Law to maintain order during the busy summer season. Special event permit applications are available on the City of Asbury Park website at www.cityofasburypark.com under the Departments > Special Events section.
Story image provided by the city of Asbury Park.
If you’d like to add or correct anything in this report, feel free to reach out to me or leave a comment below. If you have any Asbury Park story tips or ideas, please reach out to Sarah Denos at sarahkdenos@gmail.com.
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