The Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey Letter to Gov. Cor

[Cranbury Conservative]

The letter below from a represenative of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey is a great example of who we are up against when it comes to affordable housing in New Jersey...

"Letter to Governor Jon Corzine
Posted by Diane Sterner November 19, 2008 1:18PM

Dear Governor Corzine,

It is only fair that every New Jerseyan have the opportunity to live in a decent home in a decent community, reasonably close to their place of employment. The new rules from the state Council on Affordable Housing, because they more accurately estimate the amount of New Jersey residents currently being denied that opportunity, constitute a step in the right direction. Their implementation should not be delayed.

The Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey says this attempt by state Senators Lesniak (D-Union) and Bateman (R-Somerset) to put a moratorium on the COAH process is clearly part of a larger campaign to roll back recent housing reforms that create opportunities for all New Jersey families to have safe housing they can afford. Senator Bateman is a prime sponsor of S.2292/A.344, introduced in the Senate on October 20, which would undo all of the major elements of A.500, New Jersey's comprehensive housing reform act, signed by you, Governor, in July. Among other things, Senator Bateman's bill would bring back Regional Contribution Agreements, an unfair mechanism by which wealthy municipalities paid out millions to avoid building any new housing for working families. This onerous practice, which was abolished just three months ago, has been called "blood money" by state leaders including Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts. The elimination of this practice was supported on the editorial pages of every major newspaper in the State."

The rest of the letter can be found at:
http://blog.nj.com/njv_diane_sterner/2008/11/letter_to_governor_jon_corzine.html


Background on the Author:
"Diane Sterner is founding director of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, the 250-member association of community-based development and other supporting organizations working to create housing and economic opportunities for lower-income New Jerseyans and help residents revitalize their neighborhoods. A 2006 James A. Johnson Fellow with the Fannie Mae Foundation, Sterner oversees the Network's Urban Revitalization Research Project.

The rest of her background can be found at:
http://blog.nj.com/njv_diane_sterner/about.html


Finally here is my favorite comment on NJ.com regarding this article....


"Posted by 42nj on 11/19/08 at 2:57PM
"It is only fair that every New Jerseyan have the opportunity to live in a decent home in a decent community, reasonably close to their place of employment."

Please show me where in either the state or US Constitutions this is a right? The big problem with this statement is that it isn't universally applied. It only refers to those making under a certain amount, leaving most of the middle class out. As long as the COAH rules have earnings limits it isn't fair across the board."


More Comments can be found with the letter on NJ.com...
http://blog.nj.com/njv_diane_sterner/2008/11/letter_to_governor_jon_corzine.html