Tue 6 Mar 2007
From the Record:
Providing basic housing for New Jerseyans going outside suburban box
In 1975 the state Supreme Court ruled that municipalities could not use zoning to control housing development, effectively mandating that affordable housing had to be available in every community in this state.
Since then, the Council on Affordable Housing has had responsibility for establishing rules to make this happen. In late January, the state Appellate Division of Superior Court rejected COAH’s most recent rules, agreeing that they were not adequate in responding to actual need.
However, while significant, the court decision alone will not actually lead to the kind of comprehensive strategy necessary to solve New Jersey’s affordable housing crisis.
In 2006, the Brookings Institution called the lack of affordable housing the top threat to New Jersey’s future. Brookings Institution fellow Bruce Katz reported that New Jersey “faces the toughest housing challenges of any state in the nation.”
The significant lack of affordable housing available to New Jersey’s low-, moderate- and middle-income households prevents many nurses, teachers, police officers, security guards and home health aides from living here. If we cannot house such people or if they cannot live near where they work, our state’s economic well-being and quality of life will suffer.
Today many folks commuite large distance (like from PA border) into NJ because they cannot afford decent housing option in NJ. The funny thing is whenever such topic comes up for discussion, most folks say, the folks communite because they love to not because they cannot afford here. I assume, there is percentage that may like to commute from far, but by and large it is the affordability issue.
How much cheaper is it to commute from the Poconos? Fuel, wear and tear on the car, time is money as well.
I’m an extreme commuter. It worked out perfectly –> beautiful piece of property, paid off the mortgage way ahead of schedule, have money in the bank, etc. But the commute is a grind, and the area is not the same as the exodus out of NJ continues. I occasionally look at properties back in NJ with thoughts of going back. But the taxes are so outrageous that I can’t see myself ever going back. I was born and raised in Hudson County, so I’m just a little cynical with regard to the tax situation in NJ ever improving.
The significant lack of affordable housing available to New Jersey’s low-, moderate- and middle-income households prevents many nurses, teachers, police officers, security guards and home health aides from living here.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE….Stop portraying teachers and especially police officers as these blue collar workering stiffs trying to make ends meet, putting them in the same catagory as minimum wage home health aids and security guards.
The police in my town pull in $100k and have benefits that would make the private sector green with envy. They are a big reason why taxes are so high. Perpetuating this myth of the poor police officer only makes it worse.
Teachers make about $50,000. Police make over $100,000 with overtime.
The one comment I always hear from people from out of state is how many cops there are around.
Most towns I know don’t have the crime to justify the level of police protection provided.
At least teachers can quantify their existence by having 20 or so kids to watch everyday.
Cops in most NNJ towns on the other hand, just keep Dunkin’ Donuts in business
Teachers in NJ start @ $40,000 to $50,000 and their salaries range to an excess of 95,000.
All the while, taking summers off and tenure with full healthcare.
They are hardly low to middle income workers.
JIM
I moved to new Jersey to get away from “blue collar workers” so I don’t mind paying extra in taxes if it keeps it that way .I’m sure most here feel likewise
When you calculate what the police make, also include the unknown $ CASH $that they make on their second full time job………many of them do contracting “on the side”. The teachers often do tutoring on the side—CASH also…..
Seems that they never ‘make’ enough $$$$$$
The baby boomer teachers and cops are now retiring.
The federal government recognizes that this problem is coming, but in reality nj will be bowled over with the pension plans they gave to their UNIONS.
NJ is in big trouble, and nobody wants to face the facts.
Jim
Please please please get over trying to portray teachers, cops, and nurses as having easy jobs that pay lots of money. I am so tired of hearing people whine about this. You have no concept the amount of stress, aggrevation and responsibility that goes along with those jobs. The amount of money they are paid is meager in comparison to most of the homeowners in Ocean, Monmouth and North Jersey who work in the private sector. Just because those private sector jobs are not quite as luctrative as maybe they were a couple of years ago, does not give people the right to assume that public servants are “working the system” and need to be punished. NJ is as unaffordable period.
Re:Whatever #10
I don’t think that MOST NJ citizens consider that MOST teachers,police and local/county/state union workers have non-aggrevating or non-stressful jobs……OUR problem is with the Union LEADERS using the POWER behind their positions to “twist” the ‘arms’of our elected state officials …….It seems,[in fact WE KNOW ]that the MONEY that is given to these elected WHORES by these unions are the people who CONTROL them !!!!
The state assembly and senate leadership is supposed to do what is BEST for the MAJORITY of NJ citizens —-NOT just for the FEW who are supposed to WORK and serve us—–That is why [IMHO]the state is in such a poor financial position…..The benefits given to present and retired workers are NOT AFFORDABLE and will never be!!—–The so-called governor corzine is either TOO STUPID to recognize this or maybe he just doesn’t care ????!!!!—
Common sense would dictate a CUT IN BENEFITS –NOW !-Medical and Pensions——–NO Discussions, NO Committees, No B.S.——–In five years with the property taxes increasing another three + thousand a year will be ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’
—-Goodbye New Jersey middle class…
One of the biggest stresses at a job is knowing if you’ll have one ,something a tenured teacher never worries about .Pension as in ENRON gone kaput!,something a teacher never worries about .medical cost something a teacher never worries about .can I afford vacation .something a teacher never worries about …jeez they hAVE IT ROUGH don’t they.
Jim Says:
March 6th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
The baby boomer teachers and cops are now retiring.
The federal government recognizes that this problem is coming, but in reality nj will be bowled over with the pension plans they gave to their UNIONS.
NJ is in big trouble, and nobody wants to face the facts.
Jim
THERE IS A CLEAR SOLUTION - EVERYBODY EMPLOYED IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY WILL LEAVE NJ…
If you are not leaving yet, it is because you are having it good here and have no right to complain. Start looking for a job out of state right now - you might be leasantly/unpleasantly surprised.
jon’s most visited web site http://www.superlaugh.com/1/behappy.htm
RE;13
Al,
Thanks for your heartfelt advice, I will talk to my wife to see if she minds leaving her parents and our married children while we relocate to another state. I guess we can still talk to the 3 Grandkids on the phone.
I am sure my wife would not mind leaving her friends of the last 35 years, yes even two teachers who candidly state they cannot believe they are getting over $ 50,000 when they retire next year @ 55. Full healthcare, it is like hitting the lottery,no they are not complaining.
In 5 years NJ will be so deep in debt even retired cops and teachers will leave, Al where do you teach? Your statment about leaving is classic, for unionized labor.
Jim
This problem can never be solved by New Jersey politicians because THEY are the problem. We are stuck in a catch 22. There needs to be significant federal intervention or opposition from politicians that aren’t tools of the system, like Schundler or Lonegan. Corzine is well aware of all the “double-dipping” and over-paying of policemen, etc. but will do nothing because it is in his best interest as an ELECTED official to plead ignorance.
I grew up in North Bergen where Nick Sacco has been mayor for many years. He is a State Senator in addition to being Mayor. He has ran unopposed and will probably be there for many years to come. This is a small example of what is wrong in our state. Corrupt politicians running UNOPPOSED and “double-dipping”.