From the Times, Trenton:
Ending shift in low-cost housing Proposed ban sparks debate on town pacts
A proposed reform of New Jersey’s affordable-housing rules would bar all municipalities from dealing away any of their state-mandated affordable-housing obligations by paying other communities, typically economically struggling cities like Trenton, to host extra housing for low- and moderate-income residents.
The prohibition of such deals, known as regional contribution agreements (RCAs), is a key pillar of a recently introduced affordable-housing bill sponsored by Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, D-Bellmawr.
The measure and its anti-RCA stance is being hailed at least by some affordable-housing advocates as a sensible attempt to more evenly distribute housing for low- and-moderate income families throughout the state, rather than concentrating such housing in cities and other densely developed urban areas.
“RCAs are political accommodations (that) have outlasted their usefulness,” said Martin Johnson, president of the Trenton-based community development and environmental organization Isles Inc., a nonprofit outfit that works to help economically struggling families become self-reliant.
“The end result is what we see today in New Jersey, which is, simply, concentrated poverty in pockets throughout the state. And that traps children, families, in a situation that’s very difficult to overcome,” Johnson said in an interview yesterday.
…
Under Roberts’ legislation, A-3857, the elimination of RCAs would be retroactive to June 2 of this year, meaning that any RCAs that weren’t finalized before that date would be canceled.That would affect more than 90 RCAs that have either been approved or proposed statewide since the would-be cut-off date — representing $137.45 million in funds and 3,979 new low- and moderate-income housing units, according to the state Department of Community Affairs. Those units would still have to be built, but within the municipalities where — based generally on the amount, location and type of new development — COAH regulations stipulate they are needed.
I think they should focus on moving more wealthy people into the cities versus moving more poor people into the suburbs. It doesn’t make sense to move poor people away from mass transit. In the suburbs, they have to pay $5,000 a year in auto expenses for each working person.
Nice job.
Stay doing so well.
StephenS
Wealthy people live in the suburbs to get away from the poor. They are not going to move where the poor are predominately located. That’s why people move to the suburbs.
As for travel expenses most poor/moderate income people work as maids, mailmen, police officers, day laborers, sanitation workers, etc. in wealthy areas. They have to commute an hour to get there through mass transportation and car pools. Wouldn’t it be nice to live close to where you work. Thus saving yourself a few dollars by perhaps walking to work.
And if poor / moderate income people lived in these areas. Mass transporatin would be built thereby creating more jobs at many levels further boosting the economy of the town.
As for travel expenses most poor/moderate income people work …police officers
Many police officers in Northern NJ make $100k per year. They do a good job of perpetuating the blue collar working stiff stereotype. It’s one reason why your property taxes are so high.
RentinginNJ
You are right. The point I was trying to bring home is public service workers, who may not be in the high end of the spectrum. Rookie cops are not making $100K. All of these people need some place to live.
RentinginNJ
And you hit the nail on the head with the high taxes. The cops in Northern NJ have to make more to be able to afford to live in North Jersey.
Maybe taxes wouldn’t be so high if there were more people to spread them across.
oooh! Disco is back!!!!
Why? RCA!
Why? RCA!A!A!
Trickle down pyramid effect in da’ house… coming to a hood near you!
Why?
Because your back is up against the fence. Fixing or improving blighted areas doesn’t count towards the GDP.
Keep on cuttin’ down the trees cos they aren’t making any more land! & while you don’t want it in your back yard we’re fully aware that new construction feeds your family!
It’s too expensive to innovate, let’s just “invest” in America & bump up that GDP! & boomers LOVE to invest in America! Boomers won’t be like their ol’ man! Their parents were savers & negative savings rates are soooo much cooler than saving money!
& man, why is GenX&Y so harsh? We just outsourced dumb college-grad jobs & insourced jobs no one wants to do… I remember when I was a kid & I really worked unlike these kids, it’s a shame there’s no more kids mowing lawns in the summer.
Speaking of American boomer pasttimes! Step up to bat & be a $500K hitter on the Baseball Hedge Fund
DiamondPyramid!Sell the sea-ports & charge the locals to get on the beach! That’s always been the American dream!
RCA is proof that we’re about tapped out on who to pass the buck to I wish a revolution would be televised… but it’ll just be chaos.