From the AP:
N.J. plan would bar towns from pushing low-cost housing on cities
Suburban New Jersey communities would be prohibited from pushing affordable housing requirements on cities under sweeping proposals unveiled Tuesday by Assembly Democratic leaders.
Current requirements that have been around for about 20 years are designed to help New Jerseyans struggling with some of America’s most expensive housing, but many argue that those requirements aren’t good enough.
“New Jersey needs to do a better job of providing housing for residents who live on the margins,” said Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr., D-Camden, who unveiled the proposal during a Statehouse news conference.
An historic 1975 state Supreme Court decision requires all New Jersey municipalities to provide housing for low- and moderate-income residents , a ruling praised by those who claim it brings equal housing opportunities but bashed by those who contend it promotes development.
Census data shows New Jersey as the second most expensive state for homeowners and the fourth priciest for renters, with monthly housing costs nearly 50 percent higher than national averages.
Current state law allows suburban towns to pay cities to take their affordable housing requirements.
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According to the state, 120 suburban towns have paid $210 million to 53 cities since 1988. The cities use the money to provide affordable housing. For instance, Colts Neck recently agreed to pay Long Branch $2.83 million to repair and develop 107 homes for low-income residents.
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Staci Berger, advocacy director for the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, estimated the state needs 600,000 homes for low- and moderate-income families and vowed to rally housing advocates to support the proposed legislation.“One little fix here and one little fix there is what we’ve been doing for years and it hasn’t really helped the problem,” Berger said.