Post by admin on Mar 7, 2007 17:37:21 GMT -5
Mayor says Freehold has a strong sense of community
I am writing in response to the letter of Martha Eisner, of Manalapan (" 'Community' Must Include Everyone Who Resides There," News Transcript, Feb. 21, 2007). Rest assured, Martha, we in Freehold Borough have a very strong sense of community.
Unlike many "communities," we in Freehold put our money where our mouth is. We instituted a redevelopment plan for the old rug mill to provide safe and affordable housing for families and senior citizens. We supported Habitat for Humanity in their quest to build homes for the needy by waiving thousands of dollars in municipal fees.
We rehabilitated over 300 homes of low- and moderate-income families using Regional Contribution Agreement funds. What is the rest of New Jersey doing to provide affordable housing for the less fortunate among us?
There is a dearth of affordable housing here in Monmouth County and in New Jersey. Why not direct your passion toward remedying that situation? With the availability of more affordable housing, instances of dangerous overcrowding will dissipate. Or are you afraid that you might end up with affordable housing in your neighborhood?
Just because our residents are not as wealthy as those in other towns does not mean they are not entitled to enjoy a decent quality of life - regardless of their faith, color, national origin or income bracket. And I venture to say that our community is far more diverse than most in all of those categories.
A committee of concerned volunteers from within our community spent a great deal of time and effort to investigate the many problems encountered in rental housing, from unscrupulous landlords taking advantage of people who are vulnerable to unsafe and life-threatening conditions created by practices such as stacking and sleeping in nonhabitable areas with no means of ingress and egress.
Landlords who neglect the exterior and interior of their rental properties negatively affect the quality of life for their tenants and neighboring residents alike.
Those who claim to be advocating for the tenants are doing them a disservice by thwarting well-intended efforts to make all rental housing in Freehold safe for all tenants. Surely, the writer is not suggesting that we should ignore hazardous and unsafe living conditions merely because the tenants cannot speak for themselves. Ensuring safe housing for everyone is something to which every community should strive.
As elected officials, we have a duty to protect all people from living in hazardous conditions or living next to a dwelling where hazardous or neglectful conditions exist. At no time has the Borough Council proposed adopting an ordinance that would bar "illegals" as tenants. That was merely one topic for discussion in a lengthy and thoughtfully prepared committee report. Next time, try reading past the salacious media headlines aimed at selling newspapers and actually learn the facts.
The council and I very much appreciate the hard work and thoughtful report issued by the committee and will give all the recommendations our full attention and consideration. The people of Freehold Borough - all of them - deserve nothing less.
Mayor Michael Wilson
Freehold Borough
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2007/0307/Letters/110.html
I am writing in response to the letter of Martha Eisner, of Manalapan (" 'Community' Must Include Everyone Who Resides There," News Transcript, Feb. 21, 2007). Rest assured, Martha, we in Freehold Borough have a very strong sense of community.
Unlike many "communities," we in Freehold put our money where our mouth is. We instituted a redevelopment plan for the old rug mill to provide safe and affordable housing for families and senior citizens. We supported Habitat for Humanity in their quest to build homes for the needy by waiving thousands of dollars in municipal fees.
We rehabilitated over 300 homes of low- and moderate-income families using Regional Contribution Agreement funds. What is the rest of New Jersey doing to provide affordable housing for the less fortunate among us?
There is a dearth of affordable housing here in Monmouth County and in New Jersey. Why not direct your passion toward remedying that situation? With the availability of more affordable housing, instances of dangerous overcrowding will dissipate. Or are you afraid that you might end up with affordable housing in your neighborhood?
Just because our residents are not as wealthy as those in other towns does not mean they are not entitled to enjoy a decent quality of life - regardless of their faith, color, national origin or income bracket. And I venture to say that our community is far more diverse than most in all of those categories.
A committee of concerned volunteers from within our community spent a great deal of time and effort to investigate the many problems encountered in rental housing, from unscrupulous landlords taking advantage of people who are vulnerable to unsafe and life-threatening conditions created by practices such as stacking and sleeping in nonhabitable areas with no means of ingress and egress.
Landlords who neglect the exterior and interior of their rental properties negatively affect the quality of life for their tenants and neighboring residents alike.
Those who claim to be advocating for the tenants are doing them a disservice by thwarting well-intended efforts to make all rental housing in Freehold safe for all tenants. Surely, the writer is not suggesting that we should ignore hazardous and unsafe living conditions merely because the tenants cannot speak for themselves. Ensuring safe housing for everyone is something to which every community should strive.
As elected officials, we have a duty to protect all people from living in hazardous conditions or living next to a dwelling where hazardous or neglectful conditions exist. At no time has the Borough Council proposed adopting an ordinance that would bar "illegals" as tenants. That was merely one topic for discussion in a lengthy and thoughtfully prepared committee report. Next time, try reading past the salacious media headlines aimed at selling newspapers and actually learn the facts.
The council and I very much appreciate the hard work and thoughtful report issued by the committee and will give all the recommendations our full attention and consideration. The people of Freehold Borough - all of them - deserve nothing less.
Mayor Michael Wilson
Freehold Borough
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2007/0307/Letters/110.html