Oroho: Corzine Refuses to Release Housing Study That Taxpayers Bought

Senator Files Appeal to State Records Council

Senator Steve Oroho, R-Sussex, Morris and Hunterdon, said he has appealed the Corzine administration's refusal to release a report on housing growth that was presented to the State Planning Commission in March. The study reportedly shows that the Council on Affordable Housing grossly overestimated how much so-called "affordable" housing is needed in New Jersey. Oroho filed his appeal with the New Jersey Government Records Council.

"It's impossible for our democracy to function when public and elected officials are denied the facts needed to make informed decisions," Oroho said. "Billions of dollars of taxpayer and economic development money are at stake. The public deserves to see all the data, not just the highly suspect numbers the Corzine administration uses to support its housing policies."

Professor Robert Burchell of Rutgers University made a Power Point presentation at the March 25 meeting of the Planning Commission. According to those in attendance, the presentation indicated that the state can expect flat job growth over the next 20 years. COAH relied on an outdated and flawed study that estimated the state would add 790, 000 jobs during the same period when the council issued rules requiring construction of 115, 000 subsidized housing units over 10 years. The Corzine administration is refusing to release the report that includes the data that Burchell used in his public presentation, apparently because it contradicts COAH's assertions.

"Taxpayers paid for this study. They should be able to examine what they bought," Oroho said. "I urge the governor to release this vital data immediately in the interests of transparency and good government."

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