Adler Affordable Housing Mandate a Direct Assault on CD3 Communities & Suburban Property Taxpayers

Adler Affordable Housing Mandate a Direct Assault on

CD3 Communities & Suburban Property Taxpayers

Myers, Local Officials Warn of Multi-Billion Dollar Tax Increases,

Job Losses & Threats to Preserved Open Space

            Mount Laurel, July 10, 2008-Congressional candidate and Medford Mayor Chris Myers today stood with locally elected officials from CD3 communities and hammered John Adler, Jon Corzine and the tax and spend Trenton political machine for what Myers deemed "a direct assault on our suburban communities and the local property taxpayers who live here; taxpayers that are fed up with the unfunded mandates from Trenton making New Jersey unaffordable for working families and seniors on a fixed income."

            Myers cited recent numbers from the State that indicate the 52 municipalities that comprise the 3rd Congressional District will be forced to build a minimum of 11,397 new affordable housing units (spreadsheet attached).  At an average for $237,471 per unit in COAH Region V, these new units would cost in excess of $2.7 billion, not including billions more for the cost of new schools, police, fire, emergency services, roads and water/sewer plants-with taxpayer footing the lion's share of the bill.

            Additionally, the legislation calls for a 2.5% tax on all commercial development-which Myers calls "a job killer that will cripple local economies"-and will mandate municipalities to build 1 affordable housing unit for every 5 residential homes built and 1 for every 16 jobs created.

          "There is absolutely nothing affordable about this so-called affordable housing bill for working families and seniors on a fixed income residing in suburban communities and struggling every day to make ends meet; in fact, it's a multi-billion dollar property tax increase jammed down our throats," said Myers.  "My opponent, John Adler, and his cronies in Trenton apparently won't be satisfied until New Jersey is completely unaffordable for middle-class taxpayers and small business owners.  It's a disgrace."

           Mount Laurel Mayor John Drinkard, said he believes the new affordable housing legislation presents a direct and real threat to the thousands of acres of open space his township-and others like his-have preserved at behest of taxpayers.

            "As I understand it, this legislation is going to force towns like Mount Laurel to shoehorn in affordable housing units even if we're built out," said Drinkard, who called Mount Laurel's mandate of 1,421 units "an outrage and affront to property taxpayers."  "That means our open space, recreation areas and parks are at-risk of being paved over to make way for housing that is going to drive up our taxes and ruin our quality of life."

            Lumberton Mayor, Pat Delany, said his town's taxpayers simply can not afford to build the new schools it would need to educate the influx of new students this legislation would create.

            "We are being told to build nearly 400 new units," said Delany.  "At an average of two children per affordable housing unit, multiplied by the state average cost of $11,320 to educate each pupil, that‘s more than $9 million per year in higher school taxes for Lumberton homeowners-and that's before you even figure in the cost of building the actual schools!!!"

            Former Cherry Hill Mayoral candidate Phil Guerreri, who could not attend due to a last minute conflict, also added to his voice.

           "John Adler's recipe of guaranteed property tax increases, with the potential for activist New Jersey courts mandating that preserved open space be condemned for affordable housing construction is a stew that should make any suburban property taxpayer sick to their stomach just thinking about it," said Guerreri, who came less than 1,000 votes of winning Cherry Hill's mayoralty in 2007.  "Just when you think the politicians in Trenton couldn't be any more disappointing, they go ahead and do something like this.  It's truly incredible."

            Other elected officials are also expected to be in attendance and can speak to reporters at that time, if they would like.

-30-