Housing Bubble
Builders respond to Governor McGreevey's State of the State Address
In an open letter published in newspapers statewide, the New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA) expressed disappointment at Governor James E. McGreevey's failure to address the state's housing crisis in his recent State of the State Address.
According to the New Jersey State Planning Commission, one-third of the state's households "live in overcrowded and substandard housing." The NJBA took note of the fact that Mr. McGreevey's 55 minute address ignored the need to provide, safe and healthful housing that these families can afford.
Taking note of its members historic success in housing the state's working families and the Governor's attack on that success, the Association responded: "Mr. Governor, we are proud that today three million families have a home in New Jersey and four million employees have places to work. We are disappointed that you do not share that pride."
"As New Jersey's population grew -- as the baby boomers matured and immigrants arrived -- we built their homes," the letter said. "As newly graduated jobseekers entered the labor force, we built their workplaces. We built where the local zoning told us to and we satisfied the requirements of five levels of government and their 150 different permit programs,"
Noting that New Jersey still faces challenges, the Association called for pro-active policies such as equitable impact fees, increased infrastructure investment and an end to sprawl through delineation of the housing and jobs centers that are "the key organizing principle" of Mr. McGreevey's State Plan. The Association also called on the Attorney General to enforce the state's constitutional protections against discriminatory zoning.
"In our commitment to building an even better future, we have advanced our proposals," the Association said to the Governor. "We look forward to yours."
Source: New Jersey Builders Association
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