Mayors, city council members and municipal officials are furious over the new Council on Affordable Housing Regulations. It's time Governor Corzine listened to them and order a delay in the implemenation of the economy-killing new rules.

Republicans knew that the new COAH rules were a huge unfunded mandate. Now they know just how big. The best estimate is that it will cost communities $2 billion a year to meet these requirements for "affordable" housing.

SENATOR LESNIAK ON FIXING NEW JERSEY’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM

UNION – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, and Chairman of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, issued the following statement today on the direction of affordable housing regulations in New Jersey:

“COAH has failed to address the affordable housing needs of New Jersey during a growing economy and booming housing market. Under the current economic downturn, its approach will not only fail to spur low income housing development, it will stifle moderate income housing development and dampen New Jersey's chances for an economic rebound. Our unemployment rate will continue to increase causing more pain for our residents.

During yesterday's Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing, Senator Steve Oroho (R-24) questioned two of New Jersey's leading economic experts, Dr. James Hughes, dean of Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and Dr. Joseph Seneca, a Rutgers Professor and former chair of the New Jersey Council of Economic Advisors about New Jersey's economic future and the impact COAH will have on the state. Their exchange is below:

ASSEMBLY LEADERS PRAISE GOVERNOR’S CALL FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING COOPERATION

(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. and Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman today praised Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s call for cooperation in bringing affordable housing to New Jersey.

ROBERTS: NEW REPORT REINFORCES NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEW JERSEY

(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. today said a new Princeton University study that found low-income New Jerseyans moving to states with lower costs of living is yet another example of the need for affordable housing in the state.

JUST THE FACTS PLEASE: NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAW HELPS NEW JERSEY FAMILIES

(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. today welcomed debate on New Jersey’s affordable housing crisis and landmark efforts to solve it, but emphasized he hopes people who engage in this vital debate do so responsibly.

ROBERTS: NEW REPORT UNDERSCORES NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. today said a new study underscores the need to fight for affordable housing in communities throughout the state.

NEW REPORT UNDERSCORES IMPORTANCE
OF BROADENING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Brookings Institution Study Showing Growing Rates of Concentrated Poverty
Among Working Poor Further Justifies New Affordable Housing Law

(TRENTON) - Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman today said a new national study showing more working poor families are being trapped in urban areas with concentrated poverty proves New Jersey was correct to do away with the immoral state law that allowed wealthy suburban towns to stockpile affordable housing into cities.

COAH law means new taxes for long-term economic development projects vital to bringing new jobs and growth to the state.