Fair Share Housing Center

Blog

  • March 4th 2010

    The Bizarre Amendments to S-1

    Posted by Kevin Walsh

    Yesterday, we received a copy of the amended version of S-1, the legislation sponsored by Senator Ray Lesniak that is intended to reform New Jersey’s approach to affordable housing. It is a proposal that, more than anything else, is simply bizarre. The amended version of S-1 would produce virtually no affordable housing and shift homes further from jobs and transportation and would exempt many of the state’s wealthiest towns from any further housing obligation. Nor would it comply in any meaningful way with the Mount Laurel doctrine. It will be interesting to see what kind of defense, if any, Senator Lesniak can offer for his strange proposal at the Senate Economic Growth Committee hearing on March 8. (more)

  • February 26th 2010

    Inquirer on EO Stay and Our Brief in EO appeal

    Posted by Kevin Walsh

    One week ago, we received the good news that, in response to a motion we filed, the Appellate Division enjoined Governor Christie’s Executive Order “shutting down” the Council on Affordable Housing. Today, the Philadelphia Inquirer called for Governor Christie to use this opportunity to adopt a responsible stance on housing that New Jerseyans can afford …  (more)

  • February 19th 2010

    Appellate Division Enjoins EO on COAH

    Posted by Kevin Walsh

    On February 9, 2010, Gov. Christie issued an executive order that, in his own words, “shut down” the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH). That afternoon, we asked to proceed on an emergent basis to stay the executive order, a request that was granted two days later. This afternoon, ten days later, the Appellate Division issued an order that reopened COAH for business.  (more)

  • February 15th 2010

    FSHC Files With Court to Invalidate Executive Order 12

    Posted by Kevin Walsh

    Fair Share Housing Center today continued its challenge to Executive Order 12, Governor Christie’s illegal directive that halts all work by the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) while a task force “studies” the issue. We have opposed this action because it will continue a decade-long pattern of delay that started in 1999, in which administration after administration has studied COAH with little to show. Just as the agency finally began operating last year and affordable housing has started getting built, Governor Christie has shut it down again.  (more)

  • February 9th 2010

    Gov. Christie’s Illegal Executive Order on COAH

    Posted by Kevin Walsh

    We learned just a few minutes ago that Gov. Christie has issued an executive order that halts all work by the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) while yet another task force “studies” the issue – continuing a decade-long pattern of delay instead of building homes. This illegal move to “gut” our state’s housing policies was no doubt taken in response to recent demands from prominent right-wing pundits. We are taking immediate action with the Appellate Division today to address Gov. Christie’s unconstitutional attempt to claim the power of the Legislature, Judiciary, and independent state agencies all at once. (more)