It's not just about gutting COAH, but who gets credit for it

by: Jason Springer

Fri Feb 12, 2010 at 10:30:00 AM EST

There's a fight brewing over affordable housing. But it doesn't seem to be about if and when they will get rid of COAH and change the affordable housing process. It's over who is going to get credit for taking the sledge hammer to it:

The fact that it is the very first bill on the new legislature's agenda is an indication of what a top priority its been for one of the Senate's most potent operator's: Ray Lesniak. He has been working on a bill to end COAH as we know it for six months. So, when Christie suddenly announces that he will be working outside of that process by immediately suspending COAH and appointing his own advisory panel to come up with a plan, I cannot imagine Lesniak is thrilled.
In fact, I hear that he feels Christie is trying to "steal his thunder" on this issue. Christie did not rule out working with Lesniak, but did say he "made it clear" to the Union County Dem that he is approaching this his own way.

Lesniak couldn't let him go it alone and get all the credit, so upon learning that Christie created the advisory panel, he put out this statement:

"I look forward to briefing Governor Christie's COAH advisors on S-1, which I have been working on with Senator Bateman for over 6 months in consultation with the brightest and most productive market rate and affordable housing developers, municipal government leaders, planners and business executives in New Jersey.
"Based on testimony presented at two meetings of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, I will make a committee substitute available for public review next week. I expect to have S-1 pass both the Senate and Assembly well in advance of the 90-day timeline for recommendations from the Governor's advisory panel.

Translation: We'll tell him what we have done and we'll pass this before he gets the chance if he even thinks about leaving us out of the process. The gutting of affordable housing is moving at an extremely accelerated pace. Yesterday's budget speech will probably only make this issue more prominent as the Governor attempts to legislate through Executive Order and the Legislature wants to maintain their role in the separation of powers.

I'm still left with the lingering question of how do the "solutions" being proposed to replace what they view as "the problem" of affordable housing live up to the Mt. Laurel Decision of the courts that put the process in place to begin with? How does this keep from causing the same old problem, just under a new name?

Jason Springer :: It's not just about gutting COAH, but who gets credit for it