June 12th - Subject: COAH and Middletown

    The affordable housing program in New Jersey that exists today is the result of a N.J. State Supreme Court decision handed down in 1975.
    This ruling ordered municipalities like Middletown to provide affordable housing to low and moderate-income persons.
    The number of dwellings for a municipality is tied directly to the population of the municipality, the number of existing and future ratables (units) and the number of jobs available in the municipality. For Middletown's size, these factors dictated through the Council on Affordable Housing equals 2160 housing units.
    Middletown was and still is a closed bedroom community, with no affordable housing for seniors or for the young. This is due to the majority of residents earning well over $50,000.
    Middletown's lifestyle discourages by tax those who earn less than $50,000. Senior citizens who do live in Middletown are forced out by property taxes.
    Only the new wealthy and corporate people need apply for housing in Middletown. People must understand that Middletown is not a fiefdom nor above the law. Middletown has no legal right to pick and choose who lives here.
    By court order, it must provide housing at an affordable price to both young and old. What Middletown does is in disguise of help. Instead, it is discrimination only presented as on these terrible state mandates.
    The young Democrats with Mr. Morehead at the reins are at the forefront of changing a fiefdom to a democracy.

Bob Latsch
Belford