In the news

Nine NJ towns are suing the state over a new affordable housing law, arguing it imposes unrealistic mandates and undermines local control.

Princeton of Public and International Affairs

From coast to coast, the United States is grappling with an unprecedented housing affordability crisis. Today, millions of families are teetering on the edge, wondering how they will keep a roof over their heads. An entire generation of young people worry they may never be able to afford a home. And as housing and rental prices rise faster than incomes, young and elderly Americans alike have been pushed to the brink of homelessness.

Ongoing legal battles over affordable housing requirements are taking place in municipalities around New Jersey, but new expectations for development that state officials will hand out in a few months could trigger additional backlash — and reshape neighborhoods for years to come.

Instead of flushing taxpayer money down the drain fighting legally-mandated affordable housing, NJ’s local officials should invest in infrastructure — like sewer upgrades — that’ll benefit their towns for generations to come. In this new op-ed, Josh Bauers explains why towns like Millburn and Colts Neck are cutting off their nose to spite their face:

Peter O’Connor, Executive Director of the Fair Share Housing Development Center in Mount Laurel, NJ on Friday, July 19, 2024. In 1975, O’Connor won a landmark state court case that lead to requirements for low-to-moderate income housing in every municipality