Eminent Domain Rally Draws Residents from City, Neptune
Coaster Photo
Dorothy Argyros, Neptune holds a sign at the eminent domain rally.
By ANDREW CANGIANO
New Jersey should enact a moratorium on eminent domain, Asbury Park City Councilman James Keady said at a rally held at city hall on Friday.
I think in the short term we need a moratorium on the use of eminent domain statewide, he said.
The rally came the day after Monmouth County Judge Lawrence M. Lawson sided with Long Branch in allowing the city to acquire properties through eminent domain to push redevelopment projects forward.
Keady said in Asbury Park the city council must have the courage to stand up to Larry Fishman, the chief executive officer of Asbury Partners, the citys redeveloper, and tell him wont allow him to take residents property from them against their will.
Very generally, no properties should be taken against the will of the owners, Keady said.
A representative for City Councilman Ed Johnson read a statement expressing his concern about the abuse of eminent domain and his belief that the power of eminent domain was entrusted to the government by the people, specifically for the benefit of the people.
Keady said that the majority of the council – Mayor Kevin Sanders, Deputy Mayor James Bruno and Councilman John Loffredo, feel differently than he does.
So what needs to happen is the citizens need to organize, agitate, and if necessary, take non-violent direct action to create that change, he said.
Keady said he disagreed with Jim Brunos response to business owner Rita Marano, when the deputy mayor explained that her property was being taken through eminent domain.
Sorry Rita, its for the good of Asbury Park, Keady quoted Bruno as having said.
Its easy for a man whos only been renting in this town for the last five years to say that, Bruno said in response to Keadys criticism.
Bruno said that he believes the decision to obtain Maranos property through eminent domain was what is best for the city.
Absolutely, he said. Its a blighted area and it was blighted. Were trying to get it out of the blight. Its well on its way out of the blight.
He said the city council represents Asbury Parks 17,000 residents and look out for all of their best interests.
People who lived in this town through the last failed redevelopment dont want that to happen again, Bruno said. The taxpayers of this town can not afford another failed redevelopment and this council is committed not to let that happen again.
Bruno said that as a result of the citys agreement with redeveloper Asbury Partners, it can obtain properties through the use of eminent domain and that failing to do so (and therefore interrupting redevelopment) would be a violation of the citys agreement with Asbury Partners.
This redevelopment fails, the city fails, he said.
Of course I agree in certain instances it should be used when need be, he said. Asbury Partners owns the rights to redevelop the waterfront redevelopment area. They earned the rights, they bought the rights. An agreement was made with them.
Bruno said eminent domain will be used only when negotiations with property owners in the redevelopment zone are unable to reach an agreement.
The agreement with Asbury Partners was signed by the city in 2002, prior to Keady and Johnson being elected to the council.
Marano, who owns a deli on Kingsley Street which is being threatened by eminent domain, said the city is attempting to take her property and pay her the 2001 price.
Theyve got to change this, she said. They cant continue to grab peoples properties without just payment.
Im hoping she gets a fair price on it, Bruno said. The council doesnt want anyone getting ripped off.
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