A New Jersey Town Comes Undone Over Affordable Housing

Writing in The Atlantic, Alana Semuels lays out the long, arduous road of getting affordable housing built in New Jersey, a state which once was a leader in affordable housing construction. The town of Howell, NJ provides a good microcosm of what's happening in other areas, although with some unique arguments presented. Several local residents have argued against the affordable housing as, among other things, it would allow a community of Hasidic Jews to enter the community and "take over."

Community leaders have rebuffed the negative comments of residents and have stood in support of the affordable housing, including Mayor William Gotto who has tried to dispel rumors that the affordable housing will be for Hasidic Jews only, as one internet commenter posted on a popular city blog.

…town leaders are going ahead with the plans for the development, despite the vitriol. Gotto says he wants people like his daughter, who may become a teacher, to be able to live near him; other town-council members say they want to keep the town affordable for the working class. They’ve begun to craft plans about how to meet the rest of their obligations for affordable housing, even as a small group of residents continues to protest. Those protests will likely last until the housing is actually built, a process that could take years.