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Dec. 18-24
An Anniversary
This week the Garden State celebrated another birthday. New Jersey became the third state in the new United States on Dec. 18, 1787. This week was New Jersey’s 236th anniversary of statehood. While we may have been third to join the union, New Jersey was the first state to sign the Bill of Rights.
According to the census, New Jersey is the 46th largest state by area; almost all the siblings are bigger. But with almost 9.3 million people, New Jersey is the sixth largest state by population. New Jersey is a densely populated state tied in many ways to the successes and failures of two of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas – New York City and Philadelphia. The U.S. Census Bureau includes 13 state counties in the New York metropolitan area and seven in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
The median age of the state’s population is 40.4 years. In Cape May County the median age passed 50 years old two years back. That population is on the whole better off than the nation as a whole, with a median income of $96,346 for New Jersey and only $74,755 for the nation as a whole.
New Jersey has a better-educated populous with almost 44% of those 25 and older having a college degree compared to 36% for the nation. Home ownership percentages are about equal to those of the nation, but rents are higher on average for those renting.
The state boasts 130 miles of shoreline with almost all of it developed and key to over $45 billion in tourist spending in the state in 2022.
Happy anniversary, New Jersey!
Affordable Housing
Trenton Democrats introduced legislation on Monday, Dec. 18, that seeks to rework affordable housing in New Jersey. Assembly bill 4 and Senate bill 4251 would, according to supporters, streamline the affordable housing process by creating an expert panel to mediate conflicts over where and how much affordable housing should be built. The mediation process would reduce lengthy litigation that retards the actual construction of affordable housing.
The bill would sunset the defunct Council on Affordable Housing (COAH). Oversight of the process would remain with the courts where it has been since 2015. The courts would benefit from regional special masters who would determine affordable housing needs in regions of the state. Towns would be required to consider their special master’s findings when planning for affordable housing.
There would be six special master regions, with Region 6 being Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties.
The bill would create an Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program and would also spell out the things towns must do to gain immunity from builder’s remedy lawsuits.
This all comes as the existing COAH process is about to enter phase 4 of setting affordable housing obligations for 2025 and beyond.
Gov. Phil Murphy has signaled he is supportive of the new legislation.
Clean Energy Goals
As we say goodbye to 2023 it seems like a good time to see where New Jersey stands with respect to its many ambitious clean energy goals. There are a lot of them.
Murphy has committed the state to phase out the sale of new gas-powered cars and light-duty trucks by 2035. The state Department of Environmental Protection has adopted the Advanced Clean Car Rule II, which will start impacting model year 2027 cars.
The governor has also set a target for electricity generation in the state. All electricity sold in the state must come from zero-emission clean energy sources by 2035. His offshore wind goal remains at 11,000 megawatts by 2040.
In February Murphy also set a goal of electrifying 400,000 homes and 20,000 commercial spaces by 2030.
So where are we?
Offshore wind suffered a major setback when the Danish firm Orsted withdrew from its commitment to two wind farms off the South Jersey coast. Litigation from Cape May County to invalidate federal and state permitting continues.
Three CEOs of state-regulated utilities stated at a recent Sweeney Center conference that too speedy an electrification strategy is posing new threats to grid capacity.
The New Jersey Wind Port, a $640 million investment, is now slowing down construction of its first phase, which it had placed on a fast track in order to support Orsted’s Ocean Wind I deadlines.
The goals continue to be accelerated while the reality on the ground retreats from the frantic pace set to meet Orsted’s schedule. It remains unclear how the electrification goals set for 2035, a mere 12 years from now, can be met.
Happenings
The state Supreme Court has ruled that it is too late to try the rape suspect in a 1990s Wildwood assault.
A federal agency has reported that Atlantic Shores’ plan for construction of an offshore wind farm will have an adverse impact on whales and sea mammals but it will not seriously harm or kill them.
The Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce has asked the borough to do what is necessary to have a more visitor-friendly parking experience prior to the start of the summer 2024 season.
The new proposed rates for the Cape May-Lewes Ferry were provided during a recent virtual public meeting. The ferry adjusts rates every two years or so.
Three individuals have been charged with beating five girls with belts and other implements.
Cape May City Council approved two more payment arrangements, bringing to an end the controversy surrounding checks written in 2020 to seven employees from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
A judge has dismissed the latest attempt by Ernie Troiano Jr. to have his second state health benefits indictment tossed.
A film co-written by a former county resident is set to be released on Jan. 5, 2024. The film, “The Bastard Sons,” was partially filmed in New Jersey.
Middle Township has restructured its Rent Leveling Board, calling the existing board dysfunctional. Middle is one of the few municipalities in the state with a rent control ordinance. The town’s rent control applies to mobile home parks only.
Wildwood Crest and Lower Township will enter into an agreement in January to share a municipal court. The Crest’s shared services arrangement with North Wildwood is coming to an end.
Middle cut the ribbon on its new Rio Grande police substation located in the County Commons. The new substation reaffirms the police department’s commitment to law enforcement and public safety in the Rio Grande area.
Timothy Donohue chaired the Middle Township Committee meeting for the last time as he nears stepping down from his position as mayor on Sunday, Dec. 31. Several officials and residents turned out to thank him for his 12 years of service on the governing body.
A group of leaseholders at a Dennis Township campground have banded together to sue the campground for what they say are actions that violate their leases.
Local Jewish leaders say that education is needed to combat antisemitism. This comes as battles over how to teach about events like the Holocaust and antebellum slavery intensify.
Spout Off of the Week
Avalon – Thank you Herald and all of you who contributed stories of faith, hope and remembering for the Christmas issue. This year we lost my parents and tried to busy ourselves to silence the loss and longing but yesterday there it was by the door at the market. The Herald that we shared every year. Instead of quickly walking past, so as not to remember, this time I found myself reaching for it. The warmth of our community is one of the most beautiful things about where we live and something as small as a newspaper has helped bring peace to my family this Christmas. Thank you.
Read more spouts at spoutoff.capemaycountyherald.com.
