To the Editor:
Mayor Christopher Leusner’s column in the Sept. 18 edition (“A Call for Sensible Coastal Resiliency”) was interesting. The word that struck me in the headline was “sensible.” The use of that word when thoughts drift to Trenton is laughable.
Imagine a state government that truly listens to its people, not just the powerful brokers in the north. Consider the absurdity of the offshore wind turbine debacle. If these projects would genuinely benefit the ratepayers, why weren’t we given a say in a referendum? The likely reason is that the result would have been a resounding “no.”
This is not “sensible” governance; it disregards our voices and communities.
Ask the local oyster farmer about “sensible” regarding the State of New Jersey. His livelihood was turned upside down, and the state was never responsible for its actions.
“Sensible” for state aid to local schools? Ha! Ask the school officials in places like Lower Township and Wildwood and, yes, even Dennis Township, about the aid that was and then wasn’t. On Sept. 17, we witnessed how voters there reacted to the notion of adding a new tax burden. Then again, “sensible” and the Department of Education were never on speaking terms — just ask a teacher.
“Affordable housing” sounds nice, as does “sensible.” Let’s consider Don Quixote in “Man of La Mancha” chasing windmills. It’s a dream just over the next hill. Will it ever work? Ask a financial expert to calculate the costs. How would affordable housing work in the barrier islands? If $2 million or so buys a “tear-down” and a $15 million dwelling replaces it, where will the affordable house stand?
Factor in zoning and county regulations (such as septic and well requirements in rural areas). Add to that the cost of construction materials, labor to build permits for plumbing and electricity, surveying, property search and running utility lines. Then, let’s not discount the land cost, even in marginal building sites. I’m overlooking other factors, but the reader gets the point.
Let’s assume a young couple with a low to moderate income magically acquires a home. Taxes will be a struggle as they rise yearly, regardless of sleight-of-hand tricks used on all government levels at budget time. Will they choose to eat, put clothes on their children’s backs, or pay taxes? How “sensible” is that?
If I were not living here (I was raised here), I couldn’t live in Middle Township or any other Cape May County municipality. I would likely find a home in the Midwest, where homes are more attainable than here.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room — affordability. Real estate costs are only going up, and it’s becoming increasingly unrealistic for a young couple working average jobs and raising a family to even dream of owning a home here. Affordable homes at $750,000 or $1.4 million? Even “affordable” structures at $250,000 would break the financial backs of a young couple working minimum-wage jobs.
This is not “sensible;” it’s a crisis.
Factor in the state’s dreamy (“sensible?”) “NJPACT-REAL” and it becomes clear the raccoons, skunks, egrets and ospreys might someday be the only inhabitants of this peninsula.
“Sensible” should be the mantra of aspiring politicians seeking to lead this state. Most of all, we sorely need a governor who has the good of all the people in mind, not just a political agenda devoid of the public’s opinion.
Sadly, Trenton doesn’t know the meaning of “sensible.”
Editor’s note: The writer is a former managing editor for the Herald.
