BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer
Long Branch LONG BRANCH — City residents threatened with eminent domain are getting support from local legislators in their efforts to save their homes from condemnation.
The latest elected official to weigh in on the issue is Congressman Frank Pallone (D-6), who last week said his constituents should not have to be fighting to save their homes from eminent domain.
“I oppose the majority opinion in the Kelo case,” Pallone said.
“The court’s decision weakens the basic constitutional principle protecting private property from being taken for private use. Our founding fathers were clear in the Constitution’s Fifth Amendment when they wrote that private property could only be taken by a government for public use.”
Six redevelopment zones have been established in Long Branch. In four of the zones, homes and structures have already been razed and replaced with luxury townhouses and condominiums.
An Assembly bill, A-4392, introduced by Assemblymen Michael J. Panter and Robert L. Morgan (D-Mercer/Monmouth) would tighten the requirements for the use of eminent domain for redevelopment purposes, according to a press release from the assemblymen.
A companion bill, S2739, was introduced in the state Senate by Sens. Nia H. Gill (D-Essex/Passaic) and Diane Allen (R-Burlington/Camden).
The Senate bill is pending in the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
A third bill, Acr-255, was also introduced by Assemblymen Richard A. Merkt and Joseph Pennacchio (D-25), which proposes a constitutional amendment to limit exercise of eminent domain to acquisition of land for essential public purposes.
The bills are being put forward in reaction to the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in favor of local governments’ use of eminent domain in the Kelo v. New London (Conn.) property rights case.
The residents in one Long Branch zone slated for eminent domain have established a group to fight what they say is an abuse of the city’s power of eminent domain.
Residents of the Beachfront North, phase II, redevelopment zone, known as MTOTSA (Marine and Ocean Terraces and Seaview Avenue), are distributing fliers asking citizens to contact the governor and state legislators “to tell them that you support a new bill to prevent condemnation/eminent domain to acquire residential properties under the current redevelopment law.”
MTOTSA is a group of about 26 homeowners whose properties are slated for eminent domain and plans call for the three-street neighborhood to be bulldozed and replaced with upscale condominiums and townhouses.
Members of MTOTSA say that “taking someone’s private home for another person’s private use and profit is just wrong.”
Harold Bobrow lives in the Beachfront South redevelopment zone. Bobrow’s home is one of about 30 properties on a 12-acre tract of land that extends from Bath to Morris avenues between Ocean Boulevard and Ocean Avenue slated for condemnation. Plans call for the properties to be razed and replaced with upscale condominiums and townhouses.
“[City officials] are saying that redevelopment will help increase the city’s tax base, increase tourism and increase jobs, but at what cost,” he said last week.
“How would you like me to say ‘I am going to take your home from you and there is nothing you can do about it.’ ”
Bobrow is ready to do something about what he says is an abuse of eminent domain.
“I want people to get together and talk about these new pieces of legislation and learn how to go about promoting the bills,” he said.
On Aug. 7 at 1 p.m., Bobrow will host a meeting at his home at 295 Ocean Blvd., unit five, to discuss the new eminent domain bills.
Property owners in the Beachfront South coalition, MTOTSA alliance and the Lower Broadway redevelopment zone, three of the six Long Branch redevelopment zones, have been invited to the meeting along with anyone else who wants to end eminent domain abuse, Bobrow said.
“I hope to get everybody active so they can talk to their friends and their [contacts] in the state of New Jersey and send e-mails promoting these bills,” he said.
For more information on the meeting, contact Bobrow at (732) 222-1953.

