Reader Submitted
To the editor:
During the forum last week, I was asked, given my criticism of the current administration to continue only looking at the southern tier of Hopewell as a solution for the affordable housing mandate, what other sites I would consider or recommend. I offered up working with the county, as they are looking to relocate our current prison site in Hopewell to northern New Jersey. Knowing how local democrats will create some late mailer right before the election demonizing my suggestion, let me explain in broad stroke terms why this may make sense.
The current site is along a state highway, Route 29, and serves as a convenient location for people working either in the Trenton, Philadelphia, or Hunterdon county areas. In working with the county government, we could plan ahead before the site is left abandoned, to be completely redeveloped as a community, with both market and affordable housing units. I know this idea may seem foreign to Democrat leaders in our town, as planning ahead and being proactive is not something they are used to, rather being reactive in nature, and only considering the same ideas and locations for the last 18 years (they have controlled the township committee for 13 of these years).
Sure, there would be hurdles to overcome, perhaps utilizing a land swap of some of our current open space to the county, and letting them have more open / park space in our town. Would that be an issue for anyone in our town?
One of the reasons I joined in the race to be on the committee is to bring new ideas and vet them through with everyone. They may not all work, but it certainly is better than being complacent and solving all our problems with the same answers.
Vote for Volpe and Nicolao if you want new ideas discussed to solve complicated issues.
Luis Nicolao
Hopewell
