It is shocking what’s happening in Long Branch, under the guise of “eminent domain “
Though not a Long Branch resident (I’m in NYC with its own problems!), the abuse of the law of eminent domain to evict homeowners so their land may be used by a private developer for profit really illustrates the cozy relationship between government and big business at its worst.
It shows that people are simply not as important as money is to the mayor of Long Branch who would inflict such an offense against his neighbors.
To displace mom and pop businesses and homeowners to make room to build more upscale communities for the benefit of developers like Hovnanian is wrong.
While I am all for development and the revitalization of neighborhoods, it should be up to the citizens of these neighborhoods to foster such development. The use of eminent domain by government officials should never be taken lightly. Homeowners and independent businesses can suffer horribly when they are uprooted. (People do get attached to their homes). Some of these transplanted people and businesses do not survive when they are replanted in a new location. The proposed project in Long Branch is causing uncertainty, turmoil, anguish and heartbreak among many residents who fear they will lose their homes.
Long Branch is already severely threatened by the homogenization that has run amok in America’s cities (Times Square looks like some freaked-out Disney World) and turned nearly every suburb into a duplicate of every other.
Destroying homes and locally owned businesses will devastate the very uniqueness that is the heart and soul of Long Branch.
The mayor of Long Branch has to do what is right, he cannot use his power to take from one and give to another.
Jane Ellis
New York City