Dear VOL
I read the article on the Lakewood Real Estate Crisis in the most recent issue, with great interest. The article featured varied opinions about the crisis but reached no conclusions. Although it is difficult to reach definitive conclusions on such a complex topic there are a number of things that are very clear.
1. Home ownership is out of reach for the vast majority of Yungeleit. Even townhouses cost far too much for the average yungerman. Thus any plan to make even more land available for development in Lakewood will only serve the interests of the Real Estate industry and others, but not of the yungeleit in Lakewood that need housing but can’t afford it. There is plenty of people other than the yungeleit that will buy houses at top dollar. Don’t be fooled by anyone that says that we should build more in Lakewood because it helps the yungeleit.
2. Therefore any effort to provide even more land for development in Lakewood is a travesty. The traffic woes in this town due to lack of infrastructure and irresponsible development are already a terrible inconvenience and a safety hazard.
3. At the recent election there was a ballot question about whether there should be higher taxes to pay for busing etc. The township understood that such an important issue that affects almost every taxpayer in town must be voted upon by the people. The people overwhelming voted against it. Perhaps it is high time that we had a ballot question on whether there should be more development in town as well when at this juncture the roads and infrastructure cannot support it. Just as the political leadership understood regarding the taxes that the people’s voices must be heard it is high time that the people are given the respect by allowing their voices to be heard on this issue that affects every member of the Lakewood community, as well. It is high time that the people have their say!
Sincerely,
Moshe Schwartz
I read the article on the Lakewood Real Estate Crisis in the most recent issue, with great interest. The article featured varied opinions about the crisis but reached no conclusions. Although it is difficult to reach definitive conclusions on such a complex topic there are a number of things that are very clear.
1. Home ownership is out of reach for the vast majority of Yungeleit. Even townhouses cost far too much for the average yungerman. Thus any plan to make even more land available for development in Lakewood will only serve the interests of the Real Estate industry and others, but not of the yungeleit in Lakewood that need housing but can’t afford it. There is plenty of people other than the yungeleit that will buy houses at top dollar. Don’t be fooled by anyone that says that we should build more in Lakewood because it helps the yungeleit.
2. Therefore any effort to provide even more land for development in Lakewood is a travesty. The traffic woes in this town due to lack of infrastructure and irresponsible development are already a terrible inconvenience and a safety hazard.
3. At the recent election there was a ballot question about whether there should be higher taxes to pay for busing etc. The township understood that such an important issue that affects almost every taxpayer in town must be voted upon by the people. The people overwhelming voted against it. Perhaps it is high time that we had a ballot question on whether there should be more development in town as well when at this juncture the roads and infrastructure cannot support it. Just as the political leadership understood regarding the taxes that the people’s voices must be heard it is high time that the people are given the respect by allowing their voices to be heard on this issue that affects every member of the Lakewood community, as well. It is high time that the people have their say!
Sincerely,
Moshe Schwartz