Thursday, June 30, 2011

Green Welcomes Move to Abolish COAH While Continuing to Hope for Cooperative Reform Effort

(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green on Thursday welcomed Gov. Chris Christie’s plan to abolish the Council on Affordable Housing and again asked the governor to work cooperatively to improve affordable housing in New Jersey.

Green recommended COAH be abolished in legislation he sponsored earlier this legislative session (A-3447) that was conditionally vetoed by the governor in January.

The bill would have abolished COAH and its bureacracy and provided major housing obligation reductions for municipalities throughout New Jersey.

Green (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset) released the following statement:

“I’m pleased to see the governor do the right thing and devise a responsible plan to abolish the Council on Affordable Housing. This bureacracy had long become unworkable and never fulfilled the goal of responsibly providing affordable housing throughout our state. That’s why I proposed abolishing it in my legislation.

“But this is only half the battle.

“I continue to hope to work cooperatively with the governor to devise reform legislation that meets the needs of economic development and affordable housing. New Jersey needs a viable housing plan for its hard-working families that is also good for business and workable for mayors.

“If we’re willing, we can find a sound and reasonable approach that bodes well for New Jersey’s future.”

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