EnCap or Trump, what's the difference?

Now coined a "clean-up" versus redevelopment, why is North Arlington still being sued to impose eminent domain seizure of Porete Avenue and the construction of low income housing?

New brand, same deal?

NORTH ARLINGTON - While the names are changing to protect the incompetence of the past, is anything really changing when it comes to the controversial EnCap project that now has a Trump brand attached to it?

This week a meeting was held of local officials to determine how the project would move forward.

Incredibly, despite all the problems, all the wasted resources and all the opposition to the project by the municipalities in question, EnCap continues to move forward.

The question is why?

According to sources, the Trump Organization of Manhattan was brought in more to clean-up the public relations disaster than to change the scope of the project. The feeling being Donald Trump's "magical presence" will wash away years of bad press that has homeowners in North Arlington, Lyndhurst and Rutherford exhausted from high taxes, broken promises and a sea of litigation!

According to The Record of Hackensack, The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC), the agency created in 1968 to supervise and monitor growth in the meadowlands district is being pushed aside and local meetings will be led by State Senator Paul Sarlo, long a supporter and enabler of the project no matter what brand was on the development's head.

Apparently Robert Ceberio, the agency's executive director is out of the loop and some say, ready for retirement from public service.

But while the district's legislative members now are finally taking an active role, what has really changed in terms of the actual redevelopment plan?

Is Lyndhurst still prepared to accept thousands of units of housing? Rutherford Mayor John Hipp, who was elected in a wave of anti-EnCap sentiment would have rather seen the project default than move forward and supports no housing in Rutherford.

While Lyndhurst seems content to do whatever the project requests, North Arlington continues to be mired in a costly legal battle that is being supported by both Democrats & Republicans on the governing body.

New council members Joe Bianchi & Rich Hughes voted with the Democrats to move forward in this costly legal battle. Many close to Massa want to see depositions sent to a wide ranging number of elected officials as well as state officials so that the truth can somehow be told.

Last week, the Massa Administration appropriated some $300,000 for legal fees to continue to fight the EnCap lawsuit. While officials from the Trump Organization claim to want to work with North Arlington, why doesn't the lawsuit go away?

"The lawsuit won't go away because nothing has changed. Trump is working with EnCap. They are partners. How else do you explain what's happening? If Trump was smart, he would come to North Arlington and explain exactly the changes in the project. Where are the details? Why isn't there any discussion as to how Trump's involvement changes the project as it relates to North Arlington," said one local homeowner.

The frustration is beginning to mount as property taxes are being increased because of the EnCap debacle.

"The project is flawed. Nobody wants the project except the elected officials who seem "star struck" by the Trump presence versus helping the people of North Arlington. Why is North Arlington being screwed again and again when it comes to redevelopment," said another angry homeowner.

While others are taking a "wait & see" view of the Trump presence, when will they confirm or deny if Arlington Valley is moving forward?

Many believe the entrance of Trump is nothing more than a marketing strategy to save EnCap from themselves.

"The press was so bad, so awful that they needed a clean marketing slate. Can anyone actually tell the people what exactly is going to be built?

Does anyone really know what's in store for North Arlington? People like Sarlo and the NJMC were cheerleaders for EnCap and it cost them politically, now they want rehabilitate themselves with Trump while the project remains the same and North Arlington gets stuck with something the people oppose?" questioned one political insider.

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