A Borough no more.
Council passes EnCap agreement by 4-2 vote, Massa vows to fight-on and have agreement reviewed by US Attorney's office!
Final agreement probably means "eminent domain" seizure of Porete Avenue companies, thousands of new cars, residents, school-age children, 200 units of low income housing and higher property taxes!
Tanelli: North Arlington is being "urbanized"
NORTH ARLINGTON - The Borough of North Arlington has officially approved a controversial housing plan that will construct at least 1,625 units of housing of which 200 units will be for Low Income residents. The plan will force as many as fifteen local companies from their properties and cost North Arlington over $1 million dollars in tax revenues.
Known as Arlington Valley, the development is the brainchild of EnCap Holdings, a politically connected developer who has aggressively insisted on the project despite overwhelming opposition to the density and impact of nearly 5,000 new residents descending upon North Arlington.
Last night's vote was 4 in favor and 2 opposed. Council members Spanola, Roche, Yampaglia and Ferriero voted in the affirmative while council members Steve Tanelli and Peter Massa opposed the project.
Not a single resident or homeowner of the more than 100 in attendance spoke in favor of the project.
"Tonight's vote means eminent domain will be used to relocate Porete Avenue property owners. It means North Arlington will be under a mandate to construct low income housing. It means North Arlington will share property tax revenues for decades with a developer nobody wants and nobody supports," said a somber Steve Tanelli.
Both Tanelli and Massa received rousing support from those in attendance and Massa received a standing ovation from the audience in announcing his strong opposition to the project that will radically change North Arlington forever.
"This fight has just begun. The next step is to appeal to the voters and win this primary. I'm convinced the voters don't support this course of action," noted Massa who is challenging incumbent Mayor Russ Pitman into he June 6th Democratic Primary.
"Mayor Pitman needs to come out from behind his press releases and debate these issues face to face and man to man. I challenge Mayor Pitman to a debate in the North Arlington High School Gymnasium. he can pick the moderator and the ground rules. He owes that much to the people he's kept in the dark for so long," said Massa.
Mass's challenge to Pitman is based on the incumbents complete flip-flop on the proposal.
"Pitman opposed 1,550 units in 2003 and now supports 1,625 units in 2006. Pitman opposed Low Income Housing, now he embraces it as necessary. Pitman opposed the mismanagement of temporary host fees and now wants to replicate the exact application of Pilot's from Encamp. Pitman was critical of increased passenger traffic, but has no plan to solve the problem. Pitman clings to the notion that less than 400 school-age children will descend upon the school district when common sense dictates close to 700 will be the true reality," noted the retired sergeant and former school trustee.
"Democrats are embarrassed by this course of action. Pitman has formulated an election year budget that's in collusion with EnCap. This year taxes will slightly decrease. But next year taxes will skyrocket. Congratulations Mayor, you got yourself an election year budget in exchange for a lopsided deal that gives EnCap everything they could possible want," observed the first-term councilman.
While Pitman paraded out graphs and visuals to make his political points, the cost of constructing a new school as well as the other impact expenditures continue to be ignored.
"Where's the money to build a $50 million dollar school facility? Where's the money for a police sub-station or firehouse? Where's the assistance to hire all these new employees for both the borough and the school district? How can anyone take this agreement seriously?" shouted one unhappy taxpayer.
"It's smart politics. Pitman talks about benefits without mentioning the cost. The reality is that EnCap received a free ride in terms of impact. They have no obligations as it applies to a school or other essential infrastructure costs. EnCap receives 40% of tax revenues while having zero responsibility in terms of impact. This is a terrible arrangement for the citizens of North Arlington," said one observer familiar with the agreement.
Massa and Tanelli were more pointed in their criticism of Pitman and council majority.
"Everyone sitting on this council ran on anti-EnCap, anti-Low Income Housing platforms. They have turned their backs on the very people who elected them in the first place. They didn't do as they said they were going to do, they flip-flopped and lied to voters. Steve and myself have been consistent in our position. It is Mayor Pitman and his allies who have become EnCap's new best friend," said Massa.
Massa called last night's meeting "a political sham that has exposed Pitman as EnCap's errand boy."
"Pitman's political posturing was embarrassing and sad. He used a public meeting and turned it into a three-ring circus with press conferences and silly rhetoric supplied by EnCap's PR machine. Unfortunately for Mayor Pitman, these people don't vote in the Democratic Primary. I'm taking my case house to house and door to door," said the mayoral challenger.
Massa and Tanelli both disputed Pitman's rosy picture of the EnCap project.
"There is no independent verification. Every expert is being subsidized by Encap. Does anyone actually believe these so called experts are going to utter a single word of criticism? The whole process has been a farce from start to finish. They have the majority and are pushing this proposal down the throat of every homeowner no matter what the consequences. Even the slightest of criticism is either ignored or discounted. This is a very sad day for open government," said Tanelli, who had sought for months to get a referendum on the ballot to restrict the usage of eminent domain.
Tanelli and Massa were encouraged by the support of those in attendance.
"The people just don't support this course of action. Steve and I are the only elected officials who have taken this stand. We believe the silent majority of voters agree with us and we'll leave this in their hands to decide come June 6th," said Massa.
