The Jersey City Independent "

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A handful of organizations from Jersey City joined more than 100 across the state today in stating their opposition to proposed legislation to be considered by the Senate Thursday that they say would reduce housing availability in New Jersey and ask many more affordable towns to do more than wealthier enclaves.

The groups expressed their displeasure with S-1, which would abolish the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and give cities and towns more power in determining how much affordable housing they should provide, in two letters to Gov. Christie and legislative leaders.

One letter, signed by over 80 supportive and special needs housing providers, says the proposed bill would “set housing development for New Jersey’s homeless and special needs communities back 15 years.” Rosemary Coffey of St. Joseph’s Home, Keith Davis of the Jersey City Employment & Training Program, John Restrepo of the Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation and Odra Rodas of JP Affordable Housing all signed on to that letter.

The other letter, with more than 40 signers, proposes a new strategy for housing reform. Restrepo also signed this letter, but in his role with the Hudson County Affordable Housing Coalition.

The strategy laid out in that correspondence includes: (1) ensuring plans for $6 billion in investment in new homes move forward — plans that the groups say S-1′s passage would threaten; (2) producing more homes than the current COAH system does; (3) ensuring production of special needs and supportive housing, especially for people leaving state developmental centers; and (4) ensuring that any legislation avoids a costly court fight.