Housing Plan Scuttled Following Beck’s Meetings with Navy, Outreach to Officials Over Security Concerns

Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) praised the United States Navy for its decision to not allow members of the general public to rent housing on Naval Weapons Station Earle in response to security concerns that she other officials expressed.

“We used every tool in our toolkit to express our concerns that allowing civilians to rent housing on NWS Earle, an active ammunition depot, would create unnecessary security risks for our community,” said Beck. “We met with the Assistant Secretary of the Navy and engaged a host of state and federal officials to achieve this outcome. We’re elated that the Navy was responsive to our concerns about maintaining the safety of the Colts Neck, Tinton Falls, and Monmouth County communities.”

Beck partnered with Congressman Chris Smith, Freeholder Lillian Burry, and local officials from Colts Neck and Tinton Falls to oppose the housing plan.

She introduced a Senate Resolution, SR-83, to oppose the proposal.

Last year, Beck, Congressman Chris Smith, and Colts Neck Deputy Mayor Russell Macnow met with former Assistant Secretary of the Navy Dennis McGinn in Washington, D.C. to discuss their concerns.

That followed local meetings with Captain Jay Steingold of Naval Weapons Station Earle where she relayed security concerns, along with representatives from Congressman Christopher Smith’s office, Freeholder Lillian Burry, Colts Neck Committeeman Michael Fitzgerald, and Tinton Falls Board of Education President Peter Karavites.

Additionally, Beck wrote to Governor Christie and state law enforcement and military officials, including, Colonel Rick Fuentes of the New Jersey State Police, Brigadier General Michael Cunniff of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and Director Chris Rodriguez of the New Jersey Department of Homeland Security to make the case against allowing civilian rental housing on Earle.

“I’m proud to say that our joint advocacy with Congressman Smith and Freeholder Burry on behalf of the people of Colts Neck and Tinton Falls proved to be effective,” added Beck. “While it took more than a year of work, we kept at it and pulled through for our constituents to achieve this successful outcome.”

The on-base housing at issue will still be available to active duty military, retired military, and veterans.