Scotch Plains Mayor Al Smith Joins Assemblyman Jon Bramnick in Calls for Summer Sessions

I strongly agree with Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick’s statement this morning that the State Legislature should stay in session throughout the summer to address court imposed high-density housing and caps on state spending. Instead of breaking for the summer as usual, the Governor and State Legislature should get to work on reforming our broken affordable housing process and fixing our structural budget problems.

Towns like Scotch Plains are being forced to allow for the construction of thousands of new units with no regard for infrastructure, schools, traffic, and open space. The overdevelopment madness has to stop, and as Mayor of Scotch Plains, I stand ready to go to Trenton every day during the summer if necessary to work with State Legislators of both parties to bring common-sense to the affordable housing process. Scotch Plains has an Affordable Housing Advisory Committee comprised of residents who can offer their opinions and experiences to State Legislators on this issue.

Additionally, while Trenton is embattled over how much taxes to raise in the State Budget, I am greatly disappointed that nothing is being done to cap ever-rising state spending, reform the pension system, and lower property taxes. I hope State Legislative leaders listen to Assemblyman Bramnick’s call and get to work. We need action now.