Rockaway Township: Consider a compromise Daily Record - Fred Snowflack
The "Good News" is a term understood by many Evangelical Christians. It refers to the Gospel's message of hope and salvation.
These days, it wouldn't be surprising if Christ Church Pastor David Ireland is enjoying a different, but equally important, type of good news. Things can always change, but after nearly two years, it sure looks like the church's proposed relocation from Montclair to Green Pond Road is getting closer.
Planning board meetings continue, but away from the meeting room, there have been a number of developments bolstering the church's cause. The church has closed on the former Agilent property and will relocate administrative offices there in a few months.
The township is also in the tough spot of having to defend a federal lawsuit brought by the church while at the same time, cooperating with a just-launched U.S. Justice Department investigation of its actions relative to the church approval process.
The Sept. 15 letter to the township from the feds is quite specific:
It reads in part that the Justice Department has "received information" indicating that the township "through the enforcement of its zoning code and land use regulations, may be engaging in conduct" that violates the law in regard to the treatment of religious entities.
The letter said the federal government wants reams of information relative to its consideration of the Christ Church plan. That includes minutes of meetings, tapes of meetings and data relative to an environmental ordinance impacting the church site adopted earlier this year.
The planning board discussed the request in closed session for about 30 minutes Monday night. Members made no comment when the meeting broke up. But you had to wonder if anyone thought, "Hey, maybe we should try a different approach?" That would be some sort of compromise with the church to approve its plans in exchange for dropping the federal suit and making the Justice Department investigation moot.
As things look now, the township is not going to win this one.
That said, it remains intriguing as to what spurred the Justice Department's interest in the case.
The church denies "dropping a dime," on the township.
Spokesman Marc Weinstein contends that approach wouldn't have worked anyway.
"It's not something you apply for," Weinstein said, referring to the investigation. He noted that the church has gotten a tremendous amount of publicity from the "New York Times on down."
True enough, but at the same time, the church has some pretty powerful political associates. U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine, D-N.J., has spoken at the church, and one-time Republican gubernatorial candidate Bret Schundler wrote the church what amounted to a letter of reference. Yes, the feds may have stumbled upon the matter, but common sense suggests there was some political pulling of strings off stage.
As an aside, Ireland Monday night was talking about the Green Pond Road site being a 15-minute ride from his home. And where would that be? The pastor didn't say, offering that he's a "public figure."
That reasoning makes no sense. If he considers himself a public figure, exactly where he lives becomes more relevant. The public knows that Acting Gov. Richard Codey lives in West Orange and that baseball great Phil Rizzuto lives in Hillside. The hometown of a "public figure" is relevant. By not disclosing his hometown, Ireland is just provoking questions as to why he wants to keep it a secret.
**************** Maybe Dr. Ireland is concerned for the safety of his family, Fred? Comments on this board such as "stop Christ Church, WHATEVER IT TAKES" might raise some concerns?
Ireland is just a drama queen. Just like he needed an escort to the bathroom at the knolls. If he's worried about his family, then he should know how we in RT are worried if cc gets in and we can't get emergency services because of the traffic jams. Or about our environment. Our about our taxes. Our about our community not being the way we are accustomed to. We have much more to worry about then he. Anyway, he lives in Sparta. What' the big deal??
Yes I read that drivel from Fred this morning. What a crock. He immediately assumes that RT did something wrong and will loose. Nice guy. Really sides with his readership. What if, as I predict, the DOJ finds that NOTHING was done wrong and RT is completely exhonerated. The DOJ lack of finding would go a long way to dismissal of the Fed suit, I would think. Then RT is sitting pretty. Maybe there is some property near where Fred lives that they can move into.
Thinker, I agree with your last sentence. It is hard to be a public figure without your home location being known. Besides, in a few months, everyone will know where Dr. Ireland is most weekdays.
And although there is clearly an attitude of extreme hostility coming from a few outspoken township residents, resorting to violence doesn't seem likely. Would anyone risk spending years in jail just to vent their frustrations in a attempt to prevent an outcome that now seems all but certain?
the Justice Department has "received information" indicating that the township "through the enforcement of its zoning code and land use regulations, may be engaging in conduct" that violates the law.
Ireland, during a break in Monday's hearing, said the church hadn't requested the federal inquiry.
"I welcome any kind of investigation (but) I didn't initiate it," Ireland said.
Gee - take us for idiots, right wHINEY??? right ireland???
We all believe that ireland had nothing to do with the justice dept "receiving information", wink wink, nudge nudge, know what I mean, know what I mean....
...this guy is playing semantics with us - OK - ireland didn't give a pile of info to the DOJ...anyone else think he had his henchmen (expensive PR firm or politicos) do it for him? ...and all the time feigning ignorance - who me? I would NEVEr do THAT...
-- Edited by Jay R at 09:51, 2005-09-28
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Chuck, it is rare (if never) that the Justice Dept. would invest resources on a case where there is not sufficient evidence or where they will not have some success in their prosecution.
It's possible that simply the filing of the Federal lawsuit drew the JD attention to the matter. It's also possible that The Becket Fund advised the JD of the issue without notifying CC that it was doing so. It's even possible that a fervent supporter of CC wrote to the JD to alert them of the situation.
But this conjecture is really irrelevant. What matters is that the JD IS investigating. How it came about don't make no difference now. It's water over the dam.
I'm thinking of a name, maybe two, that started this with the DOJ. It doesn't matter though. Nothing will be found because RT has done nothing wrong. However, I think we have been done wrong numerous times. The whole country has when the separation between church and state doesn't exist and the fact that an outside, non-paying, non-resident entity could take over a town. While cc can claim discrimination, we as residents have to take whatever with no recourse? Sad Sad state of affairs.
Well there are a lot of people who would like to know who made the call. Many seem to think that it was a certain Senator who also gives large gifts to ex-girlfriends, although he supposedly denied doing it when asked. There are a couple of politicos who hate Republican run towns, particularly RT, who could probably call in a favor and get an "investigation" launched. I disagree with your premise though Craig. The DOJ as well as many other, law enforcement agencies begin investigations based on what may seem to be a legitimate complaint, only to find out that it was baseless. A LE agency based in the land of politics would be more likely to start one on a phone call from a connected source then most others might have been. It still remains kind of like being audited by the IRS, or going to the Dentist, its never fun, even when things go well.
is that yoU whinny??? Either way, it is clear yoU are a cC as*wipe, and instigators, no matter how masked, should not be tolerated on the "no instigators" forum. Coming on here and proclaiming cC's bully attempt to push it's way into our town is a forgone conclusion, is a real crappy way to make friends around here hoSS...
p.s. - DOJ is yet another attempt to scare and bully Rockaway - thank God we have responsible officials whom will not fall prey to these chicken sh*t tactics. Shame on yoU cRAIg cC...
It has to be turd, russ or a poor misguided cc sheep. There are no other supporters in RT. (NONE Rev). Who in there right mind would want such an environmental burden in their town? and at a monetary cost to the taxpayers.
CraigF. Anyone with an 8th grade education can see thorugh your 'I'm on your side but really pro-CC' stance. What a D!ck.
