It does make me sit and think for while at the perspective being brought into light. Makes me imagine what this area might look like in 5, or 10 years. Makes me wonder if I'll still be able to think of Rockaway as a wonderfully diverse area, close enough to commute to New York, yet nestled in an area surrounded by country environment. I worked very hard to get away from the urban areas of NJ, to raise my family here....I am not going to sit back and watch the fruits of my labor rot away.
2528. The big picture by FedPrograms, 7/9/04 9:56 ET
A federal program called "Faith Based Initiatives" is at the root of what we are all seeing going on here in town. Dr. Reverend David Ireland has a "Community Development Corporation" as one of his many subsidiaries under the rhuberic of his Church Business. This organization drinks money from the federal government to pay for drug programs, prisoner rehab, etc. However, he also is smart enough to realize that this is a good mechanism to move urban housing to the "country". Low income housing is of great advantage to his constituancy and that is part of his plan. This church business on Green Pond Road is secondary to his real plan which is to establish low income inner city housing out here in the second largest township in the state of NJ (the largest being Vineland in South New Jersey).
Watch out folks cause you are not really seeing the true monetary intents of this man. He wants to establish a Church that his members can not get to easily and then use his Community Development Corporation and its existing relationship with the "Faith Based Initiative" program that he has with the Federal Government in order to move his congregation out here. In so doing, he will make an absolute fortune on the real estate transactions. No more Federal Housing - - - Faith Based Initiative Housing with guys like Ireland as the middle men.
Anyone doubt it? Well, - - - maybe you should call the Mayor and ask him about his meeting with the Reverend and Bret Shundler about 10 months ago and ask what Ireland declared at that time.
Ireland, as I have indicated before, made it clear to the mayor that there is a phase three to this project which involved bringing low income and diversity to the second largest township in the state of NJ. Rockaway Township is way low on their quota of Mt. Laurel Housing. Bringing 1,200 units of this type of housing to this town is where the real money is; you people just have not seen that aspect of things advertised in our town meetings or the newspapers. You need to establish a more personal relationship with our town officials to get the real story on things. And then when you do, they will tell you that you should not discuss these things cause it will cause more damage to our town if these things get out.
I do recall seeing this post previously; although I can't attest to its validity, I can tell you that several months ago I saw information on the internet related to a grant this particular church received for urban housing assistance of some sort.
It was given at the church's discretion and was intended to help people in the urban areas purchase a home instead of renting.
Interestingly enough, however, I'm not able to find the same article now.
A scary proposition indeed for us country bumpkins. Thank heaven for the Highlands bill and Marci Hamilton!
Yes, but the article I saw specifically discussed Christ Church in Montclair and their involvement directly. Whether it was this Faith-Based Initiative program specifically I don't know but it was a federal grant to help people in the urban areas buy a home.
Certainly, the outline at the top of this thread makes sense because who is going to drive from Newark and Irvington every sunday to go to church in RT? It just does not make sense.
