“I firmly believe that their arguments will be struck down.” That was the view of State Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), referring to a lawsuit from twenty-six New Jersey towns who are suing to try to put a halt to the state’s affordable housing requirements. Singleton was speaking at an event on November 14 co-hosted by three Princeton-area synagogues, to discuss New Jersey’s affordable housing process for the period of 2025 – 2035. As in previous years, the state is requiring most towns to build affordable homes. The number of homes to be built in each town is calculated based on a formula in a new state law, which was passed earlier this year. Senator Singleton was a lead author on the new legislation, and was able to give insight into how and why it was passed.

Senator Singleton noted that affordable housing is often treated as a “boogeyman”, and that former Governor Chris Christie had done everything he could to block state efforts to enforce affordable housing construction. That led to a number of court battles, and the courts taking control of setting affordable housing obligations. His new legislation is intended to make the state affordable housing process more predictable, and to reduce legal costs associated with setting housing numbers. Not everyone is happy about it. Singleton mentioned that he encountered opposition from “suburban folks in certain communities who will tell you, ‘I don’t want to destroy the fabric of my community”. (Those kind of statements sound familiar in Princeton, where objectors regularly oppose developments involving affordable housing, using similar language.)

Singleton said that he listened to every viewpoint, but considered them alongside other perspectives. As he said,

“input” doesn’t always mean “that’s the decision that you’re going to make”. And I say that because I go to great lengths to ensure I have a lot of input into making decisions. Just because one has considered your input – and I tell this to my children all the time – doesn’t mean that you’re guaranteed that the decision is going to be the way you want it…

With regard to the court case, Singleton said “it won’t be successful, because of the tenets that it is built upon”. He pointed out that the litigants had already made their arguments when New Jersey state elected officials were drafting the legislation. They had lost the argument during the legislative process, and were now seeking to overturn that process through the courts.

Also speaking at the same event was Valerie Haynes, a board member and former President of Princeton Community Housing. Princeton Community Housing added 25 new affordable homes as part of the last round of New Jersey’s state affordable housing process (Report: “Inside the New “Floyd House” at Princeton Community Village“). Ms Haynes spoke about the importance of local advocacy in supporting state efforts to ensure that towns build their fair share of affordable housing. She also thanked the Jewish Center for hosting the forum, and noted that the Jewish Center had been one of a number of faith communities who had helped set up Princeton Community housing and been involved in advocating for affordable homes.

Adam Gordon rounded out the panel, and noted that he was returning to the Jewish Center after becoming bar mitzvah there, as he put it, “a long time ago”. Since then, he has become the executive director of Fair Share Housing Center, the non-profit legal group that intervenes in affordable housing court cases for essentially every town in New Jersey. Right now, Fair Share Housing Center is preparing to defend Senator Singleton’s housing legislation from the court challenge from the objector towns. A key hearing in this case can be viewed live from Judge Robert Lougy’s courtroom on Friday December 20 at 10 a.m. at this link. Mr Gordon’s group has also prepared a report explaining the New Jersey affordable housing process, and how municipalities can respond to it in a way that strengthens their communities. That report is accessible here.

A full video of the November 14 event at the Jewish Center can be viewed below: