MAYOR MASSA CALLS NJMC DECISION VINDICATON
Says State Has To Protect Taxpayers and Allow Borough To Chart Its Own Redevelopment Course
NORTH ARLINGTON – Mayor Peter Massa applauded the action taken yesterday by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission against the notorious EnCap developer, saying: "its about time that the NJMC recognized what we have been saying all along - that the EnCap project is a taxpayer ripoff and an detriment to our communities."
Massa, who has waged a diligent campaign against EnCap's plans to build more than 1,650 housing units in the borough, said the NJMC's action declaring the developer in default of its agreement with the agency is "vindication of those of us who stood up for their town and refused to be bullied, threatened or intimidated by EnCap and its bevy of lawyers and political insiders who tried to jam this project down out throats."
Massa refused to cave in to EnCap’s demands to have the town declare the Porete Avenue business area blighted and condemned by the borough. Today, he said he is proud he and the borough council waged that battle. "The arrogance of the developer to demand that we use eminent domain to take away people's livelihoods so they could make a bigger profit was to me, an obscene abuse of power and influence. I could never stand for that."
PROTECTING TAXPAYERS
The mayor said it is now incumbent upon the state to protect the taxpayer from the catastrophic losses of hundreds of millions of dollars that was loaned to EnCap and its parent company Cherokee Partners.
"My concern now, as always, has been protecting taxpayers. We have suffered because of EnCap's empty promises. I think it is incumbent upon the state to come up with a legal and financial strategy to recoup the taxpayers' money and to undo the damage that Encap has done to our town."
The mayor also said that he would ask the NJMC to work with the borough on a redevelopment strategy that is controlled and sanctioned by the borough.
"More than anything the NJMC decision should send a signal to the state that it's time to allow North Arlington to move forward and develop a plan that that will us protect North Arlington's quality of life and provide the needed tax relief we have been promised for so long."
