Grandson pleads with Bush to save family home (Copy of a letter written June 29 to President George W. Bush) Dear President Bush, My name is Fred Williams. I am 22 years old and was born and raised in New Jersey. I just graduated from Monmouth University, West Long Branch, N.J. My grandmother owns a house in Long Branch, N.J. It’s been in our family for more than 60 years. My family is in jeopardy of losing this place that’s been a part of our lives. My great-grandfather bought the house for his son in the 1940s, after [his son] was killed in World War II. My great uncle served and died for our country in World War II. Now, more than 60 years later, the city of Long Branch wishes to take this house away from my family. In retrospect, here’s some back history of the situation at hand. The City of Long Branch, over the past couple years, has been implementing a program of reconstructing the beachfront area for the "better of the town." But the city’s using eminent domain to purchase people’s homes in her neighborhood for this private development. They have already forced people out of their homes, and are continuing all the way toward my grandmother’s neighborhood, which is the last area on their bulldozing list. What the town is calling "for the best interest of the town" is a massive construction of condos. Not a school, church, shopping center, road or other public facility, which could better the lives of the people in town, but the eminent domain use is for a private contractor’s gains. It just doesn’t seem fair that people will lose their homes for this reason. The building is stated as a public/private funded project, meaning that the private enterprise people are paying their way. The mayor of the town is an arrogant man who has no respect for these people’s homes or lives. There are many elderly people who live in the neighborhood and will have nowhere to go. The town’s right to take these people’s homes is completely un-American and extremely unpatriotic. I understand this is small potatoes compared to the current things going on overseas and in our own country. But, all I’m asking for is some help. Seeing my grandmother lose this house would be detrimental to our entire family. If there is anything you can do, it would be greatly appreciated. Seeing a town take a person’s house, under the guise of eminent domain, to put up condos, is the most disgraceful thing I’ve witnessed in my life. We are sending American soldiers to Iraq to protect Iraqis’ freedoms. So, what about the freedoms of Americans, especially those in Long Branch, New Jersey? Please help to protect their freedom to retain ownership of their homes. Waiting for your response and assistance in correcting this unfortunate error. Fred Williams Berkeley Heights