Biddle's focus on housing, jobs in Long Branch
Council candidate says eminent domain should be last resort
BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

Jackeline Biddle (l) takes the oath of office as her son Nicolas looks on.

LONG BRANCH - During her initial two months on the governing body, Councilwoman Jackeline Biddle said she has heard the same concern over and over again from residents: affordable housing.

Biddle has been serving as councilwoman since her appointment by the City Council in August to fill the vacant seat of former Councilman John "Fazz" Zambrano, who resigned after pleading guilty to extortion in July.

Biddle is seeking election to fill the unexpired term through 2010 in the Nov. 7 election.

Among the several issues surrounding the town, she said creating more affordable housing in Long Branch ranks high on her list of priorities.

"I want to work with residents and the city and anyone involved in building affordable housing," she said, adding that she would like to see more affordable housing opportunities for Long Branch residents.

Biddle also made her views on eminent domain public last week, stating the power of government to seize property should be resorted to only as an absolutely last avenue.

On Sept. 26, Biddle held a press conference at Long Branch City Hall to address her views on the issue of eminent domain after being pressed by city residents during her brief tenure in office.

"Eminent domain should be used only as a last resort," Biddle said in an interview with the Atlanticville last week. "I sympathize with those who have had to deal firsthand with the city's use of eminent domain.

"I am a homeowner myself, the first homeowner in my family," she said. "I know the emotions and turmoil of someone put in that position."

Biddle said she has made it a point to learn as much as she can about eminent domain since she was appointed.

Her research has included reviewing the city's redevelopment plans, meeting with the city administration, and reading the opinion of state Superior Court Judge Lawrence Lawson, who ruled against a group of Long Branch homeowners fighting eminent domain proceedings in June after hearing a motion to dismiss condemnation complaints served upon them by the city.

In addition, Biddle said she has taken the time to meet with people on all sides of the issue, including the residents of the Marine and Ocean terraces and Seaview Avenue neighborhood known as MTOTSA, who are currently appealing Lawson's decision.

"I share the concerns many of you have about the city's use of eminent domain," Biddle said in a prepared statement distributed at the conference last week. "I know that losing your home or business is one of the hardest things you can go through.

"If there are still ways to resolve these issues out of court and without the use of eminent domain, I will do everything in my power to help negotiate a compromise," she said.

Biddle, of Chelsea Avenue, is an attorney in practice as J. Biddle Associates, Shrewsbury. She said that from a legal perspective, it would be too costly for city taxpayers to back out on contractual agreements with developers.

"The votes authorizing the use of eminent domain were taken long before I became a councilwoman," she said. "Had I been on the council at the time these votes were taken, I would have exhausted all possible avenues before ever resorting to the use of eminent domain in the MTOTSA neighborhood.

"If the city breached these contracts, city taxpayers would be liable for multimillion-dollar lawsuits," she said.

For the future, Biddle said the community and city leaders need to work with the Legislature to both change and clarify the law on the use of eminent domain,

"We need laws to strengthen the rights and input of property owners, and to clarify when the use of eminent domain is appropriate," she said.

In addition to affordable housing and eminent domain, she said there are several other issues surrounding the city she would like to see addressed.

On the issue of taxes, she recognizes that Long Branch has lower taxes when compared to the rest of the state and she said she supports any measures that would continue to stabilize and lower taxes.

She also said she would like to pursue economic development and find ways to provide opportunities in Long Branch where people can work within the community in which they live.

Biddle said if elected, she would also work with the Long Branch Board of Education and the city's recreation department to help create more programs for children.

"I want a place where children can go after school and have something safe to do," she said.

Biddle is being challenged for the council seat by Brian Unger, Ralph DeFillipo, Michael P. Sirianni and Vincent Maccioli.