Public advocate should vet all property takings

Ronald Chen, public advocate, a good man by the way, wants to put a face on what eminent domain abuse has done to folks in New Jersey.

He really doesn't have to look far. Long Branch took 47 Cooper Ave. in November 2002. The home belonged to Bruce MacCloud where he lived 300 feet from the ocean for over 20 years. He did not want to move, he was not cooperative with the taking, and as a result was forcibly removed by Long Branch police.

Two months later his house was demolished, and today there are million-dollar condos on his 10,000 square feet of land.

What makes this so horrible is almost five years later, Mr. Mac Cloud is still homeless, because the compensation courts have yet to have his trial. The Long Branch legal team keeps postponing his trial for some reason or another. His matter has been recycled in the Monmouth courts more times than any aluminum can.

Bruce is at wit's end and continues to suffer under the abuse of Long Branch eminent domain, along with many others throughout the state.

The MacCloud matter is so embarrassing to the state, no one wants to talk about it.

We should be ashamed of ourselves. As we build homes, schools and hospitals for the people of Afghanistan and Iraq, how can we stand idly by while one of our own is treated less than those overseas?

Eminent domain has done enough damage, especially in Long Branch, the largest abuser. The most recent budget here has a substantial increase in our taxes. Obviously, the redevelopment of Long Branch, as pretty as it may be, hasn't even provided economic relief to the taxpayers of the city. Yet it continues.

Gov. Jon Corzine said he was blessed to survive his life-threatening accident. Eminent domain is no accident, yet it threatens the quality of life for private property owners and taxpayers alike.

He needs to share the blessing he seems to have gotten, by calling for a moratorium on all seizures of private property, and causing all takings agencies in the state to gain approval for those takings through the Public Advocate's Office. Local boards who have the power to abuse eminent domain should have to answer to a higher power, before they destroy the quality of life for one more family.

God bless Bruce, God bless New Jersey.

The Rev. Kevin Brown

Lighthouse Mission

Long Branch