Outside the courthouse, a rallying cry: 'Let him stay!' BY LAYLI WHYTE Correspondent JEFF GRANIT staff Marco Diaz, of the All Neighbors Foundation, joins protesters outside the courthouse who rallied in support of Bill Nordahl. FREEHOLD - More than a dozen people rallied outside the Monmouth County Courthouse last week to protest the city of Long Branch's notice of eviction served on a rental tenant in one of the city's redevelopment zones. Bill Nordahl's home in a redevelopment zone is in a neighborhood known as MTOTSA, an acronym for three streets: Marine Terrace, Ocean Terrace and Seaview Avenue. The protest was held prior to a hearing on the city's action to evict Nordahl, who was fighting to stay in his home of more than four decades. About half of the protesters outside the courthouse were members of the Concerned Citizens Coalition (CCC) in which Nordahl is active. "The Concerned Citizens Coalition is here to support his right to live in his home," said Avery Grant, CCC president. Ironically, Nordahl is chairman of the coalition's Housing Committee. "He has a lot of experience in affordable housing matters," said Grant. The protesters held signs that read: "Bill Nordahl deserves to stay," and "Stop destroying families! Let them stay!" Also on hand to show their support were other residents of MTOTSA, who are fighting to keep their homes. Denise Hoagland, who brought her three daughters along to the rally, said that despite the fact the Nordahl is a renter, he was a key reason why so many of the MTOTSA residents decided to fight the use of eminent domain to take their houses. "They are trying to empty out the houses," Hoagland said, "to get the renters out. Once they get the tenants out, they can start demolishing the buildings and try to make our neighborhood seem blighted. They are securing a future of blight." Hoagland, a resident of Ocean Terrace, said that she lost a lot of neighbors a year and a half ago, when letters were sent out by the city to evict tenants and homeowners within 90 days. "Bill has been a prominent figure in our fight," she said, "and we owe a lot to Bill. He was the first one who walked around and said, 'We need to fight.' " Anna DeFaria, a resident of Marine Terrace, has also been fighting to keep her home of 47 years, and stood outside the courthouse June 22 to support Nordahl. She said she is optimistic for the first time in this four-year-long fight. "I have a lot of faith," she said. "I think God is going to answer our prayers. We have a lot of support. [State Public Advocate] Ronald Chen is with us. Our attorneys are with us. The people are with us. We're still fighting City Hall, but justice has to prevail."