MTOTSA member won't negotiate, compromise or settle
Iam a core member of MTOTSA (Marine Terrace Ocean Terrace Seaview Avenue. As many know we are a small beachfront neighborhood that has been trying to save our homes from eminent domain abuse. The City of Long Branch wants to throw us out of our homes, demolish our quaint neighborhood and build luxury condominiums for others to live in.

I attended the City Council meeting Dec. 11 as I have been typically doing twice a month for the past fours years. I normally speak at these meetings about eminent domain abuse and trying to urge the City Council to stop using it in Long Branch and allow the property owners of MTOTSA, Beachfront South and the Broadway Corridor to remain. Dec. 11 was no different, with the exception that I was somewhat more solemn when I spoke and asked that City Council, hasn't it been long enough? I said it has been four years since we have been trying to save our homes and current litigation will most likely make it an additional three-four years, for a total of eight years that peoples lives will be on hold. I also said that they should allow market forces to rebuild the oceanfront and not continue to use eminent domain abuse. I also said that the developer owns property in MTOTSA and that they can build on the lots they own now and let us stay. I said nothing different then I have been saying all these years.

Since that meeting, I have been quoted incorrectly as saying that I was negotiating, settling and compromising. That could not be further from the truth! I have publicly stated numerous times that I would never voluntarily sell and that no one should be forced from their homes for private benefit and/or development! I have not deviated from that belief!

It is unfortunate that one's words can be twisted in the media to allow people to believe just the opposite than what was actually stated and intended!

I am writing this to set the record straight for anyone who has heard or read otherwise … Lori Ann Vendetti, core member of MTOTSA, is not negotiating, compromising or settling. I will never falter from my deep belief that one's home is one's castle and one should never be forced to leave that home against their will for a private benefit!

Eminent domain abuse needs to be stopped in New Jersey and as co-president of StopEDA.org and a member of MTOTSA, I will continue to work toward that goal so that hopefully no one else has to go through the stress and anxiety of possibly losing their American dream of home ownership! This is still America and although our elected officials and the laws they have put in place have not protected our rights against eminent domain abuse … our voices can! We all need to continue to speak up. Our legislators in New Jersey still haven't passed any eminent domain reform and we all need to continue speaking up and writing letters to our senators and assembly people.

Please don't think this fight is over with … I am not going anywhere!

Lori Ann Vendetti

Long Branch