Don't criticize based on 'truthiness'
Criticism and judgments should be made on all the facts, not selected facts. Misinformation and sitting on the facts can be the cause of fear among citizens. As a citizen and active member of the Long Branch community for 24 years, I have seen firsthand many examples of public debate and information sessions open to the public. I have witnessed many positive changes in the city during my time here.

It is not right to openly criticize our governing body based on a "truthiness" of emotions without facts. Look at these facts on affordable housing. Information about the city has been easily available through multiple sources such as the state of New Jersey, the county of Monmouth and the Office of Community and Economic Development, City of Long Branch. The implication that information has been withheld from the public is erroneous. These facts belie the criticism, which has popularized recent letters to the editor.

The city of Long Branch has approximately 13,000 households; roughly 2,000 of these are federally assisted or affordable units. Since 1995 more than $6 million of housing assistance funds have been spent on low- to moderate-income households. In the same period, more than 450 family units have received housing assistance funds. In the last three years, close to 100 new units of affordable housing have been built and approximately 100 new units (rebuilt) of public housing. An additional 400 new affordable rental units and forsale housing units will be built within the next five years. Long Branch is a leader in providing affordable housing.

We have many things to be proud of, and we need to give credit to those who have been working all along toward making Long Branch a sustainable community for all of its citizens.

Mark Smiga

Long Branch