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To the Editor, Asbury Park Sun:

I read Derek Minno-Bloom’s piece in the triCityNews last week and for every reason he gave I have come to the exact opposite conclusion and would VOTE NO on the rent control ordinance on April 20th

Why?  It’s not because my taxes will go up – though I am sure they will.  It’s because this referendum does everything it can to incent landlords to by-pass the very people it proposes to help, the economically disadvantaged.  

With no vacancy decontrol no landlord will do what I did and take people at under market rent or forgo rent increases.  The net result will be that only gentrifying tenants with excellent credit scores will get apartments.  

In fact, under this new ordinance landlords who have affordable housing units now have every reason to sell them to high credit score outsiders who will displace lower income folks and move in. Thus kicking out the very people you are trying to protect.  

And the only new units that will be built will be at the highest possible rents to take into account the possibility that there may be no rent increases at all. If you are worried that we are losing diversity in Asbury Park just wait and see what a yes vote will do to our beloved town.  

I like Felica and totally respect Tracy and think their heart is in the right place but if you vote for this referendum, you are really voting for the conflict laden gentrification of Asbury Park.  

I am with Amy Quinn and John Moor – I want a diverse Asbury that values our individuality and does not vilify anyone (Rich – Poor – Black – White – Haitian – Latino – tenant or landlord). I support Amy, John’s and the three other council members who have enacted a rent control ordinance now on the books that protects tenants, yet doesn’t cause the unintended negative consequences of the referendum (which would replace the council’s ordinance).

Thus, I am voting NO on the ordinance and supporting the city council’s approach.

Jordan Modell

Asbury Park

[A prior version of this post had a typographical error in the headline, which was selected by the Asbury Park Sun, and not the writer of this letter. That error was quickly corrected but still may appear on some Facebook feeds.]

[This letter represents the opinion of its writer and is not representative of any opinion of the Asbury Park Sun staff. All readers are welcome to submit Letters to the Editor to news@asburyparksun.com for our consideration. For guidelines on letter-writing and submission, click here.]

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