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To the Editor, Asbury Park Sun:

I have been an attorney for a nonprofit legal services organization for the last 15 years. In my professional capacity I represent people trying to obtain, being denied, or facing termination from a public entitlement. Most of our work centers around Social Security, Medicaid, food stamps, and landlord/tenant hearings.

I am on the front lines in our legal system and am well-versed in its shortfalls. Housing is one of them. I’m not an expert, but I do have a better than average understanding of issues and practices because this is what I have chosen to do with my life and what I wake up to each day. In that context I take particular exception when I hear people questioning my motives. 

Several years ago Councilwoman Clayton and I studied the issue of short term airbnb-type rentals in Asbury Park. The Council saw long-term renters being pushed out of town because speculators realized that more money could be made from airbnb-type rentals than long term leases. We evaluated what to do and took action to protect our long-time residents. The restrictions, basically limiting short term rentals to owner-occupied dwellings, caused quite an uproar. A vocal group of people with vested interests was furious. One person threatened to kill my dog. At that time, on that issue, we didn’t hear a peep from the heads of the current YES campaign. 

In April of 2020, after approximately 18 months of meetings with the Asbury Park Affordable Housing Coalition and the public we passed eight affordable housing ordinances which require many affordable housing protections and a 20% set-aside of deed restricted affordable housing units in many new developments. Several of the most vocal members of the current YES campaign did not support deed restricted affordable units. Another member didn’t live here or participate in Asbury Park in any meaningful way to my knowledge in April of 2020.

In March, we passed a rent control ordinance. Is it perfect? No. But it’s more measured than the ordinance the YES people put forward and tries to take a forward-thinking approach to the needs of Asbury Park. And the Council can evaluate what works and what doesn’t and implement changes.

If CPI or the 3.5 cap is too high, we can change it. If it’s deemed necessary to add controls on vacancy, we can do that. It is rare that an ordinance doesn’t end up needing tweaks. But the petitioners’ referendum can ONLY be changed by another referendum over the next three years, in November at a general election. As a practical matter, that makes it too inflexible. That is why I urge you to vote NO on the referendum on Tuesday April 20th. 

We welcome input now and over the course of the next several months on the Council’s ordinance. If you are passionate about this issue we are starting a rent control board.  Please apply! 

Amy Quinn, Deputy Mayor

Asbury Park

[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 [email protected] for our consideration. For guidelines on letter-writing and submission, click here.]

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