To the Editor:
I am writing in response to the voices of opposition currently being expressed in Bayonne regarding development in Bayonne. My husband and I are two of the “Silent Majority” that Matt Dorans of the Bayonne Chamber of Commerce refers to in his letter to the Editor in the August 12 issue of the Bayonne Community News. We absolutely support the development efforts currently slated for Bayonne; Resnick’s, the Tower project on 8th Street, and the development on First Street. In fact we voted with our most powerful voice – our vote in support of development. In 2013, my husband and I made a significant investment in the future growth of Bayonne by opting to buy our home here in Bayonne rather than in the Heights or downtown Jersey City. We felt that Bayonne was a stable community. Property values had the potential to grow like so many other towns along the Hudson River. Instead, what has actually happened is that our property value has dropped by $55,000 according to Zillow (a drop of 12 percent), while our property taxes will be going up by 3 percent. While I’m not an economist I do believe that this is not the direction in which anyone wants their investments to move. Property values, on the other hand, have been consistently going up in all other Hudson River towns. Most recently, a family member who closed on a home in the Heights the same time as we did in Bayonne has had their property value increase by 35 percent. What we are seeing is a small minority of very vocal and vociferous voices holding the future economic stability of Bayonne hostage with their specious arguments that development/developers will destroy Bayonne and its way of life. Certainly, life will change. My husband and I have witnessed the change for better that development has wrought on the economic health and wellbeing of all the towns along the Hudson over the last 18 years. Every town from Fort. Lee to Jersey City is seeing its economic picture changing for the better. Tax rateables are increasing, both small and big businesses are moving in, providing more jobs for all residents. These towns are attracting the young to stay and invest in the future of the towns instead of moving out to the suburbs. They are shopping, dining, and living their lives in these towns. Why would Bayonne not want this? Is development so frightening that this small minority will drive it away and eventually lay waste to the future of Bayonne? In the end, do we really want Bayonne to become a Newark, Linden, or Elizabeth? Too long have our voices been drowned out. Let your elected officials know that you will hold them accountable for adversely impacting the value of our property or businesses.
CRAIG AND FAHIMA ANDERSEN