[leprechaun9]

This issue has nothing to do with land development! It is an orchestrated effort to replenish the large voting blocks that the Democraps control in the inner cities. That is why the State Development Guide Plan "encourages (i.e., subsidies)redevelopment of the cities.

When I grew up in Newark, NJ in the 1940-1950 era, the peak population was ~480,000. In the last census, that number has fallen to ~220,000. Many of the people have moved into the suburbs (except those who have left the state because of corruption and taxes) and diluted the large voting blocks for statewide elections.

[Pharmboy]

A most interesting take! I knew there would be a Freeper out there with an insight worth sharing.

But really, can you imagine the demonrats doing this for votes? ;-)

[XRdsRev]

Actually it's quite the opposite. The influx of urban (read Democrat) voters into rural traditionally Republican areas, dilutes the already weakened Republican hold on those areas.

If your supposition was correct, Essex County would be turning Republican (it is not). Instead, formerly Republican areas like Monmouth and Somerset are becoming increasingly stronger for the Democrats. Abandonment of NJ's urban areas by people moving into suburban or rural areas, hurts Republicans not Democrats.

[gumbo]

This issue has nothing to do with land development! It is an orchestrated effort to replenish the large voting blocks that the Democraps control in the inner cities.

If that were true, why would Brett Schundler, a conservative constitutionalist, support it?

Schundler and other right-wing politicians in NJ (yes, there are a few!) want to stop the ugly suburban sprawl caused by the infamously leftist NJ Supreme Court's Mount Laurel decision.

Under Mount Laurel, all communities in the state are forced to spend local taxpayer to build "low income housing" om their towns. This was supposed to "desegregate" the "lily white" suburbs.

Schundler's argument is that we should re-vitalize cities like Newark and Jersey City and stop depleting their populations -- and stop building hideous low-income projects on what was previously unspoiled land in the 'burbs.