If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention...

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.

-Thomas Jefferson to Alexander von Humboldt, Dec. 6, 1813.

Tomorrow, November 4, Tent City residents, volunteers, and supporters will gather in Lakewood's town square because, quite frankly, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. 

Minister Steve founded Tent City back in 2005 because both the Township of Lakewood nor Ocean County officials have failed to provide shelter for the growing homeless population. For most of that time, the residents have led their lives of quiet self-reliance with minimal interference. But within the past year, developers have expressed interest in the land upon which Tent City was erected. And Lakewood Township has made it clear that they want the poor who inhabit that land kicked out for good.

Thus, the local government has grown increasingly aggressive in their efforts to harass and intimidate the residents of Tent City. Lakewood Township has recently passed an ordinance that outlaws homelessness on "public land." Police are now conducting frequent raids to evict people who have no other place to go. And that’s not even the worst of it.

Most Tent City residents had prepared to use wood-burning stoves to stay warm this winter. But as of October 20, wood-burning stoves and campfires were banned, and anyone using said fires to keep warm will be fined or arrested. The Mayor of Lakewood has agreed to a two-week stay on the ban, but with the winter fast approaching, we now desperately need more propane heaters and propane.

These anti-homelessness laws are unjust, unconstitutional, and an assault on human rights, we feel the powers that be need to be confronted and the harassment stopped. Especially in the face of unchecked corruption by special interest groups.

Because what makes Lakewood’s Tent City so controversial – besides the simple fact that it exists in the midst of sprawling upscale homes and unprecedented development – is just how corrupt that selfsame government actually is.

For example, it’s no secret that in the Township of Lakewood, in the State of New Jersey, public funds intended for low-income tenants are funneled into land development.

A lawsuit has charged that the Township of Lakewood “is guilty of falsely validating that fair housing practices are being assured to all communities.” The State of New Jersey, even when made aware of the Fair Housing violations perpetrated by Lakewood Township, has stood idly by. Meanwhile, the town continues to allow unchecked growth of a special-interest voting bloc that perpetuates the illegal, discriminatory housing practices. And these racist, separatist practices have eroded and all but decimated the African-American community that has been a backbone of Lakewood for decades.

Lakewood is also home to many undocumented aliens who build the housing for the Haredi community. Due to their illegal status, these workers are poorly paid. They rent single family homes from Haredi slumlords who take advantage of the workers’ undocumented status and charge exorbitant rents. In order to pay the rent, the undocumented workers invite others to share the cost of living. Tenants have even been found living in closets, attics, and basements – all documented in reports with pictures in Lakewood Township's files.

The Lakewood Code Enforcement Officers, in response to complaints from neighbors, do cite the landlords. But for a number of reasons, the complaints go unheeded. Many landlords claim as their mailing address every property they own. It makes it difficult and often impossible for Lakewood to find these property owners. Summonses issued by Lakewood Township are not much of a deterrent, as the slumlords don't always show up at their court dates.

The chronic nature of these unsolved problems causes neighbors to move out. When they do, the slumlords frequently buy their property to rent out – and the problem continues.

A key player in these Fair Housing violations is Rabbi Meir Hertz – a community leader who has abused his power and consistently circumvented the laws of his “host country" in various instances:

-After stealing a million dollars from a housing unit in Newark, Rabbi Meir Hertz pleaded guilty to filing a false federal income tax return in 2000. As part of a plea bargain with the U.S. Attorney, he was required to resign as executive director of the Lakewood Housing Authority. Nevertheless, Lakewood Township has a contract with the Lakewood Tenants Organization whose executive director is? The very same Rabbi Meir Hertz. And under the auspices of Rabbi Hertz, the LTO operates a Section 8 program.

-Legal documents suggest that when the secular town government threatened to give Rabbi Hertz a yearly contract (as required by law), Hertz appealed to a religious authoritative body to appeal to the Haredi to vote out those who would oppose him. He was able to staff the town council with his own supporters – which enabled him to continue favoring Yeshiva students into obtaining Section 8 housing.

In the face of these Fair Housing violations and in the absence of a homeless shelter, the people who might otherwise qualify for low-income housing are forced to live in tents. Or, in the event that the Haredi political machine gets its way, on the streets.

And it doesn’t stop there: The Lakewood Planning Board recently approved the construction of Tashbar, a private boys’ elementary school for over 600 K-8 students. According to a February 2012 article in the Lakewood Scoop, “the new 78,000 sq. ft. building will encompass Tashbar’s plans for expansion …along with student and faculty residential units.” Indeed – about 50 duplexes – the equivalent of dwellings in all. For an elementary school. And who has been named Tashbar’s Founder and Dean? None other than Rabbi Meir Hertz.

Regarding the 2010 Census, representatives of the Haredi community stated, “The greater the voting bloc, the more influence we have on all levels of government. And an estimated 70 percent of Lakewood residents receive some form of government assistance. The more people participate in the census, the more assistance the government will be able to direct toward our kehilla. Living in a medinah shel chesed, this is the way we can fulfill our obligation as a citizen of our host country while simultaneously helping ourselves.”

What I'd like to know is, since when does being a good citizen of one’s “host country” entail circumventing its laws and oppressing the most vulnerable of its people?

It's time to step up and stop the religious special interest groups from, in the words of Jefferson, "avail themselves for their own purposes."

G'night to all, and I will hopefully see you at tomorrow's demonstration.