So, what happens next?

I think we (the residents) at least raised a few questions for the Zoning Board members. Hopefully, they are more on our side and not for the Love of Jesus Family Church.

The next meeting is September 20th - which is when I expect a decision will be made. In the meantime, I guess I need to make some phone calls.

Vote NO! -- Highland Avenue Residents tell Zoning Board

July 12, 2010 -- For nearly three steamy hours a capacity crowd at City Hall listened as residents who live on or near Highland Avenue spoke against the application by The Love of Jesus Family Church to build a mega-church and social service facility in the neighborhood.

Those in favor of granting the application were members of the church; a few who live in Orange, either in apartments or a few in one of the many single family homes. They spoke in terms of the ministries that the church offered, and that residents should not focus on "things" or "ownership." Most, did not live in Orange. Yet they told how they brought their children to the church from their towns of Newark, East Orange, Irvington, and as far as Pennsylvania to "raise their children in a place of God". They came to the quiet stability of a residential neighborhood and its ambiance. They spoke with passion to belittle the importance of paying city taxes.

As much as I am pained by taxes, taxes pay for the community, the schools, and the services, and must be paid. Since I moved to Orange, taxes have tripled.

I was annoyed by the more than borderline righteousness of their members claiming that their membership gives back to our community. They take more than they give.

Those of us opposed to the application pointed to our high (and consistently rising) property taxes, reduction in services provided by our city because of budget cuts, rising costs, and wanting our AA rating to be respected, to remain a residential neighborhood. The only ratables we are zoned for are single family homes. We bought our homes in the neighborhood for the backyards, the ambiance, our friends and families who already lived here. We attend our churches, in Orange and elsewhere - none of which are interrupting residential neighborhoods -- and what! there are other churches in Orange with community ministries. LOJFC does not have the lock on prayer and service to Orange

The zoning meeting was a reunion of sorts for many of us, who sent our children to the public schools, volunteered as scout leaders, served on the school board, attended council meetings, little league games, bike round ups, saw each other at the Y or the Library, and carpooling to activities. Like many families we bonded through school and club activities as well as church activities. Not necessarily LOJFC activities.

This has been a call to action for the neighborhoods!!

I know many residents who want to leave Orange now because it has disappointed in the implied promise of maintaining the residential neighborhoods and schools and expected services. Areas are zoned to create quality living spaces, business areas, and open spaces for quality of life. LOJFC will not help reduce taxes or improve the schools or community services that make the neighborhood nice.

There are still many residents who envision Orange as a family friendly community and many residents who moved to Orange for the resources, and its neighborhoods. Build mixed income affordable single family homes instead -- build and they (taxpayers) will come.

Should the Zoning Board not listen to its taxpayers and vote contrary to our stand there will be more bitterness and resentment among homeowners -- not apartment dwellers -- more homeowners than the Zoning Board, the City Council, and the Mayor can imagine.

Neighbors gather to be One Voice!

10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 26, 2010 neighbors (from Central Av to Sterling Av) met at the vacant lots site on Highland Avenue to share conversation about the request and plans for The Love of Jesus Family Church (which already has a church nestled between apartment buildings on the block between Lincoln and Highland Terrace) to build another church (a mega-church) and community center in our quiet, tree-lined, neighborhood.

There are NO ADVANTAGES for our neighborhood to have a(nother) church and community center here --- Their presence will not REDUCE our property taxes; will bring more (undesirable) traffic; further spoil the ambiance and OUR SENSE OF COMMUNITY!

Read about Orange, NJ --

http://www.ci.orange.nj.us/history_main.html

http://jbc07050.blogspot.com/

A Just and Beautiful City -- A special graduation in Orange, NJ

I spent Saturday afternoon with community visionaries! Friends, neighbors, and family who are envisioning Orange, NJ, aka HatCity!, for the 21st century! The occasion? The University of Orange community graduation!
Complete with a magnificent organ rendering of Pomp and Circumstance, three doctorate degrees were awarded to longtime residents, Mrs. Ruth Tanaka, Mrs. Mary White, and Dr. Charles Steiner.
In a video interview, Mrs. Tanaka's grandson told the story of Mrs. Tanaka's experience with Executive Order 9066 (Relocation of Japanese American citizens); Mrs. White shared her ties to Orange and finding just the right place to raise of family; and Dr. Steiner told of his generational attachment and honor of being involved with Orange.
Citizens John Rappaport and Derek Griggs spoke briefly about the importance of participating in one's community. Dr. Mindy Fullilove handily emceed the program along with Molly Kaufman and Patricia Fullilove.
What does it take to have a Just and Beautiful City? Citizens actively involved in what happens. How to participate in the community University of Orange? Check the website for activities or design a course (more about that later). How to graduate from the UofO?

• Vote
• Attend a City Meeting
• Take two UofO courses
• Have Fun with Your Neighbor
• Volunteer

Registration is required.

I can't wait to see the photos for the day because in homage to the economic history of Orange everyone was required to wear a hat!!! Yeah! HatCity!

P.S. There was a reception, of course, afterwards -- the food was wonderful -- from Libretti's Restaurant and the Sanitary Bakery!

P.S. Thanks to Tia Aery, IHN, and Anthony Mark LaMort, First Presbyterian Church of Orange, for their contributions and presence!

Check out University of Orange!! http://www.universityoforange.org/

The Gulf Oil Spill

...reports in the media annoy and rile me as someone who feels an affinity to South Louisiana. When the oil rig explosion happened and I offhandedly commented that OMG this would be beyond the Katrina catastrophe few within earshot cared. Now they do.

I recalled a science project my then 13 year old researched ten years after the Exxon Valdez. I couldn't find her document but I found her tri-fold display. Interesting to note how limited the public understands about the danger of crude oil. "...[Crude oil] clings to everything, covering pores, fins, gills, clogging any opening, and coagulating feathers, fur, and hair. The fumes are toxic making anyone or any animal breathing them dizzy or worse, causing asphyxiation....The oil harms microorganisms, plankton, bottom dwelling organisms, coral, anemone, and larval fish..."

In other words, tourism may be hurt now in the Gulf states but the very livelihoods of of the wetlands populations are in dire trouble.

The state of ....

CHAOS!!!

Economy --- I get annoyed every time I watch the Sunday weekly news shows and smug, well-heeled news-pundits postulate on whether the economy is slowly recovering or if its the Obama administrations lack of agressiveness or if the Obama administration is doing what it can or whose fault what is!! The middle-middle class is taking all the hits!! The middle-middle class eats and lives the American dreamlike aspiration of life and pays, and pays, and pays. The middle-middle class teeters on losing big because most are employed (on the up-side) and stuck (on the down-side) in oppressive debt, ineligible or unwilling to risk the legacy of bankruptcy, or to meet the criteria for help so the middle-middle class is trapped and holding its breath hoping to make it through from day to day without some personal crisis siphoning off the little security that exists.

Employment -- The conumdrum --- How does the average person have money to spend? They work for it. Where does the average person seek employment? Well that depends on where they live, the culture or economic class they identify with, how well one is able to use one's level of education to acquire work that is meaningful and not demeaning, which depends on a person's outlook on life. What are you qualified and willing to do? What employer needs you and can hire you and not the daughter or son or relative of a spouse/friend/ or acquaintance. Employment is easy for the talented, skilled, and well-connected. The average, occasionally brilliant, but very reliable, too often thought of as mediocre population has an employment problem.

Taking time to reorganize

Staying organized is a habit of mind that one must exercise daily.