PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

May 11, 2006

POC: Freeholder Candidate Leonard Inzerillo
Cell: (732) 673-2989

CANDIDATE SAYS EMINENT DOMAIN IS BEING
USED IRRESPONSIBLY IN SOME CASES

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): Democratic Freeholder Leonard Inzerillo is making the case that eminent domain is being used haphazardly in some cases, and not in the best interests of the public.

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

May 11, 2006

POC: Freeholder Candidate Leonard Inzerillo
Cell: (732) 673-2989

CANDIDATE SAYS EMINENT DOMAIN IS BEING
USED IRRESPONSIBLY IN SOME CASES

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): Democratic Freeholder Leonard Inzerillo is making the case that eminent domain is being used haphazardly in some cases, and not in the best interests of the public.

According to Inzerillo, the issue of the proposed bridge replacement of the Front Street Bridge, spanning Middletown Township and Red Bank Borough, is an example of how not to implement eminent domain in the county.

"This is a case where the county intends on building a bridge replacement and, in the interim, build a temporary bridge to ensure that traffic patterns are not disrupted," Inzerillo said. "But, rather than build a temporary bridge on the side of the bridge where a resident would not be impacted, the county is choosing to go ahead and exercise eminent domain on the other side of this bridge, taking property away from a taxpayers of many years, the Walsh family."

According to Inzerillo, after conferring with Patricia Walsh, the resident in the case (who is also a Middletown Board of Education member), it is his contention that common sense isn't being used in approaching this project, and this is to the detriment of the property holder.

"Middletown Township has contended quietly for a few years that it intends on building a marina at the mouth of the Swimming River. This marina, which has never been placed on a referendum to township let alone county voters and will surely impact the tax rate in Middletown if not the county, would be adversely impact if the temporary bridge the county intends to construct for this project were placed on the side of the existing bridge where there is no residential property," Inzerillo said. "But I want to know why Middletown, and more importantly, and the county are being so reticent about fully disclosing the details of the bridge replacement, not to mention the potential marina in the vicinity of the bridge on the Middletown side."

Inzerillo said that it cannot be the practice of government to take property through the use of eminent domain simply because of a pet project a small group of politicians want to see happen without any public input, let alone any mandate, and without fully disclosing the economic impact that such an ambitious plan has on not only Middletown but also Monmouth County.

"Eminent domain should only be exercised where a property is dilapidated, a blight on the community, absolutely necessary for worthy projects where there has been adequate communication with the public, and most especially the populations involved in the immediate vicinity of a project," he said. "One of the foundational rights that Americans enjoy is ownership of property, and where such rights are interrupted it must be done only after the most broad and sober deliberations...not off the cuff or from the hip...but I believe that such a thing is being done here in this project."

Inzerillo said that the county bridge issue at the intersections of Hubbard Avenue and West Front Street in Middletown is a symptom of a larger problem in the county. "It is simple, this is about respect for residents, respect for private property and common sense government approaches to governmental problems," he said. "This bridge can be replaced without the use of eminent domain on any part of the Walsh property. And this should be the way to approach this, rather than indulging the desire of some frivolous pet project in Middletown, which is only desired by a few politicians."

When elected to the Board of Chosen Freeholders in November, Inzerillo said that he and his running mate, Barbara McMorrow intend to stand against the unnecessary imposition of eminent domain anywhere in the county. "Government cannot have as its mission the job of finding new and imaginative ways of restricting individuals freedoms and rights. The wrongful use of eminent domain is one such way that government can intrude on personal liberties and it is wrong."

Democratic freeholder candidates Inzerilllo and McMorrow intend on joining Middletown Democratic Candidate for Township Committee Patrick Short, as well as Mrs. Walsh, at a May 18 press conference, to be held on the grounds of her West Front Street home, at 2:30 p.m. Local civic groups as well as the public has been invited to the press event.

For more information about the event, call the Middletown Democratic Party at (732) 299-6470.