Victim of eminent domain abuse speaks out

Joseph Milano
Guest Column

On Thursday, Feb. 2, my family received the next step in the eminent domain taking from the city of Long Branch — a nice thick package of papers that to us only says, “We are stealing your land so get out now.”

For as long as I can remember during this ordeal, I have read in many different newspapers about condo offers in exchange for land, fair and open negotiations with the builder and the wonderful and fair treatment we have received from the city of Long Branch.

The only problem I have with all of this is that I don’t remember any of it happening.

My family has owned, for more than 50 years, two bungalow style homes with a very large adjacent lot on Ocean Terrace.

Last year, we received an appraisal from the city’s Hoboken-based appraiser. Our two ocean block houses and large adjacent lot were appraised at $451,000. When I received the appraisal I went through many emotions beginning with laughter over the ridiculously low amount of the appraisal, to total anger in thinking that the city of Long Branch could “steal” this oceanfront land without any just or realistic compensation. It should be noted that not a single piece of property or house used in the appraisal was an ocean block property.

Next, we heard about condos for land as a trade in order to keep the longtime residents in the neighborhood and, all the wonderful tax breaks and condo association help we would receive.

This offer was never made to my family from the builder. Never!

Next came the phone calls from Greg Russo, who represents the builder’s interests. He never negotiated with us and when we hired a lawyer to represent us, Peter Wegener, a letter was sent to Mr. Russo advising him that all negotiations would have to go through his office. We never again heard from Mr. Russo.

In other words, there were no “fair and open” negotiations with the builder.

The next time you read an article anywhere telling you how hard the city of Long Branch tried and how fair the “victims” of the abuse of eminent domain were treated, please remember my family.

In my family’s case, eminent domain wasn’t used as a last resort, it’s being used as the only resort. It has long been my opinion that the families who own the large properties would never be treated fairly. The land is worth much more than the developer was ever willing to spend.

Fair and open negotiations never existed for us. We are truly victims of an abusive government and greed of a developer.

Remember, all of you are no longer safe in your homes. I would hope that newly elected Gov. Corzine would make every effort to change this abuse by government over its tax-paying citizens.

Joseph Milano is a resident of Long Branch