Recent suggestions of eminent domain being off the table are purely verbal. The mayor and council president are declaring that our fight is over, but their claims are extremely premature. They expect us, the homeowners that they lied to, to trust in their verbal word that they will not use eminent d domain. They seem to forget that the mayor once stood in our home and told us, "There are no plans for your property," when he knew full well that there were major plans in existence. And then two years later he claimed that "We needed to be sacrificed."

The mayor wishes not legally to put it in writing by rescinding the ordinance that gave them the authority to condemn our homes or by developing an ordinance that would legally release the titles to our properties back to our possession. As per the mayor, "This will be done on my terms and conditions." One condition included that we (MTOTSA) concede that Councilman Brian Unger not be involved in any form of negotiations/settlement. The mayor is obviously so politically afraid of Councilman Unger that he prevented him from attending any meetings on a topic of continuing public controversy and litigation.

There has been no compassion expressed for the damage they caused to our lives and our children's lives. That alone demonstrates that there is not good faith among their incentives. It was even recommended by the mayor that "We did not need our lawyer's participation, that we could settle this ourselves." This is good faith? How can anyone place trust in someone who advises that you don't need legal representation? What the mayor of Long Branch is promoting is a divide and conquer tactic that will continue to give them the authority to legally take homes through the use of eminent domain if they so choose, or the wind or the economy changes direction tomorrow. "For at least another year" as per Howard Woolley, city administrator. City officials can't continue to believe all of MTOTSA is so gullible as to rely on a smile and a handshake after all the city put us through.

The fact is we still do not hold the titles to our homes. We cannot in good faith make investments or improvements to our homes. We cannot use equity in our homes nor could we, if we needed to, sell our homes. This is not "off the table," this is extortion. Our oppression is sealed for yet another year as they break us down. We first started speaking with lawyers seven years ago. There is no reason that the City Council could not develop an ordinance that would give us our titles back. They can name the ordinance what- ever they like. Just do it and stop selling propaganda to the public that we are free to live and prosper.

We stand in faith that our suffering has made a difference for property rights in the state and that we will one day be free from the oppression of a self-interested mayor and council. Our only hope is that through our lawyers and the appointedmediation judge, clarity and legality is brought to the process of ending our litigation. With that in mind, I asked that the community light a candle with intention that we will soon prosper as every other property owner in the country, and the rights our forefathers fought for.

Denise Hoagland MTOTSA homeowner

Long Branch