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NJ affordable housing deadline: Here’s what your town owes, and you might be eligible

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NJ affordable housing deadline: Here’s what your town owes, and you might be eligible



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With legal challenges to New Jersey’s affordable housing law denied, Monmouth and Ocean County towns reached a deadline Friday to opt into a program that spells out their affordable housing obligations for the next decade.

As the clock ticked on Thursday, about two-thirds of towns at the Shore had agreed to participate, even as some planned to challenge the number of affordable units determined by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

“It’s good to see that the vast majority of New Jersey municipalities, many of whom supported the law’s passage, are moving forward,” said Jag Davies, a spokesman for the Fair Share Housing Center, an advocacy group.

Friday’s deadline is part of the fourth round of the Mount Laurel doctrine that was set into motion last March, when Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law spelling out towns’ affordable housing obligations for the next decade.

See a full list of what the state says each town must allow to be built at the bottom of this story.

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Towns aren’t required to participate, but those that don’t adopt a plan risk being sued by builders and advocates, leaving them vulnerable to a court order mandating them to clear the way for higher-density projects.

The new rules are landing as policymakers at the Shore try to navigate competing interests: residents are pushing back against overdevelopment, all while seeing the price of housing soar.

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A home is considered unaffordable if its payment takes up more than 30% of a household’s income. As of last August, a Monmouth County household with a median income would pay 53.9% for a median-priced home, while an Ocean County household would spend 58%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. 

“The third round was kind of chaotic,” said Craig Gianetti, an attorney with Day Pitney in Parsippany, who co-leads the firms’ real estate, environmental and land use practice. “From 2018 to today, towns had to do a lot (to catch up with affordable housing obligations), and I think they are still kind of, for lack of a better term, licking their wounds politically.”

“The thought of having to go through this process again, where they feel like they just completed the third round, is probably daunting for them,” he said.

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The new law sets out to streamline what has been an uneven rollout of the Mount Laurel doctrine, the state’s constitutional mandate that requires towns to provide their fair share of affordable housing.

Under state law, municipalities are required to set aside 20% of housing units for those with moderate and low incomes — up to $72,830 for an individual and $130,054 for a family of four in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

The state recalculates municipal obligations every 10 years, looking at factors such as job growth, existing affordability and the growth of low- and moderate-income households. The new formula is set to last until 2035.

Some two dozen New Jersey towns, including Holmdel and Wall, filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the rollout, but state Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy ruled against them, leaving municipalities with a Jan. 31 deadline: Accept the state’s obligation, come up with their own and hope the state will approve it, or take their chances and risk being sued by builders or advocates.

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Most Monmouth and Ocean County towns have approved resolutions and agreed to participate in the program, although some are planning to challenge the state’s formula.

Toms River, for example, required by the state to provide 670 affordable units, adopted a resolution saying it owes at most 114 new units, and possibly none at all.

Jackson, meanwhile, is faced with an obligation of 954 units in the next round. The council planned to vote Thursday on a resolution that would support 750 units.

“We’re trying to do everything the right way, we just feel now it’s becoming a little unfair,” Jackson Mayor Michael Reina said.

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The state could sign off on towns’ alternate calculations. Or it could contest them by taking it to the Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program, a seven-member panel appointed by the chief justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, which would decide.

Opponents have until Feb. 28 to contest the municipalities’ calculations. And towns have until June 30 to adopt an affordable housing plan.

Davies from the Fair Share Housing Center said as of Thursday morning, 354 of the state’s 564 municipalities had adopted resolutions agreeing to participate in the affordable housing program, and 75% accepted the obligations calculated by the state.

“New Jersey municipalities, many of whom supported the law’s passage, are moving forward,” Davies said.

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Michael L. Diamond is a business writer for the Asbury Park Press. He has been writing about the New Jersey economy and health care industry since 1999. He can be reached at mdiamond@gannettnj.com.



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Family describes frantic moments delivering baby on the NJ Turnpike

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Family describes frantic moments delivering baby on the NJ Turnpike


JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Mile marker 113.3 on the eastern spur of the New Jersey Turnpike in Secaucus will forever be an incredible memory for one family, who scrambled to deliver their baby boy right on the side of the road.

Kristen Fast was in labor last week, with her husband driving her to the hospital on the turnpike, but when they got to the mile marker, baby Archer couldn’t wait any longer and had to be delivered on the highway.

Archer insisted on arriving three days before he was due, and maybe it was because his lovely big sister, 4-year-old Zelda, was waiting for him.

He was in such a hurry, he didn’t even let mom and dad get to the hospital for him to be born, although they tried.

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“The doula said, ‘pull over, hang up, call 911.’ So we did that. We called 911. The operator started walking him through what to do,” said Archer’s mother, Kristen Fast.

“Next thing I know, I get in the back seat, and we’re making sure she’s comfortable, and I look down, and that baby is ready to go,” said Archer’s dad, Alex Fast.

New Jersey State Trooper Freddie Guacamaya responded to Alex’s 911 call.

“Cop comes, puts on his gloves, and he was fantastic,” Alex Fast said.

“I said, ‘Are you the EMT?’ And he didn’t answer. So I said, ‘You are not an EMT. I’m in danger.’ But he was fine, he was being very calm,” Kristen Fast said.

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“They said, ‘you got to clamp that cord right away. If you have anything, if you have a string.’ So I panicked and just looked in the front and we just had an iPhone cable. So we just clamped the cord with an iPhone cable,” Alex Fast said.

“The EMTs came, and they said, ‘What is this?’” Kristen Fast said.

The loving, kind courtesies extended to the family just continued, helping to make their emergency experience flawless.

“There were three policemen who showed up. I said, ‘I’d love to be with her in the ambulance.’ And they were amazing. They drove our car to the hospital for us, which was so nice. They paid for our valet,” Alex and Kristen Fast said.

They were all welcomed to Hackensack University Medical Center with a healthy baby and a hearty story, backed by Archer’s exact birthplace, recorded accurately: New Jersey Turnpike I-95, mile marker 113.

“Archer’s healthy. He’s thriving. He’s a Jersey boy through and through. I don’t think you get more Jersey than being born on the New Jersey Turnpike,” Kristen Fast said.

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What to know about Freedom Fuel Network as Trump urges cheaper gas prices in Pennsylvania, NJ

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What to know about Freedom Fuel Network as Trump urges cheaper gas prices in Pennsylvania, NJ


PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — There are 25 new Freedom Fuel Network gas stations opening across the Philadelphia area and South Jersey as Americans closely watch gas prices.

This comes after President Trump announced the privately-owned network on social media last week, saying it will help drivers save money at the pump.

There are 25 new Freedom Fuel gas stations opening across the Philadelphia area and South Jersey as Americans closely watch gas prices.

The first location in Dresher, Montgomery County, opened on Friday, with the price of $3.47 per gallon.

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This cost was a nod to President Trump serving as the nation’s 47th president.

However, that price has already started to rise after the president announced new U.S. strikes, sending oil and gas prices higher.

Some of those locations with gas stations participating in the Freedom Fuel Network include Lansdowne, Bensalem and Pottstown in Pennsylvania; and Marlton in New Jersey.

Gas Calculator: Find out how much it costs to fill your tank

A White House official told ABC News the administration is not involved with the company and is not providing any funding or subsidies.

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Instead, the company says it is cutting its own profit margins to offer lower prices.

Some drivers are applauding this move while others, including gas analysts, are skeptical.

“$3.47 a gallon is a Godsend, honestly,” said one consumer. “Great price because this was a Sunoco before and prices were a lot higher.”

“I want Americans to be asking, ‘Where is that money coming from? Why are corporations and businesses willing to subsidize gas 50-cents a gallon for people, to make President Trump look good,” said another consumer.

Trump is also encouraging other gas retailers to lower their prices. He has not identified the company behind Freedom Fuel, saying only that it’s a private retailer.

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Action News is still working to learn how long these lower prices will last and whether more stations will open.

Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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7 On Your Side helps man recover his stolen iPhone from safe pickup site

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7 On Your Side helps man recover his stolen iPhone from safe pickup site


JAMESBURG, New Jersey (WABC) — When it comes to home deliveries, having your order stolen right off your doorstep can be infuriating, so one New Jersey man did it right.

Peter Tsistinas had his brand-new cell phone delivered to a so-called safe pickup site, designated by the seller, where it was stolen.

Delivery services can drop off your item at any number of safe locations, where you can later pick up your order. But as exclusive video obtained by 7 On Your Side shows, porch pirates are upping their game.

Captured on a security camera, a man calmly walks into the CVS store, asks for a delivery, shows an ID, signs for it, and walks off with a brand-new iPhone. There’s just one problem.

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“They saw somebody that was not me getting my package,” said Tsistinas when asked what the police were seeing on the tape.

The real Peter, a popular DJ for hire, was dumbfounded. He chose the safe drop to avoid being porch pirated, but the thief still got the goods.

“Yeah, I actually paid extra for it. It wasn’t much. It was $7.99,” Tsistinas said.

Tsistinas got a notification from UPS that the phone was dropped off at 12:39 p.m., less than two hours later, he got a notice it was picked up.

But Tsistinas didn’t pick it up. It was the unknown suspect who went into the CVS, walking off with the brand-new iPhone for Peter’s son.

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Tsistinas reported the crime to the police and alerted UPS, CVS and T-Mobile, which shipped the smartphone. The response to the DJ was what he called, “crickets.”

“I was watching, you know ABC News, and I saw 7 On Your Side and I’m like, ‘you know, you’re the first thing I thought of,’” Tsistinas said

7 On Your Side reached out to both CVS and the cell phone provider.

Within a week, T-Mobile responded, saying, “Our care team is working with Mr. Tsistinas directly to get him the device he ordered from us, and we’re working closely with CVS and our other partners to further protect our customers’ orders from theft. Our dedicated fraud, crime and logistics teams collaborate with vendors to address these issues and improve delivery processes.”

CVS also sent 7 On Your Side an official statement, saying, “We’ve connected with the customer and apologized for his experience. T-Mobile is now working directly with Mr. Tsistinas to help resolve the matter. Anyone picking up a UPS package at CVS Pharmacy must present identification matching the person and name on the package to be released. We’re working with the store team to help prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.”

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After weeks of back and forth with the companies, Tsistinas could finally focus on his beats again.

“I paid almost $500 in deposit, and then it was going to be like so much per month. So, they just squashed all that,” Tsistinas said.

Referencing the Rolling Stones, he says he not only got his satisfaction, but also his money back.

“Nina, you’re the best!” Peter said.

Police are still looking for the suspect in the video and say he’s part of a crime ring. If you recognize him, call Jamesburg police in New Jersey.

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