Structure Fire on Naval Weapons Station Earle

The Navy claims that the emergency services of the surrounding towns will not be impacted by their plan to allow civilian renters unimpeded access to the 300 Laurelwood housing units, however the facts indicate otherwise as evidenced by the following:

A structure fire erupted during the demolition of a building located on the west side of NWS Earle. It is believed that sparks generated while cutting reinforcement bar (rebar) ignited the surrounding insulation causing the blaze. The Colts Neck Fire Company was called and asked to bring in a Tanker (84297) and Ladder truck (84190).

Adding an additional 300 families with the inherent possibility of generating a proportionally higher need for emergency services will most definitely put additional strain on the volunteer emergency responders of Colts Neck and Tinton Falls.

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Earmarks (and a theory on why the argument that the Navy can't afford to buy out Laurelwood is bunk)

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) ran an interesting piece that - surprise(!) - reveals that earmarks are alive and well in America, particularly in the House Appropriations Committee on Defense, where all 18 members (New Jersey's own Steve Rothman and Rodney Frelinghuysen among them) submitted earmark (read: no-bid contracts) requests totaling $2 billion for Fiscal 2010. Fortunately, all requests and figures are available publicly.

Surely, based on data in NOPE's own business case study of the issue, and cursory glances at public filings of earmark requests, there must be $17-$20 million available somewhere for the Navy to be able to make a reasonable buyout offer (if it will not simply void the contract as it can) to make the whole Laurelwood housing debacle go away.

For example, take some of Mr. Rothman's pressing requests: $1.04 million to station 16 cops at the eyesore Meadowlands Xanadu, a privately built entertainment and retail complex (debacle might be more appropriate); $2 million for Bergen County Quiet Zones, to fund a study on how to cut down on noise pollution and train horn blares along the tracks of Bergen County; $625k toward renovations of a mansion at Georgian Court University; $5 million to rehab the Hackensack Park-and-Ride facility, and $650k to study blueberry disease.

There's about $9.5 million alone, in 5 minutes of research.

Interestingly, also on the list is Norm Dicks, an implied NOPE ally by virtue of co-signing the April 17, 2009 letter with District 12 Representative Rush Holt requesting that the Navy delay any action on Laurelwood until it can conduct an accurate financial assessment. We surely hope Mr. Dicks could suggest redirecting some earmarks toward a Laurelwood buyout...and for the sake of avoiding a potential national security catastrophe with civilian residents and unimpeded access introduced to one of the largest U.S. weapons depots by September 2010.

Regardless of where these earmarks are directed, the notion that the federal government (i.e. the U.S. Navy) cannot drum up relative pocket change to protect NWS Earle's mission and make a really bad contract disappear is about as real as the Tooth Fairy.

News Transcript story on Colts Neck lawsuit vs. Navy

Although this media story does an ample job highlighting much of what we've addressed here on the Colts Neck lawsuit, NOPE takes issue with the assertion that the U.S. Navy is entirely off the hook for any rental payments after September 2010.

Our reading of the original 52-year housing contract between the Navy and Laurelwood's predecessor Dick Fischer Developments #3 and dozens of subsequent supplements uncovered evidence to the contrary (all were obtained by NOPE under the Freedom of Information Act.)

In particular, Supplemental Lease No. 43 (follow this link), which suggests that the Navy may be obligated to rental payments thru 2017, depending on the civilian occupancy rate of the Laurelwood townhomes. (To clarify, these units are not "apartments" as the Colts Neck suit suggests, but single-family homes of 2- to 4-bedrooms; and Laurelwood's owner, Mrs. Fischer, according to testimony in the Environmental Impact Statement, expects to rent them for $1,600-$2,200 per month.)

Anyway, we invite you to read and comment on this particular supplemental lease. Laurelwood's attorney, in this piece printed in the May 13, 2009 Asbury Park Press, refutes NOPE's interpretation, saying the supplement was mandated by Laurelwood's lenders upon Mrs. Fischer's refinancing of the Laurelwood mortgage in 2002, but in our view the Navy entirely dropped the ball in agreeing to SA 43, which seems to obligate them to additional rental payments upwards of $20 million and might have compromised their ability to exercise their contractual right to revoke the contract (though hopefully not) without a buyout.

Let us know what you think.

950 TONS!!!

This piece is a bit in hindsight, but articulates the magnitude of the mission of Naval Weapons Station Earle, and the types of armaments not only stored and handled at NWS Earle, but also that presumably make their way from Mainside storage, then along Normandy Road by train or tractor trailors (thru Colts Neck, Northern Tinton Falls and Middletown) en route to Earle's pier.

The March 10, 2009 Navy Newstand reported that the USS Wasp, billed "the lead ship of an all-new class of multipurpose amphibious assault ships" whose primary mission is "the support of a Marine Landing Force," onloaded 950 TONS of ordnance over an anticipated time of five days. This equated to 1,035 pallets moved over the course of 50 hours, and was conducted "in preparation for an upcoming surge to support operations in the Central Command area of responsibility." (In other words, in the Persian Gulf.)

Although it is clearly difficult for civilians such as ourselves to ascertain thru the media the strategic significance of what goes on at Weapons Station Earle, this news story sheds a bit of light on the powderkeg near which we reside, and why introducing unimpeded civilian access to the base is not the brightest idea, the Navy's financial constraints notwithstanding. NOPE certainly hopes Navy leaders in Washington reverse course on its Record of Decision on Laurelwood housing and will continue to press for such a reversal.

Sen. Beck discusses Laurelwood housing issue on Comcast

Nothing earth-shattering here, but in the second of two five-minute interviews linked from the Senator's website, Senator Beck discusses the legislation she announced on July 1, along with Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlan and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, that would essentially prohibit New Jersey DEP and DOT from approving any road construction permits for NWS Earle until the State Treasurer assesses the financial implications to NJ of the Laurelwood housing plan. Scroll about halfway thru the video to get to the Earle discussion.

And continue to spread the word to your neighbors about the first of NOPE's upcoming informational sessions, Monday, July 20 at 730pm at the Colts Neck library.

Short "Letter to the Editor" in Sunday's APP

From Barbara Matthews of Tinton Falls, headlined "No Concern for Tinton Falls"

Kudos to all those who have spoken out against the Navy's plan for Laurelwood housing, and NOPE would encourage all supporters to continue to turn up the pressure. Continue to press your legislators and the Navy itself, write letters to the editor of our state's newspapers, and help us protect our communities.

Basically, take out a few minutes of your busy lives to become involved in this cause. For more information on what has happened of late and what NOPE is doing to advance our fight, be sure to attend the upcoming NOPE Community Information Session on July 20, 7:30 p.m. at Colts Neck Library on Heritage Drive.

News Transcript: Court date set on school issue

Candidly, what drew me to my first NOPE meeting in April 2008 was my admittedly selfish concern about the impact of the school issue as a Tinton Falls taxpayer and why my mayor and town council were surprisingly mum on an issue that could be devastating to our kids, but clearly the objections of the group that I now chair are much broader-reaching and do not take sides (i.e. town vs. town). To be sure, a few naysayers from my town suggested I was naive for joining what was taken by some in my town as strictly a pro-Colts Neck initiative, but history will reflect that NOPE's efforts have broken down steep barriers and facilitated a rational and respectful effort that has now drawn the attention of our U.S. and state Senators, Congressmen and local politicians and citizens alike. This would not have happened with the towns at loggerheads.

The progress that NOPE has made notwithstanding, the issue of where kids will attend school in the event that Laurelwood is occupied by civilians remains an overhang, but one that will play out in the courts and not distract NOPE's neutrality. NOPE comprises multitudinous supporters from both Colts Neck and Tinton Falls - the primary parties to the lawsuit over the school issue by Tinton Falls - and beyond our two towns, and as such will remain steadfastly opposed to any Monmouth County or New Jersey school having to take on prospective civilian children who may reside at Laurelwood. If the U.S. Navy so egregiously elects to compromise base security and not exercise its contractual right to void or buy out an outdated privatized housing contract, then it should construct its own educational facilities and remove that financial burden from its neighbors.

Anyway, to keep our supporters abreast of the school issue (which is separate from the Colts Neck lawsuit against the U.S. Navy or any other such litigation), this piece from the News Transcript reports that July 25 is the date where an administrative law judge will decide whether the 1988 law that enabled Tinton Falls to become the receiving district for Earle's military dependants (domiciled in Colts Neck) states that Tinton Falls needed to request the civilian children and, since they did not, then become Colt's Neck's responsibility. We will keep our supporters posted on this issue.

Text of Colts Neck Suit vs. the Navy and Laurelwood

For those interested in reading the full text (24 pages) of the Colts Neck Township suit vs. the Navy and Laurelwood Homes, LLC, we have posted it to our primary website as well.

In short, and as noted in area newspapers, the suit seeks to a) prevent the U.S. Navy from implementing the Record of Decision (ROD) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Laurelwood housing, b) prevent the construction of the proposed unimpeded access road, c) send what is considered a non-compliant (i.e., with NEPA guidelines) EIS back to the drawing board, d) prohibit the conversion of the Laurelwood homes to civilian housing, owing to violations of the townships ordinances, and e) declare the Navy's actions as "unlawful."

The lawsuit, while understandably more technical and nuanced than our lay grassroots position (and more authoritative on true "environmental" issues such as violation of the Clean Water Act), not only echoes NOPE's rallying cry since its formation in early 2008 (and our services are provided for free...), but fortifies NOPE's view that the Navy will have no other choice but to reverse course on its ROD once the "No Action Alternative" is given its proper due.

As our own Fulton Wilcox has shared with NOPE as well as elected officials for some time, this alternative (i.e. the option to not build the road) is the only one that avoids adverse impacts for the Navy itself and the surrounding base communities. The CN lawsuit verifies that the EIS clearly made short shrift of this "fifth option" (to not turn the homes "private" and instead pursue a void or buyout of the out-lease of the 52-year Laurelwood contract).

NOPE, considering some kind of action of its own and hopeful that Tinton Falls Borough and perhaps Monmouth County at large will pursue their own legal actions against the Navy plan, would encourage any of its supporters, particularly with legal backgrounds, to attend one of our upcoming meetings (July 20 at Colts Neck Library and August 3 in Tinton Falls, site TBD) and offer to volunteer their time to a potential legal challenge or other efforts. We need your help, particularly considering the cash constraints of grassroots organization.

Cheers,
Bill Holobowski, NOPE Chairman

Better To Be Safe Than Sorry

South Korean intelligence officials believe pro-Pyongyang forces committed cyber attacks that paralyzed major U.S. government Web sites.• Cyber Attack Knocks Out Major U.S. Government Sites• U.S. Government's Cyberdefense System Doesn't Work•

Is allowing civilian renters unimpeded access to housing units in the middle of Naval Weapons Station Earle an improvement or a detriment to our national security? You be the judge.

The Curious Case of Gary McKinnon

For those new to NOPE or who have never heard this story before, around the time of 9/11 a computer hacker in the U.K. named Gary McKinnon broke into Naval Weapons Station Earle's computer networks, allegedly in search of hidden files on UFOs. The amount of damage to these networks varies depending on the media source, but this piece (mostly favorable to McKinnon's plight) from The Daily Mail puts the pricetag at $700,000 and damage to 2,000 "Army computers." Interestingly, this 2002 press release from the U.S. Justice Department, and then-U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie (you know, the one running against Jon Corzine for New Jersey governor this November), whether trumped up or factual (we'll assume the latter) is much more harsh:

"The entire network of 300 computers at NWS Earle, located in Colts Neck, N.J., was effectively shut down for an entire week, according to military officials at NWS Earle. For another three weeks afterward, military personnel and government civilian employees at NWSE were only able to send and receive internal e-mail. It was only approximately a month after McKinnon’s last intrusion into the network that NWS Earle was able to automatically route Naval message traffic and access the Internet, according to military officials at NWS Earle. This was a grave intrusion into a vital military computer system at a time when we, as a nation, had to summon all of our defenses against further attack, Christie said."

The release then goes on to say...

"The Indictment charges that on April 7, 2001, McKinnon hacked into the NWS Earle computer network through the Port Services computer, the primary computer used by NWS Earle for monitoring the identity, location, physical condition, staffing, battle readiness and resupply of Navy ships in and near the NWS Earle Pier Complex."

Yes, that is correct...a possibly autistic and unemployed "computer geek" (as many media stories portray Mr. McKinnon - U.K. media is less "politically correct") crashed a mission-critical network at Earle. Although far different from the Laurelwood EIS perspective that the Navy can handle and/or enhance the physical security of the base with civilians traversing the new proposed unimpeded access road and living at Earle through 2040, the McKinnon case sheds light on different perspectives of "security" and enhances NOPE's leverage to fairly refute this contention.

Some 8 years later we can only guess that Earle's computer network is a lot more secure, but the McKinnon case is worth watching (simply do a Search Google News on "Gary McKinnon" and/or "extradition" for more, like this take from GQ Online). Politically speaking, we wonder whether Mr. Christie's involvement in the McKinnon case and current run for the governor's position will shed additional light on the Laurelwood housing case.

Unlike the "your security is cr*p!" message that Mr. McKinnon so brazenly left on Earle's network back in 2001, NOPE certainly hopes the opposite is true in terms of physical security, in the event that 300 families indeed end up living unimpededly on the base by September 2010.

Community Information Sessions

Neighbors Opposed to Privatization at Earle
Is sponsoring
Community Information Sessions
Regarding
NWS Earle—Laurelwood Housing—Civilian Renters
Ø Hear about the legislative efforts of your Congressional & Senatorial Representatives
Ø Learn about local government initiatives

Answer the call to action by:
Neighbors Opposed to Privatization at Earle

SESSION ONE
When: Monday, July 20, 2009
Where: Colts Neck Library (lower level)
Town Hall Complex—Heritage Drive
Colts Neck, New Jersey
Time: 7:30pm

SESSION TWO
When: Monday, August 3, 2009
Where: Tinton Falls Borough Hall
556 Tinton Avenue
Tinton Falls, New Jersey
Time: 7:30pm

For information or directions please call: 732-946-3474 or 908-770-3673
Join us for one or both of the sessions WE NEED YOU.

ANOTHER APP Editorial..."Navy plan surrounded"

The APP editorial board's classification this morning of a "three-front war" overlooked an extremely important adversary to the Navy's plan to let civilians live at Earle - U.S. Senators Lautenberg and Menendez. Presumably they are lumped in with the first referenced contingent (i.e., Washington, D.C.), but it is especially important for NOPE to now have documented support from our U.S. Senators that validates at least a portion of our thesis - the financial impact - and the need for bipartisan political support.

The security impact, however, remains the root of NOPE's thesis that (post 9/11) building an unimpeded access road to Laurelwood housing is a ridiculously bad idea, and one that we would encourage our U.S. Senators and all other D.C. politicians not named Christopher Smith to address much more aggressively. As we have stressed for some time, at the same time that NWS Earle received more than $8 million to upgrade and fortify main gate security (i.e. spending money to keep intruders off the base, see middle column under "Earmark Declaration"), Navy policy makers suggest via its "Environmental Impact Statement - EIS" that building an unimpeded access route (i.e. welcoming ANYONE ONTO the base - no guards, no background checks) to the Laurelwood homes (and right behind the main gate) is brilliant. (P.S. The Navy will argue that, because of this new road, come Sept. 2010 the Laurelwood homes will no longer be "on" the base; this is comparable to you putting a fence from your curb, through your yard and to your shed in the back yard and saying the shed is not in your yard anymore.)

The drawback to the APP editorial board's otherwise fine argument today is that of turning the housing over to veterans. Some have tried to turn this Laurelwood issue into a veterans issue, which is it not. Clearly, it is urgent that our nation take care of veterans. However, doing so under the Navy's proposal of "unimpeded access" is just as flawed as putting John Q. Public into those homes. If the Navy from the start had said it was going to conduct background checks and require residents (whether civilians or veterans - retired or otherwise) to pass through the secure main gate, the Laurelwood out-lease probably would never have been a security issue for anyone (surely, the school issue would have been an overhang). However, the EIS never addresses such a scenario (i.e. limit housing to card-carrying veterans, age-restricted vets, etc.), and only pushes for the most expensive and probably most dangerous of the five options studied.

Instead, we reiterate our view that the Navy would have prevented a major headache and will incur far less expense (for us and itself) by revisiting the "No Build Option" and would encourage all NOPE supporters and other watchers to focus on this argument, rather than being distracted by suggestions for what to do with homes that, by law, must be demolished when the lease expires. This fight is about a horrendous contract and how the Navy is willing to compromise NWS Earle's mission and the security of its own base, surrounding communities and nation...and not about what the Navy should do with vacant housing that shouldn't have been constructed (atop wetlands, mind you) in the first place.

Independence Day!

Best wishes and safe passage to everyone on this July 4 holiday weekend!

Menendez-Lautenberg finally challenge the Navy on Laurelwood

July 1, 2009 was a historic day for NOPE. Our organization has hawkishly pressed U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg to express their opinions on the Laurelwood housing issue, whether favorable or unfavorable to NOPE. Or course we hoped they'd side with our perspective that no civilian should ever live on NWS Earle, but were simply looking for some public commentary on the issue, as the people of New Jersey should know where our congressmen stand on this particular issue.

The letter Messrs. Menendez and Lautenberg to Secretary of the Navy (The Honorable Raymond Mabus), as read aloud by Menendez aide Kellie Drakeford at the Wednesday press conference at Earle and requesting that the Navy conduct a full cost benefit analysis, cemented their objections to both a haphazard EIS and concern about the safety of our communities. The credit here goes largely to Kellie Drakeford and Keith Roachford of Mr. Menendez's office, who reached out to us on many occassions over the past few months and facilitated a rational and amicable solution to our request.

The letter, while falling short of explicit reference to our security concerns, clearly touches on one issue that NOPE has long argued - that the Navy should exercise its right to simply terminate the Laurelwood contract under the National Emergency Termination clause on page 2 of the lease - while also addressing NOPE's discovery of a supplemental lease agreement ("SA-43") that could obligate the Navy to $20 million of additional rent payments through 2017 (contrary to its view that rent payments will cease on Sept. 30, 2010), in the event that Laurelwood has trouble renting the 300 housing units.

NOPE will continue to press the Senators on this until full resolution of the Laurelwood issue.

APP: Legislators - Study impact of civilian housing at Earle

Here's the APP's take on yesterday's press conference and a copy of the actual legislation put forth by Senator Beck, Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlan and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande. The key takeaways, in our view:

a) The Navy commander who penned the Record of Decision (ROD) apparently
does not understand the nation's own laws about Environmental Impact Statements, which do require financial impact analysis and a threat assessment as part of the EIS process - Mr. Snow's argument to the contrary is false, and the Navy entirely wrote off the No Action Alternative (i.e. No Build Option) without analysis

b) The symbolism of two U.S. Senators (i.e. Menendez and Lautenberg) joining not only the District 4 and 12 U.S. Representatives Smith and Holt, but also the District 12 State leaders and the leaders of Colts Neck and Tinton Falls, further validates NOPE's fight that this issue is non-partisan. Many naysayers figured the educational standoff between CN and TF or party politics would get in the way of reasonable opposition to Laurelwood housing, but it hasn't. Giving any person unimpeded access to an active weapons base will compromise our safety and the Navy's own mission to provide ammunition to the fleet as it is engaged in an ongoing war against terrorists.

c) Our efforts are bearing fruit, but we cannot rest on our laurels. NOPE will continue to challenge the decision, press our elected officials and inform the public. Stay tuned here and to your email for updates on community gatherings and outreach that we are planning for July through October. Grassroots activism works, and we need to continue the fight.

Just back from the District 12 Press Conference outside Earle

The press conference conducted outside Earle by the District 12 team of Beck-Casagrande-O'Scanlan went off very well this afternoon from NOPE's perspective, as the team unveiled a bill that would require New Jersey's Treasurer to issue a cost benefit analysis and security report on proposed conversion of military housing to civilian housing at Earle Naval Weapons Station, and places a moratorium on issuance of certain State permits and plan approvals. Please follow this link for more details.

Just as significantly, Kellie Drakeford from Senator Robert Menendez's office read a letter co-signed by Mr. Menendez and Senator Frank Lautenberg that will hit the Secretary of the Navy's desk, expressing their concern about the Navy's plans for Laurelwood housing. We'll post a copy of that letter once NOPE obtains it, and are glad after a year's worth of effort to get an announcement from our U.S. Senators.

To anyone planning to attend the Beck press conference outside Earle on Wednesday...

If you plan to attend the District 12 team's press conference this afternoon at 1230p, please park on the side of Rt. 34 or at the Colts Neck public works; we learned this morning the parking logistics posted here yesterday were intended for the media only, and apologize for any miscommunication. Again, the District 12 legislative team is expected to unveil a bill regarding the Navy's plans for Laurelwood housing. A few of NOPE's leaders expect to be on hand.

DO NOT call the Navy looking for parking.

Colts Neck sues to stop Earle Housing Plan: APP

Here's the story in today's Asbury Park Press, confirming what we mostly knew already.

Somewhat sarcastically, the funny part about the claims referenced in the APP story is that a lot of what the lawsuit contends (i.e., the Navy's EIS failed to fully examine the "No Action Alternative," Navy's failure to justify how the lease promotes the national defense, references to termination) stems from NOPE's own handiwork, largely the efforts of our legal liaisons Joe Powell and Jacque Hoagland, and our business case analyst Fulton Wilcox.

Kudos to those three and the other VOLUNTEERS heavily involved in leading NOPE.

Weekend Recap

A few items that appeared in Friday's Asbury Park Press, in particular an editorial (listed first below) in favor of NOPE's position on the Earle housing issue and Cong. Smith's battle:

• On the offensive in Earle battle
• Cost analysis required for Earle housing
• Letter to the editor: Veterans well-suited for Laurelwood housing

The latter was submitted by Mr. James Manning of Neptune, who is affiliated as well with Neptune Housing Authority and the "Accettola Plan" to convert the Laurelwood homes into residences for veterans in need. Again, no one will quibble with the notion of veterans housing, but NOPE opposes putting anyone into homes on an active weapons base and has yet to see a copy of the Accettola Plan, which when presented in person in January was vague (i.e., as to what constitutes a "veteran" and who would run/oversee the program).

NOPE will post a copy of the "plan" once we have one, but again, there's a big distinction between articulating an idea (i.e., "hey, this is something we need to do") and presenting a true plan (i.e., "here are the parameters of what we intend to do and how we'll do it.").

Senator Beck plans press conference and rally across from NWS Earle main gate (Rt. 34), July 1, 1230p

NOPE received a press release last night from Layli Whyte, the Communications Director for New Jersey's 12th Legislative District team:

---

"Dear Friend:

The 12th District Legislators will host a press conference and rally across the street from the main gate at Naval Weapon Station Earle on Wednesday, July 1st at 12:30 p.m.

Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande will be unveiling a piece of legislation that would require a cost benefit analysis, a security analysis and a school impact study to be conducted by the State before any permits by State agencies, such as the Department of Environmental Protection or the Department of Transportation, could even be processed.

We encourage anyone who believes that the impact on the safety, security and schools of the towns surrounding Earle will be negatively impacted by the privatization of 300 housing units within the property of the base to come to the rally and voice their opposition to the plan.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Beck Declan O’Scanlon Caroline Casagrande
Senator, District 12 Assemblyman, District 12 Assemblywoman, District 12"

Fair Haven mayor calls out Rush Holt

Mike Halfacre's letter to the editor in the June 25 Asbury Park Press offers anecdotal perspective on the difficulties encountered by a nonpartisan grassroots organization such as NOPE in engaging leaders of our state on this issue, and why we need people such as you to call your elected STATE AND FEDERAL officials to press them on where they stand on Laurelwood. To be sure, the extensive communication (nearly a year's worth) between NOPE legislative liaison Elaine Mann and yours truly with Robert Menendez's office has yielded zilch in terms of public response from the Senator's office, and we are left to wonder whether the phones or email in Frank Lautenberg's office even work or if he's even on the job. That is not a partisan jab; just a simple fact.

Tinton Falls residents can take solace in District 12 Representative Rush Holt's sharing of NOPE's view of the financial perspectives of the Laurelwood housing case, but challenge the Congressman on his view that civilian housing at Earle would not compromise area security. To be sure, it seemed to us that only after showing up en masse to Mr. Holt's open house meeting in late December 2008 at Ranney Prep did he come around in any sort of fashion for Tinton Falls residents, many of which have been particularly critical of his seemingly passive posture (Mr. Holt's aides suggest he will not "grandstand" on issues...something they contend Mr. Smith does too often) as well in handling of the Ft. Monmouth closure. (Interestingly, Smith is the one whose name is on the bill to prevent the Ft. Monmouth closure - Mr. Holt later "signed on".)

Ouside viewers, and often NOPE's critics, look at Mainside Earle as largely a Colts Neck theme, but satellite images and the Navy's EIS on whether to open the homes to civilians clearly shows a significant number of strategic weapons bunkers on Tinton Falls land, so anyone who lives a) near the southern border along Shafto Road, b) along Wayside Rd. and Hockhocksen in the North End of town, or c) those living at the extreme north of town, along Normandy Road, lives near Earle's two-mile "explosive arcs" (i.e. in harms way when things go "boom.")

Unfortunately it took Rep. Holt a long time to come around to even admitting the financial pitfalls of the Laurelwood housing issue, but his letter to the Navy (co-signed by Washington Congressman Norm Dicks) suggests a more-active pursuit of Tinton Falls' interests, though not as deeply as those of Chris Smith, whom Mike Halfacre correctly notes has been a far bigger advocate on issues crucial to District 12 (i.e., Tinton Falls) than its own elected "representative" in Washington.

Sorry, Mr. Holt.

Two items in the Asbury Park Press

The APP published a brief 3-paragraph write-up, summarizing what was essentially posted here yesterday about the possible security and financial audit by the feds into the Laurelwood housing issue. Otherwise, a Long Branch resident submitted a letter to the editor, published on Tuesday, offering a preposterous (based on erroneous observations) notion that Colts Neck and Tinton Falls should float bonds to buy out the Laurelwood contract.

It is hard to fault people for coming up with new ideas on how to handle this debacle (i.e. putting veterans in the houses), but on the other hand it is insulting when people do not understand the underlying issue or spend the time to read the (mostly incomplete and sometimes erroneous) documents put forth by the U.S. Navy and research the issue - that the Laurelwood housing debacle was thrust upon the local towns (and the state) as a result of an ill-conceived privatized military housing business model that falls short on so many fronts and no longer functions in a post-9/11 world.

NOPE is not picking a fight with nor disrespecting the efforts of our respected military, particularly at Earle, where its servicemembers and participants are ingrained in the local community. Our District 12 politicians are not "unfairly critical of the Navy" (to quote the letter to the editor), which is playing a game of chicken with the developer (Laurelwood Homes, LLC) - much to the chagrin of citizens concerned about this issue - in order to either a) bring down the developer's buyout price, or b) attempt to bankrupt the developer (who must fund the road construction and home renovation costs). I mean the U.S. Navy cannot be that oblivious that it wants to distract the true mission of the base or increase threats against a vital base...

Banging the drum again, the bottom line is that, contrary to the letter author's point that there hasn't been a security breach at Earle since 1943, that a) there was a cyber-breach that compromised Earle's computer network for about a month near 9/11; b) the base in 2005-06 reportedly failed readiness drills with flying colors; and c) in late-2008 the Inspector General found Earle's oversight of contract security guards substandard.

Just because something has not yet happened does not mean it will not happen. Remember, two commercial airliners were flown into the World Trade Center, and Fort Dix was this close to a domestic terror attack, largely a result of freeflowing civilian access to that New Jersey base. Why invite the threat to a secure, vital munitions depot at Earle?

It is time for the Navy to step up and do the right thing - void or buy out the contract. It is not the towns', nor the state's, responsibility to pay for the federal government's obvious missteps.

House Rules Committee Accepts Smith's Defense Act Amendment to Mandate Earle Cost, Security Analysis by GAO

Great news out of Congressman (District 4) Chris Smith's office in Washington this morning!

The House Rules Committee last night accepted Mr. Smith's amendment to H.R. 2647 (the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2010), requiring the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO, investigative arm of Congress) to report to Congress on a cost analysis and audit of the Navy's security measures in advance of the proposed occupancy by the general public of units of the Laurelwood Housing complex at NWS Earle. (Here is the amendment.)

This approval validates what NOPE argued all along - that NAVFAC's Environmental Impact Statement, on which the decision was based to provide the access route to Laurelwood, was half-baked and poorly drawn and failed to comply with federal mandates for financial and security threat assessments as part of an appropriate EIS.

The Navy made a bad decision based on a non-compliant document, and we suspect the GAO will validate our view that the Navy's decision should be set aside. We will continue to press this issue and provide updates here, so stay tuned. And we again thank Mr. Smith for his continued energy and support in fighting the Laurelwood housing plan.

Trump

NOPE leadership attended the Flag Day celebration at Trump National Golf Club on Saturday, June 13 and appreciated the invitation, as we have made every effort to engage the Trump Organization in publicly supporting our efforts to prevent civilian housing at Weapons Station Earle.

Though a top-notch affair for the attendees that were honored (namely a few military officials), candidly, our visit proved fruitless from an "influential" perspective, as we had hoped to catch the ears of politicians or military decision-makers (i.e. Earle Capt. Maynard, Howard Snow, BJ Penn) about our plight.

Considering Mr. Trump's generosity and recognition of our nation's military (which we all share), we get the sense his organization will not come out publicly against the Navy's plans for Laurelwood, though NOPE will continue to make every effort to prevent civilians from ever living at Earle, whether or not famous affiliates/residents of Colts Neck (i.e. Mr. Trump, Bruce Springsteen, etc.) voice opposition to the Navy's plans or not.

NOPE IS CONTINUING THE FIGHT!!!

P.S. Pictured above are Jacque Hoagland (legal), Elaine Mann (legislative liaison), Bill Holobowski (Chairman), Fulton (business case analyst) and Sue Wilcox, Diana Piotrowski (communications director) and Ernie Janssen (secretary). Col. Jim Sfayer (not pictured), NOPE's security expert, also was in attendance representing the Marines.

Calling all NOPE supporters!

If anyone has contact(s) with retired N.J. Congressman Jim Saxton, please let us know ASAP.

According to this bio on the "Wisconsin in Washington" website (please scroll down the page), Howard Snow, whose name is on the Navy Record of Decision for going thru with the Laurelwood access project, "served as military legislative assistance to Congressman Jim Saxton (N.J.) and oversaw all veteran affairs and military issues including military construction projects."

Perhaps we can get a meeting with Mr. Saxton to convey the need of the Navy to reverse an ill-advised decision to open NWS Earle to civilian housing.