The Monmouth County Freeholders at yesterday's meeting rejected a special interest group's request to rent the Laurelwood housing units at Earle for "disabled and senior citizen veterans" once the Navy turns the houses over to the developer next year - good news for Neighbors Opposed to Privatization at Earle.
The namesake "Accettola Plan" put together by a Colts Neck resident supposedly with a background in public housing and endorsed by the Neptune Housing Authority (NHA), while noble, was extremely thin on details and disorganized when presented in Tinton Falls in January. NOPE's - and presumably the Freeholders' - opposition to this plan has nothing to do with slighting veterans or whomever else could end up renting the 300 homes on an active weapons base. The type of tenant is irrelevant to NOPE.
The point is that no civilian should ever gain access to the base or Laurelwood housing. To be sure, NOPE's leadership includes a prominent, high-ranking military retiree and other war veterans who view the plan as ill-hatched. Yes, we recognize the Navy's circular, semantical argument in its EIS that fencing off the houses and its own, new road would separate them from the active parts of NWS Earle, but the point remains that if any civilian housing plan comes to fruition, that the Laurelwood residents, their guests and the general public would be able to drive thru the heart of the Earle Mainside base thru 2040 - not a wise plan in post-9/11 world. The Accettola Plan and NHA fail to recognize this and continually tugs on peoples' emotions to "do what's right for veterans," without grasping the magnitude or pitfalls of the Navy's plan or how Laurelwood residents too are in harm's way.
As well, NOPE recognizes the need to find affordable housing for veterans in need and has mentioned this many times in our dealings with elected federal, state and local elected officials, which makes Fort Monmouth (set for closure in 2012 and home to a hospital and other facilities that can be used by the veterans or retrofitted for their purposes) a far better option for the Accettola Plan than Earle. And as former Freeholder and current candidate John Curley was quoted as saying in yesterday's APP, "our veterans deserve better."
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
NWS Earle hacker's hopes dashed
Gary McKinnon, the British man fighting extradition to the U.S. for hacking into DoD computer systems up until 2001 and disabling Weapons Station Earle's network for about a month around 9/11, was dealt an apparent setback this week when another criminal hacker with allegedly the same autistic condition (Asperger's Syndrome) was sentenced to 55 months in prison for participating in a multimillion-dollar computer fraud scheme (see story).
On the surface, the entire McKinnon case may appear to be a sidebar (i.e. "cyber" vs. "physical" terror attack) to unimpeded civilian access and housing at an active military weapons facility, and to some may seem a stretch in terms of the Navy's physical security of its own Earle base, but nonetheless raises doubt about a key component of NAVFAC's argument in the Laurelwood EIS that NWS Earle can defend itself with the physical influx of a presumed 1,000-plus civilian residents by September 2010.
If the government couldn't prevent an allegedly autistic hacker from an overseas location from disabling mission-critical computer networks, how can the civilian residents of the areas surrounding Earle's Mainside rest assured that everything will run smoothly physically once civilians have free rein of the proposed access route to the Laurelwood homes at Earle? This doubt is only compounded by the January 2009 report from the U.S. Congress's Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found that NWS Earle did not follow the Navy's own quality assurance guidelines in oversight of the contractor security guards that assist in guarding Earle (Myers Investigative & Security Services, of North Carolina), not to mention that it could not provide documentation that contractor security guards had completed a background check. Think about it.
On the surface, the entire McKinnon case may appear to be a sidebar (i.e. "cyber" vs. "physical" terror attack) to unimpeded civilian access and housing at an active military weapons facility, and to some may seem a stretch in terms of the Navy's physical security of its own Earle base, but nonetheless raises doubt about a key component of NAVFAC's argument in the Laurelwood EIS that NWS Earle can defend itself with the physical influx of a presumed 1,000-plus civilian residents by September 2010.
If the government couldn't prevent an allegedly autistic hacker from an overseas location from disabling mission-critical computer networks, how can the civilian residents of the areas surrounding Earle's Mainside rest assured that everything will run smoothly physically once civilians have free rein of the proposed access route to the Laurelwood homes at Earle? This doubt is only compounded by the January 2009 report from the U.S. Congress's Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found that NWS Earle did not follow the Navy's own quality assurance guidelines in oversight of the contractor security guards that assist in guarding Earle (Myers Investigative & Security Services, of North Carolina), not to mention that it could not provide documentation that contractor security guards had completed a background check. Think about it.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Perspective on 2007 mass casualty drill
Nearly two years ago, Earle conducted what the Sept. 7, 2007 Asbury Park Press dubbed a "mass casualty drill," simulating an aftermath scenario of a chemical weapons attack involving a truck carrying chlorine gas and its intended target, an ordnance-filled military train. Clearly, we should all cross our fingers that such an indict never comes to fruition in Monmouth County, and on the other hand rest easier that the Navy prepares for even a worst-case scenario.As a civilian, there is something extremely startling, however, about the accompanying photo of first responders dressed in glaring orange HazMat suits, carrying a victim from the scene of the drill (at the corner of West Front Street in Middletown and Normandy Road). One can only imagine the devastation of such an attack, and from such drills we can only suspect that such a preparedness drill means that Navy leaders have at least contemplated that such an attack is a potential reality in the wake of 9/11.
The thought, however, of base forces being unnecessarily distracted by an added responsibility of policing a small town of civilian residents on its base as soon as September 2010 gives NOPE extreme pause in whether Earle can be truly prepared to a) protect its neighbors from such an attack along a 14-mile government road and rail line, and b) respond adequately in the event of such a horrific disaster. Again, much of NAVFAC's study into the Laurelwood plan is filled with rhetoric about how security and Earle's mission (which is solely to provide ammunition to the fleet) will not be compromised by a presumed 1,000-plus civilian residents and unimpeded access to this strategic weapons installation. If, unlike many of us, you're willing to buy that bill of goods, then more power to you, and cross your fingers that none of the civilian tenants or civilian visitors to Earle's Mainside complex in Colts Neck between 2010 and 2040 has ill will toward the Navy or democracy in general. In the meantime, here is the APP story from Sept. 2007.
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Source: Asbury Park Press
Preparedness & coordination
Law-enforcement and emergency groups attend Earle mass-casualty drill
By MICHELLE GLADDEN
FREEHOLD BUREAU
The simulated scenario at Naval Weapons Station Earle was the aftermath of a chemical weapons attack involving a truck carrying chlorine gas and its intended target, an ordnance-filled military train.
So, early Thursday morning members of the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management, county Prosecutor's Office, county hazardous-materials unit, State Police and state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness gathered at the corner of West Front Street and Normandy Road, the 15-mile military thoroughfare.
All were on site for Earle's mass casualty drill, an all-day exercise to assess the military base's preparedness level and its ability to successfully coordinate with the local and state emergency authorities, base spokesman Patrick Fisher said.
"This will be unfolding without a lot of people knowing (the details)," Fisher said before the drill. "Only about 15 to 20 people know the scenario."
The other base responders would have to rely on training to assess the situation quickly and effectively execute commands.
The 64-year-old naval base, which sits on more than 11,000 acres, uses Normandy Road, a restricted roadway, and adjacent railroad line to transport munitions to naval fleets at its 2.2-mile long pier in the Leonardo section of Middletown.
"Our first responders include base security, fire and rescue personnel who arrive first at the scene to assess the situation and set a safety perimeter around the area," Fisher said.
Those first responders, two Earle firemen dressed in glaring orange HazMat suits equipped with oxygen masks, found five unconscious "victims": a train crew of four men, two of whom were thrown from the train, and the truck driver.
Immediately, the assessment of the victims revealed two "deaths" — the truck driver and train conductor — one suffering from burns, another from a respiratory ailment and the last from a fractured hip, said drill coordinator Lt. Jeffrey Dennison. So-called hot zones were outlined, and a simulated barricade was set up at the intersection.
Next on site were naval medical officers who began setting up a makeshift triage area away from onlookers who, in turn, were soon evacuated 4,000 feet away from the site.
"This was a challenge to everyone, and we thought everyone received great training," Fisher said once the drill was completed. "We've identified areas that needed improving and will include them in future training."
Fisher said follow-up lessons based on what was learned through exercise will be conducted.
"Overall, it was very successful," Fisher said.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Navy: "No, that's MY sandbox and bus yard!"
One could argue that this is what Colts Neck gets for suing the Navy over its unimpeded access plan for Laurelwood housing, but in perhaps one of the cattier actions imaginable, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic (i.e., the Department of the Navy) recently wrote to Colts Neck, denying the Township's request to continue to use the 3.4-acre tract alongside Rt. 18 that NWS Earle had conveyed a decade ago to the Township for "use as a school bus parking area, public recycling collection center, and dirt/sand storage area" (quoted from a 1999 letter to former administrator George Handzo and obtained by NOPE).
In essence, someone working for the Navy in Washington - presumably R. David Gale, the attorney cited as the contact person in the letter (attached to the right) - decided to punish the township by taking away what is otherwise a useless (to NWS Earle) strip of land where school buses are parked and where residents drop off their recyclable materials. So much for being a good neighbor. (Mr. Gale's contact info is on the letter, if you seek an explanation or clarification for yourself).
Our personal views of this sideshow notwithstanding, this letter is yet another snapshot of the uphill battle that the civilian neighbors of NWS Earle face in challenging - even through respectful and proper channels - a branch of their country's own Armed Forces, particulary when (in this case, the Navy) does not get its way without a valid challenge. The notion of putting civilians on an active weapons depot is absurd, but because the citizens of the neighboring towns have organized, spoken out by the thousands against the plan thru NOPE and gathered bipartisan political support as high as the U.S. Senate - and called the Navy's bluff, so to speak - someone in Washington is going to take away Colts Neck's bus storage yard and recycling dropoff point as a symbolic gesture. Boo hoo.
The more entrenchend you become in this issue, the more you will realize that your Navy leadership in Washington will try to do whatever it pleases at Earle (re: Laurelwood), regardless of the security, financial and environmental detriment to the surrounding communities and to the NWS Earle's mission itself. In this case, going thru with an 80s-era privatized housing contract that the Navy can contractually void, but would rather not to avoid embarassment, being candid about its true motives or to go full bore with the undetermined selfish pursuits of certain military leaders in Washington.
This letter is about more than a bus storage yard. Basically, it is another perspective of "heck with what's right for the Monmouth County communities" (namely Colts Neck and Tinton Falls) that for nearly 70 years have done nothing short of embracing the U.S. Military's presence here, being a respectful friend and neighbor and educating thousands of children of families stationed at Earle over the years. Shame on you, NAVFAC!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Anyone heard from Frank Pallone?
NOPE for the better part of its nearly 2-year existence has tried, to no avail, to engage (directly and indirectly) District 6 Congressman Frank Pallone in the Navy's civilian housing issue at NWS Earle. The Congressman, contrary to his objections to construction of the Laurelwood homes in the 1980s (see the 1987 Laurelwood EIS - if you're looking for some REALLY mundane summer beach reading), to this story from the November 29, 2000 Independent, has been relatively mum on the U.S. Navy's plan to fill 300 unoccupied homes with civilian tenants, even though parts of Earle are squarely in his district. Silence, in this case, is detrimental to NOPE's cause, and whether it is for lack of interest or a sense of futility in dealing with obstinate Navy decision makers over more than two decades in Washington, NOPE needs Congressman Pallone to be more engaged with Congressment Holt and Smith.
We would encourage Mr. Pallone's constituents who reside anywhere near Earle and all of our supporters to contact the Congressman (202-225-4671 or 732-571-1140) to encourage him to speak against the Navy plan and protect those living along Normandy Road (on which the Navy transports tons of high-powered ordnance each year) and near Earle's base in Leonardo.
In the throes of summer vacation, it is interesting to look back on the history of the Navy's actions at Earle over the past 20+ years and remind our supporters of Mr. Pallone's vehement stance against construction of the homes, as well as his objection to reports of the Navy moving ships from its fully capable Earle homeport to Norfolk, Virginia. The Navy seemed to do so without real justification, and just a few years after the Navy stressed the need to construct 300-500 new homes to house sailors on the ships homeported at Earle (yes, you guessed it...the Laurelwood homes that put us in the current mess we're facing some 22 years and $100 million+ later).
The piece from the Independent is not presented here to slam or embarrass Congressman Pallone in any way, but rather to put in perspective the clear frustrations of our elected officials and residents of the surrounding Earle communities in dealing with Navy decision-makers over the last two-plus decades.
Collectively, we cannot go silent in objecting to yet another poor decision from military leaders in Washington, and one that threatens to compromise the mission at NWS Earle and our local and national security. That includes you, Congressman Pallone.
We would encourage Mr. Pallone's constituents who reside anywhere near Earle and all of our supporters to contact the Congressman (202-225-4671 or 732-571-1140) to encourage him to speak against the Navy plan and protect those living along Normandy Road (on which the Navy transports tons of high-powered ordnance each year) and near Earle's base in Leonardo.
In the throes of summer vacation, it is interesting to look back on the history of the Navy's actions at Earle over the past 20+ years and remind our supporters of Mr. Pallone's vehement stance against construction of the homes, as well as his objection to reports of the Navy moving ships from its fully capable Earle homeport to Norfolk, Virginia. The Navy seemed to do so without real justification, and just a few years after the Navy stressed the need to construct 300-500 new homes to house sailors on the ships homeported at Earle (yes, you guessed it...the Laurelwood homes that put us in the current mess we're facing some 22 years and $100 million+ later).
The piece from the Independent is not presented here to slam or embarrass Congressman Pallone in any way, but rather to put in perspective the clear frustrations of our elected officials and residents of the surrounding Earle communities in dealing with Navy decision-makers over the last two-plus decades.
Collectively, we cannot go silent in objecting to yet another poor decision from military leaders in Washington, and one that threatens to compromise the mission at NWS Earle and our local and national security. That includes you, Congressman Pallone.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Senate passes Defense Authorization Act; await news on amendment for U.S. Comptroller General security and financial audit of Laurelwood housing plan
The U.S. Senate last week passed the Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2010, which includes a proposed amendment (SA. 1539) sponsored by Messrs. Menendez and Lautenberg, essentially repeating the version passed by the House and introduced by Congressman Chris Smith.
Following up on a question that arose during each of our two information sessions the past two weeks about what this means for NOPE, and reviewing some notes taken from discussions with our federal legislative contacts, it appears that the Senate's passage of S. 1390 (the Defense Authorization Act itself) means that both chambers will now begin negotations on a version to send to President Obama this fall. Early September is the earliest this will become law, we're told, though at times the process lasts through December. We are hopeful of the earliest resolution. We will keep our eye on whether Senate Amendment SA 1549 is passed and continue to press for Senate passage.
To reiterate, President Obama's approval would mean that within 180 days of passage, the Comptroller General must submit to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees a report containing "a cost analysis and audit of the sufficiency of the Navy's security measures in advance of the proposed occupancy by the general public of units of the Laurelwood Housing complex on Naval Weapons Station Earle." Whether passage of such an amendment stalls the Navy's ability to execute its road-clearing plans and meet the April 30, 2010 deadline for the unimpeded civilian access route remains to be seen.
In the meantime, please stay tuned here and to you NOPE email, as we will give you the heads up on whom to call within the U.S. Senate (and when) to support the Menendez-Lautenberg Amendment (SA 1549).
Following up on a question that arose during each of our two information sessions the past two weeks about what this means for NOPE, and reviewing some notes taken from discussions with our federal legislative contacts, it appears that the Senate's passage of S. 1390 (the Defense Authorization Act itself) means that both chambers will now begin negotations on a version to send to President Obama this fall. Early September is the earliest this will become law, we're told, though at times the process lasts through December. We are hopeful of the earliest resolution. We will keep our eye on whether Senate Amendment SA 1549 is passed and continue to press for Senate passage.
To reiterate, President Obama's approval would mean that within 180 days of passage, the Comptroller General must submit to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees a report containing "a cost analysis and audit of the sufficiency of the Navy's security measures in advance of the proposed occupancy by the general public of units of the Laurelwood Housing complex on Naval Weapons Station Earle." Whether passage of such an amendment stalls the Navy's ability to execute its road-clearing plans and meet the April 30, 2010 deadline for the unimpeded civilian access route remains to be seen.
In the meantime, please stay tuned here and to you NOPE email, as we will give you the heads up on whom to call within the U.S. Senate (and when) to support the Menendez-Lautenberg Amendment (SA 1549).
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Australia foils Fort Dix-style plot
Rantings aside for today, this AP news story reports that Australian officials arrested four men suspected of links to a Somali Islamic extremist group who were allegedly planning commando-style attacks on at least one army base. According to the police commissioner cited, "the men's intention was to actually go into the army barracks and to kill as many soldiers as they could before they themselves were killed." Sounds familiar, doesn't it...
NOPE supporters, WAKE UP!
If I'm U.S. Representative Rush Holt, State Senator Jennifer Beck, or Tinton Falls Mayor Michael Skudera or Councilmen Gary Baldwin and Andy Mayer, who sacrificed a beautiful summer evening to hear about the latest in NOPE's grassroots battle to prevent proposed civilian housing at Earle, I'm perturbed this morning by the meager turnout for last night's update hosted by NOPE at Tinton Falls Borough Hall.
Thanks to those 15-20 who did attend, but candidly, outside of the core leadership of NOPE who have sacrificed countless hours of personal and professional time since January 2008 challenging what everyone can see is a ridiculous Navy civilian housing plan that threatens our community, the people of our core Colts Neck and Tinton Falls contingent need to stop making excuses for not attending these kinds of events, in addition to our town government meetings.
NOPE's leadership team comprises working parents with as many as 5 kids, adults strapped with child- and elder-care responsibilities, grandparents who watch their grandchildren for their own working children, individuals struggling to keep their businesses afloat in a recession, and civic leaders with responsibilities to other organization (i.e. a retired Marine who dedicates time to preparing returnees from active duty for placement in the civilian workforce), to name a few of the obligations comprising our daily lives.
It is time for those who benefit from NOPE's emails and this blog to step up to the plate and take responsibility, and an outright embarrassment when we deliver top elected officials to these venues and few people show.
If you want to really protect your community, move away from the TV, stop procrastinating, and get out to support NOPE's events or those endorsed by your elected officials, or in our case call your elected federal officials (Reps. Smith and Holt, Senators Lautenberg and Menendez and Governor Corzine) to reinforce your objections to proposed civilian housing at Earle. Their phone numbers are available on the main NOPE website, or on the politicians' websites.
Otherwise, stay tuned here for daily updates and for details of an upcoming rally planned for Columbus Day. Keep the date clear on your calendars...no excuses...
Regards,
Bill Holobowski, Chairman
billholobowski@verizon.net
Thanks to those 15-20 who did attend, but candidly, outside of the core leadership of NOPE who have sacrificed countless hours of personal and professional time since January 2008 challenging what everyone can see is a ridiculous Navy civilian housing plan that threatens our community, the people of our core Colts Neck and Tinton Falls contingent need to stop making excuses for not attending these kinds of events, in addition to our town government meetings.
NOPE's leadership team comprises working parents with as many as 5 kids, adults strapped with child- and elder-care responsibilities, grandparents who watch their grandchildren for their own working children, individuals struggling to keep their businesses afloat in a recession, and civic leaders with responsibilities to other organization (i.e. a retired Marine who dedicates time to preparing returnees from active duty for placement in the civilian workforce), to name a few of the obligations comprising our daily lives.
It is time for those who benefit from NOPE's emails and this blog to step up to the plate and take responsibility, and an outright embarrassment when we deliver top elected officials to these venues and few people show.
If you want to really protect your community, move away from the TV, stop procrastinating, and get out to support NOPE's events or those endorsed by your elected officials, or in our case call your elected federal officials (Reps. Smith and Holt, Senators Lautenberg and Menendez and Governor Corzine) to reinforce your objections to proposed civilian housing at Earle. Their phone numbers are available on the main NOPE website, or on the politicians' websites.
Otherwise, stay tuned here for daily updates and for details of an upcoming rally planned for Columbus Day. Keep the date clear on your calendars...no excuses...
Regards,
Bill Holobowski, Chairman
billholobowski@verizon.net
Monday, August 3, 2009
EPA Requests Info on Navy "Purpose and Need" for Civilian Housing
This is something we will discuss tonight at our meeting at Tinton Falls Borough Hall, starting at 730 p.m., but we wanted to share this in advance.
NOPE has long argued that the No Action (or "No Build") alternative is by far the most logical, particularly in terms of the environment, since no road construction and no civilian tenants means no detrimental impact on the environment. The option to build a road and house civilian tenants on the base from 2010-2040 has wide-reaching impacts, not only on the core "environment," but also on Earle's mission capabilities and on the surrounding communities. We will keep you posted on further correspondence with the EPA.
Fulton Wilcox, NOPE's business case analyst, a few weeks ago drafted a letter to the EPA's Region 2 director, encouraging the agency to withdraw or amend its comments on the Navy's supposed need to go thru with civilian housing at NWS Earle, and much to our satisfaction it appears the EPA is taking this suggestion very seriously (EPA response letter attached).
NOPE argues that the Navy's "Laurelwood EIS" proves misleading on the "No Action Alternative," which was erroneously written off by investigators as part of the process of determining whether the Navy should pick one of four unimpeded civilian access routes thru the Earle base to the Laurelwood homes, or option five - the No Action Alternative - which basically means the base would run as is and the Navy would not go through with the outlease of the 52-year housing contract with Laurelwood Inc. (i.e. void or buy out the contract).
NOPE has long argued that the No Action (or "No Build") alternative is by far the most logical, particularly in terms of the environment, since no road construction and no civilian tenants means no detrimental impact on the environment. The option to build a road and house civilian tenants on the base from 2010-2040 has wide-reaching impacts, not only on the core "environment," but also on Earle's mission capabilities and on the surrounding communities. We will keep you posted on further correspondence with the EPA.
Friday, July 31, 2009
NOPE Informational Session: Monday, Aug. 3 @ 730 p.m. in Tinton Falls
NOPE will conduct the second of two "informational sessions" for the community this coming Monday night, August 3, at the Tinton Falls Borough Hall, beginning at 73o p.m. Much like our successful first session in Colts Neck two weeks ago, we plan to address our organization's recent and upcoming efforts to prevent civilian housing at Earle. Please spread the word to your friends within and outside our core Tinton Falls-Colts Neck communities. All are welcome to attend.
On that note, we head into the weekend with key thoughts from Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano, who along with leading counterterrorism officials in this piece from HS Today, a leading publication on homeland security, stresses the importance for regular U.S. citizens such as ourselves to be more vigilant in guarding against domestic terror threats.
Surely, NOPE's recognition of the threat of unimpeded civilian access to a critical military weapons facility is a good start, and above the call of pointing out suspicious packages and the like that, some may argue, are more-obvious and perhaps less "far fetched" than the potential for a terror attack on a guarded Naval facility such as Earle. To the contrary, Ms. Napolitano commended the efforts of a mere store clerk in preventing plans of an attack on New Jersey's own Fort Dix.
People such as ourselves need to speak up and be part of a constructive process. Be a part of our process this Monday night!
On that note, we head into the weekend with key thoughts from Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano, who along with leading counterterrorism officials in this piece from HS Today, a leading publication on homeland security, stresses the importance for regular U.S. citizens such as ourselves to be more vigilant in guarding against domestic terror threats.
Surely, NOPE's recognition of the threat of unimpeded civilian access to a critical military weapons facility is a good start, and above the call of pointing out suspicious packages and the like that, some may argue, are more-obvious and perhaps less "far fetched" than the potential for a terror attack on a guarded Naval facility such as Earle. To the contrary, Ms. Napolitano commended the efforts of a mere store clerk in preventing plans of an attack on New Jersey's own Fort Dix.
People such as ourselves need to speak up and be part of a constructive process. Be a part of our process this Monday night!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Former Homeland Security Chief Chertoff Weighs in on Domestic Terrorism
Michael Chertoff, former head of U.S. Homeland Security, weighs in on "how to reinvigorate the war on terrorism here at home" in this N.Y. Daily News opinion piece.
Chertoff warns how complacency (i.e. U.S. citizens and politicians in denial of the potential for another 9/11-style terror attack) will breed "weakness and danger," and at the same time cautions that we should not lose our focus on the war on terror, particularly in the New York area, where a Long Island resident (Bryant Neal Vinas) was recruited by Al Qaeda and confessed to aiding a plot of a commuter train attack.
A good start in the case of NOPE's opposition to proposed civilian housing at Weapons Station Earle would be for the Navy to retract its decision to go through with an ultimately poor decision to move forward with, rather than void or buy out, an 80s-era privatized housing contract that, in our view, only has the potential to expose the base as a ripe target for terrorism. Allowing anyone unfettered access to a key military weapons depot is a recipe for disaster.
Chertoff warns how complacency (i.e. U.S. citizens and politicians in denial of the potential for another 9/11-style terror attack) will breed "weakness and danger," and at the same time cautions that we should not lose our focus on the war on terror, particularly in the New York area, where a Long Island resident (Bryant Neal Vinas) was recruited by Al Qaeda and confessed to aiding a plot of a commuter train attack.
A good start in the case of NOPE's opposition to proposed civilian housing at Weapons Station Earle would be for the Navy to retract its decision to go through with an ultimately poor decision to move forward with, rather than void or buy out, an 80s-era privatized housing contract that, in our view, only has the potential to expose the base as a ripe target for terrorism. Allowing anyone unfettered access to a key military weapons depot is a recipe for disaster.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
AP: Authorities Arrest 7 in North Carolina for "Violent Jihad" Terror Plot; an 8th Suspect at Large
Here's yet another example of why the U.S. Navy's plan to let civilians traipse unimpededly along a proposed 2-mile stretch of road thru the NWS Earle and to Laurelwood housing (come September 2010) is utterly moronic. The thought that our Navy's leaders are seemingly eager to go thru with a plan to open the houses to anyone, solely for the sake of its flawed argument of fulfilling an outdated privatized housing contract, is a headscratcher in light of today's news.
The prime suspect named in this particular case of homegrown terror plots, 39-year-old Daniel Patrick Boyd, is cited by the AP as a drywall contractor "who lived in an unassuming lakeside home in a rural area south of Raleigh, where he and his family walked their dog." Nice.
Please follow along with this latest case and let your legislators know that NOPE will never stand for civilian housing at NWS Earle and that the U.S. Navy should immediately exercise its contractual right to void the Laurelwood housing pact or buy it out before exposing itself and the surrounding communities to an obvious threat.
The prime suspect named in this particular case of homegrown terror plots, 39-year-old Daniel Patrick Boyd, is cited by the AP as a drywall contractor "who lived in an unassuming lakeside home in a rural area south of Raleigh, where he and his family walked their dog." Nice.
Please follow along with this latest case and let your legislators know that NOPE will never stand for civilian housing at NWS Earle and that the U.S. Navy should immediately exercise its contractual right to void the Laurelwood housing pact or buy it out before exposing itself and the surrounding communities to an obvious threat.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Reiterative support of NOPE
Catching up on events of the past week, lost in the shuffle a bit was correpondence from District 12 Representative Rush Holt, who reiterated his support of our communities' efforts in the battle vs. civilian housing at Earle. Depending on how a busy week in Washington shakes out, we hope to have Mr. Holt at next Monday's informational session in Tinton Falls. We invite all to attend this second (of two) sessions we are hosting to keep the community abreast of new developments in our case and what you can do to help. (We had unexpected last-minute visits and updates from representatives of Senator Menendez and Congressman Smith, so who knows who will appear at our informational session next week.)
Again, be sure to visit next Monday night, August 3, at Tinton Falls Borough Hall, in the main room, with NOPE's presentation beginning at 730 p.m. Using our Colts Neck gathering as our guide, we expect the evening to last 90 minutes, between a short update and presentation, followed by community Q&A and follow-up discussion.
Again, be sure to visit next Monday night, August 3, at Tinton Falls Borough Hall, in the main room, with NOPE's presentation beginning at 730 p.m. Using our Colts Neck gathering as our guide, we expect the evening to last 90 minutes, between a short update and presentation, followed by community Q&A and follow-up discussion.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Computer Weekly: Hacking dossier exposes US military embarrassment
This latest piece on the Gary McKinnon case, written about extensively here a few days ago, from Computer Weekly (particularly the 40-plus page attachment to the story) portrays glaring vulnerabilities about federal computer networks here in the U.S. This case differs in scope (i.e. cyber) vs. physical terrorism, but nonetheless targeted our military bases and should not be overlooked as part of NOPE's argument against proposed civilian housing at Earle. The aggressive U.S. pursuit of McKinnon's extradition only legitimizes our argument.
Interestingly, Christopher Christie's name is all over the earlier legal documents in that case as a prosecutor; NOPE wonders where Mr. Christie would stand as governor on the Earle issue, and will press his office for an answer. We encourage NOPE's supporters to also reach out to his campaign officials, asking where he stands in relation to Jon Corzine, who sent an advisor to meet with our group in late 2008 but has shown little interest in engaging in the issue.
Interestingly, Christopher Christie's name is all over the earlier legal documents in that case as a prosecutor; NOPE wonders where Mr. Christie would stand as governor on the Earle issue, and will press his office for an answer. We encourage NOPE's supporters to also reach out to his campaign officials, asking where he stands in relation to Jon Corzine, who sent an advisor to meet with our group in late 2008 but has shown little interest in engaging in the issue.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
NOPE challenges U.S. EPA. Supporters, now it is YOUR turn...
Last week, NOPE sent a certified letter to U.S. EPA Region 2 "Strategic Planning" chief John Filippelli (and cc:d to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson) requesting that the EPA withdraw or amend its response to the Laurelwood Housing EIS (Environmental Impact Statement), and encourages its supporters to contact Mr. Filippelli or Ms. Jackson regarding this matter.
This request stems from our view that the Navy mislead commenters by its unfounded insistence that, to quote the Draft EIS, “The Navy would be in breach of the lease agreement if unimpeded access is not provided at the termination of the in-lease period.” (For those new to the case, the "in-lease" is expected to end next September, at which point the 30-year "out-lease" kicks in, allowing the developer to rent the homes to civilians thru 2040.)
The Navy’s mistaken assertion that it would be in “breach” was inimical to the D-EIS review, since commenters relied on that assertion to dismiss as infeasible all “No Action” options (i.e. to not provide unimpeded access to the homes). After obtaining full-text copies of the Laurelwood lease, and in particular Supplemental Agreement 43, however, we were surprised to learn that there is no “breach” if the Navy does not provide “unfettered access.” Supplemental Lease Agreement 43 states:
Given that it had no such contractual “obligation,” but merely an elective option, the Navy misconstrued its purpose as well as failing to consider its range of feasible actions. Accordingly, we ask the EPA to withdraw its statement and go back to the drawing board for a proper assessment of the situation. The "No Action Alternative" is the only one of the five Navy plans for Laurelwood access that would have zero impact on the environment, its mission and the surrounding Earle communities.
Here is the contact information for Mr. Filippelli (212.637.3754 or filippelli.john@epa.gov) and Ms. Jackson (202.564.4700 or jackson.lisa@epa.gov), as provided by the U.S. EPA's employee directory search. Please express your concerns about the validity of the Laurelwood EIS and how the EPA responded.
This request stems from our view that the Navy mislead commenters by its unfounded insistence that, to quote the Draft EIS, “The Navy would be in breach of the lease agreement if unimpeded access is not provided at the termination of the in-lease period.” (For those new to the case, the "in-lease" is expected to end next September, at which point the 30-year "out-lease" kicks in, allowing the developer to rent the homes to civilians thru 2040.)
The Navy’s mistaken assertion that it would be in “breach” was inimical to the D-EIS review, since commenters relied on that assertion to dismiss as infeasible all “No Action” options (i.e. to not provide unimpeded access to the homes). After obtaining full-text copies of the Laurelwood lease, and in particular Supplemental Agreement 43, however, we were surprised to learn that there is no “breach” if the Navy does not provide “unfettered access.” Supplemental Lease Agreement 43 states:
"Should the Government fail to provide unimpeded access at the terminationNote that the word “fail” does not reflect an obligation on the Navy’s part to provide “unfettered access.” Under Supplemental Agreement 43, the Navy is at complete liberty either to provide “unimpeded access” or to let the contract proceed to its default outcome of buyout. Buyout makes the need for “unimpeded access” moot, because the Navy as owner of the Laurelwood leasehold improvements would have many options as to how to use or to remove those leasehold improvements, without building a new road.
of the Inlease, the Government shall terminate the Lease and compensate the
Lessee in an amount equal to the Lessee's right to use or occupy [through to
scheduled teardown in 2040]."
Given that it had no such contractual “obligation,” but merely an elective option, the Navy misconstrued its purpose as well as failing to consider its range of feasible actions. Accordingly, we ask the EPA to withdraw its statement and go back to the drawing board for a proper assessment of the situation. The "No Action Alternative" is the only one of the five Navy plans for Laurelwood access that would have zero impact on the environment, its mission and the surrounding Earle communities.
Here is the contact information for Mr. Filippelli (212.637.3754 or filippelli.john@epa.gov) and Ms. Jackson (202.564.4700 or jackson.lisa@epa.gov), as provided by the U.S. EPA's employee directory search. Please express your concerns about the validity of the Laurelwood EIS and how the EPA responded.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
More good news from Menendez and Lautenberg
For those unable to attend the first of NOPE's two summer information sessions (our next one is at Tinton Falls Borough Hall on Monday, August 3 @ 73op), we were pleased to have Jeff Sagnip from Congressman Smith's office and Kellie Drakeford from Senator Menendez's office stop by to address the latest initiatives on Capitol Hill in their fight against the U.S. Navy's Laurelwood housing plan. We otherwise received written correspondence from Representative Holt's office, expressing his continued efforts in support of our battle against civilian housing plans for Weapons Station Earle.
Senator Menendez filed an amendment, co-sponsored by Senator Lautenberg, to the Senate Defense Authorization bill requesting a GAO study for Earle, using similar language crafted by Congressman Smith and included in the House passage of the F2010 (starting October 2009)Defense Authorization Bill. This development, in our opinion, would suggest that the measure has a decent chance of passage, particularly considering the unified, bipartisan support vis-a-vis the requests of the respected Messrs. Smith, Menendez and Lautenberg, and suggests the GAO study will a) fill the obvious void left by the Laurelwood EIS and its lack of fundamental financial analysis, b) erect another barrier for the Navy's intended conversion of the Laurelwood homes for civilian access and c) validate the common sense argument of a contract buyout or outright revocation by the U.S. Navy, within the Navy's contractual rights.
NOPE continues to thank our elected officials for coming thru in defense of our local communities, and in the interests of local security and national defense, and encourages our local constituents to keep making phone calls to their elected officials, expressing their opposition to the Laurelwood housing plan. Also plan to attend our Community Briefing on Sept. 24 and anticipated NOPE rally on October 12 (Columbus Day, site and time TBA).
Otherwise, we will keep you posted of any media developments pertaining to our story. A reporter from the Newark Star-Ledger was kind enough to visit our meeting and spent a lot of time with us afterward discussing our case.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Monday night's NOPE meeting, 730p @ CN library
NOPE again welcomes all comers to Monday night's gathering, where we will give an informal update of what is going on with the Earle issue from the perspectives of Washington D.C., New Jersey and locally. We plan to conduct our regular business and open the floor for discussion thereafter. Please join us for this informative meeting.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
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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Thursday, July 16, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, July 13, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
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.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
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
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
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