Dan Cirucci: Pannacchio: Bring Back Regional 'Fair Share' Nods

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Pannacchio: Bring Back Regional 'Fair Share' Nods

New Jersey State Senator Joe Pennacchio has introduced legislation that would help towns meet a significant portion of their affordable housing obligations through regional contribution agreements (RCAs).

Sen. Joe Pennacchio has introduced legislation that would help towns meet a significant portion of their affordable housing obligations through regional contribution agreements. (Pixabay)

“Towns across New Jersey are having a really difficult time trying to find space for the massive numbers of new affordable housing units they’ve been mandated to build,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “In many cases, towns are being forced to destroy what little remaining open space they have and are building at much higher densities than their communities can support. To help relieve this burden, we’re proposing legislation that would allow towns to use RCAs once again to support the construction of affordable housing in the places that can best support it.”

Pennacchio’s legislation, S-3803, would amend the Fair Housing Act to reauthorize the use of regional contribution agreements by municipalities to meet affordable housing needs. The bill also establishes a role in the approval process for the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Commissioner of Community Affairs, and the Attorney General.

Since 2008, municipalities have been prohibited from using RCAs to address fair share housing obligations.

This measure would allow a municipality to propose transferring up to 50% of its fair share housing obligation to another municipality within its housing region through an RCA. This matches the portion of a fair share housing obligation that had been transferrable prior to 2008.

“It’s been a struggle to comply with affordable housing quotas that don’t seem to reflect what’s really possible to build in our town,” said Florham Park Mayor Mark Taylor. “As things stand, the unique nature of Florham Park is at risk of being changed forever as a result of the development we’re being forced to build. Senator Pennacchio’s legislation would be a big step in the right direction for municipalities like ours that are desperate for relief.”

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About Dan Cirucci

He's been cited by the late Rush Limbaugh, quoted in the New York Times, featured at Real Clear Politics and Lucianne.com and interviewed across all media.

He's Dan Cirucci, the founder and editor-in chief of the Dan Cirucci Blog, a Save Jersey blog columnist, frequent guest on the Matt Rooney radio show and one of the most widely honored public relations professionals in his field. He's also been a public relations consultant to numerous organizations and individuals and hosted The Advocates on RVN-TV.

Inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame, for many years he served as a Lecturer in Corporate Communication at Penn State University. A former President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) he has lectured at Rowan University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey and Arcadia University. He has conducted workshops on public relations for thousands of participants throughout the nation and has taught countless others the art of public speaking. He has also advised numerous lawyers, judges, public officials and political candidates.

Cirucci is a prolific writer and his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post, Broad and Liberty and other print and online platforms.

A native of Camden NJ, Cirucci is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Cirucci served as Associate Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association for nearly 30 years. He served as Chair of Penn State University's Professional Advisory Board for the Corporate Communication major at Penn State Abington and on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Selection Commission.

He received his MA degree from Rowan University and his BA from Villanova University. He has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rowan's public relations program and received the E. A. "Wally" Richter Leadership Award, the highest honor from the National Association of Bar Executives' Communications Section. He has also been honored by numerous other local, state and national groups.

In his hometown of Camden, Cirucci taught fifth grade at the Ulysses Wiggins Elementary School named for the founder of the Camden NAACP. There he was one of the first teachers in the country to teach African-American history to inner city students. He later served as editor of a local weekly newspaper, as Assistant to the Township Manager of Cherry Hill Township and as Associate Director of Communications at the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Cirucci's passions include all things Italian, politics, the popular culture, books and authors, art, communication, music, theatre, movies, dining and travel.

He and his wife Carole have two grown children and seven grandchildren.

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