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Residents press Belmar council on steep rent hikes, housing authority conditions and neighborhood safety
Summary
During public comment, residents described steep rent increases and poor conditions at a local housing authority property, urged council intervention, and raised traffic‑safety and overdue tree‑trimming concerns that council staff said could be addressed by code enforcement or the homeowners association.
Several residents used the public‑comment period to press the Belmar Borough Council on rent, housing conditions and local safety issues. Anita Umida described successive rent increases she said totaled $8,400 over three years and asked the council to consider ordinances or other measures to slow rent hikes and protect tenants. She also criticized conditions at a local housing‑authority building, saying units had leaks and inadequate heat.
"My rent was raised $200 this year... last year it went up $100... the year before that it went up $400... in total that's $8,400 in the last 3 years," Anita Umida said. She told the council that tenants lack protections and urged action on behalf of residents.
Council members and staff responded that certain matters (for example, maintenance at a privately administered housing authority property or a homeowners association) fall to the property owner or association, but said borough code officials can inspect and enforce code violations. On a separate safety request, residents asked about adding or relocating stop signs at 13th Avenue and K Street and at 14th and 8th; council and staff said they would review sightlines and traffic control options.
Other public commenters raised tree‑trimming concerns where overgrown trees from a townhouse development were encroaching on wires; borough staff said the homeowners association was responsible and that the Shade Tree Commission and code officials had contact information to follow up.
The council did not adopt tenant‑protections at this meeting. Officials said they would refer some neighborhood safety and code issues to appropriate departments and follow up with residents.
