When you can’t come up with meaningful legislation of your own, you can always steal someone else’s. That appears to be the preference of State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-D-26), who is stealing an idea proposed by BettyLou DeCroce in February and passing it off as his own.

Recognizing that the state’s onerous affordable housing mandates are destroying many small, suburban towns, DeCroce, a candidate for the State Assembly in District 26, promised in a February letter to residents of Florham Park, Hanover, and East Hanover that she will fight to give small towns more tools to fight the over-development brought on by state affordable housing rules.

DeCroce, a former assemblywoman, wrote to residents that she would seek to restore Regional Housing Agreements (RCAs) that allowed municipalities to transfer up to half of their affordable housing obligations to a neighboring town that had the infrastructure and services that high density development  require.

DeCroce says she was shocked to see that Sen. Pennacchio has stolen her RCA idea.

“It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in politics it’s a sign of laziness and deception,” says DeCroce. “At the very least, Sen. Pennacchio should give me credit for giving him the idea that he is now passing off as his own.”

As proof that Pennacchio’s proposed legislation is a purely about politics, a search of the state legislature’s website finds NO copy of the bill and the bill has NO co-sponsors. “Any voter who wanted to read the bill can’t, because it doesn’t exist,” said DeCroce.

She added that Pennacchio is reportedly unavailable for comment because he is in his second home in Florida .

DeCroce said she will not be surprised to see Pennacchio’s running mate, Assemblyman Brian Bergen, issues a press release soon mimicking Pennacchio’s proposed RCA  legislation. “For some candidates this year, plagiarism is in fashion. And, as we have seen, Brian Bergen is having a hard time coming up with ideas of his own.”

Read the letter that DeCroce sent to residents of Florham Park, Hanover, and East Hanover in February 2023:

Dear fellow Republicans,

I am writing to introduce myself to Republicans living in Hanover, East Hanover, and Florham Park, which are now part of the New Jersey’s 26th Legislative District.

I represented LD 26 as an Assemblywoman for nine years and I am seeking to return to the statehouse. I am pursuing the endorsement of the Morris County Republican Committee at the MCRC Convention on March 4. I hope to see you there and I hope you will support me.

While in the Assembly I fought for the rights of crime victims; for fair funding for suburban school districts, which would help lower property taxes; against the sexual harassment of women; and for increased benefits for wounded veterans, among many other things. I am committed to supporting law enforcement and neighborhood safety.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Of particular interest to your area is the state’s onerous affordable housing requirements, which are being pushed by Democrats and the ultra-liberal group called Fair Share Housing (FSH).  

The state’s affordable housing mandates are putting a tremendous burden on suburban communities and taxpayers, and not making housing any more affordable. The state’s affordable housing mandates have resulted in overdevelopment in suburban areas that lack the infrastructure to support it. Over development creates traffic congestion, noise pollution, and a lesser quality of life. 

High density, affordable housing does not make homes cheaper; it makes affording a home more expensive because it raises property taxes to pay for increased school enrollment and the added costs for essential services.

I supported the Regional Housing Agreements (RCAs) that allowed municipalities to transfer up to half of their affordable housing obligations to a neighboring town that had the infrastructure and services that high density development require. New Jersey‘s liberal judges did away with RCAs at the insistence of liberal groups who claim their goal is not just affordable housing but municipal “diversity.” If elected, I will develop legally sustainable legislation to again allow for the use of RCAs by communities that wish to do so.

The next round of affordable housing mandates begins in 2025. I can promise you that as your Assemblywoman, I will do all I can to fight the state mandates and to preserve the character of your community. I believe derailing the liberal housing agenda is something that the state GOP and ALL Republicans in the Legislature must commit to. We need “effective conservatism” in Trenton, not empty rhetoric.

I hope you will support me at the Morris County Republican Committee Convention on March 4.  Please take a moment to visit my website at https://decroceforassembly.com.

If you have any questions, please email at decroceb@gmail.com.

Thank you,

BettyLou DeCroce