COMMUNITY MAGAZINE May 2008

32 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE 2004, two of these towns, Long Branch and Ocean Township, intro- duced ordinances to limit the ability of homeowners to rent their property to groups other than families, including college students, frat houses, religious groups, and more, in residential neighbor- hoods. Both municipalities limited the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for rentals to one per year, which effectively forced some landlords to choose between renting to students for the winter season or to community members for the summer season. Additionally, the Long Branch City Council resolved to increase maximum penalties levied in municipal court for unruly college renters from $1,000 to $1,250, which is the highest allowed by law for all ordinances. According to officials at Monmouth, the University recognizes that the problem is primarily the responsibility of its students who reside off-campus. To help address the situation, the University described “a joint initiative” with the town of Long Branch wherein the addresses of all stu- dents living off campus are shared with the head of the Long Branch Building and Development Department, who then alerts the University when they have a certificate of occupancy for each house. This procedure is supposed to establish a minimum standard for homes rented to students. Additionally, a University police officer is supposed to periodically drive through neighborhoods where stu- dents are renting off-campus houses. Yet according to many year round residents, neither of these measures have provided any sort of quantifiable relief. Although the University is also trying to get more students into campus sponsored areas where more surveillance is possible, such as Pier Village, the scope of these initia- tives would only reduce the number of off-campus renters by a few percent. To get the township councils and University officials to place greater sig- nificance on the issue, David recommends reporting every incident with unruly students – even minor ones – to both the police, the university and if possible, the students’ parents so that the severity of the problem is better understood by those parties. He points out that such a policy is also for the students own protection as evidenced from the incidents where stu- dents end up injuring themselves because of lack of supervision. “Ultimately, we want to get the University to realize that they need to make a substantial move to expand their on-campus housing to ac- commodate student growth and we want the authorities to get the message out that there is zero tolerance for shenanigans.” Additionally, David advises his sum- mer only neighbors who need the winter rental income to request only professors or graduate students, who tend to be much better neighbors, when listing their properties for rent. “At the very least, if you have no choice but to rent to students make sure to speak with the previous landlord of every single per- son who will be in the house and do a standard background check,” he says. While this requirement would eliminate first year students as potential renters, David points out that uninitiated freshmen are often the biggest headaches as tenants anyway. “The town and the University have both taken small but posi- tive steps to address the problem,” contends David, who has seen his neighborhood in Elberon “taken over” by college renters since he first moved there nine years ago. “Now we need to firmly, but politely, keep the pressure on to make sure that progress continues until we can live in peace again.” CM Under the Supervision of Rav Amrum Roth of Khal Haichel Moshe of Boro Park  The uptown ambiance right around the corner  Lunch Or Dinner  Eat In Or Take Out  We Deliver  Call Or Order Online  www.ChinaGlatt.com Y o u ’ r e i n l u c k ! Known for Raising The Bar In Sushi Selection & Taste  Delicious Oriental Dishes  Quiet, Elegant Atmosphere  Plenty of Parking... Choose Your Spot! Thursday Night Escape! 4413 13th ave. 718-438-2576