Jackson residents were stunned to learn of a last-minute resolution placed on the Jackson Council’s agenda for tonight, which could divert a limitless pool of taxpayer money from essential services to a tiring, fruitless battle against the rights of the local Orthodox community.

BREAKING – SOURCES: Jackson Twp. reportedly seeking to hire RLUIPA attorney in apparent attempt to fight Orthodox community’s development. Developing.

— The Lakewood Scoop (@LakewoodScoop) February 22, 2019

The resolution seeks to hire Marci Hamilton, Esq., in relation to the Township’s legal efforts related to religious land use, i.e. Jackson’s unconstitutional ordinances to prevent Eruvs, Shuls and Jewish schools. Under the proposal, Hamilton will be paid a whopping $800 an hour for her services and the contract is “open ended with no maximum amount readily determinable at this time.”

America’s cherished religious freedoms, particularly the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), prevent municipalities from discriminating against religious residents and their right to build an infrastructure for their religious needs. Time and time again, municipalities across the nation have seen their bigoted efforts thwarted by the courts as a result of RLUIPA. These court rulings have not only meant that the municipalities squandered community goodwill and taxpayer funded legal fees for a losing battle, but oftentimes they cost local taxpayers millions in settlement costs as well.

Just last month in Clifton, NJ, $2.5 million in taxpayer money was granted to Congregation Shomrei Torah as a result of a court ruling that their RLUIPA rights were violated. Similarly, just over a year ago, taxpayers in the tiny village of Pomona, NY, had to expend as much as $5.5 million in legal fees and settlement costs in its losing legal battle against Congregation Tartikov. Property taxes in Pomona saw steep, double digit percentage hikes each year as a result.

While Marci Hamilton is billed as a high profile attorney in this field – and bills taxpayers as such – she has an abysmal track record in defending ordinances such as those she’d need to defend in Jackson. She served as the municipality’s attorney in the Pomona battle, as well as in Mahwah, NJ’s effort to ban Eruvs and Orthodox visitors to parks, which were resoundingly defeated. In contrast, the Jackson Orthodox community is represented by Roman Storzer, Esq., who has a solid track record of victory and recouping damages in similar cases, including in Pomona and Ocean Township, NJ’s effort to ban Yeshiva Gedola Naos Yaakov.

This aggressive move by Mayor Michael Reina marks a stark departure from the Township’s previous promise to resolve these issues with community activists and attorneys through amiable negotiation and consensus. The about-face follows the recent municipal election – where all major candidates espoused anti-Semitic propaganda – and the installation of Rob Nixon, who a troubling history related to local Jews, as Council President.

Further highlighting this aggressive, battle seeking posture is the fact that this resolution is being pushed with minimal opportunity for input from local taxpayers who will be footing the bill. The proposed contract for Hamilton was also drafted without undergoing the Request for Professional Services bidding process – which is a possible violation of the law and/or accepted protocol.

One Jackson resident notes that the municipality’s finances, as well as those of the local BOE, have been financially struggling in recent years. For instance, basic township services, such as trash recycling, have been slashed and the local police department employs a mere 90 officers, which potentially harms public safety. Yet Reina and Nixon have chosen to waste precious resources for an inflammatory, fruitless legal battle.

“I can attest that Jackson community leaders and all of those assisting them have been working hard through many months of settlement talks to resolve religious land use issues fairly, in a way that preserves Jackson’s quality of life and saves taxpayer money,” says one local activist, who insisted on anonymity due to the sensitivity of the battle. “This move does severe harm to these efforts and Jackson’s future. While we still pine for an amiable solution, we will fiercely defend our constitutional rights through the courts if necessary – to the very end.”