Elenor Hannum, the founder of CUPON, an organization that seemingly devotes itself almost exclusively to hampering Orthodox Jewish life in Jackson Township, recently blasted officials on a long list of grievances, primarily targeting zoning, code enforcement, and even the police department. All of her issues with them were related to Orthodox Jews (shocking, right?).
In the Township Council meeting following Hannum’s public tantrum, the heads of each department were invited to speak and address her complaints, which they did.
But why are Jackson Township officials even bothering with dealing with Hannum? Everyone knows her agenda. Why would Jackson officials pay any attention to a woman who leads an organization named in every lawsuit facing the township, including those filed by the federal Justice Department and New Jersey’s Attorney General? Why are Jackson officials giving legitimacy to the leader of this demented organization?
Of course, Hannum denies that CUPON is anti-Semitic or targets Jews in any way. At the Council meeting, she said that her group was created “when residents began to see developers carving up the township, and concerned for the landscape, traffic, resources, environment-sensitive lands, and potential changes to our master plan.” But, like much else that Hannum utters, her statement is balderdash.
In an audio recording from one of CUPON’s meetings obtained by TLS, it becomes very clear what the mission of the organization is. Discussing the proposed Jackson Trails and Jackson Parke development projects, attendees at the CUPON meeting are heard saying how, if the development and others are approved, it would give Orthodox Jews a voting bloc that would undermine CUPON’s vision for Jackson. They are heard discussing how Orthodox Jews will get their chosen officials elected to important positions within the township to further their goals. The audio can be listened to below.
If CUPON isn’t targeting Jews, why on Earth were they talking so much about Jews at the CUPON meeting? It’s not a mystery; it’s because CUPON does target Orthodox Jews, as stated in every lawsuit Jackson is now facing.
So why do Jackson Township officials deal with this woman? Her interests are not aligned with those of Jackson Township, they are only in the interests of keeping Orthodox Jews out of the township. Let her scream and yell and act out, but just ignore her. Officials attaching themselves to this individual and acting scared of her, like they have to answer to her, isn’t doing them or anybody else any favors.
They might be talking about Jews without being antisemitic. There’s definitely some legitimacy to what’s been said. Yidden want to keep buying there and do plan on building Shuls and Yeshivos. In effect, we want to take over the town yet don’t understand why they’re not excited about it. They might not be tzadikim however, how would you react if hundreds of Hindu’s started buying along 14th street?
It is a reality that Orthodox Jews moving in will result in increased density and crowding. There is nothing anti-Jewish about saying that, look at all the Orthodox Jews in Lakewood complaining about the insane amount of density, traffic, and crowding that have been brought about by “developers” (of exclusively Jewish developments).
There are no shortage of outright anti-semites out there and we should have absolutely no sympathy for them. But the concern of overcrowding spilling from Lakewood which is an exclusively Orthodox Jewish issue, doesn’t have to be anti-Semitic or an unreasonable complaint
So make rules that prevent overcrowding. Allow Shuls and not cul-de-sacs. Do not allow variances unless there is truly extenuating circumstances.
There is no reason to fight the Orthodox Jews, and they will end up losing out even more.
Dear Jackson Resident,
Why is the Jackson School Bus District is making Jackson Resident who are going to Lakewood School are Jewish hard life?? However, you served Jackson Public School in Brick, Lakewood, Tom River, Freehold and I still don’t understand what is the different?? This isn’t way we should treat hard working Parents who pay Jackson Townships Taxes. This is very unfair and Jackson Township Government should not refuse service for Children to goto school on School Bus. Jackson Township Transportation should be fair and equal to everyone. No matter what race or religious . You must be fair !!
What I have to say may be unpopular. You don’t have to be anti-Semitic to feel threatened by Orthodox Jews securing enough voting power to take control of your home town. This is not to say that there aren’t anti-Semites in CUPON and similar organizations. But taking one look at the disaster created by over development in Lakewood, who would want that coming to their otherwise rural, bucolic town? I love the people of Lakewood, but I hate what a relatively small group of people have done by mindlessly pursuing maximum density housing, ignoring impacts on traffic, infrastructure and quality of life.
I live in Toms River now in a beautiful area (bli eyin hara). As a frum Jew, I can tell you I will be fighting any attempt to change the lovely character of the town and our neighborhoods. That doesn’t make me an anti-Semite. Instead of going to the knee-jerk reaction that anyone who doesn’t want their town ruined is an anti-Semite, a little more mature and rational consideration is required. Give fair consideration to how another human being sees the world.
As a goy (not Jewish), the people of Jackson do not or will not know Orthodox Jews. Read the last book of the Bible Deuteronomy and maybe, just maybe Jackson will open their township to the Jews of Lakewood or anywhere else.
I’ve known many Orthodox Jews for years—worked with them, went to Bar Mitzvahs, vorts, weddings, social gatherings and would more than welcome them into my neighborhood.
I urge all Jackson citizens to treat Jews as human beings. They are kind, hard working and very much devoted to the Almighty’s laws as written in the T_rah & Talmud.
All the best,
Gerry Mullen
Riverside, N.J.
Neighborhoods change all the time. It just so happens that Jackson finds itself in a part of the state that is booming. Their way of life will gradually change. More traffic, more kids, larger families etc… They cannot legally place impediments in front of people who want to lawfully live their lives in the hope of preserving the status quo. Regardless if the motives are anti-semitic or not. Change is part of life. This past pandemic caused the greatest demographic shift since WW2. Florida is over flowing with new residents while whole blocks emptied out in Manhattan. Change is slowly coming to Jackson. Love it or leave it. (They should not be complaining about the prices they are getting for the houses these days.)
As someone who grew up in Lakewood before the explosion of development that more or less started in the 1990’s, I can tell you that the pace of change will not be gradual if Jackson follows the same path. I saw a town that was little more than a quaint village go to a crowded city in just 3 decades. That is the blink of an eye in the life of a town.
People who don’t want to see that happen have every bit as much right to use all legal means to oppose it as those who are promoting it. Don’t automatically assume you are on the side of the angels just because you are backing the growth of Orthodox Jewish population: you are also helping very greedy developers and politicians amass wealth and power.
I am a resident of Jackson who is not Jewish but sends to Christian schools. My kids don’t get bussing either, although we do get reimbursed for lack of bussing.
All of my orthodox neighbors are lovely. I love hearing all the children play outside. The moms invite my youngest to play.
There are definitely antisemites in this town, no question about that. Most people are simply afraid of Jackson becoming over populated and overly dense. The same reason so many moved here from Lakewood.
Unfortunately like any community, there is a percentage who are out for themselves and that is that. It runs through every culture, religion and profession. When people don’t bother to get to know each other, assumptions and fears take over.
I pray we all learn to live together peacefully and work through the issues and compromise.
Labeling any opinions you don’t like as hateful, anti-semitic, racist, or “demented” is unbecoming of us.
Her concerns are valid from the standpoint of trying to preserve the Jackson she knows. Whether that’s important or not is a different discussion. Orthodox jews do represent concerns for the “landscape, traffic, resources, environment-sensitive lands, and potential changes to our master plan.” Orthodox jews are the specific group that are effecting a change in the town. Identifying them isn’t hate speech.
We may feel we are justified in moving to the neighborhood and making changes to better suit our way of life, but it’s disingenuous to pretend that any opposition is purely anti-semitism.
A Frum Resident of Jackson
PS: I personally chose to move to Jackson because it offered a more suburban lifestyle than Lakewood proper. While I want shuls, yeshivos, and more housing, I also don’t want it to turn into a crowded and congested urban center. There are valid concerns on both sides of the aisle.