Lakewood Mayor Demands Apology Over Toms River Mayor's Orthodox 'Invasion' Comment

TOMS RIVER, NJ -- Lakewood Mayor Menashe P. Miller has demanded an apology from Toms River Mayor Thomas P. Kelaher over published comments from the mayor referring to recent real estate issues as "an invasion."

"I was appalled to read yesterday's Bloomberg report regarding the increasing number of Orthodox Jews who have purchased homes in Toms River, or who are considering doing so," Miller wrote in a March 15 letter distributed to media outlets in addition to being sent to Kelaher directly. "You are quoted as follows, verbatim: 'It’s like an invasion. It’s the old throwback to the 1960s, when blockbusting happened in Philadelphia and Chicago with the African-American community -- ‘I want to buy your house. You’ll be sorry if you don’t.’ It scares the hell out of people.' ”

Kelaher's comments appeared in a March 14 Bloomberg article that delved into the recent tensions between Toms River and the Orthodox community in Lakewood that led to Toms River implementing a five-year ban on real estate soliciting in the North Dover section of the township.

"It is funamentally unjust and un-American to compare law abiding U.S. citizens engaging in legal real estate commerce to the hostile entry of a pernicious force," Miller wrote. "To say so, simply due to the fact that the homebuyers are of a different faith and ethnicity than your own, is pure, unadulterated bigotry."

Kelaher has announced a press conference for 4 p.m. Wednesday to address the issue, a township spokesperson said, as the quote and the response of Lakewood officials have gained significant attention. Kelaher told the Asbury Park Press, however, that he was referring to sworn testimony taken during a public hearing on the conflicts between North Dover residents and some real estate solicitors.

Miller, however, wrote that he sees the quote as "part of an unfortunate pattern where you've validated, even stoked, awful stereotypes of your Lakewood neighbors and, by extension, Orthodox Jewish residents of Toms River," citing as an example campaign literature Miller says was sent by Kelaher's campaign that utilized fear tactics to convince Toms River to vote for him.

The tension had been escalating over the last few weeks, in the wake of an incident where an Orthodox man was arrested on trespassing charges just a day after the real estate ban was passed; Toms River police said he was found wandering around inside a home that he was told was available to be bought because it was in foreclosure.

A little over a week later, anti-Semitic graffiti was found scratched into a panel on playground equipment at Riverwood Park, off Whitesville Road in the North Dover section of town. Kelaher denounced the graffiti and Toms River police spokesman Ralph Stocco said the incident was being investigated as a bias crime.

"As good neighbors we need to be ever vigilant and report suspicious activity in neighborhoods, schools and at work," Kelaher said after that incident. "It is up to all of us to make Toms River a welcoming place to live, work and raise a family.”

Last week, there seemed to be some hope that relations between the communities were moving in an amicable direction, with Lakewood Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein praising the sensitivity of first responders in their efforts to respect Orthodox customs in the handling of a New Hampshire Avenue crash that killed a 28-year-old mother but spared her infant daughter.

"The elected officials and community leaders of Lakewood are eager to work together with our Toms River counterparts to ensure that its residents of all stripes can enjoy the quality of life they dream of," Miller wrote. "Orthodox Jewish residents share this dream."

"If there are any individuals within our community who have crossed the lines of accepted real estate commerce, we are willing to work together to prevent such incidents in the future," he said. "However, I would like to clarify in no uncertain terms that we will work together only in the spirit of friendship and partnership. We will not acquiesce to bigotry or intimidation ..."

"It is my hope the you will sincerely apologize for your hurtful comments and turn the page in the relationship between our respective municipalities and communities. All of our residents deserve a brighter future," Miller wrote.

Miller's full letter is included above.