Lakewood Township’s infrastructure is crumbling under the weight of overdevelopment, and the blame doesn’t rest solely on JCP&L. At the heart of the town’s power crisis lies a toxic partnership between greedy developers and corrupt public officials. Together, they’ve turned Lakewood into a money-making machine for themselves while leaving residents to suffer the consequences of failing infrastructure, frequent power outages, and a deteriorating quality of life.
Developers Exploit Lakewood for Profit
Developers have turned Lakewood into a construction free-for-all, throwing up housing complexes, shopping centers, and office buildings at breakneck speed. Their goal is simple: pack as much development as possible into every square inch of the town, rake in profits, and move on, leaving the community to deal with the fallout.
“They don’t care about the town, the people, or the future,” said a frustrated resident. “It’s all about how many units they can build and sell. The rest of us are left to live in the mess they’ve created.”
The developers’ greed has overwhelmed every aspect of Lakewood’s infrastructure. The power grid, designed for a much smaller population, is now stretched to the brink. Roads are jammed, schools are overcrowded, and basic services are failing. The planned power outage on December 31 is just another symptom of the strain these developers have placed on a system they’ve exploited for their own financial gain.
Officials in Developers’ Pockets
Greedy developers couldn’t have achieved this level of destruction without help—and they’ve found willing allies in Lakewood’s public officials. Critics argue that local leaders have sold out their constituents, cultivating financial relationships with developers and prioritizing their interests over those of the community.
“This isn’t just negligence—it’s corruption,” said a local activist. “These politicians aren’t working for the people. They’re working for the developers who’ve kept them close through financial ties and mutual interests.”
Developers and public officials in Lakewood share an uncomfortably close relationship. Whether through personal financial arrangements or backroom deals, this connection ensures that projects are approved without scrutiny, residents’ concerns are ignored, and accountability is non-existent. This unholy alliance has turned Lakewood into a case study in how greed and corruption can devastate a community.
Residents Left to Suffer
While developers and officials enrich themselves, Lakewood’s residents are left to pick up the pieces. Sunday’s massive blackout, followed by the planned outage on December 31, highlights the town’s failing power grid—a grid that was never upgraded to match the scale of development. Meanwhile, traffic snarls, overcrowded schools, and rising property taxes add insult to injury.
“They’ve turned this town into a ticking time bomb,” said a local business owner. “The developers make millions, the politicians stay in power, and we’re the ones who have to live with the mess.”
Breaking the Cycle of Greed and Corruption
Residents are demanding action to break the cycle of greed and corruption that has brought Lakewood to the brink. Many are calling for an immediate moratorium on new development until the town’s infrastructure is stabilized. Others are pushing for investigations into the financial ties between developers and public officials, as well as reforms to prevent further exploitation.
“We need transparency, accountability, and leadership that actually cares about this town,” said a community activist. “Until we hold the developers and their political enablers accountable, nothing will change.”
A Town at a Crossroads
Lakewood is facing a stark choice: continue down the path of unchecked greed and corruption or take a stand to reclaim the community for its residents. As frustration grows over the latest power outages and the larger crisis they represent, many are hoping this moment will spark real change.
“Enough is enough,” said one long-time resident. “The developers and politicians have taken everything they can from this town. It’s time for the people of Lakewood to take it back.”
11 comments:
Very well said!
Time to enact local representation in the form of multiple districts, where elected officials are forced to answer to their community they serve. Currently the corrupt Township Committee get elected by the whole town and there is zero accountability. When there are multiple districts in Lakewood, elected officials that neglect their duty will be removed from office in the following election by their district voters, and won't have the luxury of relying on all Of
the other unaffected Lakewood neighborhood voters to vote them back in to office.
This action is called The Faulkner Act.
Lakewood is the 4th most populated in the state of NJ, and hundreds of towns have enacted Faulkner already and they have local council districts, while having much smaller populations than Lakewood has. Those Towns don't suffer from the corruption of their governing body as Lakewood does. This is the only way to get control and start having our Township start acting responsibly and start serving their constituents.
THE TIME IS NOW!!!!
If Lakewood becomes a City instead of a Township all these issues would stop
PROPERTY TAX WOULD BE CHEAPER BY A LOT
If only lakewood becomes a CITY instead of a TOWNSHIP all these issues would be solved
It's pay to play here...
Maybe stop voting for the same people duh!!!
Same corruption is happening in Jackson Township. Once approved the damage is permanent and will permanently bring down the area forever.
This article is full of nameless quotes and cheap shots.
The reality is that there is a massive demand for housing and businesses.
There is no roadmap for how to build out a city at the growth rate that we are seeing.
The alternative to leaving the development to developers would be to put it in the hands of government which would be way more inefficient and make less sense.
While it's true that Lakewood could become a city, the Township decides that. They will never let it happen because then they lose all their power.
Obviously you are benifiting from the developers, or are a developer.
Insanity to put fuel on the fire by having developers regulate themselves. What a fantasy you have to completely destroy anything left in Lakewood.
Re Faulkner Act comment
Can do this easier by splitting Lakewood Township into separate towns. Each twon can set up it's own zoning and other land use regulations. The "askanim" and other connected people can keep their current practice of unrestricted development in one or two "towns", say downtown.
Can save some by subcontracting municipal services like police, fire, sanitation, public works, etc
This is done all over. NJ NY elsewhere.
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