Good work Joe. Keep up the good fight. This clown Maley can not get out of office quickly enough. 25 years of PILOT payments? Who offers such a ludicrous deal? Only our mayor. He has no regard for his tax paying constituents. He has treated this town like his own Monopoly board over the years. What is Collingswood even doing involved in real estate?

People of Collingswood need to wake up before he continues to make bad decisions that impact our town. He is the epitome of the joke, "How do you know a politician is lying? His lips are moving". We may not get a voice on the referendum, but I do get a voice in the next election. Maley has lost my vote this time around.

I agree with Joe DiNella that residents should have an opportunity to vote on this, and I applaud those who took the effort to secure signatures on the petition.
PS What's up with that photo of Joe DiNella, Patch. Is that supposed to be funny? I'm very disappointed.
Mary Anne D

Yes, please replace that photo of Mr. Dinella. I don't have a dog in this fight (although I live in Collingswood), but juxtaposing the friendly photo of the mayor with kids with the gentleman in the yellow tee with half his face cut off is biased journalism at the very least. If you think you'll build Patch circulation this way, you have another think coming.

I really don't understand what about that picture you think is supposed to be biased. It was taken of Mr. Dinella on national night out when he was circulating the request for petition signatures. His head isn't cut off if you click on the image. You're looking at a thumbnail preview. I have nothing to do with the way that displays.

People will always rebel against change and innovation. LOL.

the right of redress is imbedded in and a requisite to a democratic form of government. Opposition to the referendum notion may be reasonable but what then is the appropriate format for disagreement other than elections which are too infrequent to be the only feedback mechanism?

@Porter - I couldn't agree more! I don't know whether I'm more pissed at Maley & Co. for their arrogant attitude and reckless plans, or Dinella & Co. for their ridiculous public image, lack of organization, and failure to muster even the most basic foundation of an opposition. I'm disgusted all around. Collingswood is a small town with many bright and genuine people. To think that Joe & Co. have been unable or unwillings to garner proper support and pro-bono resources to fight injustice....leaves me speechless.

Helen Keller, Scooby Doo, and a randomly chosen child from the Collingswood 5th grade, could organize and lead an opposition better than Dinella & Co. WAKE UP PEOPLE! If you care about Collingswood, and you see the writing on the wall...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Every day that goes by, is just another day that Maley and his cronnies have to find ways to defeat opposition before it even starts. Just another day for Maley to do what attorneys do best: Screw people.

As someone else pointed out, I have no dog in this fight either. I am, as a taxpayer, completely opposed to taking the next phase of the Lumberyard and making it rentals of any kind. Haven't we learned from The Heights of Collingswood that people do not innately take care of things that have no stake nor investment in? Building in Philly is picking up again in the "established" as well as "upcoming" neighborhoods. They are building "market priced" homes that WILL sell. Why can't we go with 12-15 townhomes, 3 BR, 2.5 baths and a garge? How are the current Lumberyard folks who bought at a premium not enraged?! Do they realize that they will very likely never see equity in their purchase? Seriously...rentals? Please don't feed me the Kool-Aid that says, "oh...no..not THOSE kind of rentals!". Sorry but I do not buy it at all.

@ Will I don't think the physical size of the location would allow for 12-15 town homes that would sell at the price points needed to make the project economically viable and 60 additional office workers on Haddon Ave would do a decent amount to support local restaurants and retail....as for apartments...I agree

I am a renter in this town & i do take care of my place & the property that surrounds it. Not all renters are bad! Some of us are rebuilding our lives after divorce, job loss, etc. I understand renters in general get a bad name, but i would hope if the rentals go thru there, that they are not accepting renters who need government assistance.

@Colls. I, in no way mean "all renters are bad". The point Colls, is that the complex was sold to the town as something totally different that what is evolving into. I have seen no accountability apart from "the market went bad". I just feel a vote should be had an more transparency should be granted as to all of the options that are on the table. I am glad that something is being done to that eyesore of a space; I just wish it were something more permanent for purposes of equity and resale. Did you ever try to sell a one bedroom condo or apartment?
@Gary...you are probably right about the space issue!

Joe, If you have some leagal help you might get them to file a motion to deny maley a hearing based on the facts; A. no harm has been done to the plaintiff or will be done to the plaintiff with this petition, B. Maley's legal actions and motives are based on monetary gain and to save his personal and professional career because of his attempt to run municipal government as an outlet for realestate investors and contractors and by puuting the gambling with the taxpayers money just as wall street did betting that the lumberyard would be finished and sold before the housing bubble burst and C. because of Maley's "creative financining", he has put the financial futures of every taxpayer in Collingswood in question especially we who are either retired, fixed income, low income and moderate income. But most importantly D. NJ Constitution, Article One: 2.a. "All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people, and they have the right at all times to alter or reform the same, whenever the public good may require it". Maley is violating his oath of office and the NJ Constitution by fighting this petition evevn if his opinion may be legally arguable, we still have the right to fight a mini norcross who's ego is as big as those on wall street..

Joe: time to call for a meeting. Call me. John Melilli

What is truly most distrubing is WHY...........they would go in that direction???

The move could take the air out of a citizen-led petition delivered to the municipal government earlier this month that called for putting the redevelopment plan and 25-year PILOT grant issued to its developer, Ingerman Group, up for a referendum

What are they afraid of?? Why would they question or doubt PUBLIC CONCERN??

Wanna bet the SHREDDER is working overtime???

Joe is a problem. He opposes any and everything. Maybe if he had a real job and maybe if he purchased his property himself he would not have so much time on his hands to stir up trouble. What doesn't he oppose? He attends school board meeting (when he clearly does not even have child in school) just to oppose things. He is a distraction on the road to progress. He clearly opposes things that are even in his best interest like Rogaine.

that was for mr truth

Name calling isn't going to get this done right. Mr. Dinella breaking things up just because it breaks Maley's stones isn't a reason to do it either. I want to see progress at the Lumberyard as well but we get no "3rd strike" here. If this is just being done in haste because we think it is that last resort or to save face, then it likely is not the way to do it. If enough people in a small town like Collingswood want a referendum or more transparency to see what is to be built, then they should have it. Who besides Ingermann has submitted bids and what were the rejected ideas? Why were they rejected and who rejected them? I would like to know more as well. I get very nervous when I hear the already sketchy town government "blocking" petitions of taxpayers.

change is always hard and requires open minds nobody said no too the $150 rebate you received from Collingswood and the vacant store fronts before the Mayor took office. The time has come to come to the adult side of the table and look at all the good things that we enjoy in town. At times things don"t always go as planed but at lease our Mayor did not run away from something which will turn out to be a good thing

Hey gang Probably at this point no one is reading these comments but here goes,
1.) you want change organize a real challenger from what I have read the opposition is weak. 2.) Collingswood residents need a place like face book where we can meet and form opinions and continue the discussion long after the elections 3.) term limits, term limits ,term limits , like the President of USA you can run once we elect you if we like you you can remain for another term, after that you are out!

@hey Phil. I agree with you whole heartedly. Come out to the "fresh start" event this Thursday night at 7p, 900 Haddon avenue. You're right, we need to organize. A town like Collingswood should have a real civic group to help coordinate things such as this. We have an arrogant government and no civic leadership.