But there weren t enough outstanding ballots to overcome the 467 vote deficit, officials say.
Meanwhile, Asbury Park has been moving ahead to establish a rent regulation program since the end of March. Asbury Park has been seeking volunteers for the rent leveling board and is in the process of hiring a rent regulation officer, an employee who will implement the new program.
Asbury Park Mayor John Moor said the city began soliciting for both well ahead of the election because residents were getting rent control regardless of the outcome. Asbury Park City Council adopted its own version of rent control in March, which had a delayed implementation date of June 1.
Asbury Park, New Jersey (iStock)
Residents of a Jersey Shore town had a choice on Tuesday: enact a previously approved rent control measure, or opt for a stricter version.
They decided to stick with the former.
Last month, the Asbury Park City Council voted unanimously to cap rent increases at 3.5 percent or the region’s Consumer Price Index as set by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, whichever is higher. The decision was in response to a move by the Asbury Park Affordable Housing Coalition, which had secured enough signatures on a petition to put its own rent control measure to a public vote.
As prices rise, Asbury Park voters reject strict rent control ordinance
Updated 7:52 AM;
A proposed rent control ordinance placed on the ballot by an affordable housing group in Asbury Park was soundly rejected by voters on Tuesday, a month after a more modest set of tenant protections was adopted by the city council.
No-votes outnumbered yesses by a nearly 2-1 margin, 1,104 to 637, according to preliminary results posted by the Monmouth County Clerk’s office on Tuesday night.
The rent control referendum, like special elections across the state, coincided with local board of education races on Tuesday, and the 18% turnout among Asbury Park’s 9,676 registered voters was not much higher than school board elections typically generate.