Emergency: A Fight for Family, Faith, and Home

On March 24, 2025, during the Newton Town Meeting, a quiet yet powerful moment unfolded when an elderly couple stood before the microphone, their breaths heavy and voices trembling. Mrs. and Mr. Coward had rushed straight from the hospital, where their son was fighting for his life due to a pulmonary embolism. With tears in their eyes, they apologized for being late, explaining that their son’s health was critical, and they were battling not only for his survival but also to save their home.

"The bank refused to give us a loan to save our property, so we need more time to find a solution," Mrs. Coward pleaded, her voice breaking.

This wasn’t the first time I had heard about their plight. On March 10th, during a previous town meeting, I watched via Zoom as Mrs. Coward presented a proposal from a contractor to restore their house for $200,000. The house, inherited from her late brother, was now in disrepair, with bricks from the siding falling off, creating a hazardous situation not only for the couple but for their neighbors as well. In response to these safety concerns, the town demanded to see the money before considering any alternatives to demolition. The local building inspector had flagged the property as unsafe. The governing body had postponed its decision until March 24th, giving the couple a chance to make their case.

I attended the meeting in person on March 24th, partly due to concerns about town wide tax assessment. But after hearing Mrs. and Mr. Coward speak, their trembling voices echoing the anguish of facing the loss of their home while caring for their son, I felt compelled to stay and witness the decision. The town council voted in favor of demolishing the house.

When the vote was announced, I couldn’t help but exclaim, "What?!" My voice carried across the room, but the police officer present didn’t intervene.

Stepping outside to calm myself, I saw the couple preparing to leave. I approached them, asking if they could briefly show me the documents they had submitted to the town, including the proposal from the architect. Just then, one of the council members who had voted for demolition stepped outside. I knew him personally and felt it was important to express my discontent.

“How could you vote yes?” I asked. “Councilwoman Diglio used her wisdom and voted no.” His response was disappointing, yet revealing. He claimed that even if he had voted against it, the other three council members had already voted in favor, and the demolition would have gone ahead. "The town’s already accepted a winning bid of $20,000," he said, "the town is paying for it, and the property will be demolished." The justification made no sense to me. I felt that the town, and the taxpayers, were being cheated.

In that moment, I told the council member, “I will speak up at the next open session to support this couple. You need to do something for them. Their son is fighting for his life, and now their home is being taken away. This is wrong. You will regret this decision.”

I encouraged Mrs. and Mr. Coward to stay for the second open session and speak up again. I promised to dedicate my three minutes to their cause.

At the second open public session, I stated:

"Good evening, members of the Town Council,

I would like to begin by thanking Councilwoman Diglio for voting no on the proposal to demolish the home of this unfortunate couple. As for the other four council members, I truly cannot imagine how you can rest easy tonight knowing that you voted yes to demolish their property.

I had the opportunity to speak with this couple and ask them questions. After reviewing the proposal from an engineer and architect, I believe there is sufficient evidence to give them the opportunity to save their property, which they just acquired four months ago. As new owners, the clock should reset. The past four years shouldn’t matter.

While I have great respect for the Hardyston Building Department and its inspection expertise, the two professionals hired by the couple are highly educated and, in my opinion, should have been taken into greater consideration.

With common-sense security precautions in place, this home can and should be saved. As a governing body, it is your responsibility to support your citizens, not wait until they are in distress before considering the fate of their properties.

I cannot fathom what it would be like as a homeowner myself if this were happening to my family.

While the vote has passed, I urge you all to reconsider your position and allow this couple the time and opportunity they deserve to save their home.

Thank you for your time and consideration."

Maybe that was too much, but I felt it needed to be said.

After me, Mrs. and Mr. Coward stood to speak again. Mrs. Coward said with quiet conviction, “This home was a gift from God. It is not right for you to take it away from us.” Mr. Coward followed, “We are people of God. You should not mess around with people of God.” These words hung in the air, heavy with meaning, and a deep silence fell over the room. As a Christian, I felt the weight of their words deep in my soul. The room seemed to shrink around us.

The meeting ended shortly after, and I walked out with the couple, still trying to process what had just happened. I offered them two names of lawyers I knew, hoping they could find someone who could file an injunction to stop the demolition while they worked to find a solution. They agreed, and we decided to take the next step the following day.

Unable to shake the feeling that something had to be done, I spent Tuesday morning making calls. I was able to find out that New Jersey's Social Services could be of assistance. However, the couple was still facing difficulty securing the legal help they needed.

As I lectured at Kean University that day, I shared the couple’s story with my students. Together, we decided to create this account to raise funds on their behalf. Every donation will go directly toward saving their home.

We appreciate any help you can offer in this crucial time.

Dr. Mecaj and her students of Spring Class 2025