In our Spotlight on Business Report.

We're learning more tonight about that multi town effort to push back against a new affordable housing law.

It comes after Governor Murphy in March signed a bill mandating towns to plan for and create affordable housing units based on state recommendations.

Several mayors, though, say the state is stiffing them on the resources needed to make those homes possible.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan has the story.

Montvale is an affluent town with predictably pricey real estate.

On Zillow Homes Here list from three quarters to well over $1,000,000, 1.8 million in this brand new development.

But MONTVALE officials claim there's currently no convenient acreage for more affordable housing, and they've gone to court suing the state over a brand new law that they say would unfairly make them plan and build units for moderate and low income folks.

So as of now as it is, we are at a max.

So you're saying that there's no more room for any more people?

We would have to do that.

And, you know, we have to look at the land.

You know, the tiny town and the entire region because the surrounding towns are also building.

Mayor Mike Casali says MacPhail's built 365 affordable units in the last five years.

His lawsuit argues more affordable housing imposed by the state would burden montvale taxpayers its roads and schools without providing any resources to pay for it.

A so-called unfunded mandate, says attorney Michael Collins.

It certainly imposes costs upon the municipalities.

And in the 1990s, the people of New Jersey adopted a constitutional amendment that prohibits the legislature from imposing local mandates on municipalities.

So far, eight towns, more are expected have joined Montvale in the controversial lawsuit, which also alleges the new laws, regulations, formulas and deadlines for affordable housing obligations are fundamentally flawed.

The towns want more time to devise their own plans.

We need more affordable housing, but we need to plan it smartly.

Let us be involved.

So how much time do you want what you need in order to get this plan together?

I think we need at least three years.

Critics charge affluent towns are simply trying to drag out the implementation of this new law that they're banking on.

The court challenge taking years to resolve.

It's really a smokescreen for them not wanting to provide affordable housing.

And and they're admitting that.

They're saying all we want it.

We want a delay in providing the housing.

Advocate Adam Gordon of the Fair Share Housing Center notes Jersey is facing an affordable housing crisis.

It needs 200,000 more units now.

The state's expected to advise towns next month how much affordable housing they're expected to build under the new law, says its sponsor, Senator Troy Singleton.

And Brian, I will tell you, like every single day in my office, we receive a call from someone, whether it's a parent, a recent grad, a veteran, a senior, you name someone disabled who are struggling to find housing.

And what this lawsuit says is, let's take this version of the American dream and keep it out of reach for people just because they don't look a certain way or have a certain amount of money in their bank account.

The law exempt some urban aid cities, including Newark, from affordable housing quotas.

Mayor Ras Baraka, who's running for governor, disagrees.

He says every town needs to build to address the housing crisis.

We need to find a way to end this dispute and get some housing in the ground.

And I don't think all of the cities in the state in New Jersey are refusing to build affordable housing.

I just don't see that.

I think that a lot of them feel troubled by the idea that they have to do it with not enough resources.

Not no help.

Nobody helping them navigate this or giving them reasonable timelines.

To classify us.

And barella also a wealthy town, don't want, you know, poor people in.

Absolutely wrong.

God, you.

Insulting, actually.

The suit was filed in Mercer County Superior Court.

No hearings been scheduled yet.

In montvale, I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ.

Spotlight News.

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Performance schedule and further details for this Open to all event can be found online at Riverview Jazz Board.