Last Night's Foreclosure and Financial Crisis Forum

I would like to thank the people of Plainfield and the surrounding communities for coming out last night to our foreclosure and financial crisis forum when the weather was rather unpleasant. The forum provided the opportunity for people who are in need of assistance, to listen to those who can supply the needed help from the state, county, and local levels of government. The overall reception of this information was pleasing to me in seeing the audience take in and absorb this helpful information, as well as the much-needed solutions to some of the current foreclosure and financial crises that are rampant throughout the State of New Jersey. As Chairman of the Housing and Local Government Committee in the New Jersey State Assembly, I explained to those in attendance that this is one of a series of meetings that I plan to have throughout the state to inform the people of the services that are available to them when they fall on hard times.

At the meeting, I was happy to see realtors, clergy, the Block Association, and city officials in attendance. Their presence told me that they were adamant about the security and preservation of their respected communities. Rev. DeForest ‘Buster’ Soaries, Chairman and CEO of First Baptist Community Development Corporation, unveiled plans to deal with some of the foreclosure issues that pertain to the residents of the city of Plainfield. Reverend Soaries is hoping to work with the current mayor and council to deal with some of the foreclosure issues that are plaguing our community.

We also had a representative from Union County who explained the county’s reception of a $2.6 million dollar grant that focuses on helping to circumvent some of these issues. He went on to praise Plainfield for being one of the first communities in the state that had submitted the application to receive some of this funding. We also had an attorney from the Assembly Majority Office from the State House in Trenton come in and further assist us in legal matters pertaining to the foreclosure and financial crisis. She explained to us that the state is trying to identify $50 million dollars in relief so that further funding can be used to aid small businesses when they fall on hard times. This would allow them to meet payroll as well as any other expenses that might force them out of business.

I am hoping to meet with social organizations, as well as the clergy, community, and the administration to orchestrate a plan that will channel the flow of this funding to those who are in specific need of the funding. In other words, we want to ensure that this funding saturates those who need it. It is important to secure a tight-knit structure to predicate these funds to the appropriate parties; those who really need the help and support.

For those who were not able to attend last night’s foreclosure and financial crisis forum, feel free to call my office so that I can exhaust my resources in means of putting you in direct contact with the necessary parties; those being either on the state, county, or local levels of government. I will also put you in touch with Rev. Soaries’ office, so that they may further assist you. These groups will further guide you in the direction of solution and satisfaction of your grievance. As I explained to the public last night, it is my duty on the state level, as well as in the city, to bring solutions to problems, rather than criticize situations and then do nothing about it. I herein take pride in this duty.