FOR RELEASE:
Dec. 29, 2014

Bipartisan Bill to Extend Permit Expiration Dates to Keep Projects Afloat While Economy Recovers Signed Into Law

            (TRENTON) – Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Jerry Green, John Burzichelli, Troy Singleton, Gordon Johnson, Patrick Diegnan and Paul Moriarty to extend expiration dates for certain state and local permits has been signed into law.

            “As a result of the recent recession, once-approved permits are in danger of expiring or lapsing because gaining permit extensions is difficult and costly, and developers do not have the resources to obtain extensions,” said Green (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union). “By extending permits with this law, we can prevent a waste of public and private resources.”

The new law (A-3815) will extend for one year the expiration dates of certain permits pursuant to the “Permit Extension Act of 2008.” The law originally suspended the running of certain government approvals until July 1, 2010. A 2012 law extended the end date to Dec. 31, 2014. This bill would further extend the date to Dec. 31, 2015.

            “When permit approvals lapse, lenders have to re-appraise, and that substantially lowers real estate valuations established in conjunction with approved projects, which then leads to the reclassification of numerous loans,” said Burzichelli (D-Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem). “This permit extension is necessary to avoid a vicious cycle of default.”

            “This law will ensure that there are sufficient funds available for future lending and that there are fewer restrictions on credit,” said Singleton (D-Burlington). “The wellness of state, regional, county and municipal agencies is dependent upon this measure.”

            “The economic downturn had a negative effect on the state’s banking, real estate and construction sectors, and the extreme tightening of lending standards for home buyers and other real estate borrowers has reduced access to the capital markets,” said Johnson (D-Bergen). “The process of obtaining planning board and zoning board of adjustment approvals for subdivisions, site plans and variances can be difficult, time consuming and expensive, both for private applicants and government bodies. This extension is intended to make things easier as we continue to recover.”

            “This law does nothing more than extend permits that were properly vetted and obtained. Unfortunately, many landowners and developers are seeing their life's work destroyed by the lack of credit and dearth of buyers and tenants due to the crisis in real estate financing and the building industry, uncertainty over the state of the economy and increasing levels of unemployment in the construction industry,” said Diegnan (D-Middlesex). “This measure will give needed protection to those who have followed the rules and want to invest in our state.”

            “As a result of the continued downturn of the economy, and the continued expiration of approvals which were granted by state and local governments, it is possible that thousands of government actions will be undone by the passage of time,” said Moriarty (D-Camden/Gloucester). “Obtaining an extension of an approval pursuant to existing statutory or regulatory provisions can be both costly in terms of time and financial resources, and insufficient to cope with the extent of the present financial situation. This law will avoid unnecessary costs being imposed on both the public and private sectors.”

FOR RELEASE:
Dec. 18, 2014

Assembly Democratic Legislative Package to Reform NJ’s Expungement Laws Clears Assembly

(TRENTON) – A two-bill legislative package sponsored by Assembly Democrats Jerry Green, Grace L. Spencer, Reed Gusciora, Gordon Johnson, John F. McKeon, Thomas Giblin, Benjie Wimberly, Charles Mainor, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Annette Quijano, Gilbert “Whip” Wilson and Cleopatra Tucker to reform New Jersey’s expungement laws was approved Thursday by the Assembly.

The first bill (A-206-471-1663-2879-3060-3108), sponsored by Green, Spencer, Gusciora, Johnson, McKeon, Giblin, Wimberly, Mainor, Watson Coleman and Quijano, would reduce the statutory waiting period for an expungement from 10 years to five years from the date of the person’s last conviction, payment of fine, satisfactory completion of probation or parole, or release from incarceration, whichever is later, in the case of an indictable offense. In the case of a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense, the waiting period would be reduced from five years to three years.

“Expungement offers an incentive against recidivism. It gives people who currently have little chance of finding legal employment the opportunity to leave past mistakes behind them, find a job and be productive,” said Green (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union). “The fact of the matter is, the system is working against those individuals who have served their time and want to change and do better.”

“A criminal record can affect a person’s ability to secure housing, employment and even loans for school,” said Spencer (D-Essex). “How is a person supposed to successfully reintegrate back into society when almost every road to self-dependence is blocked by a criminal record?

“Individuals who have learned from their mistakes should not be defined by their criminal records for the rest of their lives,” said Gusciora (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). “These folks are going back into our communities. It makes sense that we make it easier for them to become constructive citizens.”

“Putting your life back together after being incarcerated can take time. It can take even longer with a criminal record looming over you,” said Johnson (D-Bergen). “It is a greater benefit to society when these individuals are able to put their past behind them and lead better, more productive lives.”

The bill would also grant automatic expungement of the records of a criminal conviction to certain persons who have completed a sentence to a term of special probation, commonly referred to as drug court. The court would be permitted to order the expungement of all records and information relating to all prior criminal arrests, detention, convictions and proceedings, provided the person satisfactorily completed a substance abuse treatment program as ordered by the court and was not convicted of any crime, or adjudged a disorderly person or petty disorderly person, during the term of special probation. An individual would not be eligible for automatic expungement if the records include a conviction for any offense barred from expungement under current law.

“Participants in drug court have a far lower recidivism rate than offenders who are incarcerated in state prisons,” said McKeon (D-Essex/Morris). “If we want these individuals to continue on the right path, then we have to give them the chance to do better instead of setting up roadblocks.”

“There’s no benefit to continually punish people who have served their time and now want to redeem themselves,” said Giblin (D-Essex/Passaic). “We have to create opportunities for individuals who want to be productive members of society, which is very hard to do with a criminal record.”

“These individuals successfully completed a substance abuse program. They did not break any laws while in the program. They have demonstrated a desire to be and do better,” said Wimberly (D-Bergen/Passaic). “Expunging their criminal records can help them continue on the path to recovery.”

Lastly, the bill would require the courts to order the expungement of all records and information pertaining to an arrest or charge at the time of the dismissal, acquittal or discharge. The bill would set forth certain procedural requirements for a grant of automatic expungement and no fee would be charged. When an expungement of an arrest or charge not resulting in conviction is not ordered by the court, the individual would be allowed, at any time following the disposition of the proceedings, to petition the courts for an expungement. The bill would provide that an expungement related to dismissal, acquittal or discharge would not bar any future expungement.

“It is unfair to further penalize an individual who has been cleared of a crime,” said Mainor (D-Hudson). “A criminal record can create barriers that make it difficult to prosper. If a person is acquitted or their charges are dropped, then their criminal record should be immediately expunged.”

“It is difficult enough to find employment in the current economic climate. It becomes that much harder with a criminal record,” said Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). “There is no reason why a criminal record against a person who’s been cleared of wrongdoing should persist.”

“The lingering effects of a criminal record can make the difference between successful reintegration and reentry. These individuals went through the judicial process and were absolved,” said Quijano (D-Union). “The sooner their records are expunged, the sooner they can get back to normal.”

The second bill (A-1815) would establish the “Expungement Study Commission.” The commission would be tasked with studying whether expungement of convictions should be automatic, without the necessity for a petition to the Superior Court, and whether the expungement of multiple offenses should be allowed, as well as any other related expungement issues.

The commission would include as part of its study an examination of the impact of a criminal conviction on various aspects of life for a convicted persons including, but not limited to, employment, licensing, housing and education. The commission would be required to submit a final report within 18 months after organizing to the governor and the Legislature. The commission would expire on the 30th day after the final report is issued.

“Not every criminal offender is destined to be a hardcore criminal,” said Wilson (D-Camden/Gloucester). “If we are serious about rehabilitation and preventing reentry into the prison system, then we must look at how we can better help those individuals who want to start over.”

“Many people who return to a life of crime blame their inability to find work due to their criminal history,” said Tucker (D-Essex). “This may not apply to everyone who has committed a crime, but for those who genuinely want to change their lives around, it is worth looking into.”

“A criminal record can haunt you for life,” said Wimberly. “If we want to help people break the cycle, it makes sense to look into whether expungement should be extended to multiple offenses, and whether it is feasible to automatically expunge convictions after the relevant waiting periods are over.”

The bill (A-206-471-1663-2879-3060-3108) was approved 71-3-1, and the bill (A-1815) was approved 68-0-0. Both bills now await further consideration by the Senate.

Bipartisan Bill to Extend Permit Expiration Dates Advanced by Assembly Panel

            (TRENTON) – An Assembly panel on Monday advanced bipartisan legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Jerry Green, John Burzichelli, Troy Singleton, Gordon Johnson, Patrick Diegnan and Paul Moriarty to extend expiration dates for certain state and local permits.

            The bill (A-3815) would extend for two years the expiration dates of certain permits pursuant to the “Permit Extension Act of 2008.” The law originally suspended the running of certain government approvals until July 1, 2010. A 2012 extended the end date to Dec. 31, 2014. This bill would further extend the date to Dec. 31, 2015.

            “As a result of the recent recession, once-approved permits are in danger of expiring or lapsing because gaining permit extensions is difficult and costly and developers do not have the resources to obtain extensions,” said Green (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union). “By extending permits with this bill, we can prevent a waste of public and private resources.”

            “When permit approvals lapse, lenders have to re-appraise, and that substantially lowers real estate valuations established in conjunction with approved projects, which then leads to the reclassification of numerous loans,” said Burzichelli (D-Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem). “This permit extension is necessary to avoid a vicious cycle of default.”

            “This bill will ensure that there are sufficient funds available for future lending and that there are fewer restrictions on credit,” said Singleton (D-Burlington). “The wellness of state, regional, county and municipal agencies is dependent upon this measure.”

            “The economic downturn had a negative effect on the state’s banking, real estate and construction sectors, and the extreme tightening of lending standards for home buyers and other real estate borrowers has reduced access to the capital markets,” said Johnson (D-Bergen). “The process of obtaining planning board and zoning board of adjustment approvals for subdivisions, site plans and variances can be difficult, time consuming and expensive, both for private applicants and government bodies. This extension is intended to make things easier as we continue to recover.”

            “Once a permit expires, it can be impossible to renew or re-obtain. Unfortunately, many landowners and developers are seeing their life's work destroyed by the lack of credit and dearth of buyers and tenants, due to the crisis in real estate financing and the building industry, uncertainty over the state of the economy and increasing levels of unemployment in the construction industry,” said Diegnan (D-Middlesex). “This measure will facilitate operations considering the still-dire state of our economy.”

            “As a result of the continued downturn of the economy, and the continued expiration of approvals which were granted by state and local governments, it is possible that thousands of government actions will be undone by the passage of time,” said Moriarty (D-Camden/Gloucester). “Obtaining an extension of an approval pursuant to existing statutory or regulatory provisions can be both costly in terms of time and financial resources, and insufficient to cope with the extent of the present financial situation. This legislation will avoid unnecessary costs being imposed on both the public and private sectors.”

            The bill was advanced by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, of which Burzichelli is chair. 

EXPUNGEMENT LEGISLATION CLEARS ASSEMBLY PANEL

(TRENTON)--Yesterday, important legislation that I introduced regarding expungement of criminal records was cleared by the Assembly Judiciary Committee. 

I want to change the process of expungement because I believe that legislators should make sure that our criminal justice system works to deter criminal activity. As it stands, the system too often does just the opposite. A criminal record that stems from a misguided decision made on a single afternoon turns into a scarlet “C” that is worn for a lifetime. Once an individual has a record, even for something like marijuana possession or shoplifting, it can become difficult or impossible to find a job. Without the hope of paid work, some have little choice but to turn to more crime, like drug dealing and theft, just to support themselves. This doesn’t just hurt them—it hurts their entire community.

The possibility of expungement gives individuals who have served their time the chance to learn from their mistakes and reenter society with hope that they can build a new, productive life. It also provides a hopeful incentive for the families and advocates who help individuals rehabilitate and adjust to life after serving time in prison.

This legislation is part of my continuing work with community leaders, experts in the field of criminal justice, police officials and rights advocates.  I truly believe that if we all come together for honest discussion informed by quality research, we can fix our broken system and build a future that is reflective of our shared values of justice, fairness and opportunity. 

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the Assembly and the Senate to get this bill passed into law.

What follows is the press release prepared yesterday by the Assembly Majority Office, which is available here.

Assembly Democratic Legislative Package to Reform NJ's Expungement Laws Released by Assembly Panel

Legislative package would allow for automatic expungement of certain criminal records, reduce waiting periods for expungement application & create commission to study whether expungement of criminal records should be automatic

(TRENTON) - A three-bill legislative package sponsored by Assembly Democrats Jerry Green, Grace L. Spencer, Reed Gusciora, Gordon Johnson, John F. McKeon, Thomas Giblin, Benjie Wimberly, Charles Mainor, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Annette Quijano, Joseph Lagana, Gilbert "Whip" Wilson and Cleopatra Tucker to reform New Jersey's expungement laws was released Thursday by an Assembly panel.

The bills (A-206-471-1663-2879-3060-3108), (A-1662) and (A-1815) would allow for the automatic expungement of criminal records under certain circumstances, reduce the waiting period required for expungement applications, and create a commission to study whether expungements of convictions should be automatic and whether the expungement of multiple offenses should be allowed.

The first bill (A-206-471-1663-2879-3060-3108), sponsored by Green, Spencer, Gusciora, Johnson, McKeon, Giblin, Wimberly, Mainor, Watson Coleman and Quijano, would reduce the statutory waiting period for an expungement from 10 years to five years from the date of conviction, payment of fine, satisfactory completion of probation or parole, or release from incarceration, whichever is later, in the case of an indictable offense. In the case of a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense, the waiting period would be reduced from five years to three years.

"Expungement offers an incentive against recidivism. It gives people who currently have little chance of finding legal employment the opportunity to leave past mistakes behind them, find a job and be productive," said Green (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union). "The fact of the matter is, the system is working against those individuals who have served their time and want to change and do better."

"A criminal record can affect a person's ability to secure housing, employment and even loans for school," said Spencer (D-Essex). "How is a person supposed to successfully reintegrate back into society when almost every road to self-dependence is blocked by a criminal record?

"Individuals who have learned from their mistakes should not be defined by their criminal records for the rest of their lives," said Gusciora (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). "These folks are going back into our communities. It makes sense that we make it easier for them to become constructive citizens."

"Putting your life back together after being incarcerated can take time. It can take even longer with a criminal record looming over you," said Johnson (D-Bergen). "It is a greater benefit to society when these individuals are able to put their past behind them and lead better, more productive lives."

The bill would also grant automatic expungement of the records of a criminal conviction to certain persons who have completed a sentence to a term of special probation, commonly referred to as drug court. The court would be permitted to order the expungement of all records and information relating to all prior criminal arrests, detention, convictions and proceedings, provided the person satisfactorily completed a substance abuse treatment program as ordered by the court and was not convicted of any crime, or adjudged a disorderly person or petty disorderly person, during the term of special probation. An individual would not be eligible for automatic expungement if the records include a conviction for any offense barred from expungement under current law.

"Participants in drug court have a far lower recidivism rate than offenders who are incarcerated in state prisons," said McKeon (D-Essex/Morris). "If we want these individuals to continue on the right path, then we have to give them the chance to do better instead of setting up roadblocks."

"There's no benefit to continually punish people who have served their time and now want to redeem themselves," said Giblin (D-Essex/Passaic). "We have to create opportunities for individuals who want to be productive members of society, which is very hard to do with a criminal record."

"These individuals successfully completed a substance abuse program. They did not break any laws while in the program. They have demonstrated a desire to be and do better," said Wimberly (D-Bergen/Passaic). "Expunging their criminal records can help them continue on the path to recovery."

Lastly, the bill would require the courts to order the expungement of all records and information pertaining to an arrest or charge at the time of the dismissal, acquittal or discharge. The bill would set forth certain procedural requirements for a grant of automatic expungement and no fee would be charged. When an expungement of an arrest or charge not resulting in conviction is not ordered by the court, the individual would be allowed, at any time following the disposition of the proceedings, to petition the courts for an expungement. The bill would provide that an expungement related to dismissal, acquittal or discharge would not bar any future expungement.

"It is unfair to further penalize an individual who has been cleared of a crime," said Mainor (D-Hudson). "A criminal record can create barriers that make it difficult to prosper. If a person is acquitted or their charges are dropped, then their criminal record should be immediately expunged."

"It is difficult enough to find employment in the current economic climate. It becomes that much harder with a criminal record," said Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). "There is no reason why a criminal record against a person who's been cleared of wrongdoing should persist."

"The lingering effects of a criminal record can make the difference between successful reintegration and reentry. These individuals went through the judicial process and were absolved," said Quijano (D-Union). "The sooner their records are expunged, the sooner they can get back to normal."

The second bill (A-1662) would require that criminal records related to an identity theft case be sealed.

"Having to deal with the repercussions of a criminal record that resulted from an identity theft case adds insult to injury for victims," said Johnson (D-Bergen). "This allows victims to repair the damage caused by providing for the sealing of criminal records that were obtained erroneously."

"The damage caused by identity theft can be extensive. Add to that a criminal record and rebuilding becomes even more difficult," said Lagana (D-Bergen/Passaic). "This ensures that an individual who has been victimized can avoid further damage to his name and livelihood."

"Identity theft can have serious consequences for a victim. A criminal record is just one of them," said Wimberly. "This bill allows people whose identities were stolen to have their criminal records sealed as they work to put their lives back together."

The third bill (A-1815) would establish the "Expungement Study Commission." The commission would be charged with studying whether expungement of convictions should be automatic, without the necessity for a petition to the Superior Court, and whether the expungement of multiple offenses should be allowed. The commission would include as part of its study an examination of the impact of a criminal conviction on various aspects of life for a convicted persons including, but not limited to, employment, licensing, housing and education. The commission would be required to submit a final report within 18 months after organizing to the governor and the Legislature. The commission would expire on the 30th day after the final report is issued.

"Not every criminal offender is destined to be a hardcore criminal," said Wilson (D-Camden/Gloucester). "If we are serious about rehabilitation and preventing reentry into the prison system, then we must look at how we can better help those individuals who want to start over."

"Many people who return to a life of crime blame their inability to find work due to their criminal history," said Tucker (D-Essex). "This may not apply to everyone who has committed a crime, but for those who genuinely want to change their lives around, it is worth looking into."

"A criminal record can haunt you for life," said Wimberly. "If we want to help people break the cycle, it makes sense to look into whether expungement should be extended to multiple offenses, and whether it is feasible to automatically expunge convictions after the relevant waiting periods are over."

The bills were released by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Today the Courier News and NJ.com released articles covering the panel discussion that I am organizing to discuss community and police relationships in Union County. The NJ.com article, reproduced below, can be found here.

Assemblyman Green wants outreach between law enforcement, minorities; says 'system is broken'

By Tom Haydon | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on December 10, 2014 at 10:26 AM, updated December 10, 2014 at 10:28 AM

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Assembly Jerry Green is planning to create a panel to improve relations between law enforcement and minorities.Star-Ledger file photo 

UNION COUNTY — In the wake of incidents with police in Ferguson, Mo. and Staten Island, Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Union) now wants a panel to improve communication between law enforcement and minorities.

In an announcement Tuesday, Green said he is working with Union County freeholders and law enforcement agencies to create the panel that would include government officials, community and professional leaders, as well as former and current law enforcement officers.

“We’ve got a broken system," Green said. "People have lost faith in police departments. I want to see how we can improve the public trust. I don’t want to throw anybody under the bus. I have reached out to the state [Policemen's Benevolent Association]. I have reached out to the prosecutor’s office."

Although he plans to start in Union County, Green said he has already spoken with state Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) about a statewide effort.

County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak hailed the plan as an opportunity to discuss new services.

“This is an appropriate time to talk about relations between law enforcement entities and the communities they police,” Hudak said.

Green announced the plans as protests continue across the country over the shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., and the choking death of Eric Garner by a officer in Staten Island, and decisions by separate grand juries not to indict either officer.

  ASSEMBLYMAN GREEN PARTNERS WITH UNION COUNTY TO PUT TOGETHER DISCUSSION PANEL TO EXPLORE INCREASED OUTREACH BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MINORITY COMMUNITIES

UNION COUNTY, NJ---In light of the recent developments in Ferguson, Mo. and Staten Island, NY, Assemblyman Jerry Green announced he would partner with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders to put together an informal panel of government, community and professional leaders in an effort to improve outreach between law enforcement and the County’s minority populations.

Green, who initiated the panel, noted he is also in the process of reaching out to past and present law enforcement officials, as well as setting up a meeting with the State Police Benevolent Association.

“I bring state resources to the discussion which would assist in providing a comprehensive list of ideas,” Green said. “As a legislator, I also stand prepared to draft any measures that would be needed as well from the state perspective.”

Green reached out to the Freeholder Board to participate in the effort.
“This is an appropriate time to talk about relations between law enforcement entities and the communities they police,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “We are happy to  facilitate this panel, and look forward to providing ideas and discussing new services that may be needed.”

The County has the resources of the County Police, the Prosecutor’s Office,  the Sheriff’s Office, the Police Academy, the Department of Human Services, and various youth outreach programs already in place.

Green said his panel is in formation, with the intent of holding internal discussions within the next few weeks.

ASSEMBLY HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ADDRESSES BLIGHT

Trenton--As Chairman of the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee, I spend a lot of time working with communities and experts across the State to improve the quality, affordability and variety of housing stock in all corners of New Jersey.  Blighted buildings are a significant problem for our communities. Since the economic recession in 2008, urban and suburban towns alike have seen a dramatic increase in abandoned buildings. Last Thursday, I held a hearing in the Assembly Housing and Community Development committee in order to gather testimony from members of the community who are working toward turning blighted buildings into revitalized spaces.

Blight is a complex problem, and complex problems require thoughtful discussion in order to generate creative solutions. My goal in holding this hearing was to look at the big picture by listening carefully to leaders who approach blight from diverse perspectives. The leaders who offered testimony to the Committee represent a wide range of organizations that are poised to work together toward comprehensive solutions. They included urban redevelopment professionals who develop strategy, builders who turn that strategy into action, bankers who fund redevelopment projects and the community advocates who fight to make sure that the housing that we build is safe and affordable, and that we make sure to address the needs of communities who politicians too often ignore.

Along with the members of the Housing and Community Development Committee, both Democrat and Republican, I will continue to do everything that the Legislature possibility can to put the best tools in place to encourage community revitalization.  My hope is that Governor Christie’s office will be willing to work with us to deliver results to New Jersey’s Citizens.

CENTRAL JERSEY UNITED

Union, Middlesex, Somerset and Mercer Counties— 2014 is coming to a close, and I am proud to announce that it has been a great year for Central New Jersey.  Both the Northern and Southern parts of the State have established and recognizable regional voices. Part of my vision as Chairman of the Union County Democratic Committee is for leaders in Central Jersey to come together to showcase the unique advantages of living and working in our beautiful region and attract the resources that we need to grow our communities. To that end, I have worked hard to build a strong and lasting Central Jersey alliance, together with Middlesex Chairman Kevin McCabe, Somerset Chairwoman Peg Schaffer, the Mayor of Trenton, Eric Jackson and the Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac.  We recently celebrated this regional allianceduring the League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City. I am confident that 2015 will be a great year.  

 I recently received a letter from Philip D, Murphy, former U.S. Ambassador to Germany as well as former Goldman Sachs executive, and I am so appreciative to receive the support of such a  prominent and respected member of our community that I am sharing it here.

Dear Chairman Green:

I cannot begin to tell you how honored I was to be with you and so many of the committed Democrats in Union County today. My wife, Tammy, was also thrilled to be there. You have become a trusted friend over the past months and I am deeply appreciative of that. I also so admire the exceptional leadership you display as Chairman and as a courageous leader in the Assembly.
Thank you again so much, good luck on November 4th and I look forward to seeing you soon thereafter.

My Very Best,

Philip Murphy

PLAINFIELD CELEBRATES

DEMOCRATIC WINS

Plainfield Democrats celebrated an excellent election yesterday, and I want to acknowledge and thank each and every one of the individuals whose hard work made it possible. In Plainfield City, we brought in high numbers for our Candidates for U.S. Senate and Congress. Our unofficial count shows that 6,797 Plainfield voters supported Cory Booker, where 456 supported his opponent Jeff Bell. 6,179 Plainfield voters approved Bonnie Watson Coleman for Congress, where Alieta Eck received 675 votes.  Column “A” Democrats Gloria Taylor, Rebecca Williams and Diane Toliver all won their races for seats in Plainfield City Council, with similar high margins. I hope that our city is able to respond to the positive energy that our Democratic voters brought with them to the polls, and work together to move this city forward.

How should we move forward? Plainfield Democratic voters made it abundantly clear last Tuesday: voters care about good policy more than petty politics, both in our city and in Washington. They have chosen to support Booker and Watson Coleman, candidates for National office that will prioritize working for concrete results on behalf of the hard-working citizens of New Jersey over the cynical politics of government shutdown and negativity that have become hallmarks of the Republican Party. I hope that our Plainfield elected officials remember that they won their seats because the voters in Plainfield remain dedicated to the values of our Democratic Party: the belief that our communities only prosper if we share opportunity equitably; a commitment to investing in education, infrastructure and healthcare; and that every human being, regardless of the conditions of their birth, is a worthy investment in our shared future.

 For my part, I plan to continue to fight hard in Trenton on behalf of Plainfield voters and all voters in the 22^nd District in my role as Speaker Pro Tempore of the General Assembly, member of the Health and Senior Services Committee, and Chair of the Housing and Community Development Committee. I challenge our local Plainfield representative to move away from the negativity that has surfaced in some of their blogs, and bring the conversation back to policy. If any local citizen or elected official wants to talk about policy that they believe will benefit our community, I encourage you to call my office and we will see if we can make it happen.

I would like to clarify something. I am a man that balances several distinct roles. I am an elected official, and I am Chairman of the Union County Democratic Committee. I am also an individual, private citizen who lives in and cares about Plainfield who is devoted to the Democratic values that make our Country great. As an individual citizen, I chose to support a team of candidates for the recent Plainfield Board of Education race who I felt share in my personal values: Michael Horn, Norman Ortega, and Tania Center. I did this as an individual who believes that our children deserve more than the pettiness that often emerges in political campaigns. For that reason, I insisted upon supporting these candidates only as an individual, and kept politics totally out of it: obviously, absolutely no funds from the Plainfield City Democratic Committee were used for any Board of Education candidate. Horn, Ortega and Center organized their own campaigns, raised their own funds, and printed their own, independent literature. As a citizen of Plainfield, I am sad to see that candidates who I believe care deeply for our children lost narrowly. As an individual citizen, however, I only had one vote to cast, not the 61 votes that would have flipped the Board of Education election the other way. 

In closing, I look forward to seeing Plainfield move forward, and I truly believe that we should turn toward out voters and away from petty, negative politics. Let’s listen closely to the rational voices of our Citizens and let the petty negativity of the blogs fade into the background as we move together toward our shared future. 

VICTORY FOR UNION COUNTY DEMOCRATS

Congratulations! I want to thank all Union County Democrats, especially those here in Plainfield, for the positive results at the polls yesterday. Last night we saw huge victories for the Democratic Party, throughout New Jersey and especially in Union County. At last count, both Cory Booker and Bonnie Watson Coleman won their respective races by 14 percentage points. In our County, the wins were even more impressive.  Booker won in Union County by 33.6 points, and Watson Coleman won by a whopping 40 points.  

In the races within the County, we didn’t just win, we set records. We won the Mayor seat in Rahway by the highest plurality in over 100 years. We gained Democratic leadership for the first time in recent memory in Roselle Park, and had wins across the board in Garwood. A Democrat won the Sherriff seat by a huge margin, as did all of the Freeholders running on the Democratic Ticket. In Linden, I am happy to say that we elected our first African American Mayor, who as Senator Nick Scutari and I clarified in a recent letter to the public, I have supported all the way. The Mayor of Linden will be working alongside a strong Democratic City Council, whose members have joined fellow Democratic City Council persons across the County who celebrated victories yesterday.

Both Cory Booker and Bonnie Watson Coleman called me personally last night to thank me, and all of Union County, for the instrumental role we played in their respective wins. At the Victory Party last night, it was a pleasure to address the crowd and congratulate all Union County Democrats for their hard work. I’m happy to say that everyone in the room looked pleased. Countless individuals expressed how happy they are that their Chairman put forward the money and resources needed so that the Democratic Party can be competitive in all of our 21 towns. The fact of the matter is, I’m taking it to another level. We are one of the strongest Democratic Counties in all of New Jersey.  I have been surrounding myself with the smartest political minds. With those alliances and my strong leadership, everyone knows how crucial Union County is to the overall success of New Jersey.

The numbers we pulled in last night speak volumes about the possibilities for Union County in the future. I thank everyone who has supported me as an elected official and as the Chairman of the Union County Democratic Committee.

NJTPA AWARDS UNION COUNTY $784,490 FOR STREET INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS  ALONG BUSY CORRIDOR ON WEST SEVENTH IN PLAINFIELD

PLAINFIELD---The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders today announced a $784,490 grant award from North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority that will fully fund intersection improvements along West Seventh Street, one of the County’s busiest sections of roadway in Plainfield.

The three intersections slated for an overhaul include West Seventh Street at Grant, Plainfield and Central Avenues. The upgrades are aimed at improving driver and pedestrian safety, alleviating accidents, and improving traffic flow. Construction is expected to begin by the summer of 2015.

Union County Freeholder Angel G. Estrada, who also serves as the second Vice Chairman of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, thanked the County’s Engineering Division for putting together the award-winning grant submission and noted the improvements are “much needed” to ensure a productive and safe flow of traffic in the westward Plainfield region of Union County.

“This roadway services important institutions such as the Muhlenberg Campus of the JFK Medical Center, the Plainfield Boys Club, numerous businesses, churches and residences,” Estrada said. “It’s a heavily traveled area with plenty of pedestrians and drivers that will benefit from these safety improvements.”

Assemblyman Gerald Green (D-22), who also supported and urged the improvements, agreed.

“Besides protecting our residents, this investment will also improve the flow of commerce and commuter traffic in an area that is economically important for jobs and health services,” Green said. “This is a win-win situation for Plainfield and Union County as a whole.”

Freeholder Linda Carter, a resident of Plainfield, joined Green and Estrada in hailing the news of funding for the project.

“Providing safer intersections has a positive effect that will also positively impact a number of  economic and quality of life factors, as pedestrians will be able to get to work, visit their church, get home quicker or to the business they may be shopping or using,” Carter said. “

The improvements will include new traffic signal equipment consisting of 12” LED signals; vehicle image detection, traffic signal controllers and cabinets, battery back-up power, traffic signal poles and mast arms with mounted street name signs, LED pedestrian countdown signals and push buttons.

Also included will be new pavement markings, regulatory and warning signs, high visibility crosswalks, construction of ADA compliant handicapped ramps including detectable warning surfaces and NJDEP compliant storm water management upgrades.

Top 50 Most Powerful Elected Officials

After reading today’s blog, I want to thank all, as Chairman of the Union County party and the people of the City of Plainfield who have been very supportive me over the years. Being an elected official for over thirty years and never been accused or convicted of doing anything wrong, to me, that makes me proud. That I have been able to accomplish this. I showed the people of Union County, that not only as the Chairman for the party, I can be a person they can be proud of. 

Yesterday, we had a packed house at our annual breakfast, from U.S. Senator Cory Booker to Congressional candidate and those running county-wide. They all came together under my leadership to move Union County in the right direction. The hardest thing that I have to work through is periodically a handful of people will try to drown me in  negative comments. Recently, because of my success in Union County in representing the County of Union, I have chosen to ignore these outlandish and childish remarks that are not true. The most common remark being that I have done nothing for the City of Plainfield. Because of my efforts for the City of Plainfield within the last years, I was able to bring in 1.5 billions dollars to help our children of Plainfield. When it came to our train station, I was able to seek funds to bring both stations up to date and make them what I consider stations that we can be proud of. As a Freeholder, I was able to bring Union County College into Plainfield. Currently, I am working on securing 6 million to expand the colleges. So when people question what I have done, my question is what have they done? As Democratic Chairman, the biggest laugh I get, to me it’s a joke, that I do not support all the candidates on column A, when that is my job to do so. Even when some of them have chosen to be negative to the party and myself personally. 

As of today, it has been brought to my attention that I was ranked as one of the 50 most powerful elected officials of 2014. I take great honor of being part of that group. All these individuals that have taken part in trying to embarrass me & I did not even see their names on the lists. So again, I wanted to thank everyone in Plainfield who have been highly supportive of me. I want to go on record in saying that I am proud of the fact that I will continue to do what will be for the good for the County of Union and especially for the City of Plainfield. Unfortunately, I have 20 other owns who support me totally. So it is embarrassing to me and to the people of Union County, when a few people in this town will try everything in their power with their same negative remarks to destroy my reputation, when my reputation speaks for itself.  [http://politickernj.com/2014/10/politickernjs-50-most-powerful-elected-officials-2014/ ]

Democratic Bill to Promote Cost-Cutting Small Business Improvements Gets Panel OK

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Democrats Troy Singleton, Herb Conaway Jr., Paul Moriarty, Jerry Green, Pamela Lampitt and Vincent Mazzeo sponsored to facilitate cost-effective environmentally-friendly improvements for small businesses was advanced Thursday by an Assembly panel.

“Making their locations more energy efficient has the potential to save small businesses thousands of dollars each year,” said Singleton (D-Burlington). “This legislation will go a long way toward helping to keep the costs of lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and other similar expenses at a minimum and increasing overall profitability for small businesses in New Jersey.”

The bill (A-943) would permit small businesses to qualify for New Jersey Economic Development Authority loans to cover the costs of conducting energy audits and making energy efficiency and conservation improvements.

“Energy efficient upgrades can reduce operating costs for small businesses while also making them eligible for the additional benefit of tax credits,” said Conaway (D-Burlington). “In coupling the advantages for our economy and our environment, this bill presents a simple yet significant way to move New Jersey forward.”

In consultation with the Department of Community Affairs and the Board of Public Utilities, the NJEDA would be permitted to establish and administer low-interest loans to small businesses for 100 percent of any unreimbursed costs of an energy audit conducted by a licensed contractor and for 100 percent of any unreimbursed costs of the purchase and installation of energy or conservation equipment deemed necessary as a result of the energy audit.

The bill defines a “low-interest loan” as a loan for a maximum 10-year term at a maximum rate of either 3 percent or one-half of the prime interest rate reported in a financial newspaper published and circulating in New York City, whichever is greater.

“For most small businesses, energy costs rank among the top operating expenses, so keeping those bills as low as possible can make a real difference for a business’s bottom line,” said Moriarty (D-Camden/Gloucester). “This legislation will help businesses reduce their costs as well as their carbon footprints.”

“More and more, entrepreneurs are realizing that environmental leadership is fundamental to an effective modern business model,” said Green (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union). “Regardless of whether they are primarily motivated by saving the environment or by saving money, this bill will enable small business owners to rein in on wasteful practices.”

“As we move toward an economy in which sustainability is increasingly a principal factor, it’s becoming clear that going green can help a small business stay in the black,” said Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington). “By supporting energy efficient transitions for New Jersey’s small businesses, this legislation will give New Jersey’s economy a competitive edge, and it will also be essential in our fight against climate change.”

“Like small business owners all over the state, I’m constantly thinking about how to manage costs effectively so that ultimately I can both make payroll and provide customers with the best service,” said Mazzeo (D-Atlantic), owner of B.F. Mazzeo. “Through this legislation, small business owners in New Jersey will be able to save on operating costs and market to a client base that values environmental sustainability.”   

The measure was released by the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee.