| The Annual Report by the Department of the Public Advocate was released to the NJ citizenry this month. And if newly-annointed Assistant Republican Whip Assemblyman Gary Chiusano (LD-24) has his way, it will be the last one the public ever sees. Chiusano just introduced A167, to abolish the Public Advocate's office entirely by Executive Order of the Governor.
Public Advocate's a fairly trim Department. Budget a little north of $16 million, 166 f/t employees. That includes the Office of the Child Advocate which A167 doesn't call for the end of, but Christie's transition team did (page 15 of their Report). Almost $6 million is for Rate Counsel, which is industry assessed (not taxpayer funded). Most of the costs would remain if the Department was closed, because functions of the department would be moved elsewhere.
So let's look at what would be missing if this happens: a designated referee to ensure that New Jerseyans won't get steamrolled by the very government they pay taxes to fuel. The Public Advocate's office, reinstated 4 years ago by Codey, exists to make the systems of the state accountable and workable on our behalf. What we'll miss if this goes through is that it's someone's job - to have that responsibility to us.
The Public Advocate has always been a sore spot for the GOP. Richard Merkt has brought a bill every year to kill it (he'll likely jump in with a Senate version).
We're all going to be grappling with some hard choices the next 4 years. Good reform should come from both parties. But I don't think Chiusano's bill is a function of GOP cost-cutting, or streamlining to a sleeker, more efficient state. I think this is about GOP mindset, a comfort level in that party that says people should be expecting less of their government anyway, so why pay for an Advocate who helps people navigate to expect their government to be more? Funny thing is, the Public Advocate is an equal-opportunity offender in terms of party upset; the Republicans don't like its voting work, and the Democrats aren't wild about the eminent domain work. And that probably means the Public Advocate's office is doing right things.
So, what are those things? Pulling just from the first couple pages of the Public Advocate's annual report, look at the following: |
Investigation impact of lead poisoning on NJ kids, leads to screening nearly 32,000 children?
Info campaign to let tenants know they don't have to go homeless if the buildings they live in go into foreclosure?
Legal representation in thousands of involuntary commitment hearings for people who may be mentally ill, and advocacy for developmentally disabled.
Stopping a large Assisted Living facility from illegally discharging residents after they'd spent their life savings there, and had to convert to Medicaid.
Protecting families against eminent domain abuse with research, getting tougher standards for when property can be designated "blighted", and cases in the Supreme & Appellate courts.
Publishing a Beach Guide on where fees are and for what amenities.
NJ's Public Advocate himself, Ron Chen, is already gone, he'll be Rutgers Law School, Newark law professor. But let's keep that position alive. It probably isn't worth reasoning with Asm Chiusano but here's how you can find your own to talk to. |
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