Gary Chiusano & Alison Littell McHose - give them a call

Thanks Rosi! (0.00 / 0)

As someone who until very recently worked at the Public Advocate, I know first hand the excellent work they do there. The people of New Jersey need and deserve a Public Advocate, and the hard working people at the Public Advocate deserve to be treated with more respect.

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by: Mike Premo @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 01:04:21 AM UTC

Public Advocate (0.00 / 0)

Unfortunately, Christie has become a water carrier for these far-right Republicans Chiusano and McHose.  Specifically, he made a proposal in his fiscal speech on Thursday to illegally abolish the Department.

I would respectfully suggest that calls to Chusano & McHose should also be accompanied by calls, emails, faxes, and in-district visits  to Senator Buono and Speaker Oliver.

In my view, pressure on them will yield the greatest payoff in fighting back against the Governor's unconstitutional, dead-on-arrival, proposal.

The people of the State, along with leadership of both the Democratic and Republican parties, still owe an immense debt of gratitude to the DPA for how the Department has conducted itself over the past 3 years, something they should remember in these trying times.

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by: Travis Tea @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 04:41:58 AM UTC

Travis Tea's suggestions (plus mine) (0.00 / 0)

Barbara Buono contact & staff info. Buono chairs Legislative Oversight.

Paul Sarlo contact info. Sarlo chairs Budget & Appropriations.

Sheila Oliver contact info.

Thanks, TT. Good suggestions.  

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 06:45:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

as long as... (0.00 / 0)

...McHose fertilizes my crops in Farmville, I don't need to call her.

In all seriousness, I'm sure the Public Advocate's office does some nice things, but I don't see why it can't be done by other people.

I'm not an expert by any means on the Public Advocates office, but isn't that why the legislators and the governor have constituent relations staffers? aren't those staffers supposed to hear the concerns of the people and help the legislators solve those problems?

I won't mind keeping the Public Advocates office as long as we cut the budget for legislators/governor for constituent relations.  There's no need for taxpayer funded campaigning like that.

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by: southernbluedog @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 13:23:24 PM UTC

She and I are farmVille pals too (0.00 / 0)

but to address SBD's concern  (eg: 'I don't see why it can't be done by other people') let me just say this:  there ARE people who COULD all the things the Public Advocate does.  Unfortunately they never do it which makes the PA job so important to those it helps.

Face it:  when a grotesque civil rights violation happens in a GOP district, do you really think that Senator Teabagger is gonna get up and advocate for them?  Likewise, when a poor family loses their home to eminent domain do you really think the dual office holding machine Democratic tool is going to care?  

So until poor people can afford their own lobby outfits, the Public Advocate can be a Godsend.

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 14:12:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

jay (0.00 / 0)

if those people aren't doing their jobs, why are they still employed by the state? i have no problem with keeping the public advocate's office, but we need to get rid of the people who aren't doing their jobs. thats why government is broken.  i have no problem with someone getting a job because they know someone, but damnit, they better be able to do the job.

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by: southernbluedog @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 20:47:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

are we... (0.00 / 0)

.....farmVille neighbors?

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 21:06:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

short answer? (0.00 / 0)

yes

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by: southernbluedog @ Fri Jun 11, 2010 at 11:56:07 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Southernbluedog (0.00 / 0)

Take a look at the Public Advocate's 2009 Annual Report - it will give you a very good idea what they do: http://www.state.nj.us/publica...

Also, while many Republican legislators bemoan the existence of the Public Advocate, that sure as hell doesn't stop them from sending their more difficult constituent cases to the Public Advocate. So when you hear a legislator saying we don't need the Public Advocate, someone should ask them how many times they've reached out the Department for help.

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by: Mike Premo @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 15:29:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

A light into dark alleys (0.00 / 0)

The Public Advocate's office has long been a punching bag for governors. It suffered one knock out, came back into service, and now appears down for the count.

It serves as a light into dark alleys where a governor may not want to look.  It provides not only transparency but relief  where injustice might otherwise go unchallenged.

It is particularly ironic when a "rule of law" governor who prosecuted injustice is so quick to knock out a key instrument of justice.

Possibly, since our Governor-General knows what is right for us, he sees no need for a light into dark alleys.

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." - Sen. Ted Kennedy

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by: Bill Orr @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 14:15:29 PM UTC