| As exciting as it was to bring Barack Obama to Jersey City this past January, it was even more exciting recently, in Denver, when I was fortunate enough to witness history in the making at the Democratic National Convention.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be among tens of thousands of fellow cheering supporters as Barack Obama accepted the nomination to carry our party's message of progressive change in this year's Presidential election. As one of Obama's earliest supporters here in New Jersey and as co-coordinator of his statewide campaign, it was an especially heartening moment.
It might be hard for the cynics to understand, but all of us truly are fired up and ready to go. And I'm sure you are, too.
Barack Obama reaches out to bring people together, and he doesn't care who gets the credit. He understands our struggles and the needs of America's cities from his work with the community on the South Side of Chicago. So much of Obama's credibility comes from his own experience of having worked hard to overcome the challenges of his own life. Like all good leaders, he's focused on real solutions - not the political gimmickry that sadly, and far too often, is the case in politics from the national level all the way down to our local communities.
Barack Obama speaking in Jersey City in January
I first had the privilege of meeting Barack Obama about a year and a half ago. I spent a half-hour in his office down in Washington, D.C. There were only three or four people in the room and we connected immediately. This past week, I had a good laugh when it struck me that my first meeting with our next President lasted about the same amount of time that John McCain sat cumulatively with Sarah Palin before naming her as his running mate. And Jersey City has a slightly bigger population than Wasilla, Alaska. Not that I'm offended or anything about not being picked for Vice-President, because I'm focused on making Jersey City greener, cleaner, safer and more prosperous.
During that very first conversation with Barack Obama, I was quickly convinced he was the right person to get past the old politics and restore our nation to its rightful place as the respected moral leader of the free world. I knew right then and there that I would support him and do all I could to help him be our next president. Because Barack Obama shares the same values I do. He will end the partisan bickering that has dominated D.C. and bring real results for our families and our cities.
Last May, I proudly stood alongside Barack Obama and my good friend Mayor Cory Booker in Teterboro. Together, we called for the creation of an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to rehabilitate and construct brand new rental housing in areas near job opportunities and public transportation. Today, far too many low-income families find themselves priced out of the housing market. Obama's proposal would build up to 14,000 new affordable units each and every year in mixed income neighborhoods all across the country. This would also provide a much-needed economic boost for our cities here in New Jersey. This push is just one of many important initiatives that Barack Obama will bring about to help revitalize our cities. Particularly, I look forward to finally working with an administration that will help combat the plague of illegal guns on our streets.
I am proud to be one of the 15 founding members of the bi-partisan "Mayors Against Illegal Guns." Today, the group has grown to more than 250 mayors nationwide - all committed to ridding our city streets of illegal guns. But, the truth is that I wish such a group was not needed. However, in the glaring absence of leadership from the Bush White House, those of us at the local level are stepping up to lead this fight. In Jersey City we launched "Operation Lifesaver" - a gun buyback and amnesty program - which eliminated 897 guns from our streets. We also passed two city ordinances aimed at reducing the number of illegal guns on our streets. The first requires gun owners to report a handgun lost or stolen within 48 hours and I'm pleased that the State of New Jersey enacted legislation paralleling our law. The other ordinance would restrict handgun purchases to one a month. Unanimously passed by the City Council, this initiative was struck down by the New Jersey Superior Court. We're currently on appeal and will continue to fight the NRA on this matter. Nonetheless, the State Legislature is poised to adopt this legislation, making it the law of the entire state.
What we're doing in Jersey City is clearly working. Last year, crime was down nearly 12% from the prior year - including a 40% decrease in homicides. There were also fewer burglaries and motor vehicle thefts than Jersey City has experienced in fifteen years. I'm proud of what we've accomplished. But I also know our job would be a whole lot easier with a partner in the White House who is committed to cracking down on crime and illegal guns. I look forward to a day - not too far off - when we have a President who will support our efforts to end gun violence and to look out for the less fortunate.
Barack Obama inspires me, as I am sure he inspires you. He is the leader our nation needs at this important moment. And he has the skills and vision for our country that, frankly, the opposition does not. John McCain is trying to fool the voters into believing he's a reformer and a maverick. But, his actions speak quite differently. The truth is that John McCain has stood side by side with President Bush for these past eight years. And he would only bring about the equivalent of a third term of Bush-Cheney.
I know that Barack Obama will fight for our families and our security. He'll fight for our cities and for all our future. And I also know that every Democrat all across the country - and especially here in New Jersey - is fired up and ready to go over these next two months. |
