Why is Gordon Johnson a TV star for the railroads ?

by: FogerRox

Sat Jun 28, 2008 at 11:24:35 PM EDT

It was recently pointed out that Gordon Johnson did a print ad for Freight Rail Works, and that was a conflict of interest. Apparently on Jupiter, not Planet Earth.

The most nefarious charge was:

I am suspicious because if there were no conflict, why did he use the title he used (retired sheriff)  instead of assemblyman or councilman?

Final LD37 Clean Elections Debate

by: carolh

Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 02:24:03 PM EDT

This one will be held at Bergen Community College in Paramus.

Doors open  -  6:30pm
Debate begins - 7:00pm.

This one will be quite different than the last one.  It will be sponsored by the RECORD newspaper as well as the League of Women Voters.

The moderator will be the famous Alfred Doblin, Editorial Page Editor of the Record.

Two well-known Record Columnists are rumored to be questioning the candidates. Charles Stile and Mary Ellen Schoonmaker are presumed to be the questioners.

The Assembly candidates will debate first.  The Senate debate will follow the conclusion of the Assembly debate.

The questions will be asked first by the Record reporters, then the League of women voters will be reading written questions from the audience.

So, here's your last chance before the election to ask the Clean Elections candidates questions. 

Any other questions we should ask?
 

The "Merry Band of Reformers"

by: carolh

Wed Oct 17, 2007 at 09:11:12 AM EDT

http://www.nj.com/st...

While Senator Weinberg's opponent Clara "Naive" Nibot is listening to the whisperings of the Ferrierocrats and making herself look absolutely absurd in the process - while Nibot is busy complaining that the Senator is trying to investigate corruption and how dare the incumbents actually use the Clean Elections Funds they earned, and while PoliticsNJ readily posts nonsensical, inaccurate rants from the R campaign, the Star Ledger's Tom Moran writes an article that completely and totally nails the current situation by explaining exactly what we are trying to do up here in the 37th. 

Thank you, Mr. Moran.  It is greatly appreciated, indeed.  You made my day! :)

The Senator Responds

by: carolh

Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:50:36 PM EDT

http://politicsnj.co...

However, Senator Weinberg has an answer to that, and here is what she had to say to the Party Boss Joe Ferriero:

Dear Chairman Ferriero,

I too read with great interest the copy of your letter to Assemblyman/Councilman Johnson.

With all due respect to you, I'd like to bring you back to reality.  You mentioned the various health care pacs, lobbyists and big tobacco companies who have contributed to me which you must have researched over the 15 years I've been in the legislature.  Since I was the prime sponsor in the Assembly for many years which resulted in the Clean Indoor Air Act, signed by Governor Richard Codey, I'm assuming that the one small contribution I received many years ago from Philip Morris was not well spent on their part.  Please be aware that I returned the Enron check to that sorry corporation soon after receiving it with a note stating that their check should be re-deposited and given to their workers who were left "high and dry".  I guess the insurance companies who were forced to pay for 48 hour care for moms and their babies or for mammograms for women under 40, couldn't be too happy with me either.  I guess the restaurant lobby decided that .08 BAC was not so bad after all. 

Mr. Ferriero the reality of the situation is you can't have it both ways.  You can't criticize me for accepting so-called "special interest" money and then try to criticize me for not accepting special interest money and becoming a Clean Elections candidate.  Please don't try to be on both sides of this fence.

Let me clarify once again our position on dual office holding.  Our call is for a full-time legislature so that State Legislators, some of whom who hold six outside jobs which could present conflicts, would have to choose to give up those positions.  These are the kinds of excesses we hope to cure with a full-time legislature.

May I also point out that each of the seven points we put forth to help clean up the mess of which you are an integral part, covers all those law firms and individual lawyers, Republican and Democrat, who do business in the shadow governments in the state of New Jersey. My goodness with all the fuss you're making, do you have a problem with transparency and accountability?  That is all this program calls for.  We would hope that you  join us in calling for public service to again become a public mission rather than a profit-making machine at the expense of the hard working taxpayers we all represent.

Sincerely,

Loretta Weinberg, State Senator, District 37

Senator Weinberg announces 1st Clean Elections Deadline Met Today

by: carolh

Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 11:39:20 PM EDT

History in the making - again!

Today at 11:00 am in front of the Weinberg, Johnson, Huttle campaign HQ on Cedar Lane in Teaneck, Senator Weinberg and her running mates announced they have met the first hurdle in qualifying for Clean Elections funds.

The numbers:

Democrats:
Senator Loretta Weinberg 452
Assemblyman Gordon Johnson 428
Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle 430

Republicans:
Clara S. Nibot for Senate- 162
Frank Cifferelli for Assembly - 56
Wojciech J. Siemaszkiewicz for Assembly - 78

To give some perspective - because Weinberg's team participated in the Primary in June, they could not start qualifying for Clean Elections money until AFTER the primary.  Meanwhile - their Republican opponents, who started in April  (several MONTHS before the Weinberg team) could not even raise 400 qualifying contributions in that time.

Folks today said they actually felt sorry for the Republicans, because the results on their part were so pathetic.  And so  after being accused of not wanting to participate in clean elections by their opponents, the Weinberg team handily beat the Republicans in Clean Elections donations in a much shorter time. 

Todays press conference was great - Senator Weinberg explained that the Clean Elections milestone was an important one to hit because it shows the voters that NO SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY will be used in this election.  Their commitment to ending Pay-To-Play is serious.  It was fitting, the Senator pointed out, that the announcement was made in Teaneck, where efforts to stop the practice of Pay-To-Play are underway. 

The real star of the Press Conference was LD37 District registered voter Frances Levine who - curious about the hubbub going on in front of the HQ while walking to the butcher shop on Cedar Lane, asked what was going on.  Senator Weinberg explained the Clean Elections program to her on the spot - right in front of NJN news cameras.  Ms. Levine wanted to donate right then and there.  Opponents could have accused this of being a setup - but Ms. Levine was for real. You couldn't have asked for a better scenario to show how the Clean Elections campaign works by asking a voter on the street for her vote.  Frances pretty much won everybody's heart right then and there. 

When asked by reporters from NJN what worked about the program, Gordon Johnson said it improved "face time" with the average voter.  Not having to worry about raising so much money increased the amount of time he spent with each voter asking for their support - and ten dollars.  He said it takes about 20 minutes per voter - just to explain the program and do the paperwork right. 

The main downside of the current program is the sheer amount of paperwork involved.  Reports must be given in EVERY WEEK.  That is a lot of work for the staff of the candidates.  It was downright brutal - paperwork wise for the accountants.  You would think it would be easy to raise only ten dollars from folks but as Assemblywoman Huttle stated - you have to explain to a married couple that instead of just making out one check for 60 bucks and one form - they have to make out 6 (six) checks and fill out 6 (six) different forms. 

The idea is great, some kinks need to be worked out, but the absolute best payback is that in November - the Clean Elections Candidates get that moniker next to their names on the ballot AND a 250 word statement on the sample ballot.  It is like getting free advertising.  Weinberg, Huttle and Johnson qualified for that - their Republican opponents did not.

Senator Weinberg's team met the first hurdle.  But now we have the next deadline coming up - September 30, 2007.  So PLEASE if you have friends who haven't given their money in - they can still do so UNTIL SEPT 30.  That qualifies the Clean Elections Candidates for the next round of funds. They need 400 more registered voters in District 37.  So get calling, tell your friends and family they still can participate.  This is NOT OVER - it's just beginning. 

Now folks know the Weinberg team is serious about fighting Pay-To-Play.  Lets help them out, what do you say?

Clean Elections in LD37 - The moment you've all been waiting for!

by: carolh

Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 06:46:13 PM EDT

If you live in one of the following towns - you are in Legislative District 37 and can participate in this historic election:

Bergenfield, Bogota, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Hackensack, Leonia, Maywood, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park, Rochelle Park, Teaneck and Tenafly.

I was mailed the forms but you can download them here:

http://www.elec.stat...

At the top of each form  (you'll need one for each candidate) -write in:

Clean Election Fund of Loretta Weinberg for Senate
Clean Election Fund of Gordon M. Johnson for Assembly
Clean Election Fund of Valerie Vaineiri Huttle for Assembly

Fill out and sign all 3 forms.

Make out 3 SEPARATE checks to

1) Clean Election Fund of Loretta Weinberg
2) Clean Election Fund of Gordon M. Johnson
3) Clean Election Fund of Valerie Huttle

Mail all 3 forms and 3 checks (snailmail) to:

P.O. Box 3392, Teaneck, NJ 07666

USE 2 STAMPS

The GOOD NEWS: 
You only need to send in $10 for each candidate.
You don't have to be a registered Democrat to participate.

The BAD NEWS:
You can only send in $10 per candidate.
You must be a REGISTERED VOTER in LD 37. 

DEADLINES:
August 10th -  The first 400 contributions to each candidate in by this deadline allows the candidates to have the name "Clean Elections Candidate" printed on the ballot alongside of each candidate's name with an accompanying 250 word candidate statement.  - it's like free advertising right in the voting booth.  That first 400 donors for each candidate, also gets each candidate the first $50,000 installment of Clean Elections campaign grant money.

September 30 - A total of 800 separate $10 donations to each candidate must be in and completed in order to fully qualify for the entire $100,000 in campaign grant money for each candidate.
 

In bitterly contested primaries, 13 of 15 Garden State Equality-endorsed candidates win

by: Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality chair

Wed Jun 06, 2007 at 12:37:12 AM EDT

How Garden State Equality's endorsed candidates did: 

District 31 (Hudson County)
Sandra Bolden Cunningham for Senate - WINS
L. Harvey Smith for Assembly - WINS 
Nicholas Chiaravalloti - LOSES

District 32 (Hudson County)
Joan Quigley for Assembly - WINS 
Vincent Prieto for Assembly - WINS 

District 33 (Hudson County)
Brian Stack for Senate - WINS 
Ruben Ramos for Assembly - WINS
Carrie Rodriguez for Assembly - WINS 

District 28 (Essex County)
Cleo Tucker for Assembly - WINS

District 29 (Essex County)
Teresa Ruiz for Senate - WINS
L. Grace Spencer for Assembly - WINS
Wilfredo Caraballo - LOSES 

District 37 (Bergen County)
Loretta Weinberg for Senate - WINS
Valerie Vainieri Huttle for Assembly - WINS
Gordon Johnson for Assembly - WINS
[In this closely fought primary, their opponents dropped out before tonight.]

"As tonight's results show, ending discrimination in marriage is not only the correct position to advocate," said Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality, "but it's also the politically beneficial position in our progressive state.  Never in the history of New Jersey has advocacy for LGBT rights ever been a political liability, and that certainly holds true tonight." 

Garden State Equality, along with the New Jersey Stonewall Democrats and the Hudson Diversity Action Council, were united in their endorsements of tonight's pro-marriage equality victors.  In the Hudson County races, Garden State Equality congratulates the Hudson Diversity Action Council for its tremendous grassroots work. 

In the most closely fought Democratic primary in the state today, Sandy Cunningham defeated Assemblyman Lou Manzo for state Senate in the 31st district in Hudson County. 

"When candidates stand by us, we're as loyal as any community in the state," said Barbra Casbar Siperstein, president of New Jersey Stonewall Democrats.  "When they turn their backs on equality, they're going to pay the price." 

In the 33rd legislative district in Hudson County, the insurgent team headed by Brian Stack for Senate, and Carrie Rodriguez and Ruben Ramos for Assembly, beat the legendary Hudson County Democratic Organization in an overwhelming victory.  All had the strong support of Garden State Equality, Hudson Diversity Action Council and New Jersey Stonewall Democrats. 

In Essex County, Cleo Tucker won her Assembly race in the 28th district, and Teresa Ruiz and L. Grace Spencer won for Senate and Assembly respectively in the 29th district.  They had the endorsements of Garden State Equality and New Jersey Stonewall Democrats. 

The biggest loss of the night for civil rights supporters, including the LGBTI community, was that of Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Wilfredo Caraballo.  After a dispute with local Democratic leaders, he ran alone, not on any ticket, and had an extraordinarily uphill battle. 

"Our love for Fred Caraballo is profound.  He's been one of the most brilliant, compassionate and effective civil rights champions in all America," said Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality.  "He has given his life to help the disinherited, disenchanted and dispossessed.  He's too talented and too wonderful a man not to have another chapter in his public service career, and we are excited to work with him in whatever capacity in the years ahead."

In Bergen County, Senator Loretta Weinberg, a hero to the LGBTI community who has sponsored every major LGBTI civil rights law in her 15 years in the legislature, won, as did her equally terrific running mates, Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson.  Just a few weeks ago, their primary looked like it would be the hottest primary of the year.

But in a grassroots victory for labor and progressive organizations, Loretta, Valerie and Gordon's opponents dropped out in April.

Real Bergen Democrats Statement

by: Juan Melli

Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 04:20:00 PM EDT

As we await the court's ruling on the final outcome of the Bergen County Democratic Primary ballot on May 4, we would like to make our position clear.

From the very start of this campaign we have been committed to making our party stronger by making it more open and inclusive.  That hasn't and never will change.

To that end we created the Real Bergen Democrats as a vehicle for bottom up reform.  We never agreed to dismantle that line and we continue to strongly support all the local municipal candidates running as Real Bergen Democrats.

We have no doubt, as all objective observers agree, that we would have decisively won a contested primary.  That is why we agreed to accept the resignations of the BCDO supported legislative candidates whose continued candidacies would have caused enormous resources to be squandered only to end up where we are now. Therefore, we agreed to move to the BCDO column. 

However, the BCDO never submitted the proper paperwork to our slate in order to legally move our ballot position.  As a matter of fact, the BCDO twice sent us paperwork that was incorrect, and if filed, would likely have resulted in the disqualification of all of our candidacies.

The current situation is solely the result of the BCDO's mishandling of the legal process required to change ballot positions.  We always were, and still are, prepared to stand by our agreement to move into the BCDO column as long as the move meets all legal requirements and preserves the right of the Real Bergen Democrats County and Municipal Candidates to run in a unified column.

BCDOh My God

by: Juan Melli

Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 05:27:14 PM EDT

Connecting the imaginary dots?

by: dfa_lewis

Sun Apr 15, 2007 at 05:41:48 PM EDT

This [deal] would ordinarily be good news for Hillary Clinton because Weinberg's coalition would probably favor her in most cases. But it may be better news for Obama, who is more leftist than Clinton and possibly even more appealing to Weinberg's supporters.

However, you'll recall that a month ago, Corzine had this to say:

"It's a different situation this time," he said. "I have tended to choose not to get into party fights. I think Loretta Weinberg is an outstanding senator."

Good Idea/Bad Idea

by: Juan Melli

Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 10:02:47 AM EDT

Good idea: Getting your voters to vote for you.
Bad idea:

A loss for Ferriero's candidates in the primary would have marked a significant defeat for the chairman, who has grown accustomed to robust fund raising and history-making victories.

In recent days, his organization had taken the unusual -- some would say desperate -- step of asking Republicans to switch their allegiance to his party before Primary Day so they could vote for Wildes.

Max Prager, a prominent member of the Englewood Jewish community, sent a letter to about 75 Republican friends, stamped by the Democratic Organization's postage meter, urging them to re-register as Democrats, if only for a day, to support Wildes.

"Obviously, there's something not right," said Elaine Yaffe, an Englewood Republican who received a call urging her to become a temporary Democrat. "Going to ask someone to change their affiliation? For one day? Too outrageous for me."

And before anyone says that this was about reaching out to win over new voters, keep in mind these people were sent two voter registration forms - one so they could switch their party affiliation to Democrat, and another so they could switch back. Someone's been taking party-building classes at the Michael Brown School of Disaster Preparation again!

Joe Blinked

by: carolh

Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 05:46:27 PM EDT

Well, the Governor was going to be there, so there was probably going to be a lot of folks there. I had a rare free day to go.  It was fate - I had to go because I actually could.  So I put on my lucky yellow raincoat - the one I wore to my very first Howard Dean meetup - and the very last one I found for sale on Cape May during Hurricane Floyd.

Surprisingly, the room was half empty, but all the key players from each camp were present - and the full press.  Star Ledger, Record, TV.  This was historic.  The Democratic Machine-backed candidates for State Senate and Assembly were actually withdrawing after the BCDO convention that elected them.  The Bergen County Democratic Boss was admitting defeat before a single vote in the Primary had even been cast.  The reason given was Party Unity.  Uniting to run against the Republicans. (Who?) Making up, avoiding a rift, all that stuff.  It was explained as a family fight that was being resolved.  Governor Corzine and Congressman Rothman were apparently brokering peace between the Weinberg and Ferriero camps like we were in the Middle East.  Governor Corzine explained how he made many phone calls to ease the tension between the camps.  While Governor Corzine was remarking on the current "angst" in the Bergen Democratic Party, a whole stack of chairs fell over on the side of the room with a crash. The Governor did make a clear point of explaining how he is STILL against pay-to-play and dual office holding, and that he differs from Joe Ferriero on that important point.  He mentioned that this race is also going to be a Clean Elections race.

The real moments of humor were of course Joe joking as usual.  I don't know if anyone realizes just how FUNNY these BCDO things are.  When we are all in the same room together, it is not all glaring and tight-lipped silence.  We actually bust on each other.  It is usually quite entertaining. Joe usually can be quite charming when he needs to be.  And boy did he need to be today.  But the best moments were actually provided by Michael Wildes and Ken Zisa.  Ken mentioning that he was still out campaigning that morning when he got the phonecall. (Poor Ken - he was always the last to know.)  Wildes at first seemed unusually humble and then managed to say that "we would've won" in his speech.  That was funny in itself, but the uncontained laughter of a few folks on the left side of the room after he said it was just priceless. 

During and after the speeches, everybody hugged, it was a feel good, photo-op moment to show our Governor we were all making the effort to get along nice like. (I secretly suspect that this was all a ruse so Michael Wildes could get the one most valuable photo-op that has eluded him all these years - he and Loretta in the same picture). I had the hardest time keeping a straight face during the speeches though, I kept seeing the Englewood Report's photoshop images in my head of Senator Coniglio and Ferriero and Wildes, Zisa and Wilson.  I just could not get those images out of my head. 

My take:  We were in the middle of a big family fight and Governor Corzine had invited Senator Clinton to dinner.  He would be horrified if we all started throwing dinner rolls at each other across the table with Presidential Candidate company there and all.  It would be quite embarassing.  I don't blame him for being concerned.  Bergen County is a big necessary chunk of the NJ electorate to win over.  But the thing is, the Weinberg camp would have won handily.  Joe just couldn't stand to lose the Primary.  It saved face for the BCDO organization - temporarily. But there is still the matter of Pay-To-Play though.  I'd have to say that is still the biggest division between the Ferriero supporters and the Weinberg supporters. 

This early concession could be due to Michael wanting to save up for his race against Rothman next year.  Or maybe the Ferriero camp gave in so we would stop digging?  Digging for answers? Digging into Ken Zisa's ELEC reports?  Digging to locate Dennis Ourey's undisclosed bunker?  Digging to see who gave what to whom or where the BCDO money really goes?  I found it very interesting that several speeches mentioned the 39th and 40th districts and how we need to elect Dems in those districts.  The money from those districts last year went to the Borgata - remember? 

Like my favorite fortune cookie said - "Love all.  Trust a few."  Lots of love flowing at 50 Main Street in Hackensack today.  Trust? well, that takes a little more time.

Statement From Labor and Progressive Grassroots on the 37th

by: Juan Melli

Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 02:14:10 PM EDT

That is why we won this battle.  That is why this victory is so important.  And we are not yet done.

This campaign saw the heart and soul of the Democratic Party and its allies stand together in an unyielding coalition of the inspired.  From labor organizations representing thousands of hard working women and men to progressive groups representing environmentalists, civil rights advocates, consumers and other grass and net roots groups to local Democratic elected officials and volunteers, this fight brought together people all across this district, this county and this state. 

Our strength was not in the contributions we could bundle nor in the contracts we controlled; our strength is in the people we can muster to talk to other voters, our strength is in the hard work we can pour into a campaign and our strength is that the candidates we supported had the respect of the voters they serve.

Loretta Weinberg, Gordon Johnson and Valerie Vainieri Huttle share our values.  More than sharing those values, Loretta, Gordon and Valerie have put those values to work as our legislators.

This victory clearly demonstrates that business as usual in Bergen County Democratic insider politics must change.  That it is time to open the back room door to let in some fresh air.

We welcome the leadership of the Bergen County Democratic Organization to recognize those lessons so that we can move forward to concentrate on the issues and causes that can change people's lives for the better.

Signed:

Charles Mattson, President, Bergen County Central Trades and Labor Council

Paul Eisenman, Bergen Grassroots

Juan Melli, Blue Jersey

Marcia Marley, Blue Wave NJ

Bob Master, Legislative Director, Communications Workers of America, District One

Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality

Ann Twomey, President, Health Professionals and Allied Employees/AFT/AFL-CIO

Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, Exec. Director, New Jersey Citizen Action

Pedro Rivas, President, NJ ACORN

Amy Goldsmith, State Director, NJ Environmental Federation

Jeff Gardner and Rosi Efthim, NJ for Democracy

David McCann, Exec Director SEIU NJ State Council

Patricia Campos, Director UNITE HERE NJ State Council

BCDO Slate to Withdraw in the 37th

by: Juan Melli

Wed Apr 11, 2007 at 06:49:07 PM EDT

Update: PoliticsNJ confirms the news. So does the Record. This is curious, isn't it?

In February, a poll paid for by the Weinberg campaign and posted on a liberal Web site suggested that Weinberg had a 44 percentage-point lead over Wildes, 64 percent to 20 percent.

"If there was polling showing her with 64 percent of the vote, she's clearly unbeatable," said Rick Shaftan, a Republican strategist. [...]

Meanwhile, the county party appeared to be behind a recent campaign encouraging Republicans in the district to register as Democrats and vote for Wildes in the primary.

Update 2: Teaneck Blog gives their take:

The most relieved people in Teaneck may be found in the Municipal Building, where certain Council members may be pleased that they will not be called upon to risk crossing constituents by bashing Weinberg & Co. in a compulsory public demonstration of loyalty to Joseph Ferriero and the BCDO. Phew!

Michael Wildes' New York State of Mind

by: Joshua Henne

Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 06:01:24 PM EDT

Now, I was never that great at geography when they broke out the maps and globes in 4th grade.  But, if I'm not mistaken, Englewood is located in New Jersey. Which means that their phone number ought to fall in the "201" area code (or at the very least "973" or "862").

Imagine my confusion upon stumbling across this masthead found on the Mayor's very own Michael Wildes for Senate website.

347? Hmmmm... Did New Jersey get yet another area code for new cell phone numbers? I know Bergen County is no longer just limited to 201, but 347? I only know one person with a 347 area code... and she lives in New York City.

And sure enough, at least according to their advertised phone number, the Wildes for Senate campaign is apparently based out-of-state.

By comparison, the Real Democratic Team of Loretta Weinberg, Gordon M. Johnson and Valerie Huttle is most definitely running their campaign 100% out of New Jersey. It's hard to claim to represent Real Democratic values in the 37th District when you advertise a New York City phone number for your campaign.

Real Democrats. Real Enthusiasm. Real Results.

by: Valerie Huttle

Tue Apr 03, 2007 at 01:09:36 PM EDT

It was an amazing cross-section of Real Democrats. We had new faces and old friends joining us. From the Bergen grassroots to the national netroots with Jim Dean from DFA stopping by to start things off. Environmentalists, progressives, Garden State Equality, elected officials, our brothers and sisters in labor... the list could go on and on. And the overriding thing binding us together is that we are all Real Democrats committed to fighting for our democratic principles in the 37th District.

Many of you here from Blue Jersey came out to support our kick-off, as well. And I just want to say thank you so very much - not just to those of you who attended our campaign kick-off, but also to all those who have supported us here on this online forum over the past several months. The spark in your hearts, the fire in your words and the passion in your posts have truly ignited the Real Democrat Team in the 37th District.

ICE raid in Englewood??!!

by: lsanchez490

Tue Mar 27, 2007 at 12:23:28 AM EDT

END THE ATTACK ON IMMIGRANTS!
DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF ALL WHO LIVE AND WORK IN NEW JERSEY!

STATE-WIDE SPEAK-OUT AND PROTEST MEETING

Saturday March 31 1:00 PM
Paul Robeson CenterBusch Campus
600 Bartholomew Rd
Piscataway, NJ

Immigrants in New Jersey, as in the rest of the United States, are facing increasing attacks. ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids are being stepped up, tearing families apart, detaining and deporting those who have lived here for years. Demagogic town governments are taking anti-immigrant measures. Morristown, for example, is planning to deputize its police as ICE agents.  Massive workplace raids like the recent one in New Bedford, Mass. can happen at any time. A New Jersey radio station, 101.5, has called for people to turn in their neighbors as suspected undocumented immigrants, encouraging vigilantism.

The attacks on migrants are attacks on all of us. They are aimed at maintaining an underclass of workers who are too terrified to assert their rights to decent pay, working conditions and living conditions.  No one, not even the government, wants to deport 12 million undocumented immigrants who are vital to the economy. The attacks and anti-immigrant laws aim to drive down the cost of all labor, benefiting employers, pitting worker against worker, and hurting us all.

We are fighting back, immigrants and native-born united!  We are speaking out against the attacks and the demagogic proposal in towns like Morristown's and Freehold.  We are starting to organize a Rapid Response Network which will give aid to those confronting ICE raids or employer abuses of immigrants. We are joining with organizations across the country to organize a Second Great  Boycott.

Speak out for the rights of ALL!

We invite your organization's endorsement and participation in this event and in an April 3 noon press conference in New Brunswick

Endorsing organizations(list in formation):
NJ May 1 Coalition
IRATE/First Friends
NJ Civil Rights Defense Committee
Philippine Forum
United Day Laborers of Freehold

Interested in reading about progressive Morristown:
Town seeks new power over illegal immigrants
Morristown wants to give its police the same authority as federal officers

Much respect to Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo.
Hispanics steamed by shock radio stunt

And from a New York Times Article, good old Freehold.

PUBLIC LIVES; Back in the Fight He Picked Decades Ago
Article Tools Sponsored By
By LYNDA RICHARDSON
Published: March 17, 2004

CESAR A. PERALES, the president of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, is revved up. But he is not losing his cool. (He is too cool for that.) He is talking about the fund's wranglings in federal court over the attempt by Freehold Borough in Monmouth County, N.J., to prevent day laborers from gathering at a vacant lot to scout for work.

''The question of the treatment of day laborers is so flagrant, I feel it viscerally,'' Mr. Perales says, leaning over to emphasize the point. ''This is to me as horrific as the segregation that the government imposed in the South. We're seeing local governments treating undocumented workers in a similar fashion, marginalizing them, not wanting them to live where they live. This is a fight that will take a long time.''

Video: "The Real Bergen Democrats"

by: FogerRox

Mon Mar 26, 2007 at 02:55:04 PM EDT

Get involved, go to the Real Bergen Democrats website.
.

What would Howard do?

by: dfa_lewis

Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 11:16:41 AM EDT

What a shame this organization [Bergen Grassroots] has come to this.  Early on I thought it was a group that could make a difference and worked with them.  Very childish.  Not what Governor Dean had in mind I'm guessing.

Join Jim Dean for Weinberg Campaign Kickoff

by: Juan Melli

Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 08:53:56 PM EDT

Democracy for America chair Jim Dean will be in Englewood tomorrow to join Senator Loretta Weinberg, Assemblyman Gordon Johnson and Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle's campaign kickoff. Here's the details...

Where: Weinberg, Johnson & Huttle Campaign Headquarters
       40 North Van Brunt St.
       Suite 2
       Englewood (near BergenPAC)
When:  Thursday - March 22nd
Time:  5pm - 8pm
RSVP:  RSVP@realbergendemocrats.com or call 201-838-9959, including regrets.