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November 17, 2006

Congratulations - The New Jersey Regional Coalition Public Meeting was a Major Victory!

More than 1,500 people braved wind, rain, and a rare tornado watch to help make the New Jersey Regional Coalition statewide public meeting on November 16, 2006, a HUGE success.

The crowd came together at the majestic St. Nicholas of Tolentine Roman Catholic Church in Atlantic City and WON commitments on Property Tax reform, Fair Housing policies, and Equal Education opportunities from New Jersey's top legislators. Read NJRC Policy Positions 2006 here.

Through our efforts Governor Jon Corzine, Senate President Richard J. Codey, and Speaker Assemblyman Joseph Roberts, all sent senior staff members to the meeting to make commitments on their behalf. U.S. Congressman Albio Series and NJ Senator Diane Allen (R-7) were represented by staff members. Majority Leader Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-15) and Senator John Adler (D-6) sent statements of support to the meeting.

Senator Ronald L. Rice (D-28), Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin (D-34), and Assemblyman Jim Whelan (D-2) came to our meeting to respond directly to NJRC's call for action on reform. Also present were mayors and city council members from many parts of the state. We commend these legislators for attending our assembly.

The meeting represented a show of force and state-wide unity among people of many faiths and backgrounds working together in coalition. Notable among the large labor presence was the Atlantic City hotel workers' union, Unite Here Local 54, which provided assistance with meeting logistics and staffing.

Philly Fox News 29 and NJN News also braved the (always newsworthy) weather to cover the NJRC assembly. Fox aired our news live at 10 p.m., Thursday, November 16, opening with reporter John Atwater's words: 'Here in Atlantic City lawmakers got a nudge from a powerful voting block...' You may be able to view the Fox segment online via this link: http://tinyurl.com/y3tbcg

NJN News broadcast a segment, reported by Kent St. John, on Friday, November 17, 2006: "More than 1,500 members of the interfaith grassroots New Jersey Regional Coalition turned up the heat on legislators at a rally in Atlantic City last night. The organization wants to know where elected officials stand on property tax reform, affordable housing, and funding education..."

Representatives from several print publications also attended the assembly. An article and photographs appeared in The Brazilian Voice.

NJRC Leaders who addressed the meeting:

• Rev. Darrell Armstrong, Shiloh Baptist Church, Trenton
• Paul Bellan-Boyer, Parish Deacon, St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Jersey City
• Rev. Bruce H. Davidson, Director of The Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry in New Jersey
• Dr. Robert F. Hargrove Sr., Pastor, Christ Care Unit Missionary Baptist Church, Sicklerville
• Rohn Hein, Legislative Coordinator, New Jersey Regional Coalition
• Martin Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Isles, Inc.
• Marlene Lao-Collins, Associate Director for Social Concerns at the New Jersey Catholic Conference
• Frank McCann, St. Elizabeth Church, Wycroft
• Ericka McCoy, Shiloh Baptist Church, Trenton
• Robert McDevitt, President, Unite HERE Local 54
• Rev. Maristela Freiberg, Grace Community Lutheran Church, Newark
• Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante, Bishop, Diocese of Camden
• Rev. Gladys G. Moore, Assistant to the Bishop, New Jersey Synod, ELCA and Pastor of St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Jersey City
• Father Joseph Pham, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Atlantic City
• Bishop Roy Riley, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Hamilton Square
• Father Robert Sinatra, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Sicklerville
• Joanne K. Soden, Co-chair, South Jersey Regional Equity Organizing Project
• Dr. Gilbert Smith, Christ Care Unit Missionary Baptist Church, Sicklerville
• Rev. Charles J. Stephens, Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing, Titusville
• Rabbi Elliott Tepperman, Bnai Keshet, Montclair

• Also featured on the program: The Christ Care Unit Missionary Baptist Church Choir

Legislators who were invited to our meeting but did not participate:

Senator Wayne R. Bryant

Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli

Assemblyman Herbert C. Conaway Jr

Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez

Assemblyman Douglas H. Fisher

Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein

Senator Ellen Karcher

Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt

Assemblyman Paul D. Moriarty

Assemblyman Michael J. Panter

Senator Stephen M. Sweeney

Senator Shirley Turner

Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew

Legislators who committed to attend (or send a representative) but did not:

Assemblyman Jack Conners

Senator William L. Gormley

Assemblyman Louis Greenwald

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora

Assemblyman Mims Hackett Jr

Senator Fred H. Madden Jr.

Assemblyman David R. Mayer

Assemblywoman Sheila Y. Oliver

You Are Invited To Attend

New Jersey Regional Coalition Public Assembly

Working for Fair & Equitable Tax Reform

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Atlantic City, NJ

New Jersey Regional Coalition is a statewide organization aimed at developing and advancing a meaningful regional reform agenda in the state of New Jersey. Our reform agenda addresses fiscal and social disparities, racial and economic segregation, concentrated poverty, neighborhood decline and suburban sprawl. NJRC also strives to build the organizational capacity and political power to advance and defend its social justice agenda through education, organizing, and voter mobilization.

When?

Thursday, November 16, 2006

From 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Registration begins at 6 p.m.

Where?

St. Nicholas of Tolentine Roman Catholic Church

1409 Pacific Avenue

(corner of Pacific and Tennessee Avenues)

Atlantic City, NJ 08401

• Click here for interactive Map & Directions to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Roman Catholic Church
• Click here for images of historic St. Nicholas of Tolentine Roman Catholic Church

Who?

NJRC is composed of three regional groups representing every county and municipality in the State of New Jersey.

CJREC Public Meeting 2005; photo by Amini Sababu.

To learn about your regional group's plans to attend the NJRC Statewide Public Meeting in Atlantic City,

including transportation, click on the link below!