'07 Public Meeting a Success, Nearly 1,500 Attend
According to an article on the meeting in the Star Ledger: "...the coalition wants to abolish Regional Contribution Agreements, or RCAs, which suburbs use to transfer their housing obligations to cities. "RCAs promote segregation," said Rohn Hein ... speaking before the event. "Rich communities are selling their obligations to poorer communities." ... "Inequalities and injustices are causing thousands of families to flee New Jersey," said the Rev. Charles Stevens of the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing."
Full article in the Star-Ledger, and more info about the public meeting below:
Activists call for social justice
1,500 fill Somerset church for event
Monday, November 05, 2007
BY JULIE O'CONNOR
Star-Ledger Staff
As an undocumented immigrant, Mirasol Conde-Hernandez wasn't eligible for financial aid and had to turn down the offer to attend Rutgers University.
Instead, the 20-year-old from Mexico now works 40 to 50 hours a week while attending Middlesex Community College in Edison full-time, but still dreams of a future when New Jersey will offer undocumented immigrants the kind of financial assistance other students receive.
Yesterday, Conde-Hernandez was one of nearly 1,500 housing and social justice activists from across the Garden State to fill a Somerset church and demand action from legislators on a common reform agenda.
Speakers called for more school funding for at-risk districts, elimination of Regional Contribution Agreements and a chance for higher education opportunities for undocumented immigrants.
"Because I am Mexican by birth, and because my parents had the courage to leave their homes at only 20 years old in pursuit of a better future for me, I am stuck," Conde-Hernandez told the crowd. "I refuse to allow this to be a shattered dream."
Clapping and at times rising from their seats at the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens were members of the New Jersey Regional Coalition, an alliance of congregations, community development and social justice organizations.
The coalition also wants undocumented immigrants who live in New Jersey to be allowed to pay in-state tuition to attend its state colleges and universities. This affects about 600 undocumented New Jersey students every year, said Marlene Lao-Collins, director of a public policy organization for Catholic Bishops in New Jersey.
"In order for them to go to college, they have to pay double -- in some cases triple -- tuition," she added. "It's a dream that they want to accomplish. This is the way not to lose that intellectual capital in our state."
When it comes to school funding, coalition speakers stressed they don't think state funds should be withdrawn from New Jersey's most impoverished Abbott districts, but they also want additional money channeled to at-risk suburbs which don't receive Abbott money. They argue funding should be based on the demographics of a school district and its ability to pay.
In the area of affordable housing, the coalition wants to abolish Regional Contribution Agreements, or RCAs, which suburbs use to transfer their housing obligations to cities.
"RCAs promote segregation," said Rohn Hein, the coalition's legislative liaison, speaking before the event. "Rich communities are selling their obligations to poorer communities."
If RCAs are eliminated, additional funds should be provided to urban communities so they can meet their housing needs, he said. The state also should better enforce the 1975 Mount Laurel court decision on affordable housing.
"Inequalities and injustices are causing thousands of families to flee New Jersey," said the Rev. Charles Stevens of the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing. "The exodus will continue until only the wealthy will live here in our state."
© 2007 The Star Ledger
© 2007 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.
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NJRC is pleased to report that Governor Jon Corzine was represented by spokesperson Jeanine LaRue, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor; Senator Robert Smith (District 17) represented and spoke for Senate President Richard J. Codey and the Senate Democratic Caucus; Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts was represented by William Castner, Jr.; DCA Commissioner Joseph V. Doria, Jr. was represented by his Chief of Staff, Edwin Carman; Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman attended and received the NJRC 'Powerful Ally' Award for her continuing work on social justice issues.
The League of Women Voters of New Jersey was represented at the meeting and distributed 1,000 voter information cards to attendees, encouraging all to Vote on Tuesday, November 6, 2007.