New Jersey Regional Coalition's Action Day in Trenton

Good news! The New Jersey Regional Coalition's "Building One New Jersey" action day in Trenton on Thursday, December 10, 2009, was a resounding success! Please mark your calendar for Monday, January 4, 2010, at 9 a.m., when we will be going back to the Statehouse to continue to push for our social justice issues (See "Action Day in Trenton" in the events list for details).

The picture shows our NJRC members in State Senator Raymond Lesniak's office. The Senator is sitting next to the computer screen.

All together, about 100 members from across the state gathered for 4 scheduled meetings to speak with targeted legislators and "Jingle for Justice" -- As we walked through the Statehouse and the Statehouse annex, we handed out green flyers listing our 3 current issues along with little holiday jingle bells. We were there to press for:

* Criminal Justice Reform
* In-State Tuition for children of immigrants
* Property tax reform and regional tax equity for all New Jerseyans

* You can view an informative NJN TV segment about us here.

* WHYY Radio coverage is here.

* Newspaper coverage is here.

In the picture are NJRC President Rev. R.L. Buffalo (front left) and State Senator Raymond Lesniak (center), in the Senator's office with about 40 other NJRC members also present.

1. First we all filed in to Senator Sweeney's outer office to discuss our interest in working with him more closely. (In November, Sen. Sweeney received NJRC’s 2009 Most Powerful Ally of the Year Award.) Although the senator was not available at that time, he phoned our leaders later that day and pledged to vote to get the In-State Tuition Bill (A194/S1036) voted out of the Senate Budget & Appropriations committee and on to the Senate floor. We also confirmed an appointment to meet with him for Monday, Jan. 4.

2. A large group of 40, led by NJRC president Rev. R.L. Buffalo, met with Senator Raymond Lesniak in his spacious office. He spoke with us for 30 minutes. We complimented him on his Criminal Justice Reform bill (S1866) which passed the Senate 24 to 11 later the same day and now goes to the governor for signature. We received his assurance that he will support the In-State Tuition Bill (A194/S1036) as we strive to get it out of committee and on to a floor vote. Most importantly, Senator Lesniak offered and we accepted to have regular monthly meetings with him, beginning in January.

3. Next NJRC members filled the room at a shared press conference with the New Jersey Immigration Policy Network calling for action on the In-State Tuition Bill which had not been listed for consideration by Budget and Appropriations -- and by the end of the day it was! Rev. Buffalo, Rev. Bogan, and Marlene Lao-Collins were part of an excellent group of clergy and civic leaders who spoke to the press on the urgency of the passage of this long-awaited bill.

4. We met with Senator Sandra Cunningham who addressed the whole group with the news that she had spoken with Sen. Barbara Buono who agreed to list the In-State Tuition Bill for debate on Monday, January 4th. We plan to continue to build our relationship with Senator Cunningham and regroup at the Statehouse on January 4th to support the bill.

5. As the day drew to a close, NJRC leaders kept up their pressure to locate and speak with Senator Sweeney -- which they succeeded in doing. By the end of the day we obtained his full commitment of support for the In-State Tuition bill in the senate and he phoned Marlene Lao-Collins and Rev. Bogan to express this support.

We look forward to pressing on with our work for regional equity and social justice in 2010!