On January 25, 2009 over one hundred and seventy five leaders from around the state attended the NJRC State Leadership Assembly. Highlights included the election of Reverend R. Lenton Buffalo (pictured in photo at left), pastor of Union Baptist Church in Elizabeth, as the new President of the Board of Directors of NJRC, and a training by Mike Kruglik, Director of Metro Equity for the Gamaliel Foundation.

Governor Jon Corzine signing legislation at the Ethel Lawrence Homes in Mt. Laurel abolishing Regional Contribution Agreements. NJRC fought strongly for the abolition of "RCAs", which allowed wealthy towns to transfer some of their fair share of low income housing elsewhere. This process helped maintain the high density of low income housing in areas with already weak tax bases, poor job opportunities, and concentrated poverty. No more!

The First Annual NJRC Victory Banquet was held on November 13, 2008 at the Trenton Marriott and raised over $72,000! Over 300 grassroots leaders from around New Jersey attended. NJ Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts spoke at the Victory Banquet and accepted the “Most Powerful Ally of the Year” award.

The Victory Banquet guest speaker was Tricia Mueller, NJ State Director for the Obama Campaign and Political Director of the NJ Regional Council of Carpenters. Other state legislators who attended included Assemblyman Tom Giblin, who received the NJRC “Steadfast and Loyal Friend of the Year” award, as well as Assemblyman Herb Conaway.

On December 4, 2008 over 100 NJRC leaders traveled from around New Jersey to Washington, DC to meet with senior obama advisor Valerie Jarrett. Below is an article from the Washington Post discussing the powerful meeting attended by over 2,500 grassroots leaders from around the country.

After a three year campaign spearheaded by NJRC, on July 17, 2008 Governor Jon Corzine signed legislation abolishing regional contribution agreements, or RCAs, and revamping New Jersey''s affordable housing policy. RCAs were the loophole that concentrated poverty and let rich towns pay poor towns to take their low-income housing. Urban policy expert David Rusk called the new housing law "the most significant one in the nation in the last 20 years." Another highlight of the new policy is $160 million in new annual funds for affordable housing.

Twenty NJRC members attended Assemblyman Jerry Green's committee on Housing & Local Government to hear three NJRC clergy leaders testify. The committee is looking into the current COAH (Council on Affordable Housing) controversy.

NJRC President Rev. R. Lenton Buffalo Jr. of the Union Baptist Church of Elizabeth, Rev. Charles Stephens of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Washington Crossing in Titusville (Hopewell), and Rev. Eric Wallace of the New Life Cathedral in Burlington City all spoke out forcefully for affordable housing and against the abolished RCA (Regional Contribution Agreement) system that has perpetuated our state's extreme economic and racial segregation. Joining them in their testimony was Mayor Brian Levine of Franklin Township who also spoke to the diverse housing opportunities in his own township and against the RCA system.

You can read the complete testimony (pdf file) here.

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.

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."