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The Green Party of New Jersey
The Green Party of NJ Bulletin August 2003 |
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CLEAN MONEY AND THE AHEARN CAMPAIGN by Stuart Shaw (Shaw1@verizon.net) Recent experience of candidates for office and the condition of our local, state and federal administrations shows that there are pressing needs to be met to recover our democracy. This is reflected in the work of the Mission Committee of the Bergen Peace and Justice Coalition. Of the eight identified needs, Clean Money is first and Media Access is second. On February 22, 2002 the Green Party attempted to deliver to every legislator in New Jersey a copy of the state of Maine's successful Clean Money Law and asked each legislator to sign a pledge to cosponsor a New Jersey Clean Money law. Not a single one was willing to do it. Most were absent from their offices, despite notification three months earlier. Two legislators were initially enthusiastic and then quickly and fearfully said they had to support their parties, Republican and Democratic, which were against it. Several public interest organizations that have made claims about Clean Money legislation and said that they were working on bills and sponsors, did not support us and, two-and-a-half years later, have not produced any bills or sponsors. But now Green Assemblyman Matt Ahearn (38th District) has submitted a state of Maine law to the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services to be put in the form of a New Jersey law. Once the final format is agreed to, it will become a rallying point for putting pressure on the rest of the legislature and the governor. If Matt is re-elected this fall, he will be able to prevent crippling amendments. Also, acting as our voice in the Assembly, he will be able to introduce IRV and other legislation important to us. He'll be the voice of all the New Jersey citizens whose needs have not been met by their big-money-beholden legislators and governor. Matt will be a significant national figure in introducing Clean Money and other breakthrough legislation here in New Jersey. So getting him re-elected is a very high priority for GPNJ! Among the hurdles Matt faces are: (1) those voters who just reflexively vote Democrat or Republican, and (2) the onslaught of campaign material that his well-funded opponents will be able to distribute. The only way to counteract this is by a massive grassroots effort by Greens and other supporters to distribute Ahearn literature door-to-door and talk directly to the voters about our better alternative. We need to wage a smart and energetic campaign, doing all the things that used to happen before big money came to dominate elections. We need to organize in each of the thirteen towns that District 38 covers - Fair Lawn, Paramus, Saddle Brook, Elmwood Park, Lodi, Hasbrouck Heights, South Hackensack, Little Ferry, Ridgefield, Cliffside Park, Edgewater, Fort Lee, Teterboro - and then bring in volunteers from all over New Jersey. If people come a long way, we need places to house and feed them. The plans are being made right now. Please let us know if you can help with literature distribution - any weekend day or any evening. We'll also need help with voter contact and other activities. If you live in any of the towns in District 38 and would like to offer your home or some other area as a central point for housing or meals, please contact Stuart Shaw at 201-797-1482 or Shaw1@verizon.net. Regardless of where you live, anywhere in the state, please get in touch with Stuart or Matt to let them know when YOU can come out and help get Matt re-elected! To contribute much-needed funds: "Matt Ahearn for Assembly" 6 Beekman Place, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 www.mattahearn.com [for credit card contributions] or call: 201-796-0135 NJ'S GREEN PARTY ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER: THE FIRST ONE-HUNDRED DAYS BY Nancy Fingerhood, Director of Constituent Services As the first Green Party legislator in New Jersey, Assemblyman Matt Ahearn enjoys working to serve his constituents and promote a progressive third party alternative for all New Jerseyans. While he faced several challenges upon switching parties, it has been a rewarding process. Initially, Matt had to deal with many administrative tasks in order to officially become a Green Party member of the Legislature. There were personnel issues to resolve stemming from the fact that his office had been run by a Democrat Municipal Chairman until he changed parties. Computer security for a third party had to be established in the state legislative computer network to prevent the major parties from accessing his email and legislative works in progress in the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services (OLS) that prepares Bills for introduction and provides confidential legal opinions on proposed laws to the sponsor. In addition, there were extensive sessions educating the OLS and majority party staff and members about the legal rights of a third party Assembly Member regarding formation of a formal caucus and the right to be treated in the Assembly as a Minority Party Leader, even as a minority of one. Matt won that key parliamentary procedure battle. The most important aspect is that the Green Party, through its Minority Leader, can have any Bill scheduled for a vote placed on the "non-consent list" so as to require an opportunity to debate the Bill on the floor of the Assembly prior to a vote. This gives Greens in New Jersey the same power over the Assembly Agenda as the Republican Minority has! During his first one hundred days as a Green, the Assemblyman continued to push his original Legislative agenda which includes California type "clean car" auto emission legislation (A3393), protection of home owners from "predatory lending practices" that strip home equity from targeted senior citizens and minority communities (A75), a death penalty moratorium Bill (A1913), and other progressive Bills. Additionally, Ahearn introduced several new Bills that specifically pertain to the Green Party platform. Many of these Bills focus on improving our voting systems through methods such as Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) which provides an alternative to plurality and runoff elections. Recently introduced A3418 permits the use of Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) in balloting for all single seat local and County elective public offices and A3433 requires new voting systems purchased by any County to be designed for the holding of elections featuring Instant Runoff Voting. A Constitutional Amendment for IRV in State level elections is also in the works but will not be eligible for a vote in this session due to time rules, so winning an Assembly seat by some Green in some District this year is essential to ever seeing IRV at the State level in New Jersey, as this session's proposal can be "pre-filed" for the next session if Matt or another Green wins a seat this Fall. To help ensure that every New Jersey voter who wishes to cast a vote on election day will be able to do so, Ahearn introduced A3434 which implements one of the provisions of the Federal Government's "Help America Vote Act of 2002." The measure would establish a centralized voter registration database for the State. In addition, A3468 would require the State to purchase computer services and equipment to implement the centralized voter registration list through a competitive bidding process so as to avoid the E-ZPass type debacle when technology projects are considered as "exempt" from public contract bidding laws and become part of the "pay to play" game of making political donations in return for state contracts. Assemblyman Ahearn strongly supports campaign finance reform including caps on spending and contributions, and will soon be working with OLS and a few Green Party "clean money" leaders to draft a comprehensive package of Bills that will be required to implement "clean money" campaigns within New Jersey's existing statutory and regulatory election law framework. Matt also plans to introduce Legislation to close loopholes in the State Sunshine Act (Open Public Meetings Act of 1977) which allow "pay to play" (the practice of political victors handing out political spoils based upon the size of contributions) to flourish. It is in these meetings that are exempted from the Sunshine Act that the "pay" and the "play" are negotiated. Assemblyman Ahearn is honored to serve his constituents in the 38th District and all the residents of New Jersey. He looks forward to running in this year's election, which is already being called the most interesting and unpredictable race in the state by NJ political insiders, and many more years of public service and Green Party building. ------------------------------------------ IT'S EASIER BEING GREEN (TRENTON, 6/24/03) -- A group of Bills signed by Governor McGreevey yesterday included Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Matt Ahearn (G-Fair Lawn). The measure, (S514/A2847) standardizes arbitration procedures for all arbitration agreements. This ensures it is less likely for employers to abuse arbitration procedures when their employees assert their rights. "Contrary to what people predicted when I switched parties, it is easier to get Bills moved through the Legislature than it was as just another junior member in the Democrat's caucus," said Ahearn. Since his switch to the Green Party after feuding with the Democratic Party Leadership over issues including pay-to-play reform and lax ethnic rules for Senate and Assembly members, 13 pieces of Legislation sponsored by Ahearn were signed into law by the Governor. Only four measures sponsored by Ahearn were signed into law in his first year as a Democrat. "As a member of the majority caucus, I was expected to 'get along and go along' and vote as a 'loyal party member' was expected to," commented Ahearn. "My vote, and thereby the people of my district, were taken for granted." The Assembly majority can't do that any longer with the present 42-37-1 partisan split. "There are too many Bills that some members of the Democratic Caucus bail out on for political reasons, like the racial profiling Bill. With only a one vote margin in the Assembly, they can't afford not to talk to me." Ahearn Legislation recently passed includes: A75, "The New Jersey Home Ownership Security Act of 2002," which prohibits certain abusive lending practices commonly known as predatory lending. A1786, which authorizes the payment of sales taxes by vendors under the sales and use tax and the advertising of "we pay the tax" days so merchants not located in Urban Enterprise Zones can compete with businesses in those zones. A2166, which requires a school bus driver, prior to employment and upon application for renewal of the school bus driver license, to undergo a check for alcohol and drug-related motor vehicle violations along with the criminal history record check. A689, which prohibits insurers from discriminating on the basis of domestic violence. A2558, which establishes a seven-member Jewish Heritage Trail Study Commission to study the feasibility of developing a Jewish Heritage Trail across the State of New Jersey. A3162, which provides separate standards for handicapped access in public buildings versus multi-family dwellings. - - - - - GOVERNOR SIGNS INTO LAW WEINBERG, AHEARN AND WISNIEWSKI LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING "INFANTILE AUTISM MEDICAL RESEARCH AND TREATMENT FUND" (TRENTON, 8/7/03) -- Legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck), Assemblyman Matt Ahearn (G-Fair Lawn) and John Wisniewski (D-Parlin) which establishes an "Infantile Autism Medical Research and Treatment Fund" was signed into law by the Governor yesterday. The measure (A2601) creates a nonlapsing revolving fund in the Department of the Treasury to provide a funding source to support the work of the Governor's Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Infantile Autism. "It is only through research that children and adults who suffer from autism will be helped," stated Ahearn. The new fund is to be the repository for moneys provided through a $1 surcharge on motor vehicle fines and penalties imposed by a court ruling. - - - - - AHEARN CIVIL UNION BILL ENSURING FULL EQUALITY INTRODUCED INTO ASSEMBLY (TRENTON, 6/10/03) -- Assemblyman Matt Ahearn (G-Fair Lawn) has introduced a civil union bill guaranteeing for same sex couples all the rights available to married couples. The measure (A3762) would permit adults of the same or opposite sex, who are not related by blood, to establish civil unions in New Jersey and be accorded the same benefits and protections as traditional spouses under the laws of the state. A Democratic Party-sponsored bill, the "Family Equality Act," which would establish domestic partnerships, extends some benefits available to married couples to non-traditional couples, but stops far short of full equality in all family relationships. Domestic partnership does not address the needs of children in non-traditional households, and fails to address the full range of property issues that can arise in any living situation where people live as "partners" without the benefit of the right to get married. Ahearn's bill provides that the rights of the parties to a civil union, with respect to a child of whom either becomes the natural parent during the term of the civil union, are to be same as those of a married couple. There was talk of a Democrat introducing a civil union bill last year, but the domestic partnership model was seen as a way to appease progressive voters without the political risk of doing what needs to be done for the children of same sex couples - letting their parents get married. "I am disappointed in the leadership of the Democratic Caucus," said Ahearn. "New Jersey needs a full range of legal options for the diverse types of living arrangements in 21st century society. Domestic partnership is but one part of the trio of options needed today - traditional marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnership." Ahearn hopes that his introduction of a Civil Union bill will push the Democrats into doing the right thing now, rather than waiting for a lame duck session to solve part of an issue that leaves children and their gay parents with an incomplete legislative solution. "If you are going to do a thing, do it right. Don't cut a compromise for political pragmatism that leaves children out of the picture when it comes to changes in family law." Ahearn's civil union bill would apply the legal benefits, protections and responsibilities of spouses in like manner to the parties of a civil union relating to title, tenure, descent and distribution, intestate succession, waiver of will, survivorship or other incidents of the acquisition, ownership or transfer, inter vivos or at death, of real or personal property, including eligibility to hold real and personal property as tenants by the entirety. "This is the 21st century," said Ahearn. "People should be entitled to more choices in their lifestyle that are consistent with the way people live in today's world - like it or not. The legislature has an obligation to create laws to keep up with the way families are living in the real world." The text of the bill (A3762) can be viewed at: www.njleg.state.nj.us/2002/Bills/A3500/3762_I1.PDF - - - - - BILLS REGARDING CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND CORPORATE POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT Matt Ahearn has introduced two bills regarding corporate behavior (based on research and concerns raised by DCAP, the Democracy and Corporate Accountability Project): A3823: Limits corporate power and addresses corporate responsibility. A3824: Prohibits corporations of any kind from engaging in political speech, making expenditures to influence legislation or making campaign contributions. The full text of these bills should soon be available on the New Jersey Legislature web site: www.njleg.state.nj.us For more information, contact GPNJ Vice Chair Michael Skelly, Sr. of DCAP (mikesrgreen@yahoo.com) ------------------------------------------ ACLU RECEPTION IN BERGEN COUNTY DRAWS CROWD by Alvin Meyer, Bergen County Greens Outreach Co-chair On June 5th, seven of the Bergen Greens were among a roomful of people who attended a meeting of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) held at the Puffin Cultural Forum in Teaneck. ACLU Executive Director, Deborah Jacobs, spoke about how the ACLU relies on community watchdogs to bring civil liberties violations to the organization's attention. A review of some of the victories and temporary defeats was outlined. Jacobs also mentioned that there has been a dramatic spike in membership in the ACLU in the current repressive environment. Awareness and concern about the civil liberties crisis in our country was expressed in a lively question and answer period following Ms. Jacobs' presentation. Many of those in attendance joined the ACLU that evening. For more information and to join, check out: www.aclu-nj.org. For campaigns, press releases, and publications: www.aclu.org ------------------------------------------ 2003 CAMPUS GREENS CONVENTION The 2003 National Campus Greens Convention was held August 7-10 at the University of Texas at Austin. Invited speakers included Medea Benjamin, Molly Ivins, Cynthia McKinney, and Ralph Nader. Invited performers included Fugazi, Jello Biafra, Ani DiFranco and Eddie Vedder. There were workshops on Becoming the Media; Making an Impact in Student Government; Knowing Your Rights; Direct Action Training; Student Run Recycling; Queer Activism and Theory; and more. Check out the website: www.campusgreens.org ------------------------------------------ GPNJ POLICY FORUM HELD IN JUNE Earl Gray and the GPNJ Policy Committee organized a very interesting Policy Forum, held at the Labor Education Center in New Brunswick on June 8. Ideological discussion was the order of the day as Gabe Gabrielsky talked about Green roots in the New Left (in its several phases, one going all the way back to the pacifist draft resistance during WWII); Steve Welzer gave his interpretation of "new paradigm" communitarianism and the influence of certain key writers whose work appeared in the journal Fifth Estate during the seventies and eighties; and Earl Gray presented "Progressivism: a Framework for Green Issues," discussing how Green Values relate to Green Societal Goals. The latter part of the afternoon was devoted to a discussion about the 2004 presidential election campaign. Jane Hunter motivated this brainstorming session because she was seeking feedback from New Jersey Greens in anticipation of the national discussion about 2004 which took place at the USGP Coordinating Committee meeting in Washington, DC on July 18. Many opinions and points of view were expressed by Greens who were in attendance on June 8, but a division of the room (using a process called Visual Consensus Building) gave a graphic indication of support for running a strong Green Party presidential campaign in 2004. Regarding specific potential candidates, the preference was for running a high profile candidate with strong name recognition. ------------------------------------------ NJ GREENS PROMINENT AT NATIONAL GREEN MEETING New Jersey Greens were active and quite prominent at the Annual Meeting of the Green Party of the United States held in Washington, DC July 18-20. Our delegates, Jane Hunter and Gary Novosielski, took part in the business deliberations: A new national Steering Committee was elected. The Alabama Green Party was accepted as a new affiliate of USGP, bringing the total number of affiliated states to 43 (it won't be long now until we can say that there is an active and affiliated Green Party in every state in the country). Jane and Steve Welzer, members of the Presidential Exploratory Committee, helped lead a "Visual Consensus Building" exercise regarding the 2004 presidential campaign - similar to what Jane led for GPNJ in June - and the result was similar to ours: most participants indicated a desire to run a strong presidential campaign in 2004. Matt Ahearn was a featured speaker at a press conference on Friday and at a USGP fundraiser/reception on Saturday night (which Nick Mellis videotaped and Jane Hunter moderated). Matt also engaged with other Green office holders in the formalization of the Elected Greens Network. Sue Ahearn and Steve organized a "Meet and Greet" fundraiser for Matt on Saturday night. Other Coordinating Committee decisions made at the meeting included: * adoption of an African-American Outreach proposal authorizing the party to hire part-time staff for a campaign to enlist the participation of prominent African-American political and religious leaders, cultural figures, scholars, and writers to speak out on matters of importance to both Greens and African-Americans; * endorsement of a call to Congress to initiate impeachment proceedings against George Bush and a resolution to take political leadership in the growing movement for impeachment; * endorsement of a "Home by the Holidays" campaign calling for the US to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, and the Philippines, with this year's winter holidays as a deadline for total return of military personnel. According to the latter resolution, the White House's policy of invading other countries "is hostile to the democratic traditions of the American Revolution, and must be actively resisted by all patriotic Americans." Carl Mayer organized a Draft Nader launch event on Saturday (at which Matt Ahearn also spoke). The Jersey contingent also included Mark Lovett, Art Rosen, and Jeff Rodney. GREENS SUPPORT SEIU LABOR RALLY IN MERCER COUNTY On June 10 the Green Party was represented at an important labor rally in Mercer County. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 32BJ organized the rally at high noon in front of Carnegie Center - visible to the dense traffic at that time of day along Route 1. New Jersey SEIU Chair Kevin Brown admonished the owner of Carnegie Center, Boston Properties, for contracting for janitorial services with notorious anti-union firms such as All Clean Corporation and Americorps. It's bad enough that the unorganized, mostly Hispanic, workers are paid only $6/hour, but additionally three of the workers were recently fired by All Clean after they met with SEIU reps (ostensibly for "unacceptable job performance"). Three years ago SEIU started organizing in this sector and has signed up over 5,000 out of 9,000 such workers. The Green Party representative at the rally told Kevin Brown and organizer Neil Gorfinkle that the Greens stand ready to lend support to the organizing effort, and appreciation for Green Party support was expressed from the platform. The week of June 9 had been proclaimed Justice for Janitors week in Mercer County. Nonetheless, police arrived on the scene twenty minutes after the start of the rally and shut it down on the pretense that "rubbernecking" along Route 1 was slowing traffic to a crawl! Maybe the real problem was the exposure of Boston Properties and the noisy car horns expressing sympathy for the fired workers! ------------------------------------------ POT-LUCK PICNIC AUGUST 16 Please join us for a Green Party pot-luck picnic on Saturday, August 16 -- 4 PM to 8 PM in East Windsor (rain or shine; indoors in case of rain). Hear Assemblyman Matt Ahearn's plans for the fall legislative session. Discuss the Green Party's 2004 presidential aspirations. Sing along with the Eco-Chorale! Please bring some food to share. The picnic is free and all are welcome, but we hope you'll bring along your checkbook. Half of the funds raised will go to the Ahearn campaign and the other half will be divided among our other active campaigns. Info: SteveWelzer@aol.com or 609-443-6782. ------------------------------------------------ GREEN PARTY LIKELY TO HAVE CANDIDATE IN CALIFORNIA Peter Miguel Camejo is likely to run as the Green Party candidate if the effort to recall California governor Gray Davis succeeds. Camejo, who was a strong gubernatorial candidate in 2002 (receiving 5.3% of the vote), blames both Democrats and Republicans for California's economic crisis. "The budgetary disaster perpetuated by the Democratic Party reflects its policy of implementing the Republican platform, i.e., reducing taxes for the rich and cutting back social programs," said Camejo. "Under the Democrats, the poor pay a 57% higher tax rate than do the richest 1%. We must balance the California budget through a tax system in which the rich and corporations pay their fair share." Camejo sees the recall as a unique opportunity to get the message to the public that the Green Party offers an alternative to the bipartisan corruption that has pervaded state government in California, from the influence of corporations like Enron over energy policy and pricing to Gov. Davis's well-known corrupt fundraising policies. "Our voice must be heard!" asserted Camejo, who acknowledges that the recall was engineered by wealthy Republicans. "Some Democrats and a few Greens have suggested we should not run, and instead oppose the recall. To do so, in my opinion, only helps the Republicans. We say No to the Republican anti-democratic special election maneuver, as well as the Democratic Party betrayal of its social base." Camejo is also pushing to be included in the televised debates, noting that 69% of Californians favor his inclusion. Polls currently give him percentages comparable to or better than many prospective Republican candidates. ------------------------------------------ FROM THE CHAIR: Life's Lessons by Jane Hunter This is an incredibly exciting time to be a Green in New Jersey - and I am so privileged to serve as GPNJ Chair right now! Thank you for having confidence in my ability to contribute in this role. As we enter our most exciting electoral year yet - with Matt Ahearn's bid for re-election to the NJ Assembly, with candidates for the NJ Legislature throughout the state, with some serious campaigns for local office - we are building on the efforts of the immensely dedicated and hardworking folks who have persevered since 1997 to make GPNJ a real factor in NJ politics - and on the talents and leadership of those who preceded me in this office. Thank you all - we are here because of you! There's an old saying that life teaches us the lessons we need to learn. Many of you know that just before the Convention, I became very ill with a "mystery flu" that persisted through the ballot petitioning period. Although committed to running for Assembly, I simply could not manage the physical demands of petitioning. As a result, I was forced to ask for help - and that request was answered in a number of gratifying ways. Personal friends and colleagues from the peace movement and community activists all pitched in. Many of these folks had only a peripheral involvement with the hands-on work of GPNJ, but are now quite proprietary of my campaign and the Assembly campaigns in general. What started out as a problem became one of those important life lessons for organizing: Asking for help is a great way to reach out and help us grow! So I'll challenge all of you: Identify some specific task on which your local or your campaign needs help - and ask for help from folks who are not currently active in GPNJ. I guarantee we can double our active membership by Election Day if you do! ------------------------------------------------ COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE Submitted by Stewart Kautsch, Committee Chair The Communications Committee of GPNJ ("ComCom") is the proud publisher of the GreenGram - the bulletin which you are reading. ComCom also maintains the state party's web site, coordinates our relations with the press, and more. We hope to be active in the 2003 campaigns by helping build web pages for candidates who do not maintain their own sites. We meet monthly, usually by teleconference, and are structuring most of our meetings to accommodate those members who wish to be active in only one area. ComCom is mostly a "process" committee; i.e., our activities are recurring, with very few "big bang" events. Like all political committees, of course, the rhythm is affected by the electoral calendar, but like all standing committees, the work extends around the calendar. Our goals for the year include recruiting a member from every county to participate in production of the GreenGram and in press relations, and to expand the Web staff to meet the constant demands for new material, maintenance, and redesigns. We welcome GPNJ members who have an interest in communications and/or want to increase the party's public face. If you are interested in learning more about us and our work, please email me at skautsch@mindspring.com. ------------------------------------------ ATLANTIC COUNTY This year the Atlantic County Greens are running the fullest slate of any Green local in the state. On July 18 they held a successful fundraiser for the 2nd LD candidates. They have scheduled the next fundraiser for Friday, August 29 (Labor Day weekend), again at Schooner's in Somers Point. Tickets are $15. Contact Gabe Gabrielsky, gabegabrielsky@yahoo.com, for tickets or more information. ------------------------------------------ BERGEN COUNTY Submitted by Stuart Shaw The Bergen Peace and Justice Coalition was formed as an antiwar group around September of 2002. It consists of about fifteen organizations including the Bergen Action Network, New Jersey Peace and Justice, Pax Christie Peace Action, Leonia Vigil, Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, Teaneck Peace Coalition, Englewood-Tenafly Peace Action and the Bergen Green Party. Since the "announced" ending of the Iraq War, the group has been discussing the issue of what its mission and plans should be, and it has set up a "Mission" committee to report on the subject. This committee has identified eight major areas of issues that unite not only the anti-war organizations, but other people working to prevent what happened and to institute necessary change. These areas are of great importance to the Green Party, as they are natural Green issues. The eight areas are: Clean Money campaign finance; Independent and Aggressive Media; Racial, Social, and Economic Justice; Fair and Free Elections; Accountability: War Crimes, Costs and Illegalities; Control of Corporations; Fairness in Taxation and Public Property; and Cooperation with the International Community. A slogan has been proposed; "Global Justice 8+" and a pin has been designed with both that slogan and a listing of the eight issues on it. A tripart pamphlet has been designed that on its addressee page warns of the danger of using corporate media and gives WBAI's news program times and dates as well as alternate web site news programs. Inside the pamphlet the eight issues are briefly discussed. Besides the "Issues" the other two key problems are: (2) how to collaborate with other local, state, federal and international organizations, and (3) how to produce and decide plans and actions by these disparate groups whose interests can be as far-ranging as a labor union, religious organization, ethnic support group, or political party in the United States or abroad. The committee has developed its first plan which is a two-prong effort. The first effort is to create a legitimate media event to put the recent pro-war government effort in perspective. The second effort is to mobilize and act to force a hostile media to provide coverage of this material. Part of the first effort would be a nationwide simultaneous request to federal legislators to send their constituents a copy of the speech they made in support of their vote to allow the President to go to war - and where they received the information upon which they based their vote. This information would be queried, summarized, and turned over to a national commission chosen by the membership to evaluate the events leading us to war. This commission would issue several reports directly to the membership and to the media with its prime report in October. If some members of Congress or the President are at fault, it is vital that the public know that prior to the 2004 elections. The second effort would be to study the major media companies toward developing a campaign to insist that they cover vital news objectively and aggressively. There are only thirteen major media companies now: GE - the largest corporation in the world and an arms supplier (NBC), Disney (ABC), AOL (CNN), Viacom (CBS), Rupert Murdoch (Fox), PBS, NPR, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, and ClearChannel (1200 radio stations). Avenues to influence them could range from street demonstrations, to consumer boycots and advertiser boycots, to contacting shareholders. FYI: The five young men and women members of the Bergen Action Committee who risked their lives and freedom by standing in Route 4 just before the Iraq War began, were each given $200 fines plus community service. If you would like to contribute to a fund to help pay their fines, please make the check to BAN LEGAL DEFENSE FUND and mail it to: BAN Legal Defense Fund, PO Box 5202, Englewood, NJ 07631. ------------------------------------------ BURLINGTON COUNTY Submitted by Mike Skelly, Sr., County Coordinator PEACE - Members of Burlington County Green Party have been active in peace marches in Washington, DC, New York City and locally. We also joined a silent peace vigil conducted by the Society of Friends in Mt. Holly. Members participated in a peaceful protest in front of Lockheed-Martin's "battleship in a corn field" in Moorestown with the Coalition for Peace and Justice. ENVIRONMENT - Burlington County has been actively supporting the passage of the bill to adopt the "Clean Car" law in NJ. The law is similar to the existing one in California, New York, Massachusetts, Maine and other states. Automakers will be required to sell cars that they sell in California, which produce less air pollution, in New Jersey. Assemblyman Matt Ahearn is a prime sponsor of this legislation. LABOR - Burlington County Greens joined labor groups protesting at the Wal-Mart in Burlington Township. Greens and Labor groups called on Wal-Mart to provide health insurance for workers and to pay their associates a "living wage" so they can afford basic living expenses such as a home, insurance, and modest savings for children's college and retirement. Wal-Mart is the largest retailer and corporation in the world, with sales topping $219 billion and profits of $7 billion in 2001. ECO VILLAGE TOUR - On May 17 Burlington Greens toured EcoVillage at Ithaca, NY. The village was founded in 1991. It has two compact walkable neighborhoods served by a community center with dining hall and offices. The villagers rescued the 150 acre property from typical sprawl development. They arranged the houses together, set aside 11 acres for an organic farm and preserved large areas of open space for nature and recreation. The houses have energy saving features, passive solar design and are constructed using many natural local materials. MOUNT HOLLY GARDENS DEVELOPMENT - Burlington County Green Party is joining many community groups in closely examining the proposed redevelopment of the Gardens in Mount Holly. The Gardens is a high-density low-income housing development. It has been the target of many grants and programs attempting to improve housing and social conditions. Mount Holly is considering providing substantial support for a development proposal that runs contrary to many "Smart Growth" principles. The preliminary proposal calls for knocking down homes, erecting highway oriented commercial strip and lower density housing. Community groups have concerns that the redevelopment, as proposed, would throw away the past investment in community improvements, cut the number of low income homes, and force out current residents. They also question whether the commercial strip will increase highway traffic congestion and divert customers from the struggling downtown commercial district. FARM FAIR - July 16 through 19 the Burlington Greens had a display at the Burlington County Farm Fair. MEETINGS - Green Party of Burlington County / Burlington Greens hold their regular open monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of the month. The next one will be August 20, 7:00pm, at the Friends Meeting House, corner of High and Garden Streets, Mount Holly (enter from rear parking lot.) Contact the Burlington County Green Party; Mike Skelly, County Chairman: mikesrgreen@yahoo.com PO Box 4029, Mount Holly, NJ 08060 http://www.burlingtongreens.org ------------------------------------------ CUMBERLAND COUNTY The Cumberland Greens held a fun-filled outreach event on July 17. The night featured the "political slam poetry" of Roger Merle, reading from his collection of works, including "Batteries not included." Also featured was a video from the "World's Only Known Singing CIA Agent"- George Shrub. Shrub is currently on the first leg of his national tour. He has been traveling and sharing his point of view "so people won't need their own." Shrub employs anti-folk songs and interventional anthems to explain that the business of America is "none of your business" and that the proper place for himself, like Wal-mart is "everywhere." Shrub's goal is to "afflict the complacent" while occasionally rhyming in the process. The Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem County locals held a joint meeting on August 2 in Buena. The meeting, organized by Rich Raimonde, was intended to better acquaint the members of the different locals while allowing the groups to discuss and strategize about campaigns that cross county lines. Fifteen Greens enjoyed a complementary brunch while going over the informal agenda, which included 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Legislative District campaign strategies, the National Convention, Nader's possible candidacy, and campaign issues specific to the area. Everyone found it helpful to finally meet face-to-face to discuss common Green Party goals. Good friends, good food, and good conversation - a good time was had by all. ------------------------------------------ ESSEX COUNTY Submitted by Joe Fortunato, County Coordinator The Essex County Green Party held a campaign-focused meeting on June 18th. Two of our candidates, Beresford Jones, for State Senate, and Tim Gaylord, for State Assembly, were in attendance. In all, eight people attended, half of whom were African-American, which reflects the Essex Greens' long-standing commitment to address the concerns of people of color. Both Beresford and Tim are making plans to run full-out campaigns. On July 4, Essex County Green Party members marched in a contingent organized by the People's Organization for Progress in Montclair's annual Fourth of July parade. The theme of this year's parade was "Freedom and Democracy." The POP contingent expressed its outrage over the removal of NJ's poet laureate position by the NJ State legislature, widely viewed as a means of punishing Black activist and poet Amiri Baraka, ostensibly for Baraka's publication of the poem "Somebody Blew Up America." The POP marchers chanted "Power to the People" and "Power to the People's Poet," while carrying signs that read "Freedom of Speech" and "Support Amiri Baraka," to the enthusiastic applause of well-wishers all along the parade route. The Essex County Greens passed the following resolution by consensus at their July 16 monthly meeting, attended by ten people: "The Essex County Green Party reaffirms its support for Amiri Baraka, the 'People's Poet Laureate,' and for his right to free speech. We believe the New Jersey State legislature was wrong in voting to eliminate the poet laureate position and in allowing itself to be swayed by some who were racially and politically motivated to attack Mr. Baraka." On July 18 a kick-off fundraiser for the Beresford Jones campaign was held in Bloomfield (see his website: www.jonesforsenate.org). Beresford currently has a Newark voter registration campaign underway. Tim Gaylord opened his campaign for State Assembly with a rally on Saturday, August 9. Tom Gregg is his running mate for Assembly. ------------------------------------------------ HUDSON COUNTY Submitted by Pamela Olsen, County Coordinator Jonathan Oriole, one of our candidates for State Assembly in District 31, will be buying the CD containing voter registration information for that district. This CD is obtainable from the Clerk's Office in all counties and is a valuable campaigning tool. We had a strong contingent this year in the Martin Luther King Day Parade in Jersey City. Jim Mohn's banner - "Green Party Supports Reparations" - was a huge hit. From our local, Greg Giacobe has joined the GPNJ Policy Committee, Pamela Olsen serves as party Secretary, and Jonathan Oriole is on the Diversity Committee, Our monthly meetings, generally held on the third Wednesday of the month (7 PM, at the Old Bergen Church in Jersey City) consistently draw about 20 people. We've started a telephone campaign to bring out even more members to meetings. Greg Giacobe recently drafted a set of bylaws for our county organization. We are considering establishing municipal sub-chapters. Attempts are being made in: Bayonne (Greg Giacobe held his first meeting there recently); Guttenberg (Jim Mohn held a first meeting there June 2); Hoboken is a future possibility. Our candidates had a presence at the Bayonne Fair in early June and plan to march in the Puerto Rican Day Parade this month. Claudette Meliere is researching other fairs and events where we can make appearances. ------------------------------------------------ CALENDAR Mon. 8/11, 6:30pm (and every Monday evening): Weekly Peace Vigil. Rtes 45 & 40, Woodstown. Info: ncohen12@comcast.net. Wed. 8/13: Our candidates could campaign at the Somerset County Fair, held at Milltown Road (between Route 202 & 22) in Bridgewater Township. Info about the fair: 908-526-6644. Wed. 8/13, 7:00pm. Monthly Meeting of Alice Paul NOW Chapter. Topic: "Women in Technology." First Baptist Church, 19 W. Main Street, Moorestown. Info: 856-778-8320. Wed. 8/13, 7:30pm. Animal Rights Activists of NJ Monthly Meeting. Voorhees Middle School, 1000 Holly Oak Drive, Voorhees. Info: 856-772-2521. Thurs. 8/14, 6:00pm (and every Thursday at 6:00): People's Organization For Progress Community Organizing Meeting at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, 224 West Kinney Street, Newark. POP Montclair Branch meets 7:00pm the second Monday of the month at Saint Peter Claver Church, 56 Elmwood Avenue, Montclair. Every Saturday thru Sept. 2003, 11:00am-3:00pm, POP Membership Drive, Broad & Market Sts. (NW corner, btw. Market & Bank Sts.) downtown Newark. Info: People's Organization For Progress, 973-801-0001; www.njpop.org. Sat. 8/16, 4:00pm: A Green pot-luck picnic at 58 Brooktree Road in East Windsor. Please bring: (1) some food to share, and (2) your checkbook. Half the funds raised will go to the Ahearn campaign and the other half will be divided among our other active campaigns. Info: call Steve at 609-443-6782. Wed. 8/20: Our candidates could campaign at the Hunterdon County Fair, held at South County Park, Rte 179 & 202, Ringoes. Info about the fair: 908-782-6809. Wed. 8/20, 7:00pm: Burlington County Greens monthly meeting at the Friends Meeting House, corner of High and Garden Streets, Mount Holly (enter from rear parking lot.) Wed. 8/20, 7:30pm: Essex County Greens monthly meeting at Bloomfield College Center, #198 Liberty St. (between Austin Place and Oakland Ave.) 2nd Floor. Discussions about 2003 election activities and 2004 perspectives. Sat. 8/23: Poor People's National March on Washington for Economic Rights and Human Rights (this is the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech). Info: 609-924-5022 or cfpa@peacecoalition.org. Sun. 8/24, 1:00pm: NJ Green Council meeting. 792 Watchung Road in Bound Brook. This Council meeting will allocate special time for discussion of campaign-related issues and sharing of campaign-relevant information. All who want to participate supporting our 2003 slate are welcome to attend. Tue. 8/26, 5:30-8:30pm: Celebration of Women's Equality Day. Paulsdale, Hooten Road, Mt. Laurel. Cost is $10. Info: 856-231-1885. Fri. 8/29: Atlantic County Greens fundraiser. Schooner's in Somers Point. Tickets are $15. Info: Gabe Gabrielsky - gabegabrielsky@yahoo.com. Tues. 9/2, 9:00pm: GPNJ Communications Committee conference call (occurs the first Tuesday of every month). If you have an interest in writing, editing, website maintenance, press work, etc. please consider joining the ComCom. Sat. 9/6 and Sun. 9/7: Walk the 38th for Matt Ahearn! We need a strong contingent of supporters walking throughout the 38th District putting literature under doors. Recruit everyone you know! (ANY weekend day or weekday evening that you could volunteer to distribute literature would be appreciated - just call ahead and let us know when you can help). Info: Stuart Shaw 201-797-1482 or Shaw1@verizon.net. Sun. 9/7 7:00pm: GPNJ Finance Committee conference call (occurs second Sunday of every month). If you have an interest in fundraising, budgeting, etc. please consider joining the FinCom. Fri. 9/19, 7:00pm: Atlantic County Greens fundraiser. Dennis Donnelly in Concert (visit www.dennisdonnelly.com). 7117 Ventnor Ave, Ventnor (Ventnor United Methodist Church). Admission: $10. Revenues will go to support the Atlantic County slate and also Green Party candidates statewide. Volunteers are needed for the event. Info: 609-348-2300. ------------------------------------------------ 2003 CANDIDATE PROFILES ------------------------------------------ Full list: NJ Green Campaign 2003 District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland) . Assembly - Mary Snyder (Somers Point) . Assembly - Carly R. Massey (Somers Point) District 2 (Atlantic) . Senate - Robert Gabrielsky (Atlantic City) . Assembly - Ray Higbee Jr. (Galloway) . Assembly - Meredith Slotoroff (Linwood) Atlantic County Executive: Steven Thonus Atlantic County Freeholder: Carly R. Massey Atlantic City Council: Marlene Dembin District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem) . Assembly - Peggy Murphy (Sewell) . Assembly - Chuck Woodrow (Barnsboro) Commerical Township Committee: Ken McGill Woodlynne Borough Council: Mark Heacock District 6 (Camden) . Assembly - Martin Nolan (Collingswood) . Assembly - Kevin Madden (Collingswood) District 10 (Monmouth, Ocean) . Assembly - Liz Arnone (Brick) District 11 (Monmouth) . Senate - Brian Unger (Long Branch) . Assembly - Tom Auletta (Atlantic Highlands) . Assembly - Lynn Surgalla (Monmouth Beach) Monmouth County Freeholder: David Thompson District 12 (Mercer, Monmouth) . Senate - Earl Gray (Red Bank) District 13 (Middlesex, Monmouth) . Senate - Greg Orr (Middletown) . Assembly - Michael Hall (Middletown) . Assembly - Jaime Donnelly (Hazlet) Plainsboro Township Committee: Patrick Goldsmith District 15 (Mercer) . Assembly - Jill Penn (Princeton) . Assembly - Russell Cullen (Ewing) Princeton Borough Mayor: Steven J. Syrek District 16 (Morris, Somerset) . Assembly - Jane Hunter (Bound Brook) District 17 (Middlesex, Somerset) . Assembly - Josephine Giaimo (Highland Park) . Assembly - David Hochfelder (New Brunswick) District 21 (Essex, Morris, Somerset, Union) . Senate - Terri DiMatteo (Westfield) . Assembly - George DeCarlo (Berkeley Heights) . Assembly - Ryan Reyes (Berkeley Heights) District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset, Union) . Assembly - Rosalie Donatelli (Scotch Plains) . Assembly - Hal Relkin (Scotch Plains) District 28 (Essex) . Senate - Beresford Jones (Bloomfield) District 29 (Essex, Union) . Senate - Toy-Ling Washington (Hillside) Union County Freeholder: Barbara Briemer District 31 (Hudson) . Senate - Eric Olsen (Jersey City) . Assembly - Pamela Olsen (Jersey City) . Assembly - Jonathan Oriole (Bayonne) District 33 (Hudson) . Assembly - Maria Rios (Hoboken) District 34 (Essex, Passaic) . Assembly - Tim Gaylord (East Orange) . Assembly - Thomas Gregg (Montclair) District 37 (Bergen) . Assembly - Patricia Alessandrini (Teaneck) . Assembly - Ruth Bauer Neustadter (Hackensack) District 38 (Bergen) . Assembly - Matthew Ahearn [incumbent] (Fair Lawn) District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Passaic) . Assembly - Philip Passantino (Wayne) Bergen County Freeholder: Paul Forste Bergen County Freeholder: Irwin Nack ------------------------------------------ Below are selected candidate profiles. Those not included here will be included in the next issue of the GreenGram. ------------------------------------------ ROBERT "GABE" GABRIELSKY State Senate, District 2 (Atlantic) [below is excerpted from a longer version - get in touch with Gabe for the full version: gabegabrielsky@yahoo.com] I was born and raised in Camden County. I attended Rider College (now Rider University) in Mercer County. I was graduated magna cum laude from Hunter College in New York City with a major in history and minors in Political Science, English and Education. I have been a member and occasional staffer and officer of many different unions including the Hatters Union (now part of UNITE), 1199, the OPEIU, the Teamsters, the IUE, the UAW, the AFT, the NEA, HERE and several small, independent, unaffiliated unions. I have been a lifelong advocate of independent progressive electoral action, beginning in 1964 when I advocated an independent presidential ticket made up of Martin Luther King and labor leader Walter Reuther. In 1968 I was an organizer for the Peace and Freedom Party, the first political party in the world to have an ecology plank in its platform, which ran Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver for President. In 1980 I was active in the Citizen's Party, an early effort at building a green party in the United States. I have been active with the Green Party internationally since 1982 when I was involved with international solidarity work on behalf of democratic dissidents in eastern Europe in cooperation with the West German Green Party. I have been active in the current Green Party movement in the United States since 1987 when I led two workshops at the First National Green Gathering in Amherst, MA. I actively supported the Nader Presidential campaign in 1996 and in 1999 I joined and became active in the Green Party of New Jersey and the Atlantic County Green Party. In 2000 I ran for Congress on the Green Party ticket from New Jersey's Second Congressional District. In 2001 I ran for State Assembly on the Green Party ticket from the Second Legislative District. I am the founder and organizer of the New Jersey Labor Greens. In 2003 I worked full time on Ted Glick's campaign for US Senate. I am a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Association for Union Democracy. I attend the Atlantic City Area Friends Meeting. In my youth I was active in the student movement and a member of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Besides lifelong activity on behalf of independent progressive electoral action and in the labor movement, I have been active in both the peace movement and in solidarity with international human rights struggles. I have been a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. From 2000 to 2001 I was County Coordinator of the Atlantic County Green Party. I decided reluctantly to run for State Senate in the 2nd LD this year, basically to lend support to our Assembly candidates in the District, Ray Higbee, Jr. and Meredith Slotoroff, and to give the Green Party a full slate of candidates in the district. The most important issue that I will stress in the campaign is Nader's idea that candidates are not in themselves solutions to the areas problems, but really tribunes of the people whose best role is to encourage as many people as possible to use the tools of democracy to take control of their common lives. To that end, I especially want to stress the importance for the organizations of the social movements, such as labor unions, social justice groups, feminist organizations and environmental groups, to declare their political independence and put their own candidates forward in the electoral arena with their own programs, to challenge directly the corporate power represented by the candidates of the Republican and Democratic Parties. Secondly, it is my purpose to build the Green Party as currently the best organized expression of independent progressive political action in the United States. Thirdly, it is to build the Green Party as a new kind of party, a party that "walks on two legs," a party that does not tell its supporters to go home and let the professionals handle things after election day, but which relies on a politically conscious and politically active citizenry. In terms of specific legislation, in particular I support a living wage, shorter working hours with no cut in pay, a universal health care plan, legislation fostering card check union agreements and the organization of local Workers Rights Boards to make it as easy as possible for anyone who wants to organize and join a labor union, and a just transition away from environmentally unsound industries that would provide the workers in those industries a transition to equitable jobs at pay equal to that which they had previously been getting. I support environmental justice that would make poor and working class communities as healthy to live in as are most middle class communities. I support the development of mass transit and especially rail transportation to replace the current irrational and wasteful system of private transportation that we have, and I support reinvesting in the infrastructures of our urban centers as an alternative to the irrational development of our forests, agricultural and rural areas. If I am elected, the first thing I would do upon taking office is call for an independent convention of all progressive organizations in the state to win a majority in the state legislature and to organize a permanent and aggressive people's lobby on behalf of the progressive agenda. My targeted audience is those people who I believe are most open to the Green message: young people, labor union activists, peace activists, social justice activists, feminists and environmentalists, as well as people who are just plain fed up with politics as usual and the corruption of the two major parties. Contribute to: "NJ 2nd LD Green Party Campaign Committee" c/o Loretta Walling, Treasurer 614 A Biscayne Avenue, Galloway, NJ 08205 ------------------------------------------ PEGGY MURPHY State Assembly, District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem) Peggy is a full-time Certified Activity Director at the Guardian Adult Day Care Center in Glassboro, where she has worked for 10 years. She and John, her husband of 26 years, have three sons. She remains very active in the church where she was brought up and is currently the Superintendent of the Sunday School there, along with serving in the Women's Guild and playing in the Handbell choir. Aside from the thirteen years the Murphy family lived in North Carolina while John served in the US Marine Corps, they have lived in Mantua Township all their lives. CHARLES WOODROW State Assembly, District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem) Chuck grew up in Mantua Township, attending Sewell School and graduating from Clearview High School. He received a BA from Rutgers South in Camden and a Masters degree in Social Work from Marywood College in Scranton, PA. He worked in social services for several years before beginning a 23-year career in computer programming. After many years of serving small- and mid-sized businesses through a consulting firm, Chuck has been a Senior Programmer/Analyst for Electric Mobility Corporation, in his native Mantua Township, since 1999. Chuck has been married to his wife Ann for 32 years. They reside in Barnsboro. Chuck and his running mate, Peggy Murphy, are brother and sister. Platform: Murphy/Woodrow for State Assembly The influence of corporate money on the two major political parties is an aberration of democracy, which results in lawmakers representing corporate interests rather than the people who elected them. The self-evident purpose of corporate contributions is to obtain the passage of legislation favorable to corporate entities. The corporate payoff of both major parties has become entrenched in our political system over the past 20 years. It has resulted in the retreat of the Democrats from programs and ideologies that once made them the "people's party." Instead there are now two corporate parties - Democrats and Republicans. The financing of political campaigns by corporations and PACs is the most important issue that this country and this state face today because democracy itself is being circumvented. An increasing number of voters recognize the futility of voting for either major party and have stopped voting. We, the candidates of the Green Party, offer voters a real choice, and true representation in government, because we do not accept money from corporations or PACs and because we will fight to put an end to corporate political financing. The Green Party is growing rapidly and is running more candidates for offices at all levels of government. Our goal is to return the country to a true democracy, where the people are truly represented. Our other major concerns are for the most part issues directly affected by the corporate influence on the legislature: Air and water pollution, the proliferation of consumer products which are neither recyclable nor biodegradable, toxic waste, ocean dumping, over-logging, over-fishing, over-developing, sprawl, the shrinkage of wild habitat and of our natural resources, and the reliance on limited fossil fuels and on nuclear power. Also: Spiraling health care costs, which are greatly inflated by the huge profits of giant corporations such as those in the pharmaceutical industry, which spend large amounts to secure legislation favorable to themselves and to kill all proposals for universal health insurance; and the increasing wealth gap between the super rich and the rest of us (exacerbated by recently passed or pending legislation in the US Congress which offers a montage of tax breaks which disproportionately benefit the rich and which will ultimately result in both program cuts and increased local taxes). The "Key Values" of the Green Party address these issues. They can be found on www.GPNJ.org and in an appendix to Ralph Nader's book "Crashing the Party." Some of our key values are Ecological Wisdom, Social Justice, and Economic Justice. The first of our key values is Grassroots Democracy, which emphasizes making our public representatives fully accountable to the people who elect them. Contribute to: "Murphy and Woodrow for Assembly" P.O. Box 566, Sewell, NJ 08080 856-415-9149 ------------------------------------------ MARTIN NOLAN State Assembly, District 6 (Camden) Martin Nolan is a graduate of Rutgers University (BA Political Science), and works as a teledata technician for IBEW Local 351. He is a lifelong county resident currently residing in Collingswood with his wife and children. Nolan also serves as the Chairman of the Camden County Green Party and has been a past state delegate to the Green Party of the United States. Contact Martin: 856-869-5463 or 856-278-1517 (cell) rockthevote@hotmail.com KEVIN MADDEN State Assembly, District 6 (Camden) Kevin Madden is a graduate of Rowan University (BA Psychology). He has resided in Collingswood for five years with his wife and four children. Kevin serves as Treasurer of the Camden County Greens and is a member of the Greater Camden Unity Coalition. Contact: Kevin Madden 856-854-6183 Maddpeace@aol.com Contribute to: "Friends of Nolan & Madden for Assembly" PO Box 158, West Berlin NJ 08091-0158 856-869-5463 ------------------------------------------ ELIZABETH ARNONE State Assembly, District 10 (Monmouth, Ocean) I joined the Green Party in 2000 when I learned Ralph Nader was running for President. Along with some others, I formed a group in Ocean County to campaign for Nader. Through this participation, I found a home with like-minded people and decided to stay on and continue the fight for democracy and social justice. I have served as Treasurer of GPNJ since 2001. I am a former employee of AT&T where I spent many years involved in Valuing Diversity and Quality-of-the-Work-Environment initiatives. I served on committees and focus groups which reported directly to the executive level regarding issues involving people with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered, Native American Indian, Black, Hispanic, and women employees of AT&T. My hobbies include flea marketing and studying the Indian Vedic scriptures which are as relevant today as they were 5,000 years ago for seekers of truth and self realization. One of the current local issues my district faces is intensive overdevelopment of the coastal zone - Trader's Cove in particular. It smacks of "money gets what money wants," as is evidenced by the fact that State Senator Andy Ciesla endorsed the proposal - he's an executive at a company that sells building equipment supplies and thereby stands to gain from this development. Another issue is the re-evaluation of the county level of government. Apparently Tom Kean, Jr. has proposed bill S-167/A-905 which would establish a board to be known as the Effectiveness of County Government Study Commission to study areas that may be trimmed down to save tax payers money. I would like to address this issue from the Green perspective. Also: A study recently indicated that the air quality at the Jersey Shore is well below healthy levels and possibly linked to the high risk for cancer in this area. This makes passage of the NJ Clean Car Act a high priority. Contribute to: "Liz Arnone for Assembly" 241 Essex Court, Brick, NJ 08723 732-920-8647 ------------------------------------------ JOSEPHINE M. GIAIMO State Assembly, District 17 (Middlesex, Somerset) The oldest daughter of working-class immigrant parents, Josephine Giaimo attended North Bergen High School during the early seventies, when concerns for civil rights and peace were at a peak. She attended Montclair State College on a full New Jersey State Scholarship. Principles of concern for others, fairness and social justice influenced her to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in both psychology and sociology. After graduating in 1976, she worked as an actuarial assistant for Newark's Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, Inc. She later earned an advanced degree in engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1991, taking evening classes while working full-time. A Highland Park resident since 1996, she built a successful business providing technical consulting to large and small businesses and organizations. Josephine spends much of her time, effort, and energy in service to the members of her community. She is an advocate for those seeking employment, health, justice, peace, and access to education, technology, and information. She has served on the boards and committees of several New Jersey-based non-profit organizations, including job-seekers groups and those looking to build stronger relationships within their own local communities. DAVID HOCHFELDER State Assembly, District 17 (Middlesex, Somerset) David Hochfelder is the son of a working-class, pro-union family. As a state legislator for the 17th District, he will work tirelessly to remove the power of special interests from politics, to provide opportunity and economic security for working families, and to strengthen civil rights for all New Jersey residents. Originally from a blue-collar Chicago neighborhood, Hochfelder was raised by his mother and grandparents; his mother taught in the Chicago public school system and his grandfather was a janitor in a downtown high-rise. He graduated from a Catholic vocational/technical high school in 1982 and attended Northwestern University thanks to a combination of scholarships, financial aid, and part-time work. He has worked in a variety of fields and he holds advanced degrees in electrical engineering and history. As an engineer, he worked on the shop floor in the locomotive and electrical power industries. As a historian, he is currently an editor at the Thomas Edison Papers project at Rutgers University. He has volunteered over the years for a variety of organizations to empower citizens, including GED and adult literacy programs, after-school programs for at-risk youth, and the Salvation Army. He has lived in New Brunswick for five years and is married to Ann Pfau, who coordinates an enrichment program for high-school history education. Contact David: 732-745-1439 david.hochfelder@rutgers.edu Giaimo/Hochfelder Platform: - End "one-dollar, one-vote" politics in New Jersey. Return control of the state government to the citizens. We will fight for the following measures to give citizens a stronger voice in the political process. - Enact legislation to ban "pay-to-play" contracting. Ban political contributions by contractors doing business with state, county, and municipal governments. Impose a four-year no-contract penalty on a contractor who attempts to use intermediaries to funnel campaign contributions to politicians. - End the influence of special interests. Support public financing of state, county, and municipal campaigns. Introduce and pass a "Clean Money" bill similar to those already in force in Maine, Vermont, and Arizona. - Transform our electoral system. Establish instant runoff/preference voting where candidates rank their preferences without worrying about voting for the "lesser of two evils." - Ban the use of public property and public facilities for campaigning and political fundraising at state, county, and municipal levels of government. - Guarantee opportunity and economic security for New Jersey's working families. - Provide affordable health insurance for the hundreds of thousands of uninsured New Jersey citizens. Remove the profit motive from health care. Establish a health care system free of insurance company involvement. - Empower workers to organize to improve their wages, benefits and working conditions. Support the right to form unions without harassment and firings. - Protect our growing workforce of temporary and contract workers by ending the exemption of their unemployment and disability insurance. Support portable benefits programs. Guarantee our pensions. - Strengthen public education. Oppose cuts in educational funding. Ensure that all levels of education, from kindergarten through college, have full funding to attract and retain the best teachers and to maintain small class sizes. - Ensure that all New Jersey residents have decent and affordable housing. Provide housing allowances and support rent control in high-rent areas. Strengthen the rights of tenants. - Roll back insurance rates for drivers, homeowners, and renters, which are among the highest in the country. - Improve our security while ensuring full civil rights for all New Jersey residents. Support complete rights for gay and lesbian citizens, including the right to form civil unions. - Expand citizen oversight of the police. Establish civilian review boards and special prosecutors to investigate racial profiling, police brutality, and other abuses. - Protect New Jersey residents from indiscriminate use of the "Patriot" Act. Use the power of the state government to protect the civil rights of New Jersey residents; prevent unnecessary encroachment of our rights by federal authorities. Contribute to: "Friends of District 17 Greens" 123 Johnson Street, Highland Park, NJ 08904 732-448-0021 ------------------------------------------ ERIC OLSEN State Senate, District 31 (Hudson) Eric Olsen is very concerned about the US Patriot Act and how it will affect the residents of Hudson County. He believes that Americans in Hudson County can be safe and free! He cites the recent resolutions in Alaska, Vermont, and Hawaii barring state participation in federal security measures as excellent models for possible New Jersey civil rights legislation. "We need to send a strong message to the federal government. If there is no reasonable suspicion of criminal activity (in accordance with New Jersey law), the State of New Jersey should not participate in investigations, detentions or surveillance of its citizens." Eric Olsen is looking out for the civil rights of the people in Hudson County! Eric is a union musician, and music instructor. He will fight for the rights of union workers. He will work to keep state funding of arts education. PAMELA OLSEN State Assembly, District 31 (Hudson) Pamela is determined to give the voters a choice aside from the standard pay-to-play politicians. Pamela believes in separating big money from politics. "A government for the people and by the people cannot be duly served by those funded with corporate monies. Profit seeking organizations are the backbone of our economy. They lead us in our Capitalist Society, and we need them in our American System. But they have no place in our government. You cannot serve two masters. A government serving big profits is not serving its constituency. Who matters most? The PEOPLE! Many people in Hudson County are not living the American Dream. They are being short-changed by our corporate controlled local, state and national governments. Realize that you have a choice in this election. You can choose the party that is interested in what the government can do for YOU. Vote for yourselves! Vote for your future! Vote Green!" Currently Ms. Olsen serves as Secretary of the Green Party of New Jersey. On the local level, she is the Hudson County Coordinator. She also serves as Secretary of the GPNJ Communications Committee. JONATHAN J. ORIOLE State Assembly, District 31 (Hudson) A Bayonne native raised in rural northwestern Pennsylvania, Jonathan first became involved in community activism in junior high school while visiting nursing homes with his school choir. Throughout high school and undergraduate studies at Tufts University, he held numerous leadership positions, including President of the Warren County Young Republicans, board member of Tufts Hillel, Manager of the Jewish Cultural House, and Founding Coordinator of Echad B'Minyan, the gay and lesbian Jewish group at Tufts. Since graduating from Tufts in 1997, Jonathan has lived in New York City, Jerusalem (Israel), and Bayonne, and has been involved in the GLBT, peace and social justice, and religious tolerance movements. While living in Israel, he was active in several labor sanctions brought about by the General Federation of Labour-Bank Employees' Division at the Bank of Israel. He also served on the managing boards of the Jerusalem Open House-GLBT Center for Social Tolerance, Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism-Youth Forum, and Shinui-Liberal Party of Israel-GLBT Affairs Forum. Jonathan is currently the Green Party of Hudson County's Secretary and Membership Chair, a member of the Lavender Greens GLBT Caucus, and a liaison to the Green Party of the United States' International Committee. A graphic designer by profession, Jonathan works in one of New York's most venerable Wall Street law firms. His main concerns for the 31st District are improving public transportation, providing more jobs and affordable housing, extending healthcare access to all, and working on sustainable, environmentally-sound development of the many neglected neighborhoods throughout the district. His vision is truly one focused on the future of Hudson County and the entire state of New Jersey. --------------------------------------------- MARIA M. RIOS State Assembly, District 33 (Hudson) Born in Spanish Harlem, Maria Rios is a true Newyorkina - a native New Yorker with deep roots in her Puerto Rican heritage. She has maintained this connection through projects such as protecting the El Yunque Forest from deforestation and getting the nuclear base out of Vieques. Maria is active in the Hoboken community, working for tenants rights, preventing evictions, and aiding the homeless. A member of the United Farmworkers Union, Maria fought to improve workers' wages and helped stop the use of dangerous chemicals on farmlands. Maria has waged campaigns to shut down nuclear power plants together with the Hudson County Coalition Against Nuclear Plants, and has dedicated herself to nuclear disarmament. Maria has stood firmly against US intervention in El Salvador and against the apartheid regime in South Africa. ------------------------------------------ PATRICIA ALESSANDRINI State Assembly, District 37 (Bergen) Patricia Alessandrini has lived in Bergen County her entire adult life. A lifelong student, she has degrees in Nursing and History, and is currently finishing a Masters degree in International Studies. While pursuing careers in nursing and teaching, Pat has been active in her community in a wide variety of ways. Examples are: coaching a girls' Little League team; library aide at her own children's school (where she also sat on the Parents' Advisory Board), and serving as her church Education Committee's chair. She has been a member of the Green Party since 2000, and is Secretary of the Bergen Greens. She is also a member of New Jersey Peace Action, the Teaneck Peace Coalition, United for Peace & Justice, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the ACLU. She decided to run for State Assembly because "citizens just don't have much of a choice with the Republicans and Democrats. I feel proud to run under the Green Party banner." In her campaign, Ms. Alessandrini wishes to stress tax reform, particularly for the schools. "The current system of funding schools is a shame. It's unfair for the citizens and unfair for the students. We're neglecting many of our urban students. Classrooms are too large, and this is bad for the future of New Jersey." She'll also be advocating a living wage for all workers, increasing the minimum wage in New Jersey, health care, and the need for campaign finance reform. She herself will be running a "clean" campaign, with contributions coming only from individuals. Her strategy is simple: talk - and listen - to as many people as possible, since she believes that political action cannot be effective without a sense of what the public is thinking. She wishes to particularly target young people, hoping to encourage continued political action on the part of those awakened by the peace movement. RUTH BAUER NEUSTADTER State Assembly, District 37 (Bergen) Ruth should know Bergen County pretty well. She attended Paramus High School, returned to Bergen after studying at Bennington College and has been here ever since. A teacher at Eastside High School in Newark, Ruth says she decided to run because "there are many issues about which I feel passionately that need to be addressed in the state of New Jersey. I also want to eradicate the negative image that many in the country have of New Jersey in terms of political corruption and pollution." Neustadter's involvement in NJ politics began at least 20 years ago, when she started Save Hackensack Association for Residential Preservation ("SHARP"), to save old residential neighborhoods. She was involved in tenants' organizations during the 1980's, and has been a campaign manager for a group running a mayoral candidate against the incumbent mayor. Ruth is the New Jersey political reporter for WBAI radio, has been a member of the Hackensack Environmental Commission for 8 years, belongs to the Taxpayers' Association in Hackensack, and is a long-time member of the Bergen County Green Party. When asked about her campaign strategy, she stated that she would target the "psychologically disenfranchised voters - the people who have given up," giving them a reason to revisit the electoral arena. Among the issues which will drive her campaign, Ruth points out four major ones: * Clean money elections: she will run a clean-money campaign; i.e., contributions only from individuals - no corporate or PAC money; * Education: specifically, the fight to keep and strengthen Head Start. One goal is to eliminate the waiting lists for Head Start by providing a spot for everyone. Ruth states that she has become disenchanted with the obsession with testing in NJ schools; * Moratorium on the death penalty. She opposes the death penalty for many reasons. In particular, she is horrified at the number of innocent people on death row; * Teterboro Airport: Ruth has worked on the noise and environmental issues for years at the local level and believes that the State Assembly should join the fray. Her plan includes rerouting the planes over the Hackensack River so they do not pass over residential areas, including numerous highrises and the Hackensack University Medical Center. Why wait for a tragedy to happen? Have the FAA and the Port Authority take action now. ------------------------------------------ MATT AHEARN State Assembly, District 38 (Bergen) Matt Ahearn is the present incumbent Assemblyman for District 38. He switched from Democrat to Green last winter. Since then he has sponsored and introduced a variety of important bills (see Part 1 of this GreenGram). His tow truck bill, which was signed into law, corrected a dangerous highway situation which resulted in the death of a woman driver several years ago. The Star-Ledger called it one of the most significant pieces of legislation in 2002. Mike Kelly of the Bergen Record has said that Matt is a "lunch-pail legislator, interested in the nuts-and-bolts concerns of ordinary folks." Even the present Speaker of the Assembly has described Matt as a "crusading, energetic and detail-oriented legislator." Matt recently appeared before national Green Party delegates in Washington, DC where he was greeted enthusiastically and was promised campaign assistance from Greens in neighboring states. These people are willing to give their time to come to New Jersey and go door-to-door in the 38th District to distribute literature. We are very appreciative of their help, but the success of the Ahearn campaign will depend primarily upon Green Party members and supporters here in New Jersey. Matt won't have as much money as his opponents, so in place of expensive postage we have to substitute LEG WORK! It is a great opportunity when we can put our own proven candidate into the Assembly. For Matt to win, it will take a strong contingent of supporters blanketing the 38th District with Ahearn literature and talking to voters. If you can help - any day, any evening! - contact Stuart Shaw at 201-797-1482 or Shaw1@verizon.net. To contribute: "Matt Ahearn for Assembly" 6 Beekman Place, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 www.mattahearn.com for credit card contributions or call 201-796-0135 ------------------------------------------ PHILIP PASSANTINO State Assembly, District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Passaic) I'm a Senior Clerk Typist in the Facilities Department at William Paterson University in Wayne. I'm a member of CWA Local 1031 and also a musician. I grew up in Wayne. I attended Don Bosco Prep Catholic H.S. in Ramsey and received a B.S. in 1994 from SUNY College at Fredonia (near Buffalo, NY). I joined the Green Party of NJ when it was founded in 1997, after Ralph Nader's first presidential run. I've long been concerned about New Jersey's shrinking open spaces; about pollution; about water supply contamination. A recent report on the front page of the Bergen Record decried New Jersey tap water, brooks and rivers as containing "epilepsy drugs, deodorants, traces of antibiotics, flame retardants, artificial colors, and fuel additives. Carbamazepine, a painkiller; AHTN, a fragrance in consumer products; and prometon, a herbicide, were most common." ("NJ Water Contains Traces of Daily Life," March 5, 2003). I intend to address these issues. I would like to make it more affordable to choose ecological, natural products. I would like to make it possible for a normal working person to purchase organic foods without breaking the bank. I would like to raise New Jersey's consciousness regarding other life options. I am very interested in alternative energy and sustainability. Last summer I attended Solarfest, an annual solar energy fair in Poultney, Vermont (www.solarfest.org). People there recognize that we are now entering the age of alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power. This is the new way to live. It is sustainable and it's clean. New Jersey must live up to our motto "The Garden State" and set an example of how sustainability and commerce can go hand in hand. Here's what I want to do: * Mandate all state diesel vehicles and all buses to run on B20 mixes of diesel fuel (this is a mix containing 20% biodiesel from plant sources, slightly more expensive than straight diesel but with cleaner burning and reduced sulfur emissions). * Do the same to replace No. 2 Heating Oil in public buildings including government, state colleges, etc. * Explore outfitting state diesel vehicles to run on straight vegetable oil! The cost of conversion would be offset by the free donation of all fuel (used frying oil, crumbs and all) from the fryers of fast-food restaurants throughout NJ. There could even be corporate sponsorship via McDonalds, Burger King, etc., who would be saying goodbye to costs for used oil disposal via a state donation program. The publicity generated by such a forward-thinking project would do much to raise the consciousness of all New Jerseyans to the fascinating possibilities for ecological progress in the 21st century. * Increase wind and solar energy applications. Publicize that these options exist and are reliable (the first NJ wind farm is currently under construction in Atlantic City). * Give state support for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification in all new and existing buildings in NJ (www.usgbc.org); and support the use of alternative building materials including cob and strawbale in the construction of homes and other buildings. * Increase the percentage of electricity generated from renewables as recommended by Governor McGreevey's recent commission. My stances on some other issues recently discussed in the State Assembly are as follows: * I support strict controls on telemarketing, as embodied in the recent legislation. * I will work to reform malpractice insurance to benefit both doctors and patients. * I will work to improve NJ's sprawl situation. * I will work to end pay-to-play and other forms of corruption. * I will work for Clean Money / Voluntary Public Financing, following Maine's model. * I will work for the legalization of medical marijuana. At the very least, New Jersey can follow the lead of Maryland's current Republican governor Robert Ehrlich and the decriminalization bill he signed in May. To contribute: "Concerned Citizens for Passantino for Assembly" 231 Parish Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470 973-872-1139 ------------------------------------------ PAUL FORSTE Freeholder, Bergen County Having multiple careers gives a citizen the advantage of a variety of points of view, and Paul Forste has had many. He has at various times, and sometimes at the same time, been an actor, singer, stage manager, theatrical tour transport manager, teacher, truck driver (his current occupation) and salesperson. Add to those the career of husband and father. Originally from Ohio, he holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio University. Paul has been an active resident of the town of Teaneck and of Bergen County for over 20 years. He has been a Boy Scout leader, is active in his church, and serves on several committees of the Bergen County Green Party. Earlier in life he served stints in the peace movement and was active in union politics. Now engaged in his second bid for the office of county Freeholder, Paul states, "My fundamental reason for running is my desire to make county government more responsive to the interests of its citizens than it is to those of businesses that make political contributions." Like most Greens, Paul wishes to bring to office the impartiality that can be attained only by an independence from corporate contributions and believes that public confidence in the fairness of tax policy can be inspired only by officeholders who have this independence. IRWIN NACK Freeholder, Bergen County Irwin Nack, a long-time Associate Professor of History at William Paterson University, was President for 15 years of American Federation of Teachers Local 1796, AFL-CIO, the local union of faculty, librarians and professional staff which he helped found. A founder, too, of the state-wide Council of NJ State College Locals of the AFT, he also played a key role in the negotiations of all of the contracts between that organization and the State of New Jersey. Nack's experience also includes the negotiations of many union agreements with the President of William Paterson University; the successful defense of the rights of employees of the University; and many years of service on the University's Faculty Senate, which advises on the adoption of policies governing the institution. Irwin Nack is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Labor Museum at the Botto House National Landmark in Haledon, NJ. Without any compensation, he has often lectured at the museum and offered courses to senior citizens at the Institute of New Dimensions at the Central Unitarian Church of Paramus, NJ. Nack favors strong support of public services, protection of the environment and a tax system under which big property holders pay their fair share so that taxes do not fall disproportionately on low and middle income residents. ============================================================= The GreenGram is circulated bi-monthly in an effort to keep all GPNJ
members informed about recent matters and upcoming events. Members are
encouraged to provide brief submissions of news items or opinions, as well
as event announcements. Steve Welzer is the editor. Deadline for the October
issue will be September 15. Please submit material to the address below or
to: GreenGramNJ@aol.com |
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