Flora Prepared to Tackle Poverty, CD-10’s Biggest Issue

The United States of America is a country full of wealth. But census data shows that a disproportionate number of constituents in New Jersey’s 10^th Congressional District are living in poverty. Said another way, the concentration of wealth that has been occurring in recent decades is hitting NJ-10 hard. “A lack of good paying jobs and insufficient affordable housing are self-evident to many who call the district home”, said John Flora, a U.S. Congressional Democratic primary candidate who is exploring ways to combat poverty in a district in which he has resided his entire life.

“The median income in District 10 is the lowest of twelve congressional districts across the state and nearly $10,000 less than the national average,” said Flora. “This has to be more than improved for my neighbors and I to see any real progress; it needs to be radically transformed.”

Flora aspires to be a member of the 117^th Congress so he can support Bernie Sanders’ Green New Deal and Housing for All plans in order to shrink the number of people in his district living in poverty. “The federal government can and should incentivize the private sector to subsidize the construction of more housing which is safe, affordable, and environmentally sound. This is a win-win because new jobs will be created that pay well and offer benefits like a pension. Implementation will be key, ensuring that those jobs go to those who need them most in the district.”

Flora also seems optimistic about the legalization of marijuana at the federal level as a potential new revenue stream. “I pledge to work alongside my peers in Congress to advance a growing movement to legalize marijuana. This can surely help our district, but only if local dispensaries in cities like Newark and Jersey City do not become an instant transfer of outside wealth. We therefore will need to preemptively enact policies requiring a certain percentage of new dispensaries to be locally-owned and run.”

Flora, who in his childhood watched his family struggle financially, knows firsthand how important it is to be able to provide. “Watching mom tread water when I was growing up instilled in me the value and importance of being able to get back on your feet,” explained Flora. “While financial instability is part of my family’s story, we never let it define us. My family’s story is one that every family in the district should be able to tell.”

John Flora is running against an incumbent named Donald Payne Jr. who inherited his seat when his father passed in 2012. At the time of his father’s death, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi stated “I support Donald Payne Jr. because he’ll hit the ground running in Washington, bringing skills at creating jobs from his years as Newark’s Council President.” One question voters will have to answer on June 2^nd is whether or not the Congressman has lived up to her expectations.

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