Grassroot leaders and activists join to demand NJ Assembly put critical issues and diversity before political wrangling

TRENTON– On Tuesday May 30, grassroots activists from progressive, civil rights, and immigrant rights organizations joined together to denounce the recent political wrangling aimed at displacing Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, and called on legislators to instead focus on the myriad of issues plaguing the state as well as the impending election. Furthermore, leaders expressed deep concerns over the political alignment driven by South and Central New Jersey democrats that would displace the one person of color in the Senate and Assembly leadership.

“While the rest of the state has looked in horror at the push to roll back health care coverage, a skinny budget that threatens our state or even the chastisement of a ratings agency towards our own budgetary woes, mostly white and mostly male “leaders” have been busy dividing up Senate and Assembly leadership in order to oust the one person of color in one of the most diverse states in the nation.” said Analilia Mejia, Director of New Jersey Working Families Alliance.

Currently, New Jersey lags the state in job growth and leads in foreclosure crisis. Recently Moody’s investor services issued a 10 page report chastising the state for its fiscal state including its inability to meet obligations due to structural deficit and decreased revenues.

“It is wholly incomprehensible why a leadership fight, versus a whole host of issues that impact workers, retirees, and their families, would take precedent a week before a primary and on the eve of taking back our state from a Governor who has cared very little for the plight of New Jerseyans” said Lawrence Hamm, head of the People’s Organization for Progress. “We must speak truth to power, and the truth is, this is neither the time nor reflective of the diversity of our state.”

Since 2010, working families and vulnerable communities of the state have dealt with the effects of underfunded key areas including: pension payments, school aid, tuition assistance, environmental protection, legal services, charity care, and general assistance for families in need.

“Our state is in crisis and those at the helm are sadly unfocused, unperturbed and seemingly unconcerned,” said Richard Smith, President of the NJ Branch of the NAACP. “We stand united in the demand that our leaders not only represent our interests, they represent the broad diversity of our state in both makeup and progressive values.”

During the press conference, advocates expressed their desire to see a legislative leadership that represents and addresses the needs of every community- as well as one that reflects the diversity of the Garden State.

“At a time of great peril for women and people of color in our country, we need political leaders with a clear vision to resist Trump’s divisive politics and a plan to energize voters to elect a new Governor,” stated Patricia Campos-Medina, President of LUPE PAC. “As the last election proved, the time of political bosses looking for their own personal interest is over. New Jersey is a diverse state and to find real solutions, we need diverse leadership at all levels of government representing our communities. This includes leadership in the Governor’s office, the Senate and the Assembly.”

“The time of counting on the support of diverse communities in order to win an election but completely ignore it when it matters is over in New Jersey” stated Chris Estevez, President of the Latino Action Network, the largest coalition of Latino leaders across the state. “Our demand is simple, take us into account or lose our support when it counts.”

William Colon, head of the Latino Institute echoed Estevez stating, “We reject a system that produces homogenous leadership and targets the one diverse member in a leadership body created to represent the voices and interests of diverse constituents. What’s more, all before a single vote has been cast in any election.”

Participants stated they will continue to raise objections and will take these to the members of their diverse organizations as well as to representatives across the state.