For the Many NJ Coalition Takes Action to Condemn the Anti-Democratic Budget Process & Failure to Fund the Recovery

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Trenton, June 24, 2021 – Members of the For The Many – NJ coalition took direct action in front of the Statehouse to condemn an anti-democratic and opaque budget process that left little room for input from constituents.

As the state emerges from an unprecedented public health crisis, in which racial and economic inequities have worsened, the legislature has missed an opportunity to fund the pandemic recovery with a state budget that meets the needs of the moment and invests in our communities. The legislature must directly address the economic and racial inequities to come out of the economic downturn stronger than before.

“The FY22 budget is so full of Christmas tree budget spending items that the State House dome should be covered in blinking lights. Amidst this unprecedented windfall, the proposed budget still whiffs on even making a down payment on creating a dedicated funding source for NJ Transit and ending the Clean Energy Fund raids. This is beyond a missed opportunity as transit is the backbone of our communities but now faces an uncertain funding future post-pandemic. As ridership still is severely depressed, it is even more important to get out in front of a future fiscal cliff and use state funds to finally end the capital to operating NJ Transit budget raids,” said Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey.

“Despite promises to stop raiding the Clean Energy Fund and NJ Transit capital funds, these raids continue. This is taking funding away from energy efficiency programs, green jobs, and electric buses that would help people save money and reduce pollution,” said Taylor McFarland, Acting Director, Sierra Club New Jersey Chapter. “The Governor committed to stopping these raids when he ran for office four years ago, but they have continued. Over $2 billion has been taken from the Clean Energy Fund since 2010, and Murphy has done nothing to stop it.”

“New Jersey will never advance racial equity when we have a budget process that privileges insiders and powerful special interests,” said Brandon McKoy, President of New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP). “If we want the state to live up to its stated values, we cannot continue with business as usual. We’re not interested in lip service anymore. We’re interested in action.”

Kevin Brown, SEIU32BJ Vice President and NJ State Director, said “New Jersey is emerging from an unprecedented public health crisis where racial and economic inequalities have worsened. While there are many pieces of this budget that will support working families, there are also missed opportunities. The legislature missed an opportunity to pass a budget that fully funds relief programs for all of New Jersey and fails to acknowledge the sacrifices of the frontline essential workers who put their lives on the line during the pandemic to care for our families. We must do better by the most vulnerable workers in our state.”

“There are praiseworthy investments proposed in this year’s budget, but the overall budget falls short on ensuring a fair recovery for all and does not provide nearly enough assistance,” said Liz Glynn, NJ Citizen Action Organizing Director. “New Jerseyans need help keeping the lights on and a roof over their heads, and the allocated rental and utility assistance will not be enough. Over 400,000 NJ immigrant families have been excluded from financial relief and desperately need help. All while the Legislature rushes through a huge budget bill, giving the public mere minutes to review and respond, and lawmakers clamor to expand the EDA and give more tax cuts to corporate interests. We need new, sustainable sources of state revenue and a budget that works for everyone.”

Carla Cortes, an essential immigrant worker and Make the Road New Jersey member, said “I’m here to represent the thousands of immigrant workers who are excluded from relief and to call on the state legislature for their failure to include additional funds for the Excluded New Jerseyans Fund. We cannot continue to be essential and excluded. Essential immigrant workers, like me, risked our lives to keep our state open throughout the pandemic and this budget process failed to address racial and economic inequalities.”

For The Many is a statewide coalition of more than 30 organizations working collectively to expand funding for essential services and improve budget practices to adequately meet current and future needs, especially for communities that have been historically marginalized. 

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