INDIVISIBLE Lambertville NJ / New Hope PA

Category: New Jersey

  • What the Heck is Going On In Our State Legislatures?

    Contributed by Amara Willey.

    Pennsylvania

    Although Democrats picked up a few seats in the Pennsylvania legislature and Governor Tom Wolf stayed in office, Republicans retained control of the House and Senate. We see the Republican caucus moving in a more conservative direction as moderates lost seats to Democrats.

    Nevertheless, there are several interesting bills to watch this year in Pennsylvania in the areas of fair pay, the environment, and legalization.

    • Changes to overtime pay – A bill mandating “white collar” employees be paid overtime if their weekly salary is under $610 per week. The salary minimum would increase after the first and second year respectively, forcing employers to pay overtime or increase wages. The state projects that the change would affect 460,000 workers.
    • Limiting methane from existing gas and oil wells – Stricter emissions standards were applied last year to new gas and oil wells. This bill would limit VOCs including methane gas from existing wells. Even though federal Environmental Protection Agency standards may be withdrawn, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection intends to push forward with this bill. Concerns about the bill involve potential costs.
    • Nuclear power – Lawmakers in the Energy Caucus recommended in a Nov. 2018 report that nuclear power be added to the list of alternative energy sources in the Alternative Energy Performance Standards program, which requires power distributors and generators to get 18 percent of their electricity from alternative sources such as wind, solar or biofuels by 2021. Two nuclear power plants are scheduled to close in the near future, the Three Mile Island plant outside Harrisburg in September 2019 and the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station outside Pittsburgh in 2021. PA’s current 9 reactors at 5 plants provide 42% of the state’s electricity. Decommissioning these plants would increase carbon dioxide emissions.
    • Marijuana legalization and expansion of medical cannabis – Since New York and New Jersey are likely to legalize recreational marijuana this year, Pennsylvania is taking another look at this issue, due to economic pressure from neighboring states. Governor Wolf has indicated he would sign this bill, but State Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman is opposed to the bill.

    New Jersey

    In New Jersey, hot issues also include the environment, fair pay and legalization. While a small minimum wage hike from $8.60 to $8.85 was achieved in 2018, Governor Phil Murphy failed to get the state legislature to pass the proposed $15/hour minimum wage or marijuana legalization that he had thought was a slam dunk. Both are being revisited in 2019.

    • Minimum wage – A bill, introduced in December, calls for a gradual increase in the minimum wage to $15/hour. The concern is that the higher wage will put N.J. at a competitive disadvantage though people might engage in more discretionary spending.
    • Earned sick leave – Regulations are proposed to a 2018 law requiring employers to allow eligible employees to accrue one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked. Certain of the guidelines contradict the original statute and could provoke legal challenges.
    • Marijuana legalization – Legalization of recreational marijuana would include licensing production and sale of the substance and create the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) as an oversight organization. Outstanding issues include tax structure, how much power the CRC would have, and unionization of the industry.
    • Wind power – N.J. became the biggest single-state solicitor of offshore wind energy last year and will seek to expand the program in 2020 and 2022. The goal of the legislation is to provide 3,500 megawatts of offshore wind by 2030. The program will create jobs, boost regional economy, and help mitigate the effects of climate change, according to BPU president Joseph L. Fiordaliso, as reported in Law 360.

    While federal focus may have been diverted from these issues during the current administration, N.J. and Pennsylvania. at least are addressing these important liberal agenda items.

    Sources

    For PA: https://www.law360.com/articles/1113861/pennsylvania-legislation-and-regulation-to-watch-in-2019

    For NJ: https://www.law360.com/articles/1112578/nj-regulation-and-legislation-to-watch-in-201

  • GOTV-NJ

    Getting people to vote is going to be the most crucial part of the mid-term elections. It’s time to start thinking about how you are going to help this effort because it really is up to us all. Whether you go door to door canvassing or staff a phone bank, now is the time to decide how your energy is going to help change our current political situation.

    Caroline Armstrong is keeping ILNH constituents informed about GOTV activities and sign-ups for the Malinoski campaign via Facebook and email, or contact her to learn more. Contact her at typeting@comcast.net to get on a weekly list of opportunities to GOTV!

    NJ Upcoming events:
    Taste of the Towns Fundraiser
    Sunday, August 5 – 2:00-4:00
    Dolce Restaurant, 161 Main Street, Flemington
    Guest Speaker: Andrew Zwicker Tickets
    NJ Residents – Where Will You Be On Nov. 6?

    If the answer to that is out of state, make sure you fill out an application to vote by mail. This is especially important for college students who are out of state. Unless your college address is your permanent one, college students need to vote in the state their parents live in. Here’s a link to the application for an absentee ballot.

    While you can apply for a vote by mail ballot up to seven days prior to the election (or the day before in person), why wait? So that it doesn’t slip your mind while you are caught up in your studies, students are encouraged to complete their application before they leave for college!

  • GOTV – NJ/PA VOTE The NJ Primary – Tuesday, June 5

    By the time we meet for our June Community Gathering, both the PA and NJ 2018 primaries will be in the history books. Congratulations those who will officially be on the November ballots, and a heartfelt thank you to all who took the time to run a clean campaign and to your supporters. Now, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and work hard to GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV) to flip the House and Senate in November, and to elect those whose values are aligned with the basic tenets of Democracy and the moral mission of government.
    We can’t stress strongly enough – every vote counts. We are confident that you will be among those who show up to the polls, but we also need your help to encourage and activate voters whose passions or knowledge may not be as deep as our own.
    In the PA primary, for example, efforts by Indivisible LNH and others netted a turnout in New Hope of about 30% overall, and a bit over 30% for registered Democrats. While Helen Tai received the lion’s share of the votes in New Hope for the special election, it was only 96 votes that pushed her into the winners column and a seat in Harrisburg. The good news: over 100,000 more Democrats than Republicans turned out to vote in the PA primary.. Note: Helen Tai will also be running again in November – she won the election to fill the seat through December. Now we need to win again to keep her there.
    What’s next for GOTV? Efforts are already underway and we need your help! The entire House is up for grabs this year, and in NJ our own CD7 is one of the seats that needs to be flipped. Unfortunately, the seat held by NJ Senator Robert Menendez (D) is also currently seen as high risk of being flipped. In PA there are more big races: Senator Bob Casey, Governor Tom Wolfe, candidate for House Scott Wallace.
    Come and learn! The June 10 Community Gathering will include a representative from Blue Wave NJ, an organization very similar to Invisible LNH, but with 12 years of experience working on GOTV, advocacy and education on critical issues and community mobilization. Come and learn!
    Volunteer! GOTV needs you – voter registration, phone and text banking, canvassing, hosting. Get involved with a campaign. Be creative! To volunteer with Indivisible Lambertville-New Hope’s GOTV team – contact the following:
    In NJ – Mary Jane Legere – legere2@comcast.net
    In PA – Ali Glickman – namealig@gmail.com
    Kristen Donnelly – kristencdonnelly@gmail.com
    Ways to GOTV
    Bring your friends to the polls!Text 10 friends and remind them to VOTEChange your profile pic to Vote image w Election Day DateCheck-in on FB that you voted on Election DayPost pic of yourself wearing your I Voted stickerDay of election post the # were you at the polls today or ask people to comment the # they were at their polling locationPublicize Vote By Mail w link to applicationPublicize the vote in person hours at county clerk officePublicize lesser known local and county candidates w link to their FB page and websitePut up a lawn sign or help post signs along busy public roadsDuring rush hours get a group together and stand holding signs reminding people it’s election day!Host an Election Day Party: Invite people to come by after voting!Canvass or make phone calls for a candidate who is advocating for your valuesHost or Attend a Meet & Greet for a candidate you believe inDonate $ to a candidate or organization that is encouraging people to voteCarry around Vote By Mail applicationsRegister votersPut up a VOTE signPost a reminder to VOTE on Facebook and tag your friendsVolunteer to help out a campaign officeBake goodies for volunteers helping to GOTV

  • The Lambertville ICE Incident. What It Was, What it Wasn’t, and How You Can Help

    On the morning of Friday April 13 at around 8:30 a.m. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) came to Lambertville pursuing an individual with an open warrant. They were seen by several people in the community, and reports of the incident spread quickly through social media and word of mouth.

    Lambertville Police Director, Bruce Cocuzza, confirmed that ICE informed the Lambertville Police Department that morning that they had a warrant for a specific suspect wanted for a high speed chase in Delaware Township. The ICE agents stopped a van in which they expected to find the suspect on Bridge Street. While the target was not in the van, there were two other individuals who had warrants.

    What it was not: It was not a sweep. It is important to understand the directive of the New Jersey State Attorney General’s office. Per Director Cocuzza:

    “The Attorney General’s directive primarily outlines those circumstances when ICE must be notified concerning the arrest of a possibly undocumented immigrant (specifically for violent crimes and/or DWI arrests). It also forbids local police from routinely inquiring about a person’s status.”

    ICE is under no obligation to share information with local police departments. The Lambertville Police Department does not know the specifics of the warrants, nor did they assist ICE. An incident like this is – and has been – ICE’s standard operating procedure. It does not seem to reflect a change in federal policy.How to be an ally: Our ILNH community embraces the idea of inclusion and it values those who seek to simply be good neighbors. We are proud to be a community that stands by the principles of fairness and safety. When we see our neighbors and friends in danger, we may react with the best of intentions, but without fully understanding how our reactions may harm the people we seek to help. In situations like these, it’s important to connect with people who are already doing this work. For the safety and privacy of the community we are trying to protect, avoid posting to social media. Here’s how you can help:

    If you know of someone who has been affected by recent ICE actions, please refer them to Fisherman’s Mark at 609-397-0194. Fisherman’s Mark has deep relationships with our Spanish-speaking community on both sides of the river and is a trusted organization.

    Be a person who shares confirmed facts.If you have access to, or knowledge of, Facebook pages that exist for our vulnerable neighbors, please do not share them in public places on social media. While you are well meaning, not everyone who reads your posts is. Sometimes well-intentioned sharing brings unwanted attention to platforms and pages that have been established through hard work and building of trust.

    Donate time and dollars. Fisherman’s Mark has been doing this work for a long time and they do it on a shoestring. Sometimes the best thing we can do is support those that are doing the work on the front lines with funding and volunteering within the organization. Organizing a fundraiser is another way you can make a difference.

    Donations can be sent to: Fisherman’s Mark, 37 S. Main St. Lambertville, NJ 08530 or made through their website.

    Attend Lambertville Human Rights Council meetings. See times and dates on the city’s website.

  • New Jersey Voter Registration Update

    Still hopeful that Gov. Phil Murphy will make New Jersey one of the first states to provide automatic voter registration, the ILNH N.J. Voter Mobilization Action Group will be working to get voters registered at community events in the spring and summer. The group will also be reaching out to rental properties to facilitate voter registration for new residents in town.

    Liz Glynn, a leader in both the ILNH Action Group and in NJ7 Forward, a grassroots organization that represents the interests of New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, says that newly elected Gov. Murphy has pledged to make the Voter Modernization Act a priority.

    The act was vetoed by former Gov. Chris Christie after passing the state Legislature in 2015. Glynn is optimistic that an executive order by Gov. Murphy could now get the components of the Voter Modernization Act, also known as the Democracy Act, into place without going through the Legislature again. During his campaign, Murphy supported automatic voter registration, giving former felons the chance to re-register, and online voter registration. Murphy also supports early voting and allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they will be 18 by Election Day.

    To date, Gov. Murphy hasn’t taken action to join six other states that have online registration or to make the other aspects of the Voter Modernization Act a reality.

    Call Gov. Murphy’s office at (609) 292-6000 and urge him to take action to enact the Democracy Act.