NewarkNAACPNews July 2024 Vol.9
EVERY ELECTION IS DETERMINED BY THE PEOPLE WHO VOTE.
Let’s Keep the Momentum
Going
DEBORAH SMITH GREGORY & TRACY MUNFORD
“Every election is determined by the people who show up.”
While this quote refers to voters on Election Day, it also represents what happened at the recent 10th Congressional Candidate Forum at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). The Forum was hosted by NJIT with a collaborative host committee of the NAACP branches of the 10th district (Hillside, Jersey City, Montclair, Oranges and Maplewood, Newark, the Urban Leagues of Essex, Hudson and Union Counties, and the National Pan-Hellenic Councils of Central Jersey, Essex and Hudson.)
Ten of the 12 candidates vying for the office of Congress attended the public Forum. There were 500 people in attendance to hear from the candidates.
Following the tragic passing of U.S. Representative Donald Payne, Jr. in April, voters in New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District, which includes much of Newark and surrounding municipalities in three counties, need a representative to complete his term in the House of Representatives, ending in December 2024.
In This Issue
Currently, the citizens in District 10 have no voice in Congress as crucial legislation lies in the balance of this one vote.
A Special Primary Election was held on July 16. Newark Councilwoman LaMonica McIver was the victor and will now be the Democratic nominee on the ballot of the Special General Election on September 18.
For the Special General Election, the registration deadline is August 28, the deadline to apply by mail for Vote-by-Mail (VBM) ballot is September 11, the early voting period is September 8 – 14, deadline to apply in person for VBM ballot is September 17 and the deadline to mail the ballot is September 18. Ballots must be received by the county board of election by September 24.
For the next congressional term beginning in January 2025, the Democratic committee leaders from the district will hold a special convention to select a new nominee for the general election in November. The winner of the Democratic special primary election may not necessarily be the same person selected by the Democratic committee to appear on the ballot in November.
In hosting the Congressional Forum, the collective goal was to raise the level of citizen engagement and ultimately increase the number of voters who go to the polls.
The interest in the forum showed that people do care about their representation. Although they may not have the final say in who gets on the ballot in November, the turnout showed that people are watching, listening and elected officials should be paying attention too. An informed voter is a powerful voter
Voter apathy has increased since the historic turnout out of the Obama era. However, given the turn of events during the Trump era, the attempted overthrow of the US government on Jan. 6, 2023, and the subsequent indictments and convictions of a former president now running again for office, voter turnout must increase in the elections for all levels government representation.
This local election that has national implications is as critical as the upcoming Presidential Election in November where for the first time in the history of this country, Kamala Harris, a woman who is both Black and Asian will run for the Presidency as the Democratic nominee.
We must vote in every election! The opening quote is not just words, it’s a call to action to reinvigorate the voting electorate to vote in every race, every time. We must vote like our lives depend on it because it does.
The late US Congressman Donald M. Payne Jr.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
BY ASADA RASHIDI, EJ CHAIRPERSON
A little over a year ago, on April 17, 2023, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released the Environmental Justice Rule (EJ Rule), implementing the historic NJ Environmental Justice Law passed in 2020. This rule aims to address the disproportionate environmental burdens faced by marginalized communities by requiring new facilities and expansions to consider cumulative environmental and public health stressors like education levels and tree canopy coverage.
However, the EJ Rule quickly faced legal challenges. Two industry groups, the New Jersey Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) and the Engineers Labor Employer Cooperative of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 (ELEC), claimed that DEP exceeded its authority under the EJ Law. They disputed the definitions of “new facility” and “expansion” and questioned the stressors chosen for assessing community burdens.
GOVERNOR MURPHY On the occasion of Juneteenth 2024, Governor Murphy revitalized pardon powers set forth in the Constitution of 1947 that will launch the Clemency Project, a unit of the State Parole Board. Incarcerated men and women can now apply for clemency (pardon) that could end a prison sentence. Go to the website for specific details. https://famm.org.wp-content/uploads/2023/09/nj-stateclemency.pdf
KEITH JONES & NIA VANNOY
Former NAACP Newark and New Jersey State NAACP President Keith Jones, chats with member, Nia Vannoy at the annual Sally G. Carroll Membership Soiree. Vannoy is the sister of Sally Carroll.
NEWARK ACT-SO TEAM
Newark ACT-SO team closed out another successful year at the national competition held in Las Vegas. Senior Dallas Wilkins, earned a national bronze medal and Kieri Keys received one of the $10,000 Lancome Scholarships. Colette Jackson Belle serves as Chairperson with coordinator Amarylis Olivo.
WOMEN OF THE CLOTH
Religious Affairs Committee Chairperson Elder Judith Favors is shown with Pastor Tamara Bethea who received the Woman of the Cloth Award during the annual Freedom Sunday Observance which commemorates the 1954 landmark decision of Brown vs the Board of Education that ruled segregation illegal.
COLLECTIVE VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE
The Newark Civic Engagement Committee collaborated with the League of Muslim Voters and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity to register high school students to vote at American History HS. Shown L. to.R. League of Muslim Voters organizers, representatives of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Debra Chandler, Newark NAACP Civic Engagement co-chairperson.
VOTER REGISTRATION AT BARD HS EARLY COLLEGE
More Voter Registration of high school students at Bard HS Early College. Shown are Principal Cutts, seated with Principal for a Day Gregory, Standing L.to R. Larry Jones, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Ali McBride, Civic Engagement Chair and Mini Jayaprakash, Vice Principal.
NEWARK HEALTH COMMITTEE
To counter these challenges, Earthjustice and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) coordinated efforts to file multiple amicus briefs in support of DEP’s position. The NAACP was asked to join an amicus brief from a social justice perspective, created by NRDC. Additional support came from other social justice groups and legislators. Environmental justice groups filed a separate amicus brief supporting the EJ Rule from an environmental justice perspective. Two other briefs were also filed to support the EJ Rule from a largely environmental perspective, representing “green groups” and their interests.
These collective efforts highlight the widespread community and organizational support for the EJ Rule, emphasizing its critical importance. On June 17, 2024, with the full knowledge and consent of National Legal, the State Conference and Newark NAACP were added to the social justice amicus brief supporting the EJ Law and its rules for implementation.
Chairperson Timia Wilson, pauses at the Saving University Hospital Community Education Series recently held at Paradise Baptist Church. NAACP and People’s Organization for Progress (POP) are conducting the education series to make sure residents are aware of the promised Newark Agreements made to the community. University Hospital is the only public hospital in the state and subject to state funding and serves a great number of uninsured and underinsured residents. Saving UH is saving valuable health care services.
The NJ EJ Rule represents a significant step towards environmental justice, ensuring that all communities, especially those historically overburdened by environmental hazards, have the right to a healthy and safe environment. Upholding this rule is essential for promoting social equity and protecting our natural environment.
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