ELECTION DAY 2018 U. President encourages students to get out, vote RYAN STIESI NEWS EDITOR
In an email sent to the Rutgers community on Monday, University President Robert L. Barchi called on students to vote in today’s midterm elections. “A representative democracy such as ours only works if we participate,” he said in the email. “There are numerous ways to be an engaged citizen, but voting is one of the most powerful tools available to us. I urge you to go to the polls and vote ...” He said that elected officials make decisions everyday at all
levels of government that affect students now and can affect them in the future. He provided election day information, including that polling locations are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, and students can find Rutgers-specific information on the Center for Youth Political Participation website. If students want the decisions made in office to reflect their values and views, Barchi said they have to go out and vote. “The officeholders who serve us are the officeholders we elect, so be sure they represent you by voting ...” he said.
Midterms Wrap 2018
November 6, 2018
NJ incumbents face midterm challengers Menendez, Hugin vie for Senate seat while Pallone faces Pezzullo in House CATHERINE NGUYEN STAFF WRITER
This year’s midterm elections for the New Jersey Senate and 6th congressional district of the House of Representatives are said to be one of the most heated yet. Running for the Senate is Democratic incumbent Bob Menendez. Challenging him is Republican Bob Hugin. In the House, current Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D.) and Republican perennial candidate Richard Pezzullo are set to face off in the ballot box. Here are their stances on some of the most contested issues this midterm:
GUN CONTROL: SENATE
Menendez supports pro-gun control legislation. In 1994, he voted for an assault weapons ban. In 2016, he participated in the Senate Democratic filibuster supporting a vote banning gun sales to people on the terrorist watch list, according to NJ Advance Media. Hugin believes in maintaining Second Amendment rights but opposes President Donald J. Trump’s proposal to arm
teachers. He supports universal background checks, treatment of mental health and increased funding for school safety, according to NJ Advance Media.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Pallone has co-sponsored measures to increase spending for a national criminal background system, establish a committee on gun violence protection and ban the sale of large capacity ammunition devices, according to his campaign website. Pezzullo supports the Second Amendment and is against new federal gun control laws, according to his campaign website. He has also earned the highest rating possible for a candidate not holding public office from the National Rifle Association (NRA).
HEALTH CARE: SENATE
Menendez helped draft the original Affordable Care Act, and fought against Republicans who attempted to repeal it, according to NJ Advance Media. He voted against the Republican tax overhaul bill ending the requirement that Americans have health insurance or pay a penalty.
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) faces Republican candidate Richard Pezzullo at the polls today. Pallone supports universal health care while Pezzullo plans to fight against the Affordable Care Act. Hugin wants to keep what he considers the “good” things about the Affordable Care Act, such as guaranteeing affordable coverage for pre-existing conditions and allowing people to remain under their parents’ insurance until age 26, according to NJ Advance Media.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Pallone believes all Americans should have access to healthcare and that the Affordable Care Act makes significant investments in the nation’s health while controlling costs, according to his campaign website. Pezzullo vowed to fight against the Affordable Care Act, supporting its repeal. According to his campaign website, he plans to
use his power to block the funding of the act.
IMMIGRATION: SENATE
Menendez was part of a bipartisan group of senators that created legislation to strengthen border security but also to offer a path to citizenship for unauthorized persons, according to NJ Advance Media. He said the country needs comprehensive immigration reform, and opposed Trump’s methods “to create fear in people.” Hugin opposed Trump’s call to end birthright citizenship, and also believes that comprehensive immigration reform is necessary, according to NJ Advance Media. He has supported a path to citizenship
for immigrants who he believes are living “productive” lives in the country.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Pallone also supports legislation that provides citizenship for those who pay their taxes and have not gotten in trouble with the law, according to his campaign website. He also supports the DREAM Act, and has spoken out against the harassment of immigrants in New Jersey. Pezzullo opposes proposals to give citizenship and amnesty to undocumented immigrants in the country, according to his campaign website. He believes that the border should be secured and wants a system where immigrants are sponsored.
Residents to vote on $500 M. in funding What this year’s public question means for NJ public school bonds, colleges BRENDAN BRIGHTMAN STAFF WRITER
This year’s midterm election ballot will feature a public question to be voted on, asking whether the state should buy an additional $500 million in bonds to provide funding to schools and colleges across the state.
PUBLIC QUESTION TO BE VOTED UPON
Do you approve the Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act? This act authorizes the state to issue bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $500 million. The money from the sale of the bonds would be used to provide grants to schools, school districts, county vocational school districts and county colleges. The grants would be used to build, equip and expand facilities to increase career and technical education program capacity. Money would also be used for school security upgrades and school district water infrastructure improvement projects.
INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT ON THE BALLOT
... The money would also be used to provide grants for school
security projects at kindergarten through grade-12 schools. The money would also be used to provide grants for school district water infrastructure improvement projects. Three-hundred-fifty million dollars would support county vocational school district projects and school security projects. Fifty million dollars would support county college projects. One-hundred million dollars would support school district water infrastructure improvement projects.
EXPLAINER
In a statement released by the League of Women Voters for New Jersey, a non-profit in Trenton, the organization listed some reasons why people should vote “yes” or “no” on the question. Below are some of the reasons it said residents should consider.
“YES” REASONS:
It is intended to increase capacity of county vocational school districts and county colleges to serve more students, equipping them with the skills necessary to take advantage of high-demand, highgrowth career opportunities. The bill aims to foster an educational environment that combines core academics with real-world
This year, New Jersey residents have the option of voting “yes” or “no” on whether the state should buy an additional $500 million in bonds to provide funding to schools and colleges. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
experiences, help retain high-demand industries and attract new ones and improve infrastructure. The bill may help the state retain high-demand industries and attract new ones by assuring the availability of qualified employees.
“NO” REASONS:
It may foster a competitive environment between the county
vocational schools and the district high schools within each county with career and technical programs. This competition may cause students to transfer from district high schools to vocational schools, which is harmful to the district schools that rely on the size of their student population to qualify for state aid.
The bill may also make it more difficult for special needs and socially disadvantaged students to access vocational-technical school pathways as they have an admissions screening process. The additional spending will increase the state’s bond debt, which is currently $41.8 billion, according to the latest state debt report.
Midterm wrap 2018
November 6, 2018
U. alumnus takes aim at mayorship Kratovil challenges incumbent mayor from his time at Rutgers BRENDAN BRIGHTMAN STAFF WRITER
James Cahill, incumbent Democratic mayor of New Brunswick, has served in his current position for more than two decades. On campus, Cahill has been endorsed by RU4Cahill, a group started by Rutgers University Democrats. TWITTER
Incumbent mayor faces 1st challenger in 2 election cycles Cahill faces unexpected challenges from independent candidate after running in multiple uncontested elections since 1991 CATHERINE NGUYEN STAFF WRITER
Rutgers University Democrats started a group called RU4Cahill to promote the current mayor of New Brunswick, James Cahill, to college students, as he looks to be reelected today. He is opposed only by nominee-by-petition candidate Charlie Kratovil. Sam Beson, a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore who is treasurer of Rutgers University Democrats, said that as Cahill has been mayor since 1991, his experience was an important reason why Beson thinks he should be re-elected. “He has a lot of respect from business owners and residents,” he said. “I would rather have someone with 20 years of experience than someone new who needs time to learn the job.” Beson started RU4Cahill to make him more recognized on campus and promote changes he made for the University such as: the construction of The Yard @ College Avenue and the Honors College. Besides the College Avenue campus, Cahill has also worked to improve safety on the Cook and Douglass campuses. Megan Coyne, a School of Ar ts and Sciences senior who was a former president of Rutgers University Democrats and is now president of the College Democrats of New Jersey, said that Cahill added more lights so students could walk down George Street safely at night. Cahill’s additional efforts to foster collaborations between
Rutgers University and companies such as Johnson & Johnson and the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital have built the city’s reputation as a hub for technology and healthcare, Coyne said. Recognizing this, Gov. Phil Murphy (D-N.J.) designated New Brunswick as the site for “The Hub,” a redevelopment project that aims to turn the state into an innovation company to attract top businesses in the science and tech industries, according to NJ Advance Media. “New Brunswick is poised to lead that because of Mayor Cahill,” Coyne said. Other programs Cahill created have helped the homeless community in New Brunswick. Michael Zhadanovsky, a School of Arts and Sciences senior who is the executive director of Rutgers University Democrats, said Cahill worked with the food pantr y Elijah’s Promise to ser ve the homeless. Cahill is on the advisory board of Elijah’s Promise. Zhadanovsky said Cahill has also launched warming centers in New Brunswick as part of the county’s Code Blue program, which provides refuge to those in need when the temperature dips below 20 degrees or there is an accumulation of at least 6 inches of snow on the ground. “There’s a huge amount of services for homeless people, way beyond any other city in New Jersey of this size,” he said. According to the City of New Brunswick’s website, Cahill has expanded the New Brunswick Police Department and instituted programs like DARE, Crime
Watch and bicycle patrols to improve safety. Neil Mullengada, a School of Ar ts and Sciences junior who is the communications director of Rutgers University Democrats, said the University would stand to benefit a lot if Cahill was re-elected. “If he is re-elected, he will continue moving for ward with even more projects that will better our Rutgers experience,” he said.
Independent New Brunswick mayoral candidate Charlie Kratovil hopes to unseat long-time Mayor James Cahill (D-N.J.) in today’s election. He is running on a campaign committed to clean water, clean air and clean government. Hoping to be the new mayor, Kratovil believes it is long overdue, as Cahill has served for the last 27 years. His campaign has received the endorsement from the student political organization RUProgressive. Chris Roberts, a School of Arts and Sciences junior, is the media director for the group. He said the organization’s mission is to increase the standard of living for average people. “We have endorsed Charlie because he has been a community activist and has fought for the city’s most downtrodden people for most of his adult life,” Roberts said. Kratovil said one of his initiatives, if elected, will be to implement more water utility transparency. He believes the current administration should have notified residents of the unsafe drinking water and advised them to boil their water before drinking instead of covering up the bad test results, which showed high amounts of lead. The Daily Targum reported that a survey of 335 water sources at New Brunswick public schools in September revealed that approximately 9 percent — 29 sources — tested positive for excessive lead levels, according to an Open Public Record Act (OPRA) request filed by New Brunswick Today. As editor of New Brunswick Today, Kratovil reported on city Water Utility workers who were
indicted for taking bribes to lower bills in 2017. Roberts also said he thinks Cahill poorly handled the New Brunswick Parking Authority (NBPA) debt issue. “The unelected Parking Authority, whose board is hand selected by Cahill himself, has racked up $390 million in debt building parking garages all throughout the city,” he said. According to Kratovil’s campaign website, he said the NBPA has accrued millions in debt, which Cahill plans to pay off through taxpayer money Kratovil said his plan is to abolish the NBPA, replacing it with a more accountable Transportation Department. This, he said, will champion his vision for a better bus system and will create parking solutions that will be more affordable and convenient for those who live in neighborhoods where the demand for parking exceeds supply. He said he would also like to end tax breaks to big real estate developers that he said drive-up the cost of rents and profit immensely off the city. Kratovil said he plans on creating an anti-corruption task force that will proactively investigate all allegations of misconduct so that the city can issue appropriate discipline and take corrective action immediately. He also plans to devote himself to the job full-time, he said, whereas Cahill also works part-time as an attorney. Along with running for mayor and holding a position as editor of New Brunswick Today, Kratovil is also a community organizer, he said. “Charlie’s election would be a historic achievement and a resounding message to activists everywhere,” Roberts said. “If you fight, you can win.”
Before deciding to run for mayor, Charlie Kratovil served as editor of local newspaper New Brunswick Today. If elected, his plans include abolishing the New Brunswick Parking Authority and implementing more water utility transparency. THE DAILY TARGUM