CWA Packs Another Town Hall Meeting in New Brunswick
CWA members had a chance to ask questions of their legislators in New Brunswick on Monday night, the fourth in a series of five town hall meetings CWA is sponsoring throughout New Jersey. More than eight CWA Locals were represented at the meeting, including state workers, local government workers, and private sector locals in the manufacturing and telecommunications industries.
Issues for the evening ranged from privatization to the state budget to the recently passed pension and health benefits reform package. Legislators in attendance included Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield), Senator Joe Vitale (D-Woodbridge), Assemblyman Craig Coughlin (D-Edison), Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan (D-South Plainfield), and Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula (D-Somerset). (At left: CWA and NJEA members fill the auditorium in New Brunswick. Photo courtesy CWA Local 1037).
The legislators had strong words of disapproval for Governor Christie's proposed "Toolbox" to reign in property taxes by doing things like eliminating the Civil Service System. "The governor's toolbox only contains a hammer," said Diegnan. The "Toolbox" also contains a provision that would place a 2.5% cap on property tax increases, a measure that has led to severe cutbacks in services in other states where it has been tried. "A 2.5% hard cap is just preposterous," said Coughlin. Senator Vitale also kept things simple: "Literally none of it do I support," he said.
Olufemi Shonibare, a member of CWA Local 1037, asked a question about the so-called millionaire's tax, an income tax levied on those earning more than $400,000 a year that Governor Christie has said he will veto. Shonibare pointed out that "Governor Christie’s budget cuts will inflict huge sacrifices on working families across New Jersey," while families making $1.2 million last year will see a tax cut of $11,000. (At right: Olufemi Shonibare receives an answer to his question. Photo courtesy CWA Local 1037).
"I will not support a budget without that millionaire's tax," responded Chivukula. "That's a no-brainer," echoed Diegnan. "I will not support a budget unless it's included."
Mary Semler, another member of Local 1037 in attendance, asked about Governor Christie's privatization task force. "Everyone from Christie to the task force’s chair, Dick Zimmer, have acknowledged that privatization has a terrible track record in NJ, and has led to corruption, higher costs to taxpayers and substandard services," she said. The lawmakers were also in agreement that Christie's task force is not a good idea. "His approach is slash and burn and see who survives," said Chivukula.
John Barra, a member of CWA Local 1032, asked specifically about Christie's plan to privatize NJN. "It seems arrogant and it seems inappropriate," said Coughlin. Green pointed out that NJN is the only place New Jersey residents can go to receive unbiased news about New Jersey. (At left: Mary Semler, CWA Local 1037, asks a question at the meeting. Looking on is John Barra, a member of Local 1032. Photo courtesy CWA Local 1037).
CWA was also joined by nearly 100 members of the NJEA--including Middlesex County Education Association President Deborah Eddy and two bus loads from the South Plainsfield Education Association.
The New Brunswick meeting was the fourth of five such meetings around the state. The final meeting is May 12 in Newark, with the location to be determined.
