Standing Room Only: CWAers Pack Town Hall Meeting in Vineland

Members of CWA from across South Jersey packed a town hall meeting so full it became standing room only last Thursday, asking questions about the upcoming legislative session and the looming budget showdown between Governor Chris Christie and the Democratically-controlled state legislature.

Carolyn Wade, President of CWA Local 1040 moderated the discussion with the legislative delegation from New Jersey's First District, comprised of Senator Jeff Van Drew and Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam. (At right: Carolyn Wade, President of CWA Local 1040, addresses CWA members at the town hall meeting in Vineland)

Wade kicked off the meeting with a question to all three legislators about Chris Christie's proposed "Toolbox" to cut property taxes.  Albano, a union member himself, was quick to respond, saying, "The mayors I've talked to, they don't see anything that is going to help them cut costs," before saying he opposed all compenents of the toolbox that Christie has released so far.

Another audience member asked about A-2580, the bill that would allow towns and municipalities to opt out of the Civil Service System--the structure that prevents discrimination and political patronage in public jobs.  The legislators spoke out strongly against the bill.  "No politician should be able to come in just because they won an election and fire everybody," said Senator Van Drew.  "That just doesn't work."  (At right: the room in Vineland was jam packed and quickly became standing room only)

All three also said that they would not support a budget unless it included a reinstatement of the "millionaire's tax," an income tax levied on those who make more than $400,000 a year.

There were also questions about the Governor's Privatization Task Force.  Van Drew, who testified at the privatization task force against privatizing many facilities in his district the night before, said he didn't support many efforts at privatization, saying the attempts at privatizing corrections facilities in the 1990s was "a complete disaster."  Albano went one step further, saying he is "100% against" proposals to privatize current government services.

The meeting was the third in a series of five such meetings sposored by CWA around the state.  One more was held in New Brunswick on Monday, April 26, and the final meeting will be in Newark on May 12, location TBD (please note: this is a different date than previously planned).  (At right: Assemblyman Nelson Albano answers a question in Vineland)