ON THE ISSUES
TRANSPORTATION
NJ Transit is the third largest transit system in the country, and it is crucial to the residents of our district. Yet, our trains are late more often and break down more frequently than either New York’s Metro-North Railroad or the L.I.R.R. My wife and I take NJ Transit every week and see firsthand how even something as fixable as the smartphone app consistently lets commuters down. A district like ours must have representatives who ask the right questions, and who consult with experts, other states, and riders themselves in order to propose concrete solutions. Our current delegates in the Assembly voted against critical resources for NJ Transit just last year, and they will not be the ones to stand up to the federal government withholding funding for the crucial Gateway Tunnel project under the Hudson River.
CHILDCARE
Our communities lack sufficient childcare options to meet the demand from families. Like many parents, Ellen and I have had no choice but to place our kids on waitlists months in advance. Even when care is available it is not affordable. Limitations on childcare options are a fundamental problem for the development of children as well as the livelihoods of parents. The State must prioritize establishing a robust network of diverse childcare offerings. More can be done to bring this universal issue to the forefront.
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Our current representation has avoided even casting a vote on codifying a woman’s right to choose in New Jersey or other protections for freedom of choice. They are out of touch with the communities they serve. That cannot stand.
ENVIRONMENT
New Jersey is one of the fastest warming states in the country. We see increased flooding of our roads and homes, and faster erosion of our beaches. Even areas not directly affected today will feel the effects through rising homeowner’s insurance rates. The current representatives in this district have failed to take action toward meaningful solutions. We deserve representation that champions thoughtful, efficient, and cost-effective approaches to renewable energy and our energy supply more generally — representatives who are working to protect our future and our pocketbooks.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Throughout my career as a prosecutor, I have worked closely with local and federal law enforcement to advance public safety. We need serious solutions to combat crimes like auto theft and burglary. To address these property crimes, the focus must be on (1) ensuring that offenders are quickly caught and brought to justice and (2) making it more difficult to commit the crimes — sometimes called “target hardening.” Our elected officials should be using their offices to bring together local, state, and federal law enforcement to promote public safety through regional solutions.
AFFORDABILITY
We live in a place that every day becomes harder and harder to afford. New Jersey needs solutions that go to the root causes of rising costs like energy and property taxes, not band aids. And our tax dollars must be used thoughtfully and efficiently. A first step towards better state budget outcomes and taxpayer savings is to forecast revenues and expenses more than one year into the future. It is crucial that we send representatives to Trenton who will be leaders on measured and effective government spending.
GUN VIOLENCE
We have representation in this District that fails to vote for basic measures to prevent gun violence. We need principled and pragmatic leaders on this issue in the Legislature who will do real work to protect New Jersey families. That means pursuing a comprehensive strategy, including stemming the flow of illegal guns into our State — the sort of work I did as a federal prosecutor — as well as making appropriate updates to our gun violence prevention laws on the books.
Join
Learn about events and volunteer opportunities.