Passing by just one vote in both houses the bill known as S3157 limits a citizen's right to submit a question to the ballot to change their form of local government to every 10 years.

This effort was lead by Assemblyman Joseph Egan, who ignored his obvious conflict of interest in the matter, as he sits both in the Assembly and the New Brunswick City Council.

The razor thin outcome of the Wards election proves exactly why this new law is a terrible abuse of power. The government's purpose is to serve the citizens. But Egan and the other members of the Lynch/Cahill Machine think its the other way around.

Lt. Gov. Candidate and State Sen. Lorreta Weinberg petitioned the Assembly and Jon Corzine not to pass this. Although unsuccessful, she has promised to introduce new legislation restoring the rights to self government that all NJ citizen's have enjoyed since the passage of the Faulkner Act over 60 years ago.

Here are some articles:

PolitickerNJ - Weinberg upset that Corzine did not veto referendum bill

http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/36278/weinberg-upset-corzine-d...

Home News - Ten years too long to wait on government changes

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100117/OPINION01/1170313/1060

Daily Targum - Corzine's parting gift

http://www.dailytargum.com/opinions/corzine-s-parting-gift-1.2143173

EON fought for almost 2 years, over 4 court cases simply to get that question on the ballot. The bar to getting such a question on the ballot is already extraordinarily high. This bill weakens every NJ citizen's rights.

Call Joe Egan and ask him why he thinks you don't deserve a voice in the process. 732-249-4550

Call Gov. Christie and ask him to make the repeal of S3157 a legislative priority. 609-292-6000

TO ANY VOTER IN THE CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK:

If you noticed anything suspicious or illegal during your trip to the polls yesterday, or if you were required to vote on a paper provisional ballot, please report your experience immediately to our campaign staff so that we may investigate the situation further on your behalf.

We are trying to defend everyone's right to vote, regardless of how they voted.  Contact us immediately or your vote may not count in this critical election for our city.

Contact EON's President and campaign manager Martha Guarnieri at 609-217-0326 or martha.guarnieri@gmail.com immediately.

New Brunswick Ward Question Yet to be Decided
Coalition expects referendum to succeed
 
New Brunswick, NJ—In New Brunswick’s hotly contested referendum on ward-based government, the outcome hinges on 185 provisional ballots.

Martin Perez, a spokesperson for the Coalition for Democracy, said he expects the question to prevail once every vote has been counted.  “We believe the majority of provisional ballots were cast by supporters of the ward question.  We want everyone’s vote to be counted, regardless of how they voted.”

In Tuesday’s election, there were widespread reports of voters being denied the right to cast a ballot in voting machines.  Any voter denied the right to cast a machine ballot is entitled to cast a paper provisional ballot.   The four-member Middlesex County Board of Elections is charged with determining the validity of the provisional ballots this week.

The Coalition expects the current 113-vote difference to be overcome because most reports indicated that those denied access to the voting machine were supporters of the referendum.  In addition, the Coalition is currently investigating rejected mail-in ballots and allegations of voter intimidation and voter fraud on the part of the Vote No campaign, including double voting.

“Every irregularity is being looked into and we will fight so that every legitimate vote will be counted,” said Martha Guarnieri, campaign manager for the Coalition for Democracy.

Middlesex County Clerk Elaine Flynn said provisional ballots are counted if the voter is registered anywhere in the county unless they cast a ballot elsewhere.

Blue Jersey by: kwilkinson Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:10:27 AM EST

The Star Ledger is reporting the following numbers on the New Brunswick Ward ballot question  "2,368 against and 2,255 in favor, according to unofficial election results. Just 113 votes separate the "yes" from the "no" vote, and the vote total does not include 185 provisional ballots plus an undetermined number of military ballots that will be counted on Wednesday, city and county officials said. Additionally, the results do not include vote totals from one district -- Ward One, District 2, home to 694 registered voters, said Daniel Torrisi, city clerk. The district sent an electronic copy of results that can be counted Wednesday but no hard copy for preliminary tallies", Torrisi said.  The Coalition for Democracy issued a press release claiming:  widespread accounts of voter suppression, fraud and irregularities that are being brought forward by election monitors and community leaders...Among numerous concerns raised are legitimate voters being turned away at the polls, residents casting double ballots and poll clerks telling voters the way they should vote on the municipal question. "Voters from all over the City are demanding a voice,"... said Martha Guarnrei, President of Empower Our Neighborhoods. ...Martin Perez, Chair Person for the Coalition for Democracy, "We will work to make sure the voice of the people of New Brunswick is heard"   I'll be watching for the results of this one tomorrow and future election protection monitors' reports on voting irregularities.

We are still waiting to find out the outcome of the ward campaign.

Thanks for all the support.

It has been a long road since the first ward petition was submitted in mid 2008.  We've grown into a dynamic movement, residents have stepped up, become leaders and become friends with amazing people from all corners of our fair city.

All of us who are involved in the campaign want to thank each and every one of you who came out and supported wards at the polls today and in our early voting program. 

It's been a long day, and all us volunteers are pretty tired, but we look forward to tomorrow and continuing our work making New Brunswick a city for all its residents!

New Brunswick Ward Campaign 2009 from Daniel Dalonzo on Vimeo.

http://www.dailytargum.com/opinions/vote-yes-to-wards-1.2029192

EON is very happy to get see the Targum's endorsement of Wards. VOTE YES!!!

Vote yes to wards

Editorial

By The Daily Targum

Although most students are only in New Brunswick for about four years, the issues that concern the students of yesterday remain similar to the concerns of students today. As one of the pillars of New Brunswick, University students represent a large part of the city’s population. They are also a huge economic force for the city’s businesses. Yet, for many years, students have been largely apathetic toward city government, and many still are. But something has changed in recent years. Students are becoming more active and involved in politics and want to make a difference in their community. In New Brunswick, it has been very difficult for students to find their voice. They do not have a seat at the city council’s table, and it is hard to get their opinions taken seriously in the city. With this in mind, The Daily Targum throws its support behind a change in the city’s government — from an at-large system to a ward-based system.

This endorsement is not for or against any current members of groups lobbying for the change, nor is it a repudiation against any current members of city council. In principle, wards are just better in the respect that they allow for neighborhoods to have direct representation. A lot has been said about wards, but a lot of people in the community remain uninformed about what it means for their lives in New Brunswick.
The vote on Nov. 3 will ask voters to decide whether to change from the current five-member, at-large governing system to a wards-based system. Right now, the five members of the city council are elected by the entire city. Any student or community member who would be interested in running for election in this form of government would have to raise a lot of money, and it would be too expensive for them to even attempt to get on the city council and get their voices heard. Switching to a ward-based government would divide the city into six wards, and each would have a its own representative. There would also be three at-large members who are voted on by the entire city. Wards would allow a student to run because they would only have to a reach a smaller demographic of people. Each representative would be responsible for his or her own ward, and student-populated areas would have a representative on the council.

The current at-large system has done well in some respects, because they are able to speak in one, unified voice without apparent conflict between members at the general meetings. Rarely, if ever, will you see a member vote negatively at a city council meeting. But this same strength is also a weakness, because there is no apparent, dissenting voice. The council is not always able to take into account the broader perspectives of the city of New Brunswick, specifically those perspectives related to the heavily student populated wards. This becomes apparent in their efforts to crack down on things like basement shows, which have been deeply rooted in the history of the music scene of New Brunswick. City officials believe that these shows are “an accident waiting to happen.” There is something inherently good about these shows because bands who have gotten their start in these basements have appeared on shows like “Late Night with David Letterman,” had videos on MTV and have gone on to headline tours all around the world. The city has done an excellent job redeveloping New Brunswick. Crime has been cracked down on and higher-end homes and businesses have been brought into the city. It has changed the culture of the city in ways that many students and community members have strong feelings about, both for and against.

A ward-based system has its faults as well. Students should not expect a ward-based system to rectify all their problems. Students would still have a minority of the seats on city council. Perhaps they would have one to three representatives directly accountable to them. Neighborhood politics could result in a backlash against heavily student-populated areas because they are outnumbered. However, this can happen in the current system too, and it does.
Still, any voice is better than no voice at all. Right now students have absolutely no say in what goes on. They can attend city council meetings, but could end up being disappointed when members move to adjourn the meeting before discussions take place. That being said, a lot of times discussion is not wanted because of the attitudes many students hold toward council members, and the council members hold toward students. It took the mayor a about a year to admirably hold an open dialogue about a potential charter change in New Brunswick, and this was only after countless court cases, which have now cost taxpayers up to $100,000, according to reports. We need to work together if we want positive change for the city and if we want to continue moving New Brunswick forward.
While the mayor has endorsed a student advisory council in New Brunswick, this does not give students the voice or seat at the table that they deserve. This would be equivalent to being on student council in grade school. All the decisions are already made, and someone is just telling you to relay the message to others. Voting for a ward-based system can be the change New Brunswick needs to get more voices heard, not only of students, but also many community members who are unable to get their grievances heard. New Brunswick is a large and diverse city, and we need to be able to work together. Wards will allow a larger demographic of voices to be heard because single representatives will be able to get out into their communities and find out what the people really want and need. 

This was made by EON Member Dan Dalonzo and is shown on his website Moxie Today. Thanks Dan! Great work.

WARDS GAIN SUPPORT IN NEW BRUNSWICK
Community Organizations Form Coalition For Democracy

For More Videos Click Here.

New Brunswick, NJ—Representatives of eleven different organizations united on the steps of City Hall at noon today to announce the formation of the Coalition for Democracy, a grassroots coalition advocating for a change to the city government.

The coalition came together in support of a ballot initiative that would change New Brunswick's City Council from an at-large system to a ward-based system, with each of New Brunswick's six wards represented on the Council. They feel this is a necessary step that will allow for a more democratic government representative of all communities in the city.

"The ward-based system will provide effective, accessible and accountable representation to all sectors in the decision making structure of our city. Our initiative creates a City Council integrated by six ward elected representatives and three at-large elected members” said Martin Perez, President of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey and Chairman of the Coalition's steering committee.

The groups agree that, by voting yes for wards this fall, voters will make their City Council more accountable and give a stronger voice to New Brunswick's diverse communities.  The coalition also believes that wards will improve neighborhoods that “have not benefited from the revitalization of downtown,” according their mission statement.

The Coalition for Democracy includes a diverse range of neighborhood associations, civil rights organizations, Latino and African-American community groups, labor unions, and student groups.

Founding Members of the coalition include:
The Hampton Club Condo Association
Lincoln Gardens Neighborhood Association
Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey
Mexican American Organization
LAZOS - America Unida
Neighborhoods United for Equality
Rutgers Student Union
Parents Leading Advocacy in Children's Education
Democracy For America - Middlesex County Chapter
Empower Our Neighborhoods

Martha Guarnieri, President of Empower Our Neighborhoods, the organization that started the ward initiative, said the coalition's formation is historic: "I am glad that the groups representing New Brunswick's diverse communities are coming together in agreement that the best way to preserve that diversity is with wards."

The Coalition for Democracy is reaching out to several other groups throughout the city and expects to grow rapidly, reflecting the widespread support for a ward-based elections in New Brunswick.

"This coalition will demonstrate the widespread appeal of wards and put to rest the idea, that only EON support wards" said Thomas Peoples, head of the Lincoln Gardens Neighborhood Association and newly elected Democratic committeeman in Ward 4, District 5.

The coalition's website, coalition4democracy.com launches Monday September 14.

The following slideshow was presented at the public forum on wards August 20th.  It explains why EON believes wards are the best way to represent New Brunswick's diverse neighborhoods...

Click here to download the slideshow (Adobe PDF)