Newark Examiner: Newark-area residents leave for May 22 rally in Trenton

By Laura Farrell
May 22, 2010

Newark-area residents began gathering at 8:30 this morning at Lincoln Park to board a bus that would take them to today's rally to protest massive cuts to everything from education to health care, and to demand a reinstatement of the millionaire's tax. Newark was one of 19 bus pick-up locations around New Jersey.

Rob Duffy, bus captain and member of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance, was the first to arrive. Mr. Duffy's organization expects tens of thousands of New Jerseyans to fill the streets of Trenton today with a very simple message: stop the cuts that are hurting working families and reinstate the millionaire's tax. Mr. Duffy stressed that this is not just about protesting cuts but providing alternatives that can help New Jersey families and workers, and more fairly distribute the burden of our state's budget crisis.

Newark residents have many reasons to head to Trenton

George Carrasco lives in temporary housing in Newark and is HIV-positive. He is living a healthy life, taking his medications, and going to school. He fears he could lose his housing, lose access to vital medical care and prescriptions, and not be able to finish his medical certificate program.

Mary Tennant lost her job last year, but has been upgrading her skills through the Adult Basic Education Program offered by the state. The program has given her valuable skills and restored her confidence. She was heading to Trenton, she said, because she doesn't want that opportunity to be denied to anyone else in a similar situation.

Willie Washington is on the PTA boards of both his daughter's high school and his son's elementary school. Already, he said, he has seen the disastrous impact of these cuts. "I'm afraid," he said, "that the state is balancing the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable."

Georgiana Hart had been a school nurse in Newark to 27 years. She said these cuts are killing the next generation and future generations. "Profits," she said, "are being put before New Jersey's children."

Community groups organize to fight the cuts

Yaminah Spotswood, founder of Make an Investment in Your Neighborhood, boarded the bus with husband Avery. Ms. Spotswood fears that at-risk children will be made more vulnerable by the loss of school breakfast programs and after-school activities, pushing some into dangerous situations.

"Newark has been making progress and these cuts are a step in the wrong direction for our children," said Ms. Spotswood. "Governor Christie was elected to take care of all of New Jersey, not just the most affluent."

Larry Hamm, Chairman of the People's Organization for Progress, was there along with members of his organization. Mr. Hamm said the cuts fall unjustly on the poor and middle class of New Jersey.

Maretta Short, President of NOW-NJ, said women will be hurt the most as health and education jobs are lost, after-school programs are eliminated, and low-income seniors lose benefits. Ms. Short said she wanted to be a voice for the women of New Jersey.
 

Originally available at: http://www.examiner.com/x-33952-Newark-Progressive-Examiner~y2010m5d22-Newarkarea-residents-leave-for-May-22-rally-in-Trenton