Time : Tue 12-Jan-2010

From : webmaster@civicjc.org

Subject : CivicJC URGENT: NJ Appleseed Public Interest Law Center Action Alert

URGENT: NJ Appleseed Public Interest Law Center Action Alert Urge Governor Corzine to VETO S3157 January 12, 2010 Despite the work of New Jersey activists, the State Assembly has passed bill S3157--legislation that would seriously weaken the rights of citizens living in Faulkner Act municipalities to self-govern. To preserve citizen legislative power, we must contact Governor Corzine and urge him NOT TO SIGN this bill. Contact Governor Corzine TODAY New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine State House Trenton, NJ 08625 Fax:(609)292-5212 Tel:(609)292-6000 http://www.state.nj.us/governor/ What this Bill means for Citizen Activists Right now, those living in towns organized under the Faulkner Act (also known as Municipal Optional Charter law) have the right to pass ordinances themselves, by getting the measure either before the town Council or on the ballot through a process known as Initiation and Referendum (I&R). Bill S3157 would weaken that right of empowerment, by severely limiting the number of times a citizens' group may use the I&R process. Currently, an I&R petition to change the length of the term of office for elected officials can be brought once every 3 years, and a petition to change in the form of government can be brought once every 2 years. But S3157 would extend that period of prohibition to 10 years in each case. Bill S3157 has more far-reaching consequences, however. This is the first step the NJ legislature has taken, since broadening citizens' rights to self govern in 1982 when it passed the I&R law, to curtail those rights. Bill S3157 represents the first step in taking away citizens' rights of self governance and self determination. Everyone living in a Faulkner Act municipality will be impacted by this change in the law. Please contact Governor Corzine today and urge him not to strip citizens of our right to self-empowerment: DO NOT SIGN bill S3157. Sincerely, Diana H. Jeffrey, Esq. irector, Government Accountability Programs New Jersey Appleseed Public Interest Law Center