News and Alerts

Action Alert March 3: Prevent Fracking in the Delaware River Basin

by UU FA Office

It is time to rally the troops again against fracking in the Delaware River Basin.  We are joining Environment New Jersey in the campaign below.  Please link and send a message to President Obama asking him to keep fracking out of NJ.  And then, send this email to as many environmentally concerned people as you can.  Time is of the essence.  The Delaware River Basin Commission is meeting March 11.

Thanks

Rev. Craig Hirshberg, Exec. Director

director@uulmnj.org

 Environment New Jersey

The Delaware River Basin Commission is meeting on March 11, and the Obama administration holds one of five key votes on the commission’s decision whether or not to allow fracking in the Delaware River Basin. Will you tell the president to shut the door on drilling in one of our best places?

In January, the Christie administration tried to push forward a proposal for a 15-mile fracked gas pipeline through the heart of the Pinelands.

But we took action, rallying close to 2,000 New Jerseyans in less than a week to pressure President Obama’s top representative on the commission. And that representative voted no on the project — stopping it dead in its tracks by one vote.

Now we need to rally again — but this time, for the Delaware River.

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) is meeting onTuesday, Mar. 11, and the commission could bring up a proposal to lift the moratorium on fracking in the Delaware at any time.  The Obama administration will hold one of five key votes on this issue, and we want to make sure it’s well known that New Jerseyans won’t stand by and watch this happen.

Will you tell the Obama administration to keep fracking away from the Delaware?

It’s no secret: Gov. Christie isn’t a friend to the environment. He pulled New Jersey out of our best program to solve global warming, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. He’s blocked offshore wind development and signed dirty water bills allowing development in environmentally sensitive areas.

So in absence of Gov. Christie’s environmental leadership, we must call on President Obama to do everything he can to protect the Delaware River and its watershed.

Tell Pres. Obama: New Jerseyans don’t want fracking near the Delaware.

If the DRBC voted to open the region up to drilling, we could see close to 20,000 new fracked gas wells drilled in the Delaware River watershed in the coming decades.

The last thing we need is for oil and gas companies to bulldoze their way into our watershed, inject chemical-laden water deep into the ground, and create millions of gallons of toxic wastewater in the same pristine place we get clean drinking water and hike, camp, and fish with our families.

We’ve stood up to fracking before — and won. And with your help, we’ll do it again.

Take action now.

Thanks for all your support,

Doug O’Malley
Environment New Jersey Director

P.S. The Delaware River Basin Commission is meeting on Tuesday, March 11th just outside Trenton. The Obama administration will hold one of five votes on the commission’s decision of whether or not to allow fracking in the Delaware Basin. Will you forward this to 5 friends to get more people to speak up against drilling near one of New Jersey’s best places?

Action Alert March 3, 2014: Immigration Task Force Letter Campaign

by UU FA Office

The Immigration Task Force is calling for a 1000 letter campaign to call attention to immigrant detention conditions in New Jersey. The Task Force has drafted a proposed letter. We are asking each congregation to collect signed copies of the letter every Sunday during March.  Please bring the letters to the Plenary on April 5 (or send them if you are unable to attend).  At that meeting, with letters from all around the state, we will take a photo of the pile of letters and write a press release saying what we’re trying to accomplish with the letter campaign.  Then we will mail off the letters in one package to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson in Washington and issue the press release.  Please do everything you can to make this a success.  If you have any questions, call Immigration Task Force Chair Ted Fedder or me, or email me at the address below.

Thank you for your help.

Rev. Craig Hirshberg, Exec. Director
director@uulmnj.org

Registration is Open for the 2014 Annual Plenary

by UU FA Office

UULMNJ 5th Anniversary Celebration & Annual Plenary
Saturday, April 5, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm

                                                                                                                                   

Hosted by the UU Congregation of Princeton
50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton, NJ 08540
(see www.uuprinceton.org for directions)

Featuring Keynote Speaker: Gordon MacInnes, President
New Jersey Policy Perspective

“How We Got Here:  New Jersey’s Crawl Out of the Great Recession”

                                                                                   

Please join us at the 2014 UULMNJ annual meeting:

  • UU Justice Leaders from all over New Jersey will be gathering to discuss past and future actions on key issues:  Immigration, Economic Justice, Health & Reproductive Justice, Criminal Justice Reform: New Jim Crow, Environmental Justice, Gun Violence Prevention
  • Delegates from Affiliated Congregations will be updated on UULMNJ latest events and vote on the new budget and members of the Board of Trustees.
  • Each attendee will receive a free copy of the 2014 League of Women Voters Legislative Guide in celebration of our 5th anniversary, made available through the generosity of the Princeton congregation
  • Liaison and Volunteer Training opportunity immediately following the conclusion of the meeting

Check-in starts at 8:30 am with coffee and bagels; the meeting will begin promptly at 9:00.

Lunch will be provided.  Registration is free, but we rely on your donations to cover the cost of food and materials for this event.

                                                                                                 

Register Now!

OR, contact us at 609-672-7331 or admin@uulmnj.org

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Action Alert Feb. 18, 2014

by UU FA Office

The UU Legislative Ministry is asking you to act now! In 2011, Governor Christie announced that he was pulling New Jersey from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a program with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Environment New Jersey has been working exhaustively to ensure New Jersey’s participation in the program.

From Doug O’Malley, Environment New Jersey Director:

“We took the Christie administration to court to hold them accountable for their illegal removal from the rules setting up the landmark Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)–a program making our air safer to breathe and reducing carbon pollution.

A lot has happened since June of 2012 when we first filed the suit along with the Natural Resources Defense Council. Superstorm Sandy hit, fueled by warmer ocean waters. Every month has seen above average temperatures. And the RGGI program has gotten stronger–even without New Jersey.

It’s time to get New Jersey back into the program.”

Please stand up for the environment with Environment New Jersey, and tell Governor Christie that New Jersey belongs back in RGGI.  We urge you to follow the link provided and add your name to list of advocates for the environment: Sign Here

Sandy Aid Action Alert Update February 18, 2014

by UU FA Office
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Last week we sent you an email with information about New Jersey public hearings regarding the allocation of the next round of Sandy Relief Aid ($1.46 billion).  If you were unable to make it to the first two hearings, there’s good news: due to inclement weather, the third hearing (originally scheduled for Thursday, February 13) has been rescheduled.

Date: Friday, February 21 from 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Place:  Brookdale Community College, Robert J. Collins Arena and Recreation & Events Center, 65 Newman Springs Road, Middletown, NJ 07738

Please Note:  If you have already registered to speak at the originally scheduled hearing, you DO NOT need to re-register.  However, if you are interested in speaking and have not yet registered, you must do so here: Register Here

Again, we encourage anyone who can attend to do so, even if you do not wish to testify.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Action Alert Feb. 18, 2014

by UU FA Office
[hr]

The UU Legislative Ministry is asking you to act now! In 2011, Governor Christie announced that he was pulling New Jersey from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a program with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Environment New Jersey has been working exhaustively to ensure New Jersey’s participation in the program.
From Doug O’Malley, Environment New Jersey Director:

“We took the Christie administration to court to hold them accountable for their illegal removal from the rules setting up the landmark Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)–a program making our air safer to breathe and reducing carbon pollution.

A lot has happened since June of 2012 when we first filed the suit along with the Natural Resources Defense Council. Superstorm Sandy hit, fueled by warmer ocean waters. Every month has seen above average temperatures. And the RGGI program has gotten stronger–even without New Jersey.

It’s time to get New Jersey back into the program.”

Please stand up for the environment with Environment New Jersey, and tell Governor Christie that New Jersey belongs back in RGGI.  We urge you to follow the link provided and add your name to list of advocates for the environment: Sign Here

Sandy Bill of Rights Public Meetings

by UU FA Office

The Anti-Poverty Network, of which UULMNJ is a member, is working with Senate President Sweeney on legislation for a Sandy bill of rights.  As part of that effort we are coordinating visits of three communities.  All events are open to the public.  Please help us spread the word.

Residents who believe they have wrongly been denied Sandy aid and/or have failed to get answers from the administration as to why they were denied are encouraged to attend and share their stories with the media and Senate President Sweeney.

Wednesday, February 19 – 11:00 a.m.
Perth Amboy City Hall; 260 High Street in Perth Amboy
Press conference with the Senate President, Mayor and other officials to discuss Sandy aid problems

Friday, February 21 – 11:00 a.m.
Toms River Elks Lodge #1875; 600 Washington Street in Toms River
A town hall style meeting where residents will be able to share their stories on the difficulties of getting Sandy aid

Saturday, February 22 – 12:30 p.m.
Moonachie Borough Hall; 70 Moonachie Road, Moonachie
Press conference with the Senate President, Mayor and other officials to discuss Sandy aid problems

Two weeks ago, Senate President Sweeney introduced legislation that would establish a “Sandy Bill of Rights.” The bill of rights would do several things, including requiring a plain language explanation of what is needed to be eligible and to apply for Sandy recovery programs; the right to know where your relief application stands and what additional information is needed; the right to know why your application was rejected or why you were placed on a waiting list and the right to appeal a denial of funding.

Reproductive Justice Workshop – Plainfield, March 1

by UU FA Office

The First Unitarian Society of Plainfield (FUSP) I would like to invite you and members of your congregation to attend our 4th Annual Social Action Weekend.

On Saturday March 1st, 2014 we are planning a one day workshop on Reproductive Justice (RJ) called “From Rights to Justice” 9:30am-3:00pm.  The program is adapted from the six-week UUA curriculum “Reproductive Justice: Expanding our Social Justice Calling” concentrating on the human rights aspects of RJ.

It will be a wonderful opportunity to get a foundation in this UUA Congregational Study Issue (CSI), and to connect with other UUs in New Jersey. The program is free, but donations are welcome to help cover the cost of the workshop. Child-care is available for those who request in advance.

If members of your congregation have not had an opportunity to study this UUA CSI….. THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY!

Please extend this invitation to members of your congregation. For your information we have attached a flyer. Please promote this event in your newsletter, order of service, on your community events board, and any other medium your congregation uses to promote neighboring UU congregation events.

Pre-registration is encouraged but not required.  Please encourage members to RSVP to assist with our planning. (Please see my contact information on the attached flyer).

“Ban the Box” Fact Sheet

by UU FA Office

 

What Are “Ban the Box” Laws?

Under a Ban the Box law, criminal background checks are delayed until later in the hiring process, encouraging employers to focus on the current skills and qualifications of a candidate, rather than on past mistakes. Ban the Box laws have been in effect since 1998, and have been adopted by 38 jurisdictions throughout the United States, including the District of Columbia and five states: Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Mexico.

Ban The Box laws do not prevent employers from conducting background checks. They do not require an employer to hire an unqualified applicant. They do not eliminate an employer’s discretion to hire only people suitable for the position. They do not override any existing laws placing restrictions on eligibility for particular positions. They simply ask employers to consider an individual’s full application, providing a realistic opportunity for a person who has changed his or her life.

Read more here: “Ban the Box” Fact Sheet [tt_vector icon=”fa-file-pdf-o”]

Gun Violence Prevention: Request for Information

by UU FA Office

Dear Liaisons – The UULMNJ Gun violence Prevention Task force is proposing that NJ UU’s join in a campaign that has been initiated by a community organizing group called NJ Together.  This group is part of a national organization called Industrial Areas Foundation which originated with Saul Alinsky.  Here is a link to their web page regarding this issue:  http://metro-iaf.org/content/covenant

This current strategy is based on the idea that, since it is the gun manufacturers who profit from the unlimited sales of guns, the ability to hurt them financially  might be a way to get them to see their self-interest to work towards safer gun practices.  When one realizes that 40% of gun sales are by the government (25% federal government and 15% municipal governments for their police forces) then it becomes clear that government purchasing is a large and therefore influential slice of the market.

The NJ together strategy begins by simply requesting that municipal governments include in their gun procurement bidding process questions that ask the gun manufacturers whether:

  • They are working on developing ‘smart gun’ technology – i.e. guns that have owner recognition capabilities so that only the owner can fire them.
  • They are developing micro-stamping of bullet cartridges which makes them easier to trace to a specific gun if found at a crime scene.
  • They refuse to sell to gun dealers who have a record of allowing their guns to go to people known to be engaged in illegal activities/straw purchases.

At this point, the municipal governments are not being asked to be bound to purchase from any particular company but this is the first step in a process of sending a message to the gun manufacturers.  Once enough information and development occurs, then the next step would be to only purchase from responsible gun manufactures.

The GVP task force thinks this is a promising strategy.  The town of West Orange has already passed a resolution to engage in this campaign.  (See attached Resolution).  In this effort, UU Montclair’s Rev. Charlie Ortman worked with Rabbi Elliot Tepperman of B’Nai Keshet in Montclair (both men are W.O. residents) to get this through the W.O. town council, which happened on Jan. 28th.

We would like to explore if our statewide congregations would like to get involved in this effort, working with NJ Together to send delegations of residents to the towns in which they live to make this “Ask”.  If we can get together enough people who would want to be involved in this, then we can ask NJ Together to come and do a training for us (possibly via Skype or conference call) and work with them to funnel our people into places where they already are amassing some people to go to their municipal elected leaders.

Please reach out to your congregations and/or those you know to be interested in this issue to see if there is interest in taking on this campaign.  Please get back to Craig director@uulmnj.org  or Diane finnflynn@verizon.net with the response you get from your congregations.

Thanks so much.

Diane Finn, GVP TF co-chair