By Mayor Janice Mironov

Whether it is preserved open space, farmland, the protection of vital environmental resources or parkland, all New Jersey residents enjoy the benefits of the state’s active and successful preservation efforts.   These efforts enjoy broad bipartisan political support and strong public support, and for good reasons.  Good land planning and environmental policy have long-term beneficial results. 

Preservation efforts are investments in our communities, where we live and work, creating balanced land planning and greening our surroundings. Preservation actions are vital in preserving and safeguarding precious environmental resources, including protection of our drinking water supply, as well as reducing flooding.  

By Senator Robert Menendez and Debra L. Ness

It is hard to believe that 50 years after the Equal Pay Act, and at a time when women’s wages are vitally important to their families, women are still paid appreciably less than men. That is the sad reality we’re reminded of this week as we recognize Equal Pay Day – the day that marks how far into the new year women have had to work to catch up with men’s wages from the year before.

By Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman

Politicians and social commentators have both criticized the “pay day” loan industry and check-cashing businesses as unfairly targeting low-income populations, by skirting usury laws to charge obscene rates that only a person with no other options would pay.

Many would probably be surprised to learn that the State of New Jersey is acting in the very same way when it comes to surcharges attached to telephone calls made from prison.

By Assemblywoman Linda Stender

It’s basic common sense - no gun licenses for those on the FBI Terrorist Watch List.

It is also the basis of key legislation included in a comprehensive Assembly Democratic bill package on gun violence prevention.