Nilsa Cruz-Perez

NEWARK – Veteran Sen. Ronald L. Rice (D-Newark) said he has had several sit-downs with Gov. Jon Corzine to make certain women and minorities are an integral part of the federal aid package, which Rice fears could turn into a labor free-for-all that would little benefit low-income District 28 constituents.

“As a Democrat I’m asked to fight for construction trades contracts but then those projects don’t include women and minorities, and all I’m saying is when we start really distributing this aid from the feds, we better pay attention to Latinos, our African Americans and women – you follow me? Because historically with projects like these, there has not been that inclusion. 

“We’re in a tough cycle economy,” added Rice, who infuriated the AFL-CIO when he abstained on last year's Paid Family Leave Act vote. “This is real in terms of the downside: 12-13-14 % unemployment in Newark, but I want to make sure we are part of the stimulus, and the Black Caucus will continue to meet with the governor to collectively drive that issue home.”

One minor error on Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez's press release announcing her retirement from the State Assembly: she was not the first Hispanic to serve in the State Assembly.  That was Jorge Rod, a Republican from Ocean who was elected in 1981.  The second was Jose Arango, a Republican from Hudson County who was elected in 1985. The first Hispanic Democrat to serve in the Assembly was Robert Menendez, who won in 1987. Jose Sosa was elected in 1991, and Rudy Garcia was elected in 1993.   Cruz-Perez was the first woman when she was elected in 1995.

Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden), the first Hispanic woman to serve in the state Legislature, said today that she will not seek re-election in November to the seat she has held since 1995.

"Representing the people of the 5th District for so many years has been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined," said Cruz-Perez. "I have met many great people, and I am honored to have had the chance to be their advocate in Trenton.. I can only hope that my work on their behalf has improved the quality of life of the residents in Camden and Gloucester counties and throughout South Jersey."

Cruz-Perez, a former Army sergeant who was born in Puerto Rico, won a special election for the State Assembly to succeed Wayne Bryant, who moved up to the Senate after the death of Walter Rand.  She chairs the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee and has served as Deputy Majority Leader.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden) will not seek re-election to an eighth term this year.  A formal announcement is expected today.  Cruz-Perez, 48, was first elected to the Assembly in a 1995 special election convention to replace Wayne Bryant, who moved up to the State Senate.  She ran for Mayor of Camden in 2005, but lost to incumbent Gwendolyn Faison.

The vacancy on the Democratic ticket in the Democratic-dominated fifth district is likely to be the second this year.  State Sen. Dana Redd is almost a shoo-in to win election as Camden Mayor, which will result in a vacant State Senate seat in January. 

SMITH/CONNERS/CRUZ-PEREZ/QUIGLEY/TUCKER BILL TO HELP CHILDREN OF MILITARY FAMILIES CLEARS SENATE PANEL

NJ Would Adopt ‘Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children’

(TRENTON) – Assembly-approved legislation Assembly members L. Harvey Smith, Jack Conners, Nilsa Cruz-Perez, Joan Quigley and Cleopatra Tucker are sponsoring to help children of military families who frequently move has cleared a Senate committee.

The bill (A-2640) would permit New Jersey to enter into the “Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children,” which aims to eradicate disadvantages often encountered by military children because of frequent interstate moves and deployments.

QUIGLEY/SPENCER/SMITH/TUCKER/CRUZ-PEREZ BILL
REQUIRING PROPER BEDBUG EXTERMINATION CLEARS ASSEMBLY
Measure Stems From July Outbreak of Bedbugs in Hudson County Apartment Complexes

(TRENTON) - The Assembly today approved legislation members Joan M. Quigley, L. Grace Spencer, L. Harvey Smith, Cleopatra Tucker and Nilsa Cruz-Perez sponsored to provide additional tools for landlords and tenants to address bedbug infestations.

ASSEMBLY OK’S LOVE/GREENSTEIN/CRUZ-PEREZ/MORIARTY BILL TARGETING UNSAFE JEWELRY

Measure Comes After Minnesota Boy Died After Swallowing Lead-Tainted Bracelet

(TRENTON) – The Assembly today approved legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Sandi Love, Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Linda Greenstein and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty targeting unsafe jewelry.

Under the bill, no one may sell, distribute, import or manufacture jewelry in New Jersey that contains materials classified as unsafe The bill also includes stricter restrictions on materials used in children’s jewelry and body piercing jewelry.

Love crafted the legislation (A-2877) after a 4-year-old Minneapolis boy died of lead poisoning from swallowing a tainted charm bracelet.

“Buying a necklace or a charm bracelet shouldn’t bring about fears of lead and mercury poisoning, yet the health and safety of New Jerseyans are at risk,” said Love (D-Gloucester). “It’s time these harmful products are taken down from store shelves for good.”

CONNERS/MILAM/CRUZ-PEREZ BILL TO ENSURE DECEASED NEW JERSEY VETERANS ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT NOW LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen Jack Conners and Matthew Milam and Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez sponsored to ensure the cremains of New Jersey veterans are treated with respect is now law.

The law gives veterans’ organizations the right to receive the cremains of a veteran that have not been claimed by a relative or friend.

It was signed Wednesday by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

“It is particularly important that we do all we can to ensure that fallen service men and women are honorably received,” said Conners (D-Burlington), chairman of the Assembly Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.

State Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden) is leaning toward running for Mayor of Camden in the May municipal election, South Jersey Democratic sources say.  Octogenarian incumbent Gwendolyn Faison, whose actual age varies among different news outlets, is expected to run again but has not yet announced her intentions.  The Camden mayoral post has been the one prize to elude powerful South Jersey political leader George Norcross. 

Redd, a City Councilwoman and Vice Chair of the Democratic State Committee, is viewed as a rising star in State Democratic politics.  She won Wayne Bryant's State Senate seat in 2007 and has just finished her first year in the Legislature.   Because she went to the Senate prior to February 1, 2008, the new state law banning dual office holding does not apply to her Council and Senate seats.  But if she were to be elected Mayor, she would be forced to give up her Senate seat.  That would create a July Special Election Convention to replace her in the Legislature, and a November 2009 Special Election to fill the remaining 26 months on her term.

If Redd runs for Mayor, she would effectively be taking herself out of the running for Lt. Governor.  It would be hard for Jon Corzine to pick her a week after winning the June Democratic primary.

BILL TARGETS UNSAFE JEWELRY

Measure Comes After Minnesota Boy Died After Swallowing Lead-Tainted Bracelet

(TRENTON) – Assembly Democratic-sponsored legislation targeting unsafe jewelry is advancing toward law. The bill is sponsored by Assemblywomen Sandi Love, Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Linda Greenstein and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty.

Under the bill, no one may sell, distribute, import or manufacture jewelry in New Jersey that contains materials classified as unsafe The bill also includes stricter restrictions on materials used in children’s jewelry and body piercing jewelry.

Love crafted the legislation (A-2877) after a 4-year-old Minneapolis boy died of lead poisoning from swallowing a tainted charm bracelet.

“Buying a necklace or a charm bracelet shouldn’t bring about fears of lead and mercury poisoning, yet the health and safety of New Jerseyans are at risk,” said Love (D-Gloucester). “It’s time these harmful products are taken down from store shelves for good.”