Sheila Oliver

ASSEMBLY CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Annual Celebration Commemorates Significant Contributions of Groups, Individuals

(TRENTON) - Assembly Democrats today issued a multimedia package commemorating the chamber's annual celebration of Black History Month - a time to reflect and remember the individuals and groups that have contributed to the betterment or advancement of African Americans in the state and the nation.

Regardless of the outcome of the game of political musical chairs in the 28th legislative district, where two incumbents and a former Assemblyman are posturing for two spots on the Democratic line, look for the mostly white, blue collar towns of Belleville and Bloomfield to be split away from Newark and Irvington when a new map is drawn after next year's census.

The 28th was supposed to be one of the voting rights districts that protected minority representation in the Legislature when it was drawn in 2001.  The incumbents at the time were three African Americans: State Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Newark) and Assemblymen Donald Tucker (D-Newark) and Craig Stanley (D-Irvington). 

If Caputo holds his seat this year, it makes a defense of the current district under the Voting Rights Act more difficult.

Belleville, which was in the old 36th district, and Bloomfield, part of the old 34th district, were mostly represented by Republican legislators before the towns were moved in to the new 28th.  Rice beat GOP Assemblywoman Marion Crecco (R-Bloomfield) by a 69%-30% margin in 2001.

But Belleville and Bloomfield, which was estimated to have a combined population of 79,816 last year, have proven to be a greater force in Essex County politics than the redistricting commission imagined.  In 2007, Essex Democrats backed Ralph Caputo, a white Freeholder who served as a Republican Assemblyman from 1968 to 1972, to run for the Assembly.  Caputo and Cleopatra Tucker, whose late husband held the seat until his death in 2005, unseated two incumbents, Stanley and Oadline Truitt (D-Newark). 

OLIVER/QUIGLEY/GREENSTEIN BILL TO PROTECT ROADSIDE EMERGENCY WORKERS SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Sheila Y. Oliver, Joan M. Quigley, and Linda Greenstein that would require motorists to take safety precautions when approaching roadside emergency vehicles was signed into law today by Governor Jon S. Corzine.

“A little bit of courtesy can go a long way towards improving the safety of roadside emergency crews,” said Oliver (D-Essex). “Making drivers and emergency workers alike cognizant of this fact will most assuredly help to save lives.”

OLIVER, LAMPITT, DeANGELO ON ENACTMENT OF BILL ENHANCING ENERGY SAVINGS IMPROVEMENTS

(TRENTON) - Assembly members Sheila Y. Oliver, Pamela R. Lampitt and Wayne P. DeAngelo today issued a multimedia package on the enactment of legislation they sponsored to authorize state, county and municipal governments and school boards to more easily implement energy savings improvement programs.

The new law allows governments to enter into long-term lease-purchase agreements with energy companies, providing public buildings the benefits of energy saving technologies - which include new, efficient HVAC systems, improved insulation and efficient lighting - without the upfront spending normally required.

The sponsors contend the measure (A-1185) will create new jobs and could act as a catalyst to promote and sustain environmentally friendly - or "green-collar" - jobs.

ASSEMBLY PANEL TO HOLD MONDAY HEARING ON COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE

(TRENTON) – The Assembly Human Services committee will meet Monday afternoon to hear from invited speakers regarding the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, which was recently criticized by the Office of the State Comptroller.

The committee is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m.. Monday, Jan. 26, in Committee Room 15, Fourth Floor, State House Annex, West State Street, Trenton.

Following the hearing, the committee will consider legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Sheila Oliver, Connie Wagner and Elease Evans that responds to the audit by the state comptroller that found numerous problems within the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction.

ASSEMBLY BILL AUTHORIZING GOV'T ENTITIES TO APPLY ENERGY SAVINGS NOW LAW
Act Authorizes Public Entities to Implement Energy Savings Improvement Programs

(TRENTON) -Legislation Assembly members Sheila Oliver, Pamela Lampitt, Upendra Chivukula, Wayne DeAngelo, Joseph Vas and John McKeon sponsored to authorize state, county and municipal governments and school boards to more easily implement energy savings-improvement programs was signed into law today by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

OLIVER/QUIGLEY/GREENSTEIN BILL TO PROTECT ROADSIDE EMERGENCY WORKERS CLOSER TO LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Sheila Y. Oliver, Joan M. Quigley, and Linda Greenstein that would require motorists to take safety precautions when approaching roadside emergency vehicles is closer to becoming law.

The Assembly recently gave the bill final legislative approval.

“A little bit of courtesy can go a long way towards improving the safety of roadside emergency crews,” said Oliver (D-Essex). “Making drivers and emergency workers alike cognizant of this fact will most assuredly help to save lives.”

ASSEMBLY BILL TO HELP WITH HEATING BILLS, FOOD AND FORECLOSURES SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON) – Gov. Jon S. Corzine today signed into law legislation sponsored by Assembly members Connie Wagner, John Burzichelli, Nellie Pou and Sheila Oliver to provide $22.5 million to help residents struggling against the global economic crisis.

The New Jersey Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan provides $3 million for food banks and soup kitchens and $10 million to help pay utility bills for households in need.

It also provides $9.2 million to Legal Services of New Jersey and $300,000 for the Community Health Law Project to help low-income homeowners and tenants with issues such as mortgage foreclosure, bankruptcy, debt collection and eviction.

The bill is among many advanced by the Assembly to help residents and businesses weather the global crisis.

OLIVER: COMPTROLLER'S AUDIT SHOWS NEED
FOR OVERHAUL IN ADDICTION PROGRAM OVERSIGHT

(East Orange) - Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver, chairwoman of the Assembly Human Services Committee, called the results of the state Comptroller's audit into the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction a "shocking wake up call" and said she would look into sponsoring any legislation needed to implement Comptroller Matt Boxer's recommendations.

OLIVER INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO ENSURE QUALITY PRENATAL CARE FOR ALL WOMEN

Measure Crafted In Response to Report Issued By NJDHSS Prenatal Task Force Report

(EAST ORANGE) – Assembly Human Services Committee Chairwoman Sheila Y. Oliver today announced the introduction of legislation that would ensure the continued availability of obstetric services at health care facilities throughout New Jersey.

The measure (A-3369) was introduced in response to findings issued in a report last month by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Prenatal Task Force which highlighted serious disparities among the quality of care for women, especially among minorities and young women who have unplanned pregnancies.