Archive for October, 2005

NAACP audience hears Corzine’s urban priorities

Friday, October 28th, 2005

Friday, October 28, 2005
By EARL MORGAN
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Appearing at a Jersey City NAACP meeting this week, Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Sen. Jon Corzine, of Hoboken, said education, affordable housing and health care will top his list of priorities if he wins the governor’s seat next month.

Corzine spoke for approximately 30 minutes Tuesday in Calvary Methodist Church on Oak Street during a meeting of the Jersey City chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

The audience of approximately 50 people included Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Jersey City council members Viola Richardson and Willie Flood, and state Assemblyman Louis Manzo

Corzine suggested education is the best cure for crime and poverty - but that first, more has to be done to improve schools in urban areas like Jersey City.

“I believe in the Abbott decision, but that it should be implemented appropriately,” Corzine said, alluding to complaints about how the Schools Construction Corp. spent money on construction projects.

He also addressed another state Supreme Court decision - Mt. Laurel - in discussing providing affordable housing.

“I live in Hoboken and you hear a lot of complaints from people who say they are being forced out of that city because of gentrification,” Corzine said. “The way things have been developing in New Jersey right now, it’s easy for developers to build market-rate housing.”

Under Mt. Laurel, developers are required to designate a percentage of units for low-income residents when building new construction projects in communities where a shortage of affordable housing exists.

Corzine said he also wants to encourage community groups to be more involved in construction of affordable housing.

Responding to a question from the audience, Corzine said he also favors raising the minimum wage again. On Oct. 1, it rose from $5.15 to $6.15, and next October, it will go up to $7.15 - which still isn’t enough, Corzine said.

“Try raising a family on that,” he said.

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