Senator Sweeney: Fiscal Fire Risks Forcing Residents Out of State

WEST ORANGE, NJ – New Jersey State Senate President Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, urged Essex County business leaders and owners Wednesday to help advocate for major state budgetary reforms, or risk rising taxes that force even more businesses and residents to move out of state.

Sweeney addressed more than 100 local business leaders and owners at the Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) of MetroWest’s inaugural “Strictly Business” breakfast at Mayfair Farms in West Orange, as part of a new campaign for cutting spiraling state health and retirement costs to hold down taxes, expand education and improve the lives of those with disabilities.

New Jersey is “at a crossroads. If we do not step up and fix this now, we can’t wait two or three years. We’ve got a fire going on. New Jersey is too expensive. How many people do you talk to who say, ‘as soon as my kids are out of school, I’m leaving.’ If you reach out to your legislators, and you start pushing and say ‘we want you to deal with this’, they will listen,” Sweeney said.

The state’s highest-ranking legislator, Sweeney has served as senate president since 2010 and has represented the state’s 3rd legislative district since 2002. He spoke about how his determination to help support those with disabilities and others stemmed from his own experiences with a daughter with Down Syndrome.

In his address, Sweeney outlined recommendations of the “Path to Progress” report by the bipartisan Economic and Fiscal Policy Workgroup, a 25-member legislative panel. “Continued support for educational opportunities and to expanding programs to help those with developmental disabilities are just two of the wide range of priorities that will be contingent in large part on our ability to make needed investments,” he said.

“We welcome the opportunity to hear directly from Senator Sweeney and we appreciate the ability to offer feedback. We all want a state that is prosperous and affordable and is able to provide support for the most vulnerable,” said Michael Andreas, Executive Director of JVS. “This includes support for programs that serve those with disabilities.”

At the event JVS also honored Village Super Market Inc. as JVS Business Leader of the Year. Proceeds from Strictly Business will support JVS job-training programs and services for people with disabilities, veterans, immigrants and refugees. JVS serves more than 2,000 individuals each year representing adults with disabilities, immigrants and refugees, military veterans, and job-seekers of all ages.

Below please above photos from the Dec. 5 JVS Strictly Business event. Photo credit: Sharon Stern

Photo 1: New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney addresses the JVS of MetroWest ‘Strictly Business” event at Mayfair Farms in West Orange.

Photo 2: Attending the JVS of MetroWest, NJ ‘Strictly Business” event were, left to right: Chris Durkin, Essex County Clerk; NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney, and Michael Goldberg, president of the JVS of MetroWest Board of Trustees.