NJ 11th for Change: Sherrill Town Hall A Positive Step
NJ 11th for Change Commends Rep. Mikie Sherrill for Holding Early Town Hall
Event Provided Opportunity for Dialogue Between Constituents and Representative
Parsippany, NJ, January 27, 2019 -- NJ 11th for Change commends Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Congresswoman for the 11th District of New Jersey, for holding a Town Hall early in her first term, giving constituents an opportunity to hear about her legislative agenda and pose questions and concerns directly to her, in person.
NJ 11th for Change’s membership was deeply frustrated by the unwillingness of its previous representative, Rodney Frelinghuysen, to hold a Town Hall for more than five years, despite repeated requests.
According to the group:
“NJ 11th for Change is premised on the need for transparency, accountability and responsiveness from our elected representatives. Ongoing, robust and two-way dialogue between public officials and their constituents is critical for meaningful representation to occur, and Town Halls provide a vital forum for these conversations. It was especially important that our representative hear from the people of our district so early in her first term as she makes key decisions about Committees, bill sponsorships, and how she will define herself within the Democratic caucus.
“This Town Hall provided an opportunity for district residents to get an update from Rep. Sherrill on her activities in Washington, D.C., and to converse with her about concerns as wide-ranging as the government shutdown, gun safety, immigration reform, health care, infrastructure, taxes, climate change and holding President Trump to account. While not everyone agrees on every issue, the ability to voice our concerns to, and hear from, our representative is crucial.
“We look forward to continuing a meaningful dialogue with Rep. Sherrill at regular Town Halls and other venues.”
About NJ 11th for Change
NJ 11th for Change is a 501(c)(4) unaffiliated organization dedicated to advocating for all people of New Jersey’s 11th Congressional district. We foster an engaged and informed community with the power to shape our political representation so that it is transparent, responsive and accountable -- and so that it reflects the values of fairness, compassion, inclusivity and a decent quality of life. Follow us at nj11thforchange.org or facebook.com/NJ11thForChange or on Twitter at @nj11forchange.
STATEMENT: NJ 11th for Change Applauds End of Redistricting Proposal
Statement for immediate release: 12/17/18
NJ 11th for Change Applauds End To Partisan Redistricting Proposal: ‘Business As Usual In Trenton Is Done’
Montclair, NJ -- NJ 11th for Change joins local and national groups in hailing Saturday’s decision to take a radical redistricting proposal off the table, effectively killing an ill-advised plan that would have opened the door to extreme gerrymandering across New Jersey.
The decision to refrain from putting these measures to a vote is a powerful vindication of a unique and intensive effort by a broad range of concerned citizens in our state. Across New Jersey, citizens transcended partisanship to fight for fairness and equity in drawing our electoral maps. NJ 11th for Change is proud to stand with a coalition of 130 groups statewide, including the League of Women Voters, New Jersey Working Families Alliance, BlueWaveNJ, and many others, in ensuring that state Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin got the message loud and clear.
The unified opposition to this proposal reflects a strong consensus for a district-drawing process that centers the voices of ALL voters over strong-arm tactics and partisan politics.
NJ11th for Change Executive Director Saily Avelenda said the outcome sends a strong message that state legislators will continue to be held accountable, and NJ 11th for Change will continue working to ensure that constituents’ voices are heard.
“Business as usual in Trenton is done. We are here to remind our legislators that they are elected to represent us in Trenton -- not to protect their positions or grant themselves more power,” Avelenda said. “NJ 11th for Change will continue to advocate for transparency, accountability, and responsiveness at all levels of government, and we will fight against any legislation that threatens those principles and threatens the ideals of good government.”
About NJ 11th for Change
NJ 11th for Change is a 501(c)(4) unaffiliated organization dedicated to advocating for all people of New Jersey’s 11th Congressional district. We foster an engaged and informed community with the power to shape our political representation so that it is transparent, responsive and accountable -- and so that it reflects the values of fairness, compassion, inclusivity and a decent quality of life. Follow us at http://www.nj11thforChange.org or http://www.facebook.com/NJ11thForChange or on Twitter at @nj11forchange.
Statement: NJ11th For Change Seeks Sherrill Town Hall
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2018
NJ 11th for Change Requests Mikie Sherrill Hold Town Hall
Constituents Eager to Ask Questions of New Congresswoman-Elect
Montclair, NJ — NJ 11th for Change today sent a letter to Congresswoman-Elect Mikie Sherrill requesting that she hold a Town Hall as soon as practicable before year end or early in the new year following her inauguration.
Mikie Sherrill repeatedly committed during her campaign to hold regular Town Hall meetings so that constituents could voice their concerns and ask questions. As the Congresswoman-Elect begins to make decisions regarding caucuses and coalitions to join and support, the people of NJ-11 are eager to hear her reasoning for these decisions, as well as her plans for turning her campaign promises into actionable policies that directly improve the lives of constituents in her district.
“We enthusiastically endorsed Mikie Sherrill because she ran a transparent and responsive campaign, and because she voiced positions on issues like women’s rights, healthcare, infrastructure and taxes that align with the values of our district. As Ms. Sherrill gets ready to begin the job we hired her to do, we are eager to ask her how she plans to translate those campaign positions into policy and develop a voting record that reflects the needs and concerns of her constituents,” said Saily M. Avelenda, Executive Director of NJ 11th for Change.
“After years of frustrating stonewalling and unwillingness to engage from our current Congressman, we look forward to Ms. Sherrill’s honoring her repeated commitment to hold regular Town Hall meetings and be otherwise responsive to her constituents and the issues they elected her to address,” said Elizabeth Juviler, Political Director of NJ 11th for Change.
A copy of NJ 11th for Change’s letter is below.
Read more
ANNOUNCEMENT: 'Nobody Is Above The Law' Rally Today
The following announcement has been distributed to media outlets, November 8, 2018:
NJ 11th for Change to Join Nobody is Above the Law Rally Today in Morristown
Group Demands Congress Protect Mueller Investigation In Response to Sessions Firing
Morristown, NJ—NJ 11th for Change will join other groups this afternoon to protest President Trump’s abuse of power in firing Attorney General Jeff Sessions -- and appointing Trump loyalist Matthew Whitaker to replace him -- in order to quash the criminal investigation into his Administration.
According to Saily M. Avelenda, Esq., Executive Director of NJ 11th for Change:
“We, the people, are awake, and we will not stay silent as this president relentlessly drives stake after stake into the heart of our fundamental democratic institutions. We will not be worn down. We demand our current Congress finally stand up to this abuse of power and protect the Mueller investigation, and we look forward to a new congressional delegation next year -- including newly elected Mikie Sherrill in our district -- that will exercise its constitutional duty to impose checks and balances on this out of control executive. Nobody is above the law.”
- WHAT: Nobody is Above the Law Rally
- WHERE: Morristown Green at Washington Street, Morristown, NJ,
- WHEN: Thursday, November 8, 2018, 5 pm
About NJ 11th for Change:
NJ 11th For Change is a 501(c)(4) unaffiliated organization dedicated to advocating for all people of New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. We foster an engaged and informed community with the power to shape our political representation so that it is transparent, responsive and accountable—and so that it reflects the values of fairness, compassion, inclusivity and a decent quality of life.
To learn more, visit:
instagram.com/nj11thforchange/