Oyez! Oyez! The Newport Community is Calling a Town Hall Meeting

[Sonia]

http://www.newportwaterfrontassociation.org/Images/Towncrier.gif

The Newport Waterfront Association is pleased to invite you to a Town Hall Meeting with:


United States Senator, the Honorable Robert Menendez

Where: At Newport's Town Square

Date: Saturday, May 13th, 2006

Time 3:00 PM thru 4:30 PM

Senator Menendez will answer your questions on topics such as the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, ferry service or issues related to transportation on the Hudson, tax reform, gasoline prices, new credit card legislation, and other national issues.

This is a great opportunity to meet and chat with our representative to the United States Senate.

Refreshments will be served.

[Sonia]

And here's the Flyer:

http://www.newportwaterfrontassociation.org/Ad/SenMenendeztownhallmeeting2.doc

[Bob1]

Sonia,

I am looking forward to hearing the Senator discuss the issue of gasoline prices, which are exorbitant. How many people are you expecting will attend this event?

[Sonia]

Bob1,

Gas prices is of concern to many of us. You can expect this issue will most likely be addressed by the Senator.

It's only one question per resident. We expect hundreds of people to attend, and would like to give as many of you as possible the chance to ask your question.

[Sonia]

...And if it rains?

It is still possible the sun will come out by Saturday afternoon, but if it rains, our Town Hall Meeting will be held at:


The Steven's Cooperative School
80 Pavonia Avenue
(Across from Newport's Town Square, and next door to South City Grill)

Please call 201-780-9051 if you need further directions.

[Sonia]

Right now, it looks like it will not rain tomorrow, and we are preparing to hold the event in Town Square. The Senator will be here at 3:00 PM sharp. He will make a brief five minute opening statement, and Q & A will begin immediately thereafter. Residents and guests will be asked to line-up at the microphone, and should make their questions brief and concise.

Best to get there early, especially if you want a seat!;)

[Jeremyk]

Hi Sonia,

Do you need any help setting up for tomorrow? I'm offering.

[Sonia]

Thank you Jeremy,

Everything has been coordinated, and we're ready to start. However, it's a good idea to come early. I'm sure we'll have last minute details that you can help with.

[RPinky]

Thank you Jeremy,

Everything has been coordinated, and we're ready to start. However, it's a good idea to come early. I'm sure we'll have last minute details that you can help with.

Thanks for an enjoyable afternoon NWA. :)
Senator Menendez was (as always) charming, well-spoken and sincere.
It never ceases to amaze me how intelligent and knowledgeable he is.
It was great to see some old-friends, and my favorite "old" boss.
(Happy belated b-day Former Councilman Maldonado).

Happy Mothers day to everyone..

[Puneet]

I couldn't make the meeting due to some unscheduled stuff. So what happened at the meeting?

[Sonia]

RPinky,

Wasn't it amazing how the sun came out just in time for our Town Hall Meeting?
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________

Just like everyone else, I am in complete awe and captivated by Senator Menendez, who reminds me in several ways of another brilliant statesman, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. An eloquent speaker, Senator Menendez was thorough, and well-informed on all the issues raised by Newport residents and friends. I was also impressed by his compassion and willingness to help one of our residents who is facing a particularly difficult time in her life.

The NWA considers itself fortunate to have been able to sponsor a Newport Town Hall meeting with Senator Menendez. It isn't often we have the opportunity to hear great statesmen speak. If you were unable to attend yesterday's meeting with the Senator, we are hoping to arrange a second event at a later time this year.

I have some pictures, which will be posted later on this week.

We also want to thank Starbucks, which did such a great job of catering this event.

[renuka]

Sonia,
Can you give us a brief list of issues discussed? Thank you...


RPinky,

Wasn't it amazing how the sun came out just in time for our Town Hall Meeting?
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________

Just like everyone else, I am in complete awe and captivated by Senator Menendez, who reminds me in several ways of another brilliant statesman, Senator Daniel Patrick Monihan. An eloquent speaker, Senator Menendez was thorough, and well-informed on all the issues raised by Newport residents and friends. I was also impressed by his compassion and willingness to help one of our residents who is facing a particularly difficult time in her life.

The NWA considers itself fortunate to have been able to sponsor a Newport Town Hall meeting with Senator Menendez. It isn't often we have the opportunity to hear great statesmen speak. If you were unable to attend yesterday's meeting with the Senator, we are hoping to arrange a second event at a later time this year.

I have some pictures, which will be posted later on this week.

We also want to thank Starbucks, which did such a great job of catering this event.

[Sonia]

Hello Renuka,

Actually, it would be easier to give you a list of the issues he didn't cover. This Senator was well prepared, and spoke with a comprehensive knowledge of the important issues to Newport, as well as to the nation. If I have a chance later, I'll summarize, but frankly, we encourage people to attend these meetings to hear for themselves.

[Jeremyk]

I also think Senator Menendez is an excellent speaker, as well as a very nice person. This was the first time in my life that I spoke with a United States Senator, and I am happy to report that he was attentive and interested in what I had to say. In regard to Newport issues, his office has been helping us all along. He said we'll get the ferry back next month, and the walkway will be completed in one year.

Thank-you Sonia, for inviting Senator Menendez to Newport. It was exciting to meet him, and I'm glad I was there! :cool:

[Tara]

Senator Menendez is sharp. He doesn't avoid issues. He answered all the questions directly. He came across as very real and honest.

We get ferry service back in June. Let's hope there's a grand opening.

[DogLover]

Hello Renuka,

Actually, it would be easier to give you a list of the issues he didn't cover. This Senator was well prepared, and spoke with a comprehensive knowledge of the important issues to Newport, as well as to the nation. If I have a chance later, I'll summarize, but frankly, we encourage people to attend these meetings to hear for themselves.


While ideally it would be great for everyone to attend, we shouldn't be penalized if we weren't there. Since it was Mother's Day this weekend, I was away for the weekend, enjoying the time with my mother and would like to know what was covered. Thank you.

[Sonia]

Dog Lover,

Like most of us, I'm at work, but I'll try to post a summary, and pictures, this evening.

[msion1]

Senator Menendez is sharp. He doesn't avoid issues. He answered all the questions directly. He came across as very real and honest.

We get ferry service back in June. Let's hope there's a grand opening.

Did he estimate when, in June? Early June? Late June? Just wondering.

[Sonia]

Senator Robert Menendez impressed us with his sharp intelligence, and ability to communicate with the populist. He radiates an intellectual sincerity that wins over your confidence, and makes you feel comfortable and encouraged by his reponses.

Yes, Newport will have a completed waterfront walkway in a year, and yes, the ferry will return sometime in June. Frankly, I can't remember all the topics raised by Newport's residents, but they included subjects like gasoline prices, tax reform, education, the war in Iraq, homeland security, health care, proposed credit card legislation, the Alternative Minimum Tax, Fixed income issues, jobs and economic opportunities for African-American inner-city neighborhoods, international policies, and a series of questions on federal initiatives, subsidies, and policies. Here is a sample of some of the questions that were framed by the NWA:

1. Not long ago, ferry service in Newport was discontinued due to high costs and low rider ship, what incentives might the federal government make available to private ferry operators, who contribute the valuable service of transporting people across the Hudson river, to make providing of services affordable, both to the ferry operator and the commuters.

2. Newport residents would like to see additional ferries or other forms of transportation on the waterways, made available to commuters. Can the federal government bring together regional political forces to come up with a creative solution?

3. Gasoline prices are clearly out of control and hurting the average American, how is the federal government mobilizing to keep this situation from getting completely out of hand?


4. Recognizing the equalizing value of education in this country, what initiatives do you have that you may be able to share with us at this time, more particularly as they relate to Jersey City?

5. Many of us eagerly await the completion of the Newport section of the Hudson Riverfront Walkway, which will connect Jersey City and Hoboken. How can your office further assist New Jersey Transit to begin construction of their portion of the walkway and pedestrian bridge so that we can have a ground breaking ceremony before November 2006.

6. Given the widespread belief among many social scientists that the primary cause of both violent crime and the breakdown of the family in African-American inner-city poor neighborhoods is that there are no jobs, no economic opportunity in the inner city, and in light of the recent rapid increase in violent crime in Jersey City, what specific programs and policies do you propose to generate jobs, - by the federal government?


7. Although we know of your proposed credit card legislation, many of us would appreciate your shedding some light on the details.

[Floridian]

Number 6 is bothersome. Are we saying that only african-americans are the ones committing the crimes? sounds pretty racist. Whoever posed that question is hiding something.

[DogLover]

6. Given the widespread belief among many social scientists that the primary cause of both violent crime and the breakdown of the family in African-American inner-city poor neighborhoods is that there are no jobs, no economic opportunity in the inner city, and in light of the recent rapid increase in violent crime in Jersey City, what specific programs and policies do you propose to generate jobs, - by the federal government?


I don't think it is saying that African Americans are the cause of crime. It seems that they are asking what can be done to help residents of those specific neighborhoods and didn't say that all crime was due to them; it just talked about life within that neighborhood.
If they had specifically said all crime is due to African Americans and all crime in Jersey City is done by African Americans, then that would be 100% wrong and would be extremely prejudicial, but it seems they are just talking about how life within the African American neighborhoods could be improved.
I really don't think it was meant in a bad way and I think it is good that it is addressed so they can generate more jobs, etc. Anything that will prove to be beneficial to residents of ANY community, regardless of race, can only be a good thing and can only help residents of that community.

[Sonia]

Actually RPinky, the issue was raised at the meeting by Robert Vivien. It was his question. Dog lover is correct, the question was raised with the best of intentions.

[Sonia]

For your information Floridian,

Hiding something?

Let me add, that Robert V*****, who is not an attorney, is also a graduate of UC Berkeley, one of the most liberal, broad-minded schools in our nation. Although, I could see someone maybe calling him a socialist (he is actually a democrat), never, never, could I imagine someone calling him a rascist.:(

P.S.

And if you're calling me a rascist, boy! are you clueless. I come from a totally non-discriminatory background, raised on civil rights by a mother who was the Regional Director of the Office of Civil Rights, and championed Brown vs. Board of Education in New York City.

[msion1]

Let me add, that Robert V*****, who is not an attorney, is also a graduate of UCLA at Berkley, one of the most liberal, broad-minded schools in our

Just a slight correction: UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) and UC Berkeley are two different schools, about 400 miles apart. I think you mean UC Berkeley.

[Sonia]

Exactly. Thanks, Msion1.

[DogLover]

For your information Floridian,

Hiding something?

Let me add, that Robert V*****, who is not an attorney, is also a graduate of UC at Berkley, one of the most liberal, broad-minded schools in our nation. Although, I could see someone maybe calling him a socialist (he is actually a democrat), never, never, could I imagine someone calling him a rascist.:(

P.S.

And if you're calling me a rascist, boy! are you clueless. I come from a totally non-discriminatory background, raised on civil rights by a mother who was the Regional Director of the Office of Civil Rights, and championed Brown vs. Board of Education in New York City.

Floridian seems to have a negative comment about everything!! All his posts are ch*****ging something.

[Jeremyk]

Brown v. Board of Education
About The Case

The 1954 United States Supreme Court decision in Oliver L. Brown et.al. v. the Board of Education of Topeka (KS) et.al. is among the most significant judicial turning points in the development of our country. Originally led by Charles H. Houston, and later Thurgood Marshall and a formidable legal team, it dismantled the legal basis for racial segregation in schools and other public facilities.

By declaring that the discriminatory nature of racial segregation ... "violates the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees all citizens equal protection of the laws," Brown v. Board of Education laid the foundation for shaping future national and international policies regarding human rights.

Brown v. Board of Education was not simply about children and education. The laws and policies struck down by this court decision were products of the human tendencies to prejudge, discriminate against, and stereotype other people by their ethnic, religious, physical, or cultural characteristics. Ending this behavior as a legal practice caused far reaching social and ideological implications, which continue to be felt throughout our country. The Brown decision inspired and galvanized human rights struggles across the country and around the world.

What this legal ch*****ge represents is at the core of United States history and the freedoms we enjoy. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown began a critical chapter in the maturation of our democracy. It reaffirmed the sovereign power of the people of the United States in the protection of their natural rights from arbitrary limits and restrictions imposed by state and local governments. These rights are recognized in the Declaration of Independence and guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

While this case was an important historic milestone, it is often misunderstood. Over the years, the facts pertaining to the Brown case have been overshadowed by myths and mischaracterizations:

1. Brown v. Board of Education was not the first ch*****ge to school segregation. As early as 1849, African Americans filed suit against an educational system that mandated racial segregation, in the case of Roberts v. City of Boston.

2. Oliver Brown, the case namesake, was just one of the nearly 200 plaintiffs from five states who were part of the NAACP cases brought before the Supreme Court in 1951. The Kansas case was named for Oliver Brown as a legal strategy to have a man head the plaintiff roster.

The Brown decision initiated educational and social reform throughout the United States and was a catalyst in launching the modern Civil Rights Movement. Bringing about change in the years since the Brown case continues to be difficult. But the Brown v. Board of Education victory brought this country one step closer to living up to its democratic ideas.

[Floridian]

Sonia,

First of all, I NEVER said YOU were the one who was racist. Please go back and reread my post. Regardless of the persons background, the question is still racist. If you check the post after mine, you'll see I wasn't the only one who believes this. From what I understand, most of the break ins are inside jobs...not from urban blight.

[Sonia]

Floridian,

We are of the opinion that the question is not racist, but have forwarded your concern to the writer for him to respond, if he wants to.

[DogLover]

Floridian,

We are of the opinion that the question is not racist, but have forwarded your concern to the writer for him to respond, if he wants to.


I agree....it is NOT a racist question. All the question is asking is how crime WITHIN a SPECIFIC community can be helped, not saying that they are the cause of the crimes.

[RVivien]

As the author of question #6, I demand to know who this Floridian person is who would have the temerity to suggest that I, or anything I'm a part of, is in any way racist, is outrageous. Who would make such a suggestion of me, who initially worked in elective politics on the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1968, a campaign designed to address the serious problems confronting African-Americans in America's inner cities by offering the hope of a job and a decent life, while more recently being a member of the Washington Interfaith Network in our nation's capitol in which I worked directly with church leaders, both African-American and Caucasian,
again to address the serious social ills confronting citizens in the poorest neighborhoods of the District such as Anacostia and Southeast, including many of our fellows who are African-Americans, and who worked side-by-side with me and many others to develop an agenda to lobby elected leaders, is outrageous. My question is one posited initially by then Harvard Professor Daniel Patrick Moynihan in 1965 - who, of course went on to become one of New York's U.S. Senators and who was a pioneer on this and many other important issues, and also posed by one William Julius Wilson, an African-Amercian scholar I believe at Harvard. So clearly, Floridian does not know from where he/she speaks and rather than me having something to hide, clearly it is Floridian, who still has not disclosed who he/she is. Stand up and be counted.

[Floridian]

Thanks for the life story, but you didn't answer the question on how this specific question can seem to be racist. You can't se this? I'm not the only person who felt this way. Once again, please REDEAD the question that was posed.

The question states...

A) Only african-americans live in the inner city and they have no, jobs, future, etc. and that they are the onces responcible for the increase in crime.

If you can't see that, then there is no point in continuing this discussion.

Once again..I was not the only person who thinks this way.

P.S. Please no more life stories.

[DogLover]

Thanks for the life story, but you didn't answer the question on how this specific question can seem to be racist. You can't se this? I'm not the only person who felt this way. Once again, please REDEAD the question that was posed.

The question states...

A) Only african-americans live in the inner city and they have no, jobs, future, etc. and that they are the onces responcible for the increase in crime.

If you can't see that, then there is no point in continuing this discussion.

Once again..I was not the only person who thinks this way.

P.S. Please no more life stories.

Here is the question at hand:
6. Given the widespread belief among many social scientists that the primary cause of both violent crime and the breakdown of the family in African-American inner-city poor neighborhoods is that there are no jobs, no economic opportunity in the inner city, and in light of the recent rapid increase in violent crime in Jersey City, what specific programs and policies do you propose to generate jobs, - by the federal government?

You are saying that this says that "Only african-americans live in the inner city and they have no, jobs, future, etc. and that they are the onces responcible for the increase in crime"
Where you are getting that from is beyond me. It does not say ONLY African Americans live in the inner city and that they are the ones responsible for crimes. What this is saying is that the cause for crimes WITHIN that specfic community is due to several factors. In no way did this say that crimes only happen within that specific community. Crimes WITHIN a community and people causing crimes are two totally different things.
Flordian, all of your posts seem so to be so negative and you always try to find the worst in the topic at hand. Perhaps if you read it correctly, you will see what it really says and if you stopped being so negative, you would see the post for what it is. You are also saying you are the only one that says it. THere was only ONE other post who seemed to agreed with you, but that poster has said nothing since. Perhaps they re-read it and saw how wrong YOU were.
Also, instead of attacking RViviens life story, you would see that it is saying how much he has been an advocate of civil rights and equality, so for you to say his comment is racist is ignorance on YOUR part.

[RVivien]

Floridian's behavior is juvenile as first, Floridian has the temerity accuse me of hiding something when he/she failed to disclose who he/she is while my name, where I went to college, the fact I'm an attorney was all disclosed; second, now Floridian has the temerity to mislead readers by misrepresenting what the question actually says. Rather than apologize for his/her incivility, he/she arrogantly proceeds.

Finally, I wasn't telling my life story but how it relates to my credibility and hard-earned respect to speak on a delicate issue like problems in our inner cities. In this regard, like those social scientists I mentioned, I studied this issue as my graduate thesis at Georgetown University. So again, you misunderstand, misrepresent, mislead. Couldn't you do better? Please try as now I understand you go on this website and subject others to these behaviors.

[Tara]

Bravo Robert, sammlung05 sammlung05 You tell him!

Floridian like to kvetch about everything. He needs to accept his error, and apologize. It will set him free.

[Stinky]

It's not often that I agree with Floridian but he/she really is right. The question clearly implies that African-Americans are the primary cause of crime in the inner cities.

[Floridian]

Thanks Stinky

[DogLover]

It's not often that I agree with Floridian but he/she really is right. The question clearly implies that African-Americans are the primary cause of crime in the inner cities.

I cannot believe that there are other people that are reading this that way. They are talking about crime WITHIN that community. It is in no way saying they are the cause of crimes....it is stating crimes WITHIN that community....it's 2 totally different things. I suggest you re-read it so you can see that it was not impling they are the cause of crimes.

[Stinky]

The question is written in lawyer-speak and bears very little relationship to English. If you parse it as a lawyer (or maybe a politician - an even less forthright group) then you may be able to justify it to yourself. However, if you choose to express yourself in a non-technical dialect of English then the question implies that (all?) African-Americans are criminals.

[JCLaw]

I must admit it is very funny watching a bunch of "Democrats" bash each other. Tee hee hee. On the one hand you have the knee-jerk "anyone who mentions black people in a sentence is racist" Democrats, and on the other hand you have those who say "only Democrats (who supposedly by definition participated in the 'civil rights movement') have the right to criticize black people."

I call BS on all of you. Abraham Lincoln was not a Democrat. The Democrat politicians (e.g. Robert Byrd) of the pre-Reagan South were more opposed to civil rights than anyone. And discussing problems of any ethnic/racial/religious community should not be off limits to anyone. It's called the 1st Amendment.

Then again, this thread has been really fun to read, so please keep on flaming each other.