| Author |
Message |
    
John Davenport
Citizen
Username: Jjd
Post Number: 612
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 7:12 pm: | 
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I am furious that the money I've donated to NJ Citizen Action to lobby on important issues at the state level is being spent on mailings, phone calls, and home visits to sway votes in a local primary. NJ Citizen Action was at the Clinton School today, handing out literature near the polls. This is NOT what I donated to this organization for. I will NEVER donate to them again, and I urge all Maplewood residents to do likewise.
John Davenport |
sbenois
Supporter
Username: Sbenois
Post Number: 15124
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 7:13 pm: |
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What were they handing out? |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11738
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 7:27 pm: |
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Isn't that the organization that Vic DeLuca is on the board of? Wasn't there something about them campaigning for Vic last year? |
John Davenport
Citizen
Username: Jjd
Post Number: 613
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 7:31 pm: |
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Exactly. They were handing out literature in support of the challengers. I've never seen any organization do this near polls on election day. This organization asks for donations to lobby on state government issues. This is an abuse and a breach of trust. They spent our donation money on a mailing to every household, a recorded phone call, and folks to knock on doors today. I'm furious! |
johnny
Citizen
Username: Johnny
Post Number: 1628
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 7:47 pm: |
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They campaigned for Vic last year door to door, even though they tried to hide it as "issue" campaigning. |
Lydia
Supporter
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 1923
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 7:57 pm: |
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They came around my neighborhood around 3 weeks ago - I told them that I thought they were destroying their (once) good name by getting into local politics - the woman gave me a cock and bull story about adhering the the ELEC laws -- she was gathering information that would be available to all parties, etc, etc, ad nauseum.
I told the Citizen's Action woman that I was going inside to forward their agenda to our block association and that scared her off our block.
Another example of destroying a good organization and pimping it for selfish goals.
2 Minutes until the polls close - I hope whomever wins can work on repairing the mess.
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John Davenport
Citizen
Username: Jjd
Post Number: 617
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 8:05 pm: |
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You are exactly right Lydia. I think when we all refuse to donate next time around, they will think twice about continuing on this way. We need them to press ahead with their work on the state constitutional convention on property taxes to keep our schools from going bankrupt and our property taxes from going ever higher. NJ Citizen action has also done good work on the state budget and tax laws. It is sad to see it come to this!
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sbenois
Supporter
Username: Sbenois
Post Number: 15125
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 8:05 pm: |
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Still long lines at 8:00 in Districts 7 & 8.
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curmudgeon
Citizen
Username: Curmudgeon
Post Number: 768
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 10:35 pm: |
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Jeez - they are an advocacy organization - if you don't like what they advocate (and that includes candidates and office-holders who support what they advocate for) then don't give them money - but to complain that they do exactly what they say their mission is is just silly. |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5663
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 10:38 pm: |
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2 Minutes until the polls close - I hope whomever wins can work on repairing the mess.
Im thinking there's gonna be talk about forming a mess repairing committee. |
Ellen Sleeter
Citizen
Username: Ellen
Post Number: 22
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - 11:10 pm: |
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NJ Citizen Action -- is a non-partisan organization. Issues, yes, but not candidates. It's not a 527, to my knowledge.
They did good work, and I with them, in NON-PARTISAN voter registration following the 2000 election -- partly to minimize the potential ill-effects of some states' requiring ID after implementing HAVA. I worked to register voters on two occasions in Chester, Pennsylvania (PA's equivalent of Camden)
The only reason that I can imagine their being at local polling places is because of electronic voting machines -- to advocate for any who felt uncomfortable or somehow disenfranchised by the new machines.
But I was active in the Essex County Voting Rights Task Force, and WE didn't dispatch people to polling places today, so why would NJ Citizen Action...? They didn't really take up that cause.
John D -- I certainly agree with your consternation. The next time I get an email solicitation to sign a petition or show up at a rally (or give money) for NJCA, I'll be sure to issue that challenge.
Ellen |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11739
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 4:41 am: |
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Curm, how many primaries did NJCA dispatch their paid solictors to? I will make a WAG and say just one. Right, Maplewood. |
mplwdian
Citizen
Username: Mplwdian
Post Number: 141
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 6:34 am: |
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The organization may be legit, but DeLuca is high up in it and uses it as his personal propganda machine and their people as an army of campaign workers who use an in-your-face hard-sell approach. Its disgusting in my mind and a real problem that should be addressed at the state level with the appropriate authorities. People should be turned off by this, but I guess they are not.
This is in fact one of the main reasons the race was so close? How much value did the organization give to the Adam-Lewis-Powder campaign? Is this disclosed somewhere in their campaign filings. Someone should look into this. |
Strawberry
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 7373
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 6:59 am: |
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You go right to their website and you can see endorsements. They have a right to campaign for candidates, especially one of their own.
What I find interesting in this instance is the support for Vic. I would imagine they want to see him do more than simply be a small time player in a small time town. My guess is they believe Vic should be next Mayor, not David. This so he can leapfrog to the next level.
The old saying, it's good to have friends in high places.
All that said, anyone who gives money to groups like NJ Citizen Action should think twice. Send a donation to AIDS research or a variety of other charities instead. |
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 6472
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 7:35 am: |
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Wonder who had the tape measure to be sure they were as close as possible to the polling stations without violating the laws. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11740
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 7:36 am: |
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Here is a link to NJ Citizen Action's website. They have a PAC, but I couldn't see any endorsements after the 2005 general election. My recollection last year was that the Board of Directors was shown on the site. Again, I couldn't find them.
It appears they use paid canvassers as they have job listings for that position.
http://www.njcitizenaction.org/ |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 6282
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 7:43 am: |
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"I hope whomever wins can work on repairing the mess."
Hi Lydia,
Post your concerns here and we all can get involved, i.e., what messes in particular - thanks. |
John Davenport
Citizen
Username: Jjd
Post Number: 620
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 10:33 am: |
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Thanks Ellen. My recollection is that during the last couple years when they solicited for money, they focused on state-level issues. Elected officials at the local level have no direct say on those issues. I have no problem with NJAC endorsing candidates at the state level who agree with their positions -- though I also don't think they should spend their money actively campaigning for particular candidates rather than on issues themseleves for the reasons Ellen mentions. But in local elections, they should not even endorse, let alone spend gobs of money campaigning. It was highly offensive to use the network created to lobby for better state government policies on taxes, school funding, and the environment to try to swing a township primary. There is really no plausible answer to this argument, and I will make my feelings known directly to the people involved! |
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