Troy Talk
The “Dirty” Water Dilemma is Upon Us
The next time you fill a glass of water from your faucet, it might not be surprising if you think of Flint, Michigan.
Given Flint’s recent media coverage and the unconscionable conduct of leaders responsible for that fiasco, is anyone unaware of how important, indeed, precarious our access is to clean, safe and plentiful water? And, water problems aren’t confined only to Flint, where residents unknowingly drank water contaminated with lead for months. Before Flint, there was the issue of lead-leached water in Washington D.C., Baltimore, Maryland and in 2008 when gallons of toxic coal ash containing lead flowed into the Tennessee River causing enormous hardships to the people of that area. Clean, safe water and the infrastructure that delivers and protects it are a major problem throughout the United States.
What we face today are a myriad of circumstances and a culture of modest indifference that have pooled together and gurgled upward to give New Jersey residents and the rest of the United States a clean water crisis.
On the WRONG Side of Lisa’s Law
If my writing this week carries with it a whiff of anger and frustration, you’ll shortly understand why.
I have throughout my blogs expressed how I develop the legislative initiatives I undertake as an elected official. I typically ask myself three simple questions: (1) Does it benefit my constituents and other New Jersey residents? (2) Will it work? and (3) Can we afford it? These are straight-forward, reasonable tenets that serve as a guidepost for me when proposing any legislation.
Which is why I’m dumbfounded, yes, even a bit angry, over Governor Christie’s recent veto of bipartisan legislation (A3806) I introduced with my friend and Republican colleague, Assemblyman Ron Dancer. This proposal, known more commonly as Lisa's Law, would establish a four-year pilot program in Ocean County which would electronically monitor domestic violence offenders and allow for notification of victims. We call this initiative “Lisa’s Law” to honor the memory of Letizia "Lisa" Zindell of Toms River, a domestic violence victim murdered by her former fiancée. The bill would set aside $2.5 million to fund this legislation.
DON’T Miss the Deadline For Signing Up . . .
The clock is ticking (whether you hear it or see the hours slip by digitally), and the deadline is upon us.
I’m concerned about the health of my constituents and other New Jersey residents who do not have health care coverage. This unease increases daily as the deadline for enrollment in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without paying a penalty ends Jan. 31, which is 10 days away.
Why the Dream Continues
Next Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Like many holidays, we might revere the person or the event, but eventually its full meaning slides from our grasp. We oftentimes tend to allow it to enter into the category of a “day off” from work or school. While for some this may be the case, I hope this never happens to one of the greatest champions of human rights in the past century.
Winning the College Diploma Marathon
If we have heard any mantra in recent decades related to education, it’s the message that you MUST go to college if you hope to earn more and learn more in your lifetime. It’s a worthy ideal and one that I hope has had a positive influence on parents and students alike.
The “Easiest” New Year’s Resolution
As December folds into January, the media begins writing about New Year’s resolutions. These news reports offer a variety of possible resolutions and also how to keep those annual promises. We’re familiar with popular pledges usually related to diet, fitness and getting organized. Then, in about a month, we can anticipate that more than one-fourth of those promises will have wilted, according to StatisticBrain.com.