“I believe that if you want to understand what Governor Murphy and this legislature values, all you have to do is read the budget. Yesterday at Governor Murphy’s Budget address there were many things to applaud that move us closer to having a moral budget that reflects the values of New Jersey’s diverse communities. I see our children becoming a priority, as is our moral responsibility. It is the first time in history that the Governor proposes to fully fund schools according to the long established school funding formula. I applaud his commitment to re-allocate money to underfunded schools which are disproportionately Black and Latinx in a state with essentially 50% global majority. I also look forward to additional aid to expand access to Pre-K and the $30 million to provide free school meals which is a further testament to prioritizing children.

I commend the clear intention to support seniors, increase health care access, improve maternal health, expand affordable housing, funding for language access and support for veterans that often serve our country to come home and struggle. This budget begins to show us how those in power can care for their constituents. .

Yet there is more to be done if we are to have a truly moral budget. Primarily I think we must prioritize investing in the care of all New Jerseyans. We should do this in three major ways.

Ensure undocumented immigrants that pay over $587 million dollars in local and state dollars are never left behind and can access state supports, including emergency housing, healthcare, and tenant protections

Prioritize reducing bloated budgets like the police budget that proposes a $120 million allocation to build a new police training center, $60 million on a third Juvenile Justice commission facility, and millions to increase the footprint of policing. All while communities have shown they thrive with more community based safety solutions for a fraction of the cost. It simply doesn’t make fiscal sense. Instead fund hospital based and community based violence interventions to scale, invest in rebuilding our health departments, and invest in trauma informed care within schools.

Ensure family and community connections for all currently incarcerated loved ones by funding all telephone and tablet communications for all incarcerated loved ones. These vital connections are needed for our loved ones, their families and our communities to thrive.

During this budget season as we enter budget negotiations, I encourage Governor Murphy and this legislature to create a moral budget that invests in the care of New Jersey residents across the state so we can have a New Jersey for all.”

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Faith in New Jersey is a multi-faith multi-racial power building vehicle for faith communities and everyday people traditionally excluded from the decision making that impacts their everyday lives. Through faith-based community organizing we deliver tangible changes for communities to thrive with a co-created social justice agenda that supports human rights, expanding democracy, ending gun violence, restorative, racial, economic, and immigrant justice on the local, state, and federal level.

Faith in New Jersey is a non-partisan 501c3 local federation of the Faith in Action national network and proud members of the Live Free USA network.