Other Reasons to Vote
By Albert B. Kelly
If you’re reading this,
then chances are good that tomorrow is Election Day. Over the past several
weeks, I’ve encouraged our community and the greater Bridgeton area to make it
a priority to vote in this election cycle and in every election cycle to come.
That encouragement does
not come from a partisan position or viewpoint; it is an encouragement to all
citizens who are eligible to vote regardless of your chosen party or preferred
candidate. Of course anyone running for an elected position wants the support
of voters, but there’s more than just candidates to consider.
Along with candidates for
various offices (i.e., Mayor, City Council, Freeholder, Congress, etc.), there
are also two important ballot measures that will have an enormous impact on our
community and every voter has an opportunity to be heard these matters as well.
The first, or “Public
Question 1”, is a State constitutional amendment to change the New Jersey’s
bail bonding system. I can think of few issues more important than bail reform
in light of the fact that roughly 40% of people in jail (not prison) throughout
New Jersey are behind bars simply because they cannot afford to pay bail amounts
for relatively minor offenses.
Understand that we’re not
talking about those charged with violent crimes or those considered flight
risks, judges will keep them behind bars; but we’re talking about the thousands
of individuals around the State who languish in our jails not because they pose
a risk to the community, but because they couldn’t scrap together the money to
post bail for these minor infractions.
The end result is that
these individuals lose jobs, apartments and most everything else that anchors
them to a stable productive life. Voting “yes” on this measure is to my way of
thinking, a foundational step in starting to break the cycle of poverty and
incarceration that trap so many low and moderate income people.
My point is that even if
you don’t support a specific candidate, you should be heard on this issue as it
impacts many families in our community and region.
The second question or
“Public Question 2” is also a constitutional amendment that provides for an
ongoing source of revenue to fund open space, farmland preservation and
historic preservation. For our community and our region, funding these areas is
critical which is why I’m a “yes” on this question as well.
For one thing, we’ve
benefitted enormously from available historic preservation funding and it has
allowed us to complete several historic preservation projects over the years;
including studies and capital projects like the Sheppard House, the 1816
Cumberland National Bank, Nail House, and Ferracute to name just a few.
Possessing the State’s
largest historic district comes with the challenges of investing in that
district and enhancing and preserving our unique historic assets. We’ve enjoyed
a strong partnership with the State Historic Preservation Office and the State
Historic Trust, but they need resources to do the work that only they can do
and this measure would provide those resources.
With regard to farmland
preservation and open space, one of the unique features of our South Jersey
Region are the farms and the open spaces that once gone, can never be
reclaimed. The environment around us, the beautiful land that’s part of the
rhythm of our lives is a priceless asset that our neighbors up north don’t always
appreciate. Yet it is part of what makes our state diverse.
The fact that both these
questions are amendments to the constitution is significant because it means
that once enacted, they are not easily cut or changed at the whim of some
future politician looking to plug a budget hole at the expense of preservation
or posturing on crime on the backs of poor citizens sitting in jails.
So even if the menu of
candidates leaves you cold, know that these public questions have a direct and
significant impact on our lives even if it’s not so obvious at first, which is
why my urging all eligible citizens to vote and be heard. It’s what tomorrow’s
all about.