HAMMONTON BLOG

The Hammonton Democratic Club has announced the formation of seven non-partisan Community Policy Committees. These committees are intended to formulate policies based on the ideas of citizens. In discussing the purpose of the policy committees, Club President Sam Mento stated,

This is major step in the growth of the Hammonton Democratic Party. In addition to being a political organization, we also are a policy organization. We are institutionalizing the idea that we are not just here to offer candidates but also to offer solutions. Our intent is for any citizen of Hammonton regardless of affiliation to serve on a committee of interest.

Council Candidate Anthony Falcone added,

These committees will discuss ideas, turn them into sustainable policy and present them to Town Council for adoption. The areas of focus were chosen because they are not formally being discussed by Town Council. These committees will compliment rather than compete with the Mayors committees.

The Community Policy Committees will focus on the following areas and constituencies:

• Job Creation and Economic Development:

According to a recent issue of NJ Magazine, Hammonton suffers from 7.2% unemployment, higher than neighboring areas. We applaud the efforts of recent administrations to lure companies to Hammonton. However, even great efforts such as NJ Manufacturing take several years. They also do not guarantee that Hammontonians will be the recipients of these jobs.

Therefore, the Town Council must ensure that there is a plan in place to attract multiple companies to Hammonton. The Council also must ensure that our local workforce has the skills and training to benefit from any job opportunities. The Job Creation Committee will focus on regulations, taxation, transportation and worker training as it develops a plan to make Hammonton the destination of choice for potential employers.

• Senior Citizens:

Hammonton has a robust and active community of senior citizens. The needs of our seniors should be at the forefront of every decision that the Council makes from the location of the Senior Center to the potential elimination of some curbside trash pick-up. The Council should develop a plan to ensure that seniors in our community are not vulnerable to any heat waves. The Senior Citizen committee will develop policy to enhance the debate and assist with planning.

• Veterans

Hammonton should be proud of its citizens long history of service to this nation and our very active Tri-Vets Association. Veterans are the reason we have so much opportunity in this great country and therefore, we have an obligation to ensure that they have the support that they need.

Hammonton should provide assistance for Veterans transitioning to the civilian workforce. We must make every effort that every former soldier in our community has the training and opportunity to find a job in Hammonton. New Jersey just deployed the largest number of National Guard soldiers since World War II. Such deployments do not just affect the soldiers but their families as well. Hammonton should establish a family support network for the loved ones of deployed soldiers from our community. These are initiatives the Veterans committee will explore.

• Young People

Often times, policy involving young people means merely giving them something to do. While this is important, Hammonton must address a far more serious problem involving our young people. Many of our young people do not return to the Town after graduating from college. Young Peoples Policy Committee will help develop solutions to this problem.

• Poverty Outreach

If we as a community are to be judged on how we treat the least of our brethren, then the time for action is now. Hammonton has a homeless problem and our local churches have started to address the issue through the formation of Hammonton Helps. The Poverty Outreach committee will ensure that policies exist at the local level to facilitate the efforts of Hammonton Helps.

• Citizens with Special Needs

Every citizen has something to offer this Town. We need only ensure that they have the opportunity to contribute. This is the guiding idea behind the Special Needs Citizens Committee. This Committee will explore such ideas as a partnership with ARC, an organization dedicated to helping special needs individuals find meaningful work. The Town should sponsor forums to display the artistic and athletic accomplishments of its special needs citizens.

• Civic Affairs

Despite our moniker as the Italian American Capital of the United States, Hammonton is a truly diverse community. The Civic Affairs committee will have the task of developing policies to ensure that this diversity unites as a community rather than divides us.

Commenting on the composition of the committees, Council Candidate Jim MacLane said,

The Hammonton Democrats are interested in offering tri-partisan leadership on the issues that Hammonton faces. So we want to emphasize that these committees are non-partisan and open to any interested person. No political party has a monopoly on good ideas. We have heard some great ideas come forward, even from our fellow candidates.

One candidate talked about the importance of helping the homeless in the Town. We hope our Poverty Outreach Committee can help address this issue. Another candidate talked about the forgotten Senior Discount card. This is an issue that the Senior Citizen committee should address so that the Senior Discount card does not just make an appearance prior to elections. A third candidate mentioned the need for better lighting at the train station. Since it affects workers who commute, the Job Creation committee should set to work and perhaps have a solution ready this year. Ultimately, we hope concerned citizens will put aside partisan differences, answer this call to serve the community and join these policy committees.

Candidate Michael Perrotta discussed the long-term prospects of the Community Policy committees,

As for the future, should the good citizens of Hammonton elect us to Town Council, we will work to integrate these policy committees into currently existing Town Committees or formalize their status as part of the Town government. The important point is that the Town government encourages citizen-based policy.

If anyone is interested in joining a policy committee, contact the Hammonton Democrats at info@hammontondems.org or attend a Democratic meeting held the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm at the Hammonton Library.