Barbara Buono: A commitment to our urban communities

Today, Senator Buono met with seniors in Jersey City for a town hall to discuss urban concerns.

New Jersey’s urban communities were once known for being centers of industrial and economic wealth, and offering diversity in culture and character.

But today residents of Jersey City, Elizabeth, Camden, and other New Jersey cities have to deal with staggering unemployment, failing schools, and tragic gun violence.

Unfortunately, Gov. Chris Christie has turned his back on our urban communities.

Instead of investing in students, Christie cut nearly $1 billion in funding for education during his first year in office. In contrast, as governor, Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Barbara Buono will fully fund public schools.

Hardworking men and women in our cities must juggle multiple jobs because New Jersey’s minimum wage of $7.25 does not nearly support the cost of living in this state. Sen. Buono voted to increase the minimum wage and tie it to a cost of living increase. Christie vetoed the legislation.

To alleviate unemployment, Buono plans to give tax incentives to small women- and minority-owned businesses in areas of chronically high unemployment, which will encourage job creation. She also has a three-pronged plan to reduce gun violence and make urban neighborhoods safe for families.

Christie ignored the needs of urban communities during his first term as governor, but Buono will advocate for them.

You can read more about Barbara Buono's plan for New Jersey's urban communities here.