NJTA Historical Overview
Formerly The Silver Brigade, NJTA evolved from a group of concerned
citizens who came together initially in 2000 to formally oppose the
out of control property tax increases rampant throughout the State of
New Jersey. Since 2004, the organization has expanded on the original
mission, now taking a very aggressive role in addressing the overall
tax issue and the fiscal irresponsibility and mismanagement that has
historically plagued our State.
NJTA Goals, Activities and Accomplishments to Date
Overview
of Silver Brigade Goals/Accomplishments
In
early 2004, as part of the group’s reorganization process, The Silver
Brigade formalized its meeting schedules, created formal meeting
agendas and established and identified three specific annual goals for
the organization.
The
first year’s (2004) goals were:
1)
To formulate The
Silver Brigade Legislation Bill Proposal to address the property tax
issue and submit it to the State Legislature along with bi-partisan
sponsorship;
2)
Define and raise the
level of citizen awareness of the key issues involved in property tax
reform; and
3)
Increase The Silver
Brigade membership throughout the state.
Accomplishments:
-
#1 was accomplished from
the perspective that the group formulated its formal 10-Point
Legislative Proposals Platform document and sent it out to the
bi-partisan political leadership. A hard copy was hand delivered to
the Senate President and then Acting Governor Codey’s West Orange
office.
-
#2 was accomplished by
garnering wide-spread media attention. Key political figures were
invited to speak including US Attorney Chris Christie, a Morris
County resident and former Freeholder. News 12 NJ, Star Ledger,
Bergen Record, Daily Record and various local publications began
on-going coverage of the group’s activities.
-
#3 also was accomplished
as the Silver Brigade closed out FY 2004 with 80 paid members -- up
from approx 35 at the beginning of the year.
2005’s goals:
1)
To meet with
Governor Codey to discuss the Silver Brigade’s mission and goals.
2)
Expand the group’s
presence via engagements with other similar-like groups dedicated to
property tax reform.
3)
To create a Silver
Brigade web-site
Accomplishments:
-
#1,
while the Governor avoided an actual face-to-face meeting, the group
did meet with his chief of staff both in West Orange and Trenton.
Additionally, the Governor sent a personal representative to speak
with The Silver Brigade membership; describing the administration’s
property tax stance at the time (Dec. 2005)
- #2,
was accomplished via a series of presentations made to:
Friends of St. Francis Home
in Denville,
Partnership for Property
Tax Reform in Paramus and
The Randolph, NJ Seniors
o
In addition, The
Silver Brigade held three Candidates’ Forums and drove attendance via
announcements to the State and regional press
-
Republican
Gubernatorial Candidates in June 2005 (6 of the 7 candidates)
-
Morris County
Assembly Candidates (we had 16 of the 20 candidates in
attendance)
-
Morris County
Freeholder Candidates (both candidates attended)
2006’s goals:
1)
To establish a
Trustee Committee Structure to better expand the organization’s
programs.
2)
To Host three
Statewide Citizens’ Tax Summits
3)
Continue to grow the
membership and spread the message across the state.
Accomplishments:
- #1,
The Silver Brigade established a special events committee headed by
two of its newest trustees. The events included a series of “Tea
Parties” and hospitality events that were dedicated to engaging and
partnering with similar-like organizations around the State and to
drive new membership.
- #2,
thus far the organization has held two of the targeted three
events.
-
The first Summit was held on May13, at the Morris County Cultural
Center where bi-partisan representatives from the NJ Senate and
Assembly, League of Municipalities, NJ Chamber of Commerce and
several Mayors convened to address the State’s out-of-control tax
situation.
-
The second regional event, held at the Randolph HS Auditorium,
included a Morris County mayor, council president, candidate for
county executive (former Bergen County Freeholder) and a former
council member from Gloucester Township (Camden County.)
-
The third event, originally planned for QTR4 06, has been
re-scheduled as part of 2007’s special events calendar.
- #3,
again the organization continued to expand its membership, which
included new members from Bergen, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Morris,
Middlesex and Camden Counties.
-
In addition, The Silver Brigade formed its first separate chapter
in Pequannock (northern most Morris County) and is now targeting
the creation of new chapters in Bergen, Warren, Monmouth and
Camden Counties.
-
Several trustees met with the bi-partisan NJ Legislative
leadership (Sen. Codey, Speaker Roberts, Sen. Lance and Asm.
DeCroce), as well as Governor Corzine to move the organization’s
10-Point Legislative Proposals Platform forward and have had it
formally endorsed by Parsippany and Rockaway Township Town
Councils.
-
The Silver Brigade has presented before a variety of local civic
groups, including:
Fox Hills, Adult
Community, Rockaway
Glen Rock Activities Club, Glen Rock
South Jersey Citizens for Property Tax Reform,
Cherry Hill
Bergen County Senior Citizens Coordinating
Council/Coalition for Tax Reform,
Paramus
-
In 2006, The Silver Brigade exhibited at the following State
events:
Bergen County Seniors’ Picnic (2,000
attendees)
Warren County Senior Expo (1200 attendees)
NJ League of Municipalities (Nov. 16 in
Atlantic City)
-
On November 2, the organization held its first formal “Tea Party”
event at a commercial tea room in Roxbury, NJ drawing attendees
from around Morris, Bergen and Passaic counties. That same
evening, the Silver Brigade hosted its2006 Morris County
Freeholder Candidates’ Forum at Randolph Middle School.
-
The Silver Brigade was featured in the NY Times, Star-Ledger,
Courier Post, Bergen Record, Asbury Park Press, Philadelphia
Inquirer, (along with a host of various local news publications in
Morris, Bergen, Sussex, Warren, Passaic and Camden counties)
WCBS-TV2, and on the National Taxpayers’ Union website.
-
Membership (paid) rose to just over 100 by year end and is
expected to approach 150+ with the additions of the Pequannock
Chapter.
As we
view 2007 as a watershed period for New Jersey tax reform (all 120
Legislature seats are up for election) our goals for this year take on
added significance.
2007’s
goals:
1) To upgrade the
organization’s image in order to better meet the new, expanded
mission. Change the name to address the perception that the
organization is a Morris County-based group of senior citizens
focusing exclusively on property tax reform
2) To design a new
website reflective of #1
3) To introduce a
series of educational initiatives designed to prepare NJ voters for
the upcoming election in November
4) To spread the
message across the state via a multi-media campaign
5) To continue to grow
the membership by creating additional regional chapters
Accomplishments:
- #1
was accomplished as of April 11, 2007
- #2
was accomplished as of May 21, 2007 with the launch of
www.njtaxes.org
- #3,
4 and 5 will be an on-going endeavor, as with past years, but thus
far:
-
On May 9, NJTA President Jerry Cantrell taped two media segments
for Comcast, CH 8, TV. The segments are scheduled to air in the
May/June time period.
-
On May 29th, several activists from Monmouth County
will host a meeting at the Middletown Public Library where
Cantrell will be the featured speaker. The intent of this meeting
will serve as the kick-off for the Monmouth County Chapter.
-
Although not scheduled yet, it is intended that 1-2 more like
events will be scheduled in the coming months, one in the northern
half of the state and the other in the southern half.
- A
state-wide Tax Summit will be scheduled in September similar to
those hosted in 2006.
-
Similarly, several (1-3) county legislative candidates’ forums
will be hosted around the state, one in Morris County, in
October/November. Assuming the formation of the Monmouth County
Chapter, one will be held there as well.
