President's Message
May, 2007
Dear New Jersey Citizens,
I am pleased to announce that the Silver Brigade has recently changed
its name to the New Jersey Taxpayers’ Association (NJTA). We believe the
new name and expanded mission will enable us to reach out to a broader
base of members – young and old – in an effort to help achieve
meaningful tax reform for the citizens of our state.
As many of you are aware, The Silver Brigade came into existence in 2000
as an adjunct of the Denville Senior Citizens group. The founders,
Gloria Toohey, Walter Taylor and Mary DeCesare saw the need for a grass
roots effort aimed at local property tax relief and created the
organization around that focus. As a group of active, vocal citizens,
they set out to make their voices heard around the state – focusing on
property tax reform and making New Jersey a better place to live for its
senior citizens. Upon Gloria’s passing in 2002, Ruth Harris, then acting
vice-president assumed the leadership role and continued to fight for
fiscal change and positive property tax restraint.
However, given the fiscal crisis that our state now faces, we believe
the time is ripe for change. We believe that we will be able to better
represent the interests of all New Jersey citizens by transforming the
Silver Brigade’s image from a local, property tax relief senior group to
one of a broad based state-wide tax reform organization.
While the road has been long, we continue to raise the bar and the
promise for real, across-the-board tax reform. Our membership has
expanded to include citizens from Bergen, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth,
Morris, Passaic, Salem, Sussex, and Warren Counties and even one from
NYC who works in NJ!
To support the NJTA’s efforts, we have recently gone live with our new
website. Over the next couple of months, you will also learn about our
Candidates’ Report Card initiative. This project is being developed to
provide citizens around the state with objective, unbiased information
about a candidate’s voting records and positions as they relate to the
issue of tax reform. Our objective is to hold our leadership accountable
for their actions while at the same time clearly communicating that
politically-driven, short-term tax “relief” programs are unacceptable.
We are dedicated to engaging and working closely with the State
legislature and other vested political, social and economic stakeholders
who possess both the political courage and wherewithal to bring about
real and sustainable tax “reform” within our state.
As you can see, we are extremely aggressive and committed in our
efforts. But we can’t do it alone. We need your input and active
participation. Whether it’s maintaining contact with the membership,
taking on projects that support our goals and mission or expanding
membership by reaching out to your friends and neighbors, we must all
join together on this quest. Now is the time to stand up and say “enough
is enough”.
I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on how YOU can make a
difference. Indeed the only way political change comes about is through
evolution or revolution and the former isn’t working. So, in closing, I
urge you to join us in our War on Taxes in New Jersey. Base membership
is only $20 per person and I can assure you, it will be one of the best
investments you’ll ever make!
Sincerely;
Jerry Cantrell
President
New Jersey Taxpayers’ Association
