 From the State House: Legislative Updates  The Preserve New Jersey Act: Preventing Raids of Taxpayer Money Houghtaling and Downey are proud sponsors of legislation that has passed both houses of the Legislature and now awaits Governor Christie's signature. The Preserve New Jersey Act would ensure that the voter-approved 2014 constitutional amendment, which dedicated a portion of the state's corporate business tax revenues to open space preservation, is protected. The fund has been siphoned-off to pay state salaries, but this bill would safeguard $146 million worth of funding over the next two years for preservation of open space, farmland, and historic structures. A-2565: Helping NJ STARS Scholarship Recipients in Times of Need A bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Downey and Assemblyman Houghtaling that will allow NJ STARS and NJ STARS II scholarship recipients who suffer a medical condition or death of a parent or spouse to retain their program eligibility gained unanimous support from the Assembly and now awaits further consideration from the Senate. "NJ STARS scholarship recipients have worked hard to get where they are and deserve every opportunity to succeed in college," said Downey, "With this bill, students will be supported and reassured during their time of need that their scholarship and place at the school will still be there when they return." More legislation sponsored by Houghtaling & Downey:
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 Houghtaling and Downey host a round table discussion between local elected officials and General Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto. |
 Assemblyman Houghtaling joins teachers from Freehold Borough, Red Bank, and more to advocate for fair school funding at an Assembly Budget Hearing. |
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Houghtaling & Downey in the News Houghtaling and Downey Launch Prom Project to Provide Dresses to Local Students at No Cost, The Journal "Monmouth County’s newest Assembly Members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey have launched a program to provide prom dresses to local high school students at no cost. The “Princess Prom Project” will strive to ensure that young ladies who would otherwise not be able to afford a prom dress can have a memorable and magical prom night, regardless of their financial situation." Bill to Keep Guns Away from Serious Criminal Offenders Clears General Assembly, PolitickerNJ "Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Tim Eustace, Shavonda Sumter, Joann Downey, Benjie Wimberly, Joe Danielsen, Angelica Jimenez and Andrew Zwicker to prohibit individuals convicted of carjacking, gang criminality, racketeering, making terroristic threats or the unlawful possession of a machine gun or handgun from purchasing or owning a firearm in New Jersey gained approval from the Assembly on Thursday." |
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The 11th District Princess Prom Project |
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Central Jersey Irish Festival |
Walk-a-Thon for Mary's Place by the Sea |
Freehold Memorial Day Parade
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In Your Community: Local News Two Who Left Shrewsbury a Better Place by John Burton, Two River Times"With the planting of a tree and placing of a bench plaque, the borough honored two citizens whose efforts contributed to the borough’s quality of life over the course of their lifetimes... Hermann A. Allen and John J. McGuire Jr. These two longtime borough residents, now both deceased, gave of themselves for many years to the town they called home." Neptune Crime Rate Down, by Don Stine, The Coaster "Neptune’s reportable crime rate, which includes both violent and property crimes, decreased by 12.5 percent last year, according to the department’s 2015 annual report... Community and school outreach programs and improved social media and public information programs have been initiated and the police department’s stand-alone website www.NeptunePolice.org is expected to be up and running by May 2." SALT School Graduates 110 in Hospitality Training Course, by Michelle Gladden, Asbury Park Sun "On Saturday morning, 110 students received their SALT school diplomas. Final interviews were done to fill the 60 open posts at the hotel – set to open May 26. Most positions will be full time in season but many are also year round positions, Bowd said. And while the graduates, at the time of graduation, had yet to learn whether they would become part of the SALT team, 90 percent of the new hires will be Asbury Park and Neptune residents, Bowd said. The jobs will range from housekeeping and front desk posts to bar, events, movie theatre ushers and line chefs." COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Midtown Urban Renaissance Corporation The Neptune-based Midtown Urban Renaissance Corporation (MURC) is a nonprofit that aims to empower residents and enhance their quality of life through neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing, safe streets, education, and employment opportunities. Their recent Better Block Party and Community Garden Clean Up (pictured above) brought together friends and neighbors and raised awareness of the Liberty Park Community Garden. Connect with MURC on Facebook and Twitter. |
   
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