Past Projects and Successes
Housing Advocacy
October 2023
Working with advocates, community members, and state and local leaders, LEAMNJ produced a video explaining the complexities and challenges of ensuring affordable housing across the state. Watch the whole video here, and download an accompanying discussion guide here.
January 2020
A “Lobby Day at the Capitol” event gathered advocates at the state house to visit with lawmakers in the halls, testify at legislative hearings, and educate the legislature and the faith community about the need for housing that all New Jersyans can afford.
LEAMNJ worked to expand Code Blue Laws, a measure was passed that requires a declaration of the Code Blue alert when the National Weather Service predicts temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Another measure authorizes certain health care and social service resources to be made available during Code Blue alerts.
Employment Advocacy
October 2020
COVID-19 posed challenges, but we were able to find effective socially distant alternatives for many of our advocacy strategies! Along with our coalition partners, we advocated for emergency protections for workers through several on-line meetings with the Governor’s staff.
On October 28, 2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order #192, which mandated new health and safety protocols to protect New Jersey's workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 2019
LEAMNJ focused on education and awareness by allying with organized labor to hold small rallies all over the state, bringing attention to the many different manifestations of wage theft and how many people are affected. Particular effort was made towards educating New Jersey's legislators on this often unrecognized issue.
We advocated for the enhancement of enforcement of New Jersey’s wage and hour laws by holding employers accountable for unpaid wages, benefits, or overtime as required by law through increased damages and fines, which make victims of wage theft eligible to receive both the wages owed and liquidated damages of 200 percent of wages owed.
July 2019
In 2019, LEAMNJ collaborated with female legislators to hold a legislative day at the Capitol where hundreds of advocates came to talk to law makers about paid sick leave, gender pay equity, and family leave legislation.
This event helped to get equal pay legislation signed into law that will prevent employers from asking about wage and salary history of workers to combat this discriminatory practice and promote equal pay and gender equity within the workforce. This is one more step forward for women who continue to be underpaid and undervalued in the workplace.
Criminal Justice Advocacy
October 2020
Along with phone calls and zoom meetings with legislators and the Governor's office, LEAMNJ worked with coalition partners to gather participants and make signs for a COVID-safe "Funeral Procession" to raise awareness of the alarmingly high rates of COVID cases in NJ prisons and jails.
LEAMNJ and our advocacy partners succeeded in getting Bill S2519 (the Emergency Release Program) signed into law. Under the bill, public health emergency credits are awarded to any adult inmate or juvenile who is within 365 days of their scheduled release. This measure helps protect elderly and other high-risk prisoners and stop the further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
December 2019
LEAMNJ worked closely with New Jersey's governor to address the fast moving legislation being developed around prison safety. Particular attention was devoted to the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women.
Legislation was signed into law to make NJ’s prisons and jails safer for those who are incarcerated, especially in women’s prisons. A law is now in place that requires reporting of inmate abuse by employees of State correctional facilities and establishes a reporting and investigation program and process. LEAMNJ also helped to pass legislation that limits cross gender strip searches in State correctional facilities. Another measure has become law that requires correctional police officers to receive 20 hours in-service training, including four hours in prevention of sexual misconduct, non-fraternization, and manipulation. However, there is still more work to be done to help change prison culture in New Jersey.
July 2019
In July of 2019, LEAMNJ worked to raise awareness of the inhumane treatment of New Jersey inmates by leading forums in both adult congregations and youth groups, and organizing groups to call, email, write letters, and put up banners in church yards calling for an end to solitary confinement. We also build a replica of a solitary confinement cell at a synod assembly so that congregants could see and experience this form of inhumane treatment for themselves.
LEAMNJ worked together with many other groups to pass a law restricting the use of isolated confinement unless there is reasonable cause to believe that the inmate or others would be at substantial risk of serious harm. The law also prohibits isolated confinement for vulnerable populations — those younger than 21 and older than 65 and those who are LGBTQ, are pregnant, or with disabilities — but does allow it in rare, specified circumstances. The new law requires state prisons and county jails to screen inmates for mental illness before and during isolated confinement and collect and report data on the use of such confinement.