Posts filed under Voting

Talk's Over. VOTE!

Written by Ethan B. Ellis.

Everybody’s made up their mind by now. The only question left is how many of us will vote.

I’m 84 but I will. I just got out of the hospital this week but I will. I have cerebral palsy but I will. I use an electric wheelchair but I will. My hands no longer can mark my ballot so my 12 year-old son will mark it for me and I will.

Why?

Because I want to keep my health insurance despite my pre-existing condition, because I want to avoid a having a limit put on how much health care my insurance will pay for during my lifetime.

Because I want my wife and son to be able to pay for Social Security and get it like I have.

Because I want them to have Medicare when they retire like I do.

Because I want them to have Medicaid if they need it.

Because I want my friends with disabilities to enjoy the rights I didn’t grow up with but helped win.

Because I want my son to to live in country where everyone is equal.

Because I want him to live in a country where rich people no longer pay politicians to make them richer and make poor people poorer.

Because I want him to live in a country where everyone gets the services they need regardless of what they cost.

Because I want him to live in a world where nobody goes hungry or thirsty and everyone breaths pure air and drinks clean water and no one is displaced or dies because of climate change.

Because I want our democracy back so his vote will count at least as much as mine .

I wasn’t born. yesterday. I know I won’t get these things just by voting this year but that’s the best tool available to me - and you - right now. After the election, we’ll have time to decide what we have to do next to win back our democracy and gain full equality but right now the vote is our best weapon. Let’s use it for ourselves and all who and what we hold dear.

See you at the polls.

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by this author, are the views of the author only. The views expressed in this article do not represent the views of the Alliance Center for Independence/REV UP New Jersey, its staff or board. ACI and REV UP NJ are non-partisan, not for profit 501 (c) (3) organizations, and do not endorse any candidate for political office or political view point.

Posted on November 1, 2018 by Brian Mazzarella and filed under Voting, Advocacy, Volunteer Blog.

PETITION: People with Disabilities Need Straws

The New Jersey Disability Community wholeheartedly opposes efforts by companies, cities, and states to ban single use plastic straws. These policies create barriers to independence, community integration, and daily living for people with disabilities, work counter to our community ideals of universal access, and place an unnecessary burden on people with disabilities to fight for the accommodations we need to live independently.

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Brian Mazzarella and filed under Voting, Advocacy.

Forum on Disability Issues with Candidates for US Senate

On September 14th, ACI and REV UP NJ hosted a US Senate Candidates Forum on disability issues at Middlesex County College. Approximately 85 people attended the event, which included participation of 5 independent candidates and a representative of Senator Menendez's reelection campaign. (Republican Senate candidate Bob Hugin did not participate in the event nor did his campaign send a surrogate). The candidates gave opening remarks and took questions from the audience on a variety of issues important to NJ's disability community. Thank you to all the candidates and Dawn Clarke from the League of Women Voters of NJ, who moderated the forum. Funding for the forum was provided by Disability Rights New Jersey through their Protection and Advocacy Voter Access (PAVA) program.

Visit the REV UP NJ Facebook page for details on other public forums hosted at various CILs throughout New Jersey.

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Brian Mazzarella and filed under Voting.

ACI and REV UP NJ to Host US Senate Candidates Forum on Friday, September 14th 2018

On September 14th, New Jersey residents with disabilities and their families will have an opportunity to meet the candidates for US Senate.

“Every midterm election is important and this year’s is no exception,” says Carole Tonks, Executive Director of the Alliance Center for Independence, a non-profit organization that assists people with disabilities in Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties and chief organizer of the forum. “The next congress will take up many issues, and this event is our attempt to ensure that the priorities of 56 million disabled people are sufficiently addressed.”

Posted on September 13, 2018 by Brian Mazzarella and filed under Voting, Press Release.

ACI and REV UP NJ Host Public Forum with US Congress District 6 Candidates

On August 27th, ACI and REV UP NJ hosted a public forum on disability issues with Congressional District 6 candidates. Incumbent Democrat Congressman, Frank Pallone, and his Republican challenger, Rich Pezzullo, discussed and responded to questions on topics including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Affordable Care Act, and the role of the Federal Government in assisting people with disabilities. The 6th Congressional District includes towns in Middlesex and Monmouth counties. "The event offered the perfect opportunity for our constituents to meet and hear the views of the candidates for US Congress," said Carole Tonks, ACI Executive Director.

This forum was made possible by a grant from Disability Rights New Jersey, through their Protection and Advocacy Voting Access (PAVA) fund. ACI and REV UP NJ will be hosting a US Senate Candidates Forum on September 14th at Middlesex County College. Visit our website for more details: adacil.org/upcoming-events/us-senate-candidate-forum

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Brian Mazzarella and filed under Voting.

ACI/REV UP NJ Host Congressional District #6 Candidates Forum on Monday, August 27th

On August 27th, residents with disabilities and their families will have an opportunity to meet the Democratic Party and Republican Party candidates for New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District. Representative Frank Pallone, Democrat and his Republican challenger, Rich Pezzullo also will discuss those issues that are important for people with disabilities and their supporters. The 6th Congressional District is made up of 32 municipalities in Middlesex and Monmonth counties.

Posted on August 23, 2018 by Brian Mazzarella and filed under Voting, Press Release.

ACI and REV UP NJ Kickoff National Disability Voter Registration Week 2018

On Monday, July 16th, REV UP NJ hosted the 3rd annual National Disability Voter Registration Week Kickoff at the State House Annex in Trenton. This event, attended by disability and voting rights organizations, disabled self-advocates, Midterm candidates, NJ legislators, and members of the community, celebrated the power of the disability vote while encouraging increased voter turnout.

Represented at this event were many disability and voting organizations including AAPD, NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities, the League of Women Voters, National Disability Institute, Division of Disability Services, NJ Citizen Action, Disability Rights New Jersey, and TCNJ Center for Complex and Sensory Disabilities.

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Brian Mazzarella and filed under Voting.