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EDITORIAL Dec.16, 08
The Citizens Campaign, a nonprofit, nonpartisan volunteer force, is issuing a call to service to New Jerseyans looking for a realistic path into government participation.
On the surface, that sounds like one of those high-minded reform movements that ultimately crashes on the rocks of practical politics.
The call to service isn't just a plea for more civic involvement
punctuated with a handy brochure about which governing body to approach
with a problem. It's designed to walk interested parties through the
entire process, with the help of experts. Participants will be taught
how to effectively present proposals to elected officials, how to attack
specific concerns and, more broadly, how to start becoming part of the
system.
The group even maps out several different avenues to power, providing
instruction on how to function as citizen legislators promoting
solutions or to gain access to serve on appointed boards or local
party-level committees.
Pozycki emphasizes that the lessons provided focus on "hardball civics,"
with an eye on getting things done in the real world of New Jersey
politics rather than basic governmental theories on how things are
supposed to work. The group's overarching goal is to broaden government
responsibility to include more citizens involved in more meaningful
ways, to move closer to a true democracy.
It's a long path to truly reforming New Jersey government. But there are
smaller, meaningful steps along the way. And the message of the Citizens
Campaign is that yes, ordinary people can find a way to make a
difference. They just need the proper guidance.
So if you're dissatisfied with government and want to do something
besides complain and vote, call the Citizens Campaign at 732-548-9798 or
go to www.jointhecampaign.com <http://www.jointhecampaign.com>. It's a
start.
But this isn't your average disgruntled group trying to stir up the
populace. The Citizens Campaign is an extensive organization led by one
of the state's most well-known citizen advocates, Harry S. Pozycki, the
executive director. It is an offshoot of the Center for Civic
Responsibility, and most notably has helped spearhead the pay-to-play
reforms that have been profliferating ΓÇö in one form or another ΓÇö on all
levels of New Jersey government. The Citizens Campaign helped put
together the reform model that has been adopted or used as a starting
point by many governing bodies.
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Mayor Booker Teaches
Mayor Cory Booker Teaching our Class in Appointed Office Service to over 70 Newark residents January 2007. NJN filmed the class and it was made into a documentary called Newark Citizen Leadership Forum. Copies are available please contact the Citizens' Campaign.
Citizen Journalism Video
 Watch the Citizen Journalism Conference Panel Pictured from left to right Harry Pozycki, Citizens' Campaign Chair, M. Delli Carpini-Dean of the Annenberg School of Communication, Moderator, Dick Benfield- NYTimes Editor, Mike Shapiro-owner theAlternativepress.com, Ted Mann- Gannett NJ Digital Development Director.
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