The Citizens Campaign gives you a tool kit so you can get results on issues you care about.  Fri. July 29, 2011 Issue 49 * Get Started  * Donate  * Visit TheCitizensCampaign.com    

The Columbia Journalism Review recognized The Citizens Campaign for its hyperlocal news leadership. They featured a story about The Citizens Campaign's award winning local news site, PatersonPress.com, and reported about the mission of the campaign to strengthen democracy by engaging citizens in journalism and supporting the growth of the hyperlocal news industry's hard news reporting on politics and government "The group believes that citizens who have more information about local government and politics will become more engaged in the political process. " Read the full story.

On July 14th, Gov. Christie unveiled the 2011 Best Practices Checklist for Municipal Efficiency, which identifies 50 best practice tools that municipalities must use to receive a percentage of state aid. We're excited to announce that several of The Citizens Campaign's "Ready to Adopt" ordinances were listed including Pay to Play Reform; Best Price Insurance Purchasing; Eliminating Benefits for part-time elected and appointed officials and municipal & school district shared service agreements for snow removal, field maintenance, and parking lot repaving; and Municipal Energy Audits. If you want to guarantee your town gets 100% of its money, then take a Citizen Legislator Class , and present one of these "Ready to Adopt" waste-cutting laws from our Tool Kit. Paterson resident Jesse McCaskill, pictured, took charge and presented the Best Price Insurance Purchasing proposal to the Paterson City Council, who are considering it for adoption. To get free coaching on how to pass these laws in your town or school district contact Heather at Heather@thecitizenscampaign.com or Lauren  at Lauren@thecitizenscampaign.com at (732) 548-9798.

A coaching session on how to become a Citizen Journalist was held recently for Newark residents. Aneil Mohammed, the Citizens Campaign's Central Jersey Coordinator, met with 12 Newark residents who will report the news on issues they care about, to inform and engage the community in what is going on.  The expert coaching was provided by Saul Qersdyn, a Roselle Park resident who took the Citizen Journalism Class and went on to create a very popular local news site called the Roselle Park News . He encouraged people to write because of the impact it has on the community's ability to hold government accountable. He also shared tips about gathering information and doing research. Editors of Newark's hyperlocal news organizations were also at the session, and said they would publish Citizen Journalist content. The editors were from the Newark South & West Ward Patch and the Newark Pulse. Take the Citizen Journalist Class now or request a coach to help you take the next step.

Perth Amboy, where the Jersey shore begins, is going green! Maria Garcia and Caroline Pozycki, Citizen Legislatorsfrom Perth Amboy, got a resolution adopted by the

Perth Amboy Waterfront photo by Miguel Almonte.

Perth Amboy City Council to participate in
Sustainable Jersey , a certification program that helps municipalities get on the fast track for grant funding for energy efficient "cost savings" projects, and other efforts to "go green." Now they are working on recruiting a Green Team. Green Teams are a volunteer network of community leaders who identify and implement sustainability certification. In Mount Laurel, Ed Cohen and Sandra Carleton successfully gained appointments to their Green Team.

The Citizens Campaign has formed a partnership with Sustainable Jersey to add political skills to this worthy environmental program. An expert coach helps citizen leaders succeed, and was used to get the results mentioned above. The Citizens Campaign will be offering free environmental empowerment conferences this fall with Sustainable Jersey. The Conferences will include an educational component on proposing sustainable initiatives, serving on Green Teams & other environmentally-focused bodies, and reporting about sustainable initiatives in your town's local news outlets.  The second half will be a Q&A coaching session with environmental policy experts. See events listings for more information.

Based on the huge interest Camden citizens showed in taking leadership roles in their City last April at the Camden Call to Service Summit, Mayor Dana Redd has announced she will put on the council agenda for next September a resolution to make the Camden Call to Service a City sponsored annual event that will invite Camden citizens to participate in leading Camden to a better future. Pictured is Mayor Redd speaking to over 300 Camden residents at the Camden Call to Service Summit last April. Photo by John M. Flores.