Dear Mayor,

The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) and other groups who fear a citizens’ convention for property tax reform have launched a last ditch effort to deny the people of New Jersey the chance to free themselves from our State’s chronic over dependence on regressive, unfair and excessive property taxes. These opponents of a property tax reform convention want to deny New Jersey citizens the opportunity to voice their will on this question. They hope to convince Legislators to let this historic opportunity slip away. We cannot let them succeed.

Yesterday, in Trenton, some of these groups, led by the NJEA, held a press conference at which they proposed a “Special Session of the Legislature” AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO a citizens’ convention for property tax reform. They say that only such a special session could deliver property tax reform “ NOW.”

We agree with them on this much: the people of New Jersey DO need property tax reform NOW. In fact, they have needed it for decades. The Legislature has NOT responded. There is nothing that the Legislature could do in a “Special Session,” that it couldn’t have done two, or ten or twenty years ago IN A REGULAR SESSION. If it hasn’t happened yet, why would anybody think that’s it going to happen NOW in a special session?

Still, we do not oppose a special legislative session for property tax reform. We would welcome that. But don’t let anybody tell you that is the surest route to true reform. And don’t let anybody tell you that movement towards a property tax convention precludes the possibility of Legislative progress.

We reject the argument that the Legislature has to act on EITHER a special session OR a citizens’ convention. Legislative progress on a special convention bill does not preclude the possibility of legislative progress on property tax reform, through either the Legislature’s regular course of business or through a special session. Passage of a convention bill would merely set a time limit. The Legislature will have until Election Day 2005 to convince THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY that they do not need a special convention to get true property tax reform. If the Legislature solves the problem, there will be no need for a special convention. If they do not, then there must be a convention.

The NJEA said, yesterday, that “a Constitutional Convention would be a risky, expensive and slow process.” We’ve been waiting for the Legislature to give us reform for decades, so we just have to ask, “Does anybody still believe that the Legislative process is NOT risky, expensive and slow?” And before the Convention ever occurs, THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY, not any special interest group, would have the right to decide whether it is worth the risk, worth the expense, and worth the time.

We believe that, if given the chance, THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY are capable of deciding whether they need a special convention for property tax reform, or whether they trust the Legislature to deliver property tax reform “ NOW ” (or at least soon).

The NJEA intends to spend $300,000 over the next two weeks for broadcast advertising to kill the citizens’ tax reform convention. If you want to help us to answer them, please visit our new “ DO YOU WANT TO BE AN ACTIVE SUPPORTER?” and “DO YOU WANT TO DO MORE?” pages under the “Constitutional Convention” heading at our website www.njslom.com.

The people of New Jersey expect the Senate and General Assembly to act on a property tax convention bill this year. They need nothing more than that. They deserve nothing less.

If you need any additional information on this issue, or if you have any questions or suggestions, please call Jon Moran at 609-695-3481, ext. 21.

Thank you.