South Jersey Forum on Regional Opportunity, Sustainability and Economic Growth

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Congressman Frank LoBiondo: Congressman LoBiondo is a member of the United States House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  First elected to Congress in 1995, he also serves as Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee. 

David Rusk: Mr. Rusk, founding president of Building One America, combines strong analytical skills with practical political experience. He is a former federal Labor Department official, state legislator, and mayor of Albuquerque. Now a consultant on regional policy, Rusk has worked in over 120 US communities as well as in Canada, England, Germany, South Africa, and the Netherlands. His writings have been endorsed by the Government Finance Review and the Congressional Quarterly as must reads for all practicing local government officials.

SPONSORS

Click here for sponsorship information.

ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS AND/OR PARTICIPANTS

Freeholder Alex Marino (Atlantic County; Assistant to the Provost, Stockton College)

Freeholder Will Pauls (Atlantic County; President of South Jersey Building Trades)

Freeholder Earnest Coursey (Atlantic County)

Mayor Stephen DiDonato (Hammonton)

Mayor Brian Levine (Franklin Township)

Committeeman Rodney Guishard (Hamilton Township)

Rob Boyce (Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters)

Robert McDevitt (UNITE-HERE Local 54; South Jersey Transportation Authority)

Daniel O’Connell (Sheetmetal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers Union)

Jerome Page (Pleasantville Board of Education)

Jamie Moscony (Atlantic County Institute of Technology)

Rev. John Scotland (Community Presbyterian Church, Brigantine)

Bishop John Gandy (Abundant Life Worship Center Church, Egg Harbor City)

Rev. Reggie Johnson (Grace Temple Baptist Church, Lawnside)

Rev. Dr. Robert Hargrove (Christ Care Unit Missionary Baptist Church, Sicklerville)

Rabbi Gordon Geller (Temple Emeth Shalom, Margate)

Rev. James Dunkins (Shiloh Baptist Church, Vineland/Port Norris)

President Anthony Capaccio, Laborers Local 172

Rev. Albert Morgan (Union Baptist Temple, Bridgeton)

Rev. David Mallory (First Baptist Church, Richland)

Rev. Jeanie Manson (Murmuration Ministries, Atlantic County)

Fr. Nicholas Dudo (Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Galloway)

Fr. Perry Cherubini (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Absecon)

Rev. David Delaney (Central United Methodist Church, Linwood)

Rev. Clabon Bogan (First Baptist Church of Jericho, Deptford)

Rev. Dr. A. B. Frazier (Second Baptist Church, Paulsboro)

Rev. Dennis Thompson (In His Image Evangelical Ministries, Bridgeton)

Bob LaMastro (Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit, Mullica Hill)

James Watson (Cumberland County Improvement Authority)

Lindsay Patterson (United Steel Workers Local 404)

Councilwoman Hazel Mueller (Egg Harbor City)

EVENT BACKGROUND

Many older working- and middle-class communities in South Jersey are struggling due to the loss of manufacturing jobs, the decline of the casino industry, rising property taxes, and a slow recovery from the great recession and Hurricane Sandy.  These communities also face crumbling infrastructure, Main Street vacancies and abandonment, and increasing poverty in their schools.

For decades, federal and state policies have neglected South Jersey communities, and have promoted new suburban development at the expense of established communities.  The forum will begin to identify comprehensive solutions and build bipartisan support for meaningful action to stabilize and support inclusive communities and promote sustainable, economically competitive regions. 

TOPICS

TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL AMERICANS – A broadly-supported national transportation agenda has yet to be realized in part because of ideological divides that pit roads against transit, and urban against suburban.  Americans and American industries use and need all modes of transportation. As Congress considers reauthorization of the federal transportation bill, the forum will explore opportunities for a comprehensive approach to transportation investments to promote sustainability, reduce social disparities, and drive regional economic growth.

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE – The forum will highlight the largely hidden yet enormous pressures – fiscal, physical, and regulatory – on municipalities and residents to maintain and upgrade waste and storm water systems and explore opportunities to promote jobs and economic growth, social equity and environmental sustainability through investments in water infrastructure.

SCHOOLS AND HOUSING – Regional poverty is growing in south Jersey, and poverty is growing fastest in the most established and diverse communities – including suburbs.  This is contributing to widening social disparities and neighborhood and school decline. The forum will present best practices and strategies for housing and school policies that promote social mobility and regional stability.

Registration opens at 8:30 AM.