City Belt

WE NEED MANDATORY SENSITIVITY TRAINING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ShapTalk: Guest Commentary
By Michael M. Shapiro

This past February, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that school systems are responsible for stopping bias-based harassment and found in favor of a former student who had been incessantly harassed because of his sexual preference while attending the Toms River Regional School District. A school district may now be held liable if it is notified of a “hostile educational environment” and does not take reasonable action to eradicate it.

While New Jersey has one of the toughest anti-discrimination laws in the Country, enforcement of the law is weak, particularly in public schools. The New Jersey Supreme Court’s recent decision should be viewed as a catalyst for change in its public schools. To avoid adverse court decisions and to create an educational environment free of bias-based harassment, schools should take an additional step: Every school district in the state should be required to provide mandatory sensitivity training to all students, faculty and staff.

JERSEY: GOOD ENOUGH TO WRITE ABOUT

...But apparently not good enough to speak in.

So, I direct your attention to a book about Jersey ("an anthology of essays by some of New Jersey's best young writers"), having what could only be called a "book release party/reading/thing" in the East Village. It's things like this that perpetuate the idea of Jersey as Novelty. What a shame.

But this points to a larger issue as well. Where would these hip-lit types had this event in Jersey? Symposia? Imagine Atrium? 58? 001? Maxwell's? Grace Church? Kim's?

But just because the spaces in HudCo are few and far between doesn't excuse this, in my eyes. And while none of the few venues I rattled off are perfect fits, many would have been a great place to host the hip-lit crowd. Did they even look into it? Because if they had, they likely would have found *something* that would have worked. After all, if Jersey truly "occupies a unique place in our national consciousness," wouldn't the best way to celebrate that be to party on this side of the Hudson, regardless of Manhattan's "ease of use"?

Perhaps I'm just overreacting at this point, but shouldn't we be just as pissed at things like this as the nose-look-downers across the river get when a Jersey band, suburban kid, or whatever says they're from NYC?

-JW

NEW JERSEY'S POLS: BACKING THE WRONG PRESIDENTIAL HORSES?

ShapTalk: Guest Commentary
By Michael M. Shapiro

Officials of both political parties should have learned a lesson from 2004 when key Democratic politicians, including Gov. Jim McGreevey, jumped on board with Gov.Howard Dean, only to see Dean implode soon thereafter, leaving them with little influence over Sen. John Kerry, the eventual Democratic nominee. Apparently, those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it. Approximately one month ago, a long line of Republican officials publicly announced their support for Rudy Guliani for president. Recently, a significant contingent of Democratic officials, including Gov. Corzine, publicly backed Sen. Hillary Clinton for President. Both groups of elected officials will find themselves on the outside looking in should the political winds afoot blow in an unexpected but likely direction.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY & WOMEN IN POLITICS

ShapTalk: Guest Commentary
By Michael M. Shapiro

Fifty years ago, women would typically vote for the candidates their husbands voted for or would not vote at all. Times have thankfully changed and women now have a significant role in campaigns and elections. Whether it be the "soccer moms" of the 90s or the "security moms" post-9/11, the role of women in politics has taken on greater importance, especially in the last decade. As a significant voting block, women have become critical to the election hopes of any politician. However, the number of women serving in elected office continues to be dwarfed by the number of men who serve. In New Jersey, on the Republican side of the aisle, something is being done to address this problem: the Christine Todd Whitman Excellence in Public Service Series. Unfortunately, the Democratic Party currently has no comparable program.

A NEW DAY FOR NJ POLITICS?

ShapTalk: Guest Commentary
By Michael M. Shapiro

The New Jersey State Senate is composed of forty individuals who serve part-time. The Senate currently houses 22 Democrats and 18 Republicans. In the past few weeks, 11 senators have announced that they will not seek re-election; others may soon follow. Interestingly, eight of the ten Senators who are not seeking re-election are Republicans: Martha Bark, Leonard Connors, Bill Gormley, Walter Kavanaugh, Robert Littell, Robert Martin, Henry McNamara, and Joseph Palaia. The three Democrats are: Wayne Bryant, Joseph Doria and Bernard Kenny.

STEWPOT: THE AKON PROBLEM

By Emma Pollin

Editors' note: Talk about timing. The very day Ms. Pollin turned in this column, heavily based on Akon, the Christopher Columbus Drive locale of his now-deceased manager's label Block Royal Entertainment was raided. The Jersey City Police said they seized 700 grams of cocaine and crack, $30,000, four handguns, hollow-point ammunition, four vehicles, and a bulletproof vest.

The problem is this: When I hear the mellifluous voice of Akon, I act irrationally. “Smack That” comes on the radio and basic decency -- never mind political correctness -- demands that I change the station. But I do not. I reach for the dial and, veering from my good intentions, I turn it up. I then proceed to roll down the car windows to air my apparent self-loathing for all the world.

Nor is the problem limited to Akon tracks. I also crank up Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode,” in which the shorthand for woman is “somethin’ to poke on.” I join my sisters in shame singing “Got Your Money” by Ol’ Dirty Bastard. ODB exhorts us to give him his money and we, in unison and all too eagerly, acquiesce. And I can’t seem to stay off the dance floor when “Ain’t No Fun” comes on. This Death Row ditty, with its deceptively upbeat bassline, irresistibly melodic synth, and sing-along hook, is in the great “posse cut” tradition; each rapper gets one verse to elaborate on the theme of, in this case, hoes. The not-fun situation of course occurs “if the homies can’t have none” of the young lady the narrator is already enjoying.

Even way back in the eighth grade, I shuddered when my dad asked me what my favorite song was. I answered bravely and honestly, if not quite proudly.

“Rump Shaker?”

FOUR FUCKING YEARS

As long as we're on the topic of numbers:

At least 3,210 Americans dead
Approximately 650,000 Iraqis dead
750 detainees at Guantanamo, aged 10 to 80

What can we do?

Work to make sure this is the last year of the war continues. This week the Senate Appropriations Committee will write the Senate version of the 2007 Supplemental War Appropriations bill. Our very own Sen. Frank Lautenberg is a member of this committee.

Contact Sen. Lautenberg and urge him to include in the bill a withdrawl of troops and a prohibition on attacking Iran without Congressional approval.

TO LEASE OR SELL STATE ASSETS REQUIRES THOROUGH INVESTIGATION

ShapTalk: Guest Commentary
By Michael M. Shapiro

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Recently, Gov. Jon Corzine proposed selling or leasing key assets of the State including the New Jersey Turnpike. The governor believes the sale or lease of such assets will provide billions in revenue that can be used for a variety of fiscally responsible measures including paying down the state’s debt. However, given the proclivity of politicians in New Jersey to spend every penny they can, it is doubtful that the governor’s plans for the money would be championed by members of the state legislature. In addition, the sale or lease of state assets may have negative consequences for New Jersey residents, including but not limited to, higher fees for use of those assets, improper maintenance and delayed repairs to maximize profits, and inappropriate or incompetent management of those assets.

MEANINGFUL REFORM MAY NOT ARRIVE IN NEW JERSEY ANY TIME SOON

Here are three examples that illustrate why
ShapTalk: Guest Commentary
By Michael M. Shapiro

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The governor works hard to create a fiscally responsible budget. He calls for legislative support for its passage. Many of the legislators whom the governor needs to vote for the budget make demands that "Christmas tree" items be added to secure their vote. A few hundred are included so that the budget will pass. As a result, it passes but with hundreds of millions of dollars in additional unnecessary spending, upending the governor's fiscally responsible good work.

The residents of New Jersey desire property tax reform -- and committees in the legislature are created to tackle the issue. Committees actually develop some interesting concepts that could help alleviate the property tax squeeze in New Jersey. These ideas are gutted by the legislature but property taxes are reduced through a spending gimmick that provides residents with a thousand or two off their property taxes, but with no meaningful permanent reform.

Some legislators propose a ban on dual office holding. Others publicly support the idea as long as all incumbent officials are grandfathered. After weeks of haggling, an agreement is reached. A last minute discrepancy between the Senate and Assembly versions of the proposal stalls a ban on dual office holding for the foreseeable future. Even if the ban is eventually enacted, current office holders will likely still be grandfathered. Since incumbents win re-election over 90 percent of the time, it seems that dual office holding will remain with us for decades.

INSIDE GOV. CORZINE'S BUDGET PROPOSAL

Guest Viewpoint
By Jon Shure

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Imagine your doctor saying you’re very sick. You need big changes in the way you live and serious medical procedures or you might not make it.

After hearing some potential courses of treatment outlined, you absorb the news and say, “OK doc, what’s next?”

And your physician replies, “I’ll get back to you.”

Governor Corzine’s budget address was a little like that.