NJBIZ Conversations: Tomas Varela

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Election season has arrived in New Jersey. Early voting began Oct. 28 and Election Day is Nov. 7. “I Voted” stickers are fluttering about like autumn leaves.

It’s a bit of an off year — 120 Senate and Assembly seats are being contested along with a variety of local offices. But these elections are important just the same. So information about the candidates is essential — citizens should make informed decisions about whom to vote for and why. If you’re interested in racial justice and economic equity issues, the New Jersey Black Empowerment Coalition has just what you need.

The group’s advocacy arm recently published its New Jersey Equitable Opportunity Scorecard, grading every member of the state Legislature on issues in seven areas: education, economics, housing, health care, criminal justice, environmental justice, and open and fair democracy. To compile the grades, the NJBEC examined action on a thousand pieces of legislation, committee votes, floor votes and sponsorships.

In this edition of NJBIZ Conversations, NJBEC founder and Executive Director Tomas Varela discusses the scorecard and the organization’s work on other economic issues.

To watch the interview, click on the image below.

To listen instead, click on the podcast below.