Crossroads NJ Conversations

Crossroads NJ Conversations is a four-part discussion series designed to provide a platform for elevating and addressing key issues shaping New Jersey’s future ahead of the 2025 gubernatorial election. Throughout the past three events, the series brought together community leaders, policy experts, and residents to foster informed debate and encourage active participation in advocating for a New Jersey we all deserve. If you missed the discussions, we invite you to watch the video recordings.

How we respond to today’s housing, land use, and education challenges will shape the quality of life in New Jersey for generations to come. Join us at the fourth and final event in partnership with the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, on Wednesday, October 15, at 6:00 p.m., for Crossroads NJ: The Future of Housing and Education in New Jersey. Together, we’ll explore strategies to expand educational access, promote smart development, and strengthen community resilience. The panel will feature Peggy Bailey of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Staci Berger of the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ, Dr. Jesselly De La Cruz, DSW, LCSW of the Latino Action Network Foundation, Adam M. Gordon, Esq. of the Fair Share Housing Center, and Robert Kim, Esq. of the Education Law Center.  

Attendance is free and open to all, but space is limited. Light refreshments will be served.

REGISTER HERE

Brandon McKoy, President of the Fund recently appeared on Think Tank with Steve Adubato to discuss some of the key priorities for New Jersey’s next governor, the importance of the State Census, and the role of local independent media.

New Jersey’s 2025 General Election is just around the corner on November 4—get ready to make your voice heard with helpful election and voter guides from the following groups:

• ACLU-NJ Election Guide
• Advocates for Children of NJ Election Guide
• AAPI-NJ Voter Guide
• LWVNJ Voting Guide
• NJ Monitor Voter Guide
• NJ Spotlight News: NJ Decides 2025
• Salvation and Social Justice Black Ballot 2025
• WHYY News NJ Voter Guide

Grantee News

Policy Updates

• Asian American & Pacific Islander New Jersey (AAPI-NJ): Following the August 8, 2025 fatal police shooting of Deborah Terrell in New Brunswick, AAPI-NJ, along with advocates from Salvation and Social Justice, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, and the ACLU of New Jersey, sent a letter to Attorney General Matt Platkin outlining their concerns and recommendations for how fatal police encounters should be investigated. Read more here…
• Education Law Center: In August, the Trump administration rescinded a 2015 federal law signed by former President Barack Obama that mandated school districts provide services to English language learners. Experts at the Education Law Center argue that the move will significantly burden states like New Jersey, which has nearly 100,000 English learners. Read more here…
• Fair Share Housing Center (FSHC): FSHC is requesting that the state Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program rejects Roxbury’s Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. The plan is a legally required 10-year roadmap (covering 2025-2035) that shows how the municipality will provide its share of affordable housing under New Jersey’s constitutional Mount Laurel obligations. FSHC claims Roxbury failed to do the required detailed land analysis and is essentially trying to dodge its legal responsibilities by committing to build only 12.5 affordable units instead of the required 499 units. Read more here…
• Lead-Free New Jersey (Lead-Free NJ): Acting Governor Tahesha Way signed into law A2929/S1034, which requires landlords to report information about the known or potential presence of lead in drinking water to tenants of residential units, requires public water systems to conduct a lead water test at the request of an occupant at no charge, and deters landlords from obstructing the replacement of lead pipes. This was made possible by collaborative efforts of the Lead-Free NJ collaborative, the Housing & Community Development Network of NJ, New Jersey Future, Isles, and Clean Water Action New Jersey. Read more here…
• League of Women Voters of NJ Education Fund: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is considering changes that would prevent nonprofits from assisting with voter registration during naturalization ceremonies. According to New Jersey Monitor, this change would affect the work of nonpartisan groups such as the LWVNJ, whose volunteers have historically helped register large numbers of new citizens at these events. Read more here… 
• Make the Road New Jersey: On September 5, the Passaic City Council unanimously approved a new rent control ordinance that lowers the annual rent increase cap from 6 percent to 3 percent. The law also eliminates vacancy decontrol, a clause that advocates say allows landlords to sharply raise rents when tenants move out. This decision follows efforts by Passaic residents and local housing groups such as Make the Road New Jersey. The ordinance went into effect on September 22, 2025. Read more here…

Leadership and Organizational Announcements

• New Jersey Spotlight News (NJ Spotlight News): On September 23, NJ Spotlight News, the nightly program airing on New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority (NJ PBS), announced that WNET will not renew its agreement to run NJ PBS beyond June 30, 2026. After June 2026, NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi will continue production and will air on THIRTEEN, New Jersey’s only other PBS licensed station. The decision comes after reductions in both state and federal funding for public broadcasting. Read more here… 
• The Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey (HCDNNJ): HCDNNJ launched its new 501(c)(4) organization, the Housing and Community Development Network Action Fund (HCDN Action Fund). Read more here…

Grantee Reports

• New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP): In its report “Freedom from Want: An Economic Guarantee for New Jersey’s Kids,” NJPP recommended strengthening the state’s existing family affordability programs and introducing a new initiative that would give $5,000 annually to families with Medicaid-eligible children as the most effective strategies to reduce child poverty. The organization also emphasized that child poverty has long-term negative effects on children’s health, development, education, and future earnings. Read more here…
• Fair Share Housing Center (FSHC): In partnership with the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ (HCDNNJ), FSHC co-published the Affordable Housing in New Jersey: Advocacy Toolkit. The toolkit is designed to help local officials, planners, developers, advocates, and residents better understand and engage in the implementation of the Mount Laurel Doctrine. Signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy, the doctrine requires municipalities to provide their fair share of affordable housing in their region. Read more here…