When Governor Corzine signs the bill, N.J. will be the first state in the land to repeal the death penalty legislatively. Nasty criminals face life without parole instead.
Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts and Assembly Speaker Pro-Tempore Wilfredo Caraballo are ready to do the right thing. The pair announced today -- at a press conference featuring Sister Helen Prejean, the anti-death penalty activist -- that they plan to push for a vote on a bill that would remove the death penalty from the statute books.
Roberts, in a press release, said the bipartisan bill sponsored by Caraballo (D-Essex) would go before the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Dec. 6 "so that it could be positioned for an Assembly floor vote on Dec. 13." The governor already is on record as supporting a repeal.
A similar measure, which also would commute the sentences of the eight men on death row to live in prison without parole -- has been approved by a Senate committee.
"Two leading corporations and the state have now found the Jersey Guys hateful speech too much to ignore any longer. Hopefully, more and more advertisers will reach the same conclusions as Dunkin' Donuts and realize that Carton and Rossi's brand of infantile antics are not deserving of their advertising dollars."
--Assemblyman Fred Caraballo
Surely you all remember the latest drivel to come through the airways via the Jersey Guys of 101.5. Just to recap, NJ's most infamous talk radio clowns decided it would be hilarious to have their listeners call in to report anyone they thought might be an illegal immigrant. Dubbed "La Cucha Gotcha," and scheduled to run through Cinco de Mayo, this was clearly a swipe at anyone one with a Latino name or accent.
Assemblyman Caraballo immediately responded to the assult with a campaign to urge the show's advertisers to take their business dollars elsewhere.
Dunkin Dunuts was the latest big contract to walk -- following AT+T and the State of NJ -- and taking their dollars with them. Dunkin Donuts' reason for pulling their ads was simple: the Jersey Guys' drivel simply "does not reflect the point of view of Dunkin' Donuts and our commitment to the Hispanic community."
Props to El Diario who broke this news earlier today. They deserved the scoop since it was their readers (namely Spanish speakers) who were being singled out for what? Their accent? Their last name?
Bigger props to Asm. Caraballo for siezing on this opportunity to take the Jersey Guys to task and for reminding big companies that good corporate citizenship means not subsidizing bigotry.
