Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Hoboken Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla, Bridgeton Mayor Albert Kelly, Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, and New Jersey residents whose lives remain affected by non-violent cannabis convictions will hold a press conference to call for complete expungements of such convictions on Wednesday, January 30, at 11 a.m., in the City Hall Press Room, located at 920 Broad Street.
The coalition of mayors is calling upon the State Legislature to pass bills that will expunge all misdemeanor convictions for possession of cannabis and review all felony offenses for downgrade and expungement.
The residents will discuss how these non-violent convictions – even years after ending their jail, probation, and parole terms – have left them unable to gain the jobs, licenses, loans, and mortgages needed to escape poverty and personal shame. They ask that their convictions be expunged to enable them to get on with their lives.
Joining the residents and mayors will be the following dignitaries:
- Michael J. Venezia, Mayor, Bloomfield Township
- TimMcDonough, Mayor of Hope Township and President of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors
- Ronald Rice, Senator, New Jersey State Legislature
