Assemblyman Jamel Holley is expressing concern about 5G safety.Credits: Office of Assemblyman Jamel Holley
TRENTON - Assemblyman Jamel Holley (D-20thDist.) is calling for the creation of a state commission to study the many unknown health effects of the next generation of wireless technologies, which are steadily expanding throughout New Jersey.
The wireless industry is engaged in the large scale deployment of 5G microwave antennas to dramatically enhance the nation’s broadband infrastructure. Such technology is welcomed, as it eliminates rural internet disparities, enables new forms of automation, and promotes advancements in telemedicine.
However, there are deep concerns about potential health effects within New Jersey communities, Assemblyman Holley said. 5G technology uses existing technology and new applications of microwave radiation to transmit large amounts of data. It requires closer proximity to network users, resulting in dense deployment of antennas near schools, residences, and businesses throughout New Jersey.
“My constituents have expressed some deep concerns about the potential health impacts of these antennas, especially in high-density communities like Elizabeth and Union Township,” Assemblyman Holley said. “We need to analyze the involuntary exposure of citizens to 5G technology, especially without their express knowledge or consent of the potential health impacts.”
Assemblyman Holley noted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has not yet conducted long-term testing of 5G technology, and has not updated its wireless radiation human exposure guidelines since 1996.
“Wireless industry leaders have admitted that safety tests have not yet been conducted to determine any possible adverse health effects from the constant exposure to higher frequency wireless radiation,” the assemblyman said. “Meanwhile, there’s a significant body of published, peer-reviewed, independent scientific studies that link exposure to wireless radiation with serious biological harm and increased risk of cancer, reproductive problems, and neurological impairments.”
Assemblyman Holley said the mounting research casts doubt on the theory that low-level exposure to radio-frequency microwave radiation is harmless. There are more than 250 medical and public health professionals who have signed a joint statement urging government officials to consider the latest science on microwave radiation and human health, especially the latest science concerning abnormal brain development in unborn children, Holley said.
“I am not taking a position on 5G until I have more information,” the assemblyman said. “My concern is the overall body of evidence concerning the potential health impacts of wireless radio wave radiation. It is inconclusive and lacking in high-quality research. We need further study and consideration to help shape appropriate regulatory policies that best protect New Jerseyans.”
Assemblyman Holley is calling for the “New Jersey Commission on 5G Health Effects,” which would study the environmental and health effects of 5G wireless technologies, with a focus on the potential health risks that these technologies pose to vulnerable populations.
The assemblyman suggests the commission comprise 11 members. That includes two members of the General Assembly, two members of the State Senate, one member of the cellphone and wireless technology industry, one member representing the business community, one member of the public with expertise in the biological effects of wireless radiation, the Attorney General (or his appointee), the Commissioner of Health (or her designee), one member of the State Medical Society, and one member representing Rutgers University who is knowledgeable about wireless radiation.
Bill to Institute Minority Recruitment, Establish Annual Reporting
To ensure law enforcement agencies in New Jersey reflect the diversity of the communities they serve, the Assembly Community Development and Affairs Committee cleared a measure Monday to require all law enforcement agencies in New Jersey to establish minority recruitment and selection programs.
The bill (A-2394) would further require annual reporting on recruitment, retention and promotion of officers providing information specific to age, gender, race and ethnicity. This information would be published in a yearly report and made available online by the Attorney General.
Sponsors of the bill, Assembly Democrats Benjie E. Wimberly (D-Bergen, Passaic), Gordon M. Johnson (D-Bergen) and Jamel C. Holley (D-Union), issued the following joint statement:
“The Black community in America is in pain and reeling in the wake of senseless police-perpetrated violence. A breakdown of trust between communities of color and police in America is evident.
“We must start with being intentional about the way our law enforcement agencies mirror the evolving racial diversity of the communities they protect and serve. Being more deliberate in hiring minorities will make our police departments more inclusive and ultimately translate into better relationships with communities.
“It all comes down to breaking cycles of bias. In building the mechanisms to tackle underrepresentation and keep agencies accountable to greater diversity, we have an opportunity to do just that.”
For Gwen Carr, seeing the nationwide protests over George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police feels like deja vu.
The 46-year-old Floyd’s s final words— “I can’t breath”— were the same as her own son, Eric Garner, who died after being wrestled to the ground in a chokehold by a white New York police officer in 2014, on suspicion of selling cigarettes. A grand jury voted to not indict the officer, inspiring protests in major cities across the country.
“It’s like deja vu all over again. But it’s something that’s necessary. The marches are to bring awareness, and once we bring awareness, now we have to see people stay on the forefront. We have to make America pay attention to us,” Carr said before giving a speech at a protest against police brutality in Roselle.
“I’m here today to commemorate all the stolen lives. There are so many stolen lives we don’t even know," she said.
Pressure on leaders for police reform must continue, Carr told a crowd of hundreds gathered at Warinanco Park. And she’s no stranger to fighting for change.
Protesters in Roselle rally against police brutality on Sunday, June 14, 2020.Natalie Paterson
After her son’s death, Carr began advocating for the “Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act" to make it a felony in New York for an officer to engage in a chokehold - except in situations where they are protecting their own life. Gov. Andrew Cuomo publicly signed the bill into law on Friday.
“It’s a step in the right direction. That’s why I stay active. That’s why I stay on top of what’s going on... A lot of the time, change comes slow,” said Carr, whose son is buried nearby in a Linden cemetery.
She now wants to see the same action in other states and on the federal level.
In New Jersey, Assemblyman Jamel Holley (D-20) said he and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly (D-35) are both sponsoring a series of bills being introduced in the coming weeks in the state legislature, including an anti-chokehold act similar to New York’s.
“In order for us to start breaking away at these barriers, legislative action is going to have to take place,” Holley said.
“I’m pleased to see (New Jersey is) following New York’s lead,” Carr said.
Yusuf Boriqua, of Elizabeth, holds signs at a protest against police brutality in Roselle on June 14, 2020.Natalie Paterson
Protesters carrying signs gathered at a field in the park Sunday, listening to a line-up of speakers for about an hour before honoring those killed by officers. Organizers read aloud the names of dozens of police brutality victims, and released a black balloon for each name.
One protester, Yusuf Boriqua, of Elizabeth, stood alongside others holding a sign reading “End racist policing" and wearing a mask with the words “I can’t breathe."
The 44-year-old said he moved to New Jersey about 26 years ago, and has faced racial profiling from police since he was younger and while growing up in the Bronx. He pointed to a scar on his eyelid, which he said is from being pistol-whipped by a police officer at 12-years-old.
“You become desensitized to it," he said. “You can’t escape it anywhere you go... When you walk down the street and a police car rides past you, you can’t look them in the eye because that gives them a reason to stop you. So you’re walking nervous. All you can do is keep walking and hope they don’t bother you.”
Carr said people shouldn’t become discouraged if change isn’t immediate.
None of the responding officers involved in Garner’s death were charged, and a grand jury declined to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who was filmed putting Garner in a chokehold. Pantaleo was fired from the department, but Carr is still calling on the other responding officers to be disciplined too.
“We have to stay on the battlefield," she said. "I’m still fighting for our grandchildren, I’m still fighting for the unborn, because they cannot keep killing our children. It does seem like deja vu, but we have to do this as many times as necessary.”
Rioting and looting in Minneapolis. Bill is joined by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and NJ Assemblyman Jamel Holley for a conversation about the death of George Floyd.
Jamel Holley is a Democrat representing New Jersey’s 20th Legislative District. He’s been an outspoken leader for his constituents since his term started in 2015. Although we don’t agree on every issue, Jamel is a thoughtful, smart and effective voice who can look at issues beyond partisan politics and cut to the core issue of how something is impacting people.
He was a champion as Newark struggled through the lead water crisis and now he’s got your back again fighting for transparency as the government pushes for contact-tracing. Jamel stands with us on pushing back against this infringement on privacy and liberty. He’s unafraid to oppose the leaders in his own party when it comes to standing up for his constituents. He understands that New Jersey has to get back to normal business and the idea of essentially untrained college kids using personal laptops to probe into your personal and medical history is unsettling at best.
Very few members of our legislature have the courage to shout from the rooftops when something is clearly misguided and potentially more harmful than the virus it allegedly is designed to fight. In a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by an approximately two to one, it’s important that Democrats start evaluating the leaders who are not acting in the best interest of the public. Where are the primary challenges to the bosses? From my perspective, it looks like Jamel Holley may be in a strong position to challenge Murphy in the Democratic primary in 2021.
He took on the incumbent Mayor in Roselle in the Democratic primary and despite being opposed by the ‘machine’, he won in June 2011. He went on to run unopposed and served as the youngest elected Mayor in the town’s history. Can he do it again, this time on a bigger stage? Time will tell. If you’re asking me I say, go get ‘em Jamel.
Assemblyman Holley Calls for Public Hearings About “Contact Tracing”
New Jersey Lawmaker Expresses Concern Regarding Personal Information Accessed by Corporations and Government; Calls for State Legislatures Across Country to Hold Hearings, As Well
TRENTON – May 11, 2020 – As state and federal leaders plan for the slow, steady reopening of New Jersey, “contact tracing” is a strategy that will likely be used to limit the spread of COVID-19.
But how would “contact tracing” be used and how does it affect personal privacy?
Those are questions from Assemblyman Jamel Holley (D-20th Dist.), vice chair of the Assembly Homeland Security and Domestic Preparedness Committee and member of the Assembly Health Committee, who is calling for in-person public hearings on the topic as soon as New Jersey lifts the ban on public gatherings.
“Contact tracing takes us to an entirely new level of invasiveness, in which we no longer have any control of who has information about us and what that information is being used for,” Holley said.
The problem is that such little information is known, as thousands of contact tracers would fan across the state, mapping the exposure risk between infected individuals and those who come in contact. Holley is concerns about a potential over reach; tracking people’s whereabouts could produce data ripe with potential abuse.
In many cases, contact tracing hinges on mobile applications, which require data from GPS or Bluetooth tracking, following a person’s movement and who they interact with. According to published reports, Apple and Google have paired up to provide software to public health authorities that they claim is sensitive to user privacy and can help automate the notification of people who may have been exposed to COVID-19.
That software relies on Bluetooth, in which public health authorities can make applications that exchange anonymous identifiers between users when they’re a few feet apart from one another. If one user is diagnosed with the virus and inputs it into the app, the other user’s phone will be notified that they came into contact with someone who tested positive. The public health authority that operates the app can then offer more guidance.
Holley said he appreciates any efforts to maintain privacy, but questioned what happens when different states use different applications. Moreover, once companies begin this nationwide roll-out, will they ever stop collecting this data?
“My concern is invasive surveillance,” Holley said. “When will it end? Before New Jerseyans and others across the country agree to an initiative that involves the release of their personal information, they need to know what they will be sacrificing. That is why I am calling for these public hearings. We are desperate for more information.”
I am expressing deep concerns about proposed legislation, A. 3910, designed to provide civil and criminal immunity to certain health care professionals and health care facilities during this public health emergency.
Under this bill, an individual or family affected by COVID-19 would not have the strong grounding to pursue possible legal malpractice action. I voted not to participate in the vote roll call Monday. This bill is inhumane.
At a time when state lawmakers should be providing resources to families, I’m disappointed that such legislation would be disguised as part of a public policy emergency. In the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic, it was reassured to me that controversial or highly debatable legislative bills would not be brought forth without proper discussion.
I’m dismayed that days after public discussion regarding how minorities are more affected by COVID-19 that the state Legislature would consider a bill that selectively strips the rights of individuals their right to pursue legal actions, if need be.
This fast-moving bill was introduced on Thursday, the day before Good Friday and amended in the Senate on Monday. The bill skipped both the Assembly and Senate Health and/or Judiciary committee review and appears to be on the board list for a vote today.
No public discussion. No public input.
I am hoping that Gov. Phil Murphy provides a conditional veto that strikes the immunity aspect, allowing families the options and legal right without legislative interference or interpretation. I'm recommending the governor support the remainder of the bill, which actually provides assistance to the ongoing efforts of this pandemic.
I believe we all can agree that at times, swift legislative actions must be necessary for various reasons. However, unjust, rushed legislation that removes the constitutional right of an individual(s) through legislation should have reasonable public hearings and input, even remotely, if needed.
The proposed legislation would be retroactive to March 2020 – requiring the need for further public debate about back dating a law.
As elected officials, it is with great hopes that we would want to provide thoughtful legislation to the public. But impacting the constitutional rights of the citizenry without its input hits all aspects of governmental failure.
In an effort to raise awareness about the 2020 Census, three Assembly Democrats sponsor resolutions that would encourage increased participation throughout the state.
Counties and municipalities would be urged to form Complete Count Committees upon passage of the first resolution (AR-78), sponsored by Assemblywoman Mosquera and Assemblyman Bill Moen (D-Camden, Gloucester). These committees would be comprised of government and community leaders who would create an awareness campaign encouraging participation in the Census, based on their understanding of the community.
The second resolution (AR-79), sponsored by Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera (D-Camden, Gloucester) and Assemblyman Jamel Holley (D-Union), would designate March 12th – 20th as “Get out the Count Week.”
Both resolutions were previously advanced by the Assembly Women and Children Committee after committee members received testimony from various experts regarding how the Census will impact New Jersey residents. Advocates for Children of New Jersey, the regional director of the Census Bureau and the New Jersey Secretary of State were among the guests who spoke.
Upon the resolutions unanimously passing the full Assembly Monday, the sponsors released the following joint statement:
“Many people don’t realize just how important the Census is to their community and how it will impact various aspects of their lives. We need to make our residents more aware of how the data gathered during the Census will affect their friends and family.
“The number of people recorded within a region influences federal allocation of funding for various social programs, including Medicare and SNAP. It also affects funding for school programs and infrastructure improvements, while determining the amount of Congressional delegates that will represent New Jersey.
“Business owners, non-profit organizations and lawmakers alike use the collected data to determine what daily services, products and support will be provided to communities.
“An awareness campaign with the help of county and municipal committees can help spread this information to get more residents involved in the Census.”
Assemblyman Jamel Holley fired back at Assemblyman Herb Conaway after the latter suggested Holley’s vocal opposition to a leadership-backed bill eliminating a religious vaccination exemption could be losing him some support in the chamber.
“This legislation stripping the rights of human beings is indicative of the virus that has infected our politics in New Jersey and this country,” Holley said. “When elected officials support legislation that segregates our citizens for the benefit of special interest, you can trust and believe that I’ll be on the side of the people, always. If this is a threat to silence my voice, I have one simple message: Bring it on.”
Holley has been the vaccine bill’s chief opponent in the Assembly. He lobbied members of the Legislative Black Caucus against an amended version of the bill that would have created a carveout for private schools and day cares.
Last week, prominent anti-vaccine activist Robert Kennedy held a fundraiser for Holley and met with members of the LBC to discuss anti-vaxx arguments.
It’s not yet clear whether Holley’s opposition to the vaccine bill will affect his chances at re-election, but a dissatisfied leadership team could complicate the contest.
“I have every right just as well as every other member of the Legislature to support or oppose any legislation that comes before me,” Holley said “When it came to a segregated piece of legislation and an attack on removing religious exemptions and the right to parental choice to make medical decisions for their children by class, wealth, and zip code, I chose to stand with the people.”
