Smyra Resident Arrested on Illegal Drug Charges

DOVER, Del. – A Smyrna man was arrested Feb. 25 on drug charges following a traffic stop and vehicle search in Dover conducted by the Delaware Natural Resources Police – Environmental Crimes Unit, in which officers seized as evidence 322 grams of marijuana, 66 Xanax pills, $1,225 in cash, a digital scale, and drug packaging materials.

Andrew Burns, 23, was charged with one count of each of the following:

Manufacture/deliver/possession with intent to deliver controlled substance Tier 2 quantity

Manufacture/deliver/possession with intent to deliver controlled substance

Possession of controlled substance Tier 2 quantity

Possession of controlled substance Tier 1 quantity

Conspiracy second degree – agreement to engage in felony criminal conduct

Possession of drug paraphernalia not related to personal use quantity marijuana

Failure to have insurance identification in possession

Operation of an unregistered motor vehicle

Display of license plate

Unsafe passing on the left

Duty to sign and carry driver’s license

Burns was arraigned via video phone in Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on his own recognizance, pending a court date.

Delawareans are encouraged to report environmental violations to DNREC’s Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit by calling the 24-hour environmental complaints line at 800-662-8802.

Philadelphia Bar Association Calls for an End to Unwarranted Attacks on the U.S. Judiciary

Encourages All Americans to Speak Up in Defense of the Constitution and Our Country’s Democratic Principles

PHILADELPHIA, PA –

In response to recent, unwarranted attacks on the U.S. Judiciary, Chancellor Hon. A. Michael Snyder (ret.) of the

Philadelphia Bar Association

, the nation’s oldest metropolitan Bar Association, issued the following statement:

“As the nation’s oldest metropolitan Bar Association, the Philadelphia Bar Association has always considered certain principles to be imperatives of this Association and of the legal profession. We believe that the rule of law and an independent judiciary are cornerstones of a democracy and of a civilized society.

“Unless these structures and principles are vibrant, and unless we vigorously defend their existence, the dream of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people begins to crumble.

“The rule of law demands that each individual, whether rich or poor, famous or unknown, understands that the law is applied equally to them. We cannot have two systems of justice, one for the rich and connected and one for everyone else.

“Our Constitution provides for a separation of powers through a system of checks and balances which ensures that no single branch of government becomes too powerful.

“An independent judiciary is a necessity if we are to function as a democracy and not as an authoritarian society. Judges need to know that their lawful judgments will be upheld, and that their very legitimacy may not be questioned. Under the rule of law, the way to question or challenge a judicial determination or Order is through an appellate review process.

“Recently, we have seen a course of conduct, including communications meant to exert undue influence on the judiciary, that seems intent on undermining the rule of law and disrupting the system of checks and balances. Such attacks are dangerous in the extreme. We cannot allow them to continue.

“We call for an end to these unwarranted attacks on the judiciary and for all Americans to speak up in defense of the Constitution and our democratic principles.

“A society without laws is not a society; it is chaos. A society without an

ndependent judiciary is not the society that we should value.”

# # #

The Philadelphia Bar Association, founded in 1802, is the preeminent metropolitan association of lawyers in the United States. It is a keystone in the ongoing developments of the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania legal systems.

With more than 200 years of dedicated service to stand on, the Philadelphia Bar Association is firmly rooted in the Philadelphia community as a steady and reliable bellwether. To learn more about the association,

visit here

The Center for American Women and Politics Provides Unparalleled Resources for 2020 Elections

With the first congressional and state primaries only a week away, the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University is breaking down the performance of women candidates across the country through our

Election Watch

project. As in years

past, CAWP will provide results data about women candidates after primary contests, marrying historical data and context with present-day analysis to provide real-time updates on the 2020 election cycle. Before primary day, check out the myriad resources already on the

CAWP website

, and stay tuned for more updates.

REVAMPED

Candidate Summary

: See full numbers of women candidates for Senate, House, governor, lieutenant governor, and other statewide elected executive offices, now accompanied by interactive graphics that compare current numbers to historical records, display state-by-state information, track candidate filings, sort candidates by whether they\’re running for open seats or as challengers, and more. This candidate summary currently includes both likely and filed candidates and will update throughout the year with confirmed, filed candidates and general election nominees as filing deadlines and primary elections pass. The candidate summary will also include general election candidates for state legislatures following primary election results. [

CANDIDATE SUMMARY

]

2020 Candidate List

: This page contains a list of all filed and likely candidates for congressional, gubernatorial, and other statewide elected executive offices, along with links to candidate websites. As with the candidate summary, when filing deadlines pass, this list will update with all confirmed, filed candidates. Filed candidates are marked \”filed\” while likely candidates are marked with their state\’s filing deadline. This list also includes candidates in special elections. [

CANDIDATE LIST

]

Election Analysis

: Throughout the 2020 election, CAWP\’s Election Analysis blog will provide research and analysis from both CAWP\’s team of scholars and researchers as well as guest contributions from academics and expert practitioners. Some recent analyses include:

A woman can win the presidency. Here are the receipts.

;

After Iowa: Is sexism weighing Warren down?

; and

What does Buttigieg\’s success mean for gender progress in American politics?

. Our Election Analysis blog will also include expanded primary results with more detail than our press releases. [

ELECTION ANALYSIS

]

Rebound candidates:

Record numbers of women ran at all levels of office in 2018, and record numbers were successful, but many women fell short of victory. In 2020, CAWP is tracking those unsuccessful 2018 candidates that are getting back in the race for 2020. [

REBOUND CANDIDATES

]

Woman vs. Woman Races

: As primary elections are decided, CAWP will track congressional and gubernatorial races that feature two women nominees. The record for such races was also set in 2018. [

WOMAN vs. WOMAN RACES

]

As always, our

Election Watch

site includes historical data for previous elections. To stay in the know about women in 2020 during election nights, debates, and throughout the cycle, follow

CAWP on Twitter

and our election hashtag

#GenderLens2020

. To arrange an interview with one of CAWP\’s experts, contact

Daniel De Simone

About CAWP

The

Center for American Women and Politics

(CAWP), a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers-New Brunswick, is nationally recognized as the leading source of scholarly research and current data about American women\’s political participation. Its mission is to promote greater knowledge and understanding about women\’s participation in politics and government and to enhance women\’s influence and leadership in public life. CAWP\’s education and outreach programs translate research findings into action, addressing women\’s under-representation in political leadership with effective, intersectional, and imaginative programs serving a variety of audiences. As the world has watched Americans considering female candidates for the nation\’s highest offices, CAWP\’s nearly five decades of analyzing and interpreting women\’s participation in American politics have provided the foundation and context for the discussion.

Companies that Haul or Process Soil, Fill Recyclable Material in NJ MUST Register by April 20

DEP ANNOUNCES REGISTRATION DEADLINE

TRENTON – Businesses conducting soil and fill recyclable material services that do not already possess an A-901 license have until April 20, 2020, to register with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as a first step to comply with a newly enacted licensing law requiring greater oversight of those activities, Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe announced today.

Governor Phil Murphy signed the law – known as the \”Dirty Dirt Bill\” on Jan. 21, which expands the DEP\’s oversight of companies that engage in, or provide, soil and fill recycling services including collection, transportation, processing, brokering, storage, purchase, sale or disposition of soil and fill recyclable materials.

\”With the passage of this new law as well as the gains made with our Guard Your Backyard campaign, the DEP and our local partners are in a better position to take action to address problematic fill material and companies engaged in these activities,\” Commissioner McCabe said. \”These new tools will empower the state and local governments to ensure that the soil and fill brought into our communities is clean and safe, while helping us defend against illegal dumping of soil and fill.\”

The law also requires affected companies that do not already possess an A-901 license to submit an application and a disclosure statement to the Attorney General\’s Office detailing their work with soil and fill material in order to receive a soil and fill recycling license for operations in New Jersey by Oct. 19, 2020. The Attorney General\’s Office, New Jersey State Police and DEP will review the disclosure statements in consideration of granting a license.

\”Dumping or unacceptable use of soil and fill materials occur too frequently,\” Assistant Commissioner for Compliance and Enforcement Elizabeth Dragon said. \”DEP Compliance and Enforcement welcomes this new law to monitor and ensure the businesses involved are legitimate and complying with the new regulations, starting when soil or fill material is picked up until it is placed at a site.\”

Businesses that do not register by the deadline or businesses that apply for a license thereafter and do not meet the license review requirements will no longer be allowed to perform soil or fill recycling services work in New Jersey.

Businesses that register may continue their services while awaiting a license. Those who apply for a license after the deadline will have to wait for the license before continuing soil and fill recycling services. Businesses that believe they may be subject to the new law may review a DEP Compliance Advisory at

www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/advisories-date.html

The new law follows DEP\’s recent launch of the Guard Your Backyard campaign, which has a dedicated website offering local guidance and a model ordinance that municipal leaders can download and modify to suit their local needs. Enacting ordinances can give local governments the authority to determine what kind of fill material may be brought into their communities.

The soil and fill recycling materials registration form for the DEP is available at

www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/a901/a901frms.htm

To learn more about Guard Your Backyard, visit

www.guardyourbackyard.nj.gov

Most Common Cable Connection Problems and Easy Ways to Fix Them

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(February 28, 2020)–Our lives are dependent on the internet and disconnection means a total blackout. Be it an office, a home or a public place, the internet is everywhere. Admit it or not, we are all trapped and chained to the charismatic world of internet.

No matter what, every one of us has faced cable connection issues leading to internet disconnection, and without having any clue, we are in a state of confusion – what to do next. Imagine yourself watching a thriller movie on

Spectrum TV

and suddenly the movie stops in the middle – what is your first reaction?

You would definitely question yourself how do I fix it. Should I call the customer support or try to figure out the problem myself. If I call the customer support, I would have to wait for some time and in the meanwhile, my interest in the movie would diminish. It is better to sort out the problem myself.

We are going to reveal some of the common cable connection issues how you can fix them without banging your head. Let’s get started.

Loose Connections and Power Cable

Generally, the problem arises when the terminal connection at outlets and wall switches become loose. Make sure to check these fixtures and if any of the connections are loose, try to fix them. You can identify loose connections through signals such as crackling sound, or buzzing.

Moreover, sometimes we bang, nudge or poke wires without knowing it and wonder why it is not working without checking. If your internet is not connecting, then check that your router is not unplugged or the plug is halfway in and halfway out. If you see any of the two issues, just make sure to take out the plug and insert it tightly.

Moreover, the router’s LED lights can also indicate whether the connection is loose or unplugged. If there is no light, the router is not getting any power. To fix this, simply first disconnect the power cable and reconnect it.

In case your router is still not working, make sure to check the outlet and power supply to see if it is getting power. Just take the tester, put it in the socket and see if the light turns on. If not, there is a problem with the power strip and not the router or lose connection.

Joining Wires with Electrical Tape

Wire connections when joined together with tape can result in an error. Rather than connecting the wires with tape, it is better to use a nut or a sanctioned connector. To fix this issue, you must first turn off the power and remove the electrical tape from the wire. Clean the wire and make sure that the insulation on the wire should be removed in such a way that it is showing the proper amount of exposed wire. After ripping off the insulation, connect the wire properly with nut or any other approved connector.

Two Wires under Single Screw Terminal

Common cable connection issues also arise when two or more wires are connected under the same screw terminal on an outlet or a switch. It can be quite hazardous due to the possibility of a fire eruption. For safety reasons, it is not allowed to have two wires squeezed under one screw.

To resolve this issue, you need to cut off the power before you start repairing it. After turning off the power supply, remove the two wires wedged under one screw. Take a pigtail wire of the same color and remove ¾ inch of insulation from both ends of the pigtail. Now connect one end to the two wires you just removed previously.

Join the free end of the wire to the screw terminal that was holding two wires previously. You can also create a pathway or bridge that joins both wires to the preferred screw terminal on the switch or outlet.

Call Your ISP if Everything Fails

After you have done all the aforementioned steps and the problem persists, make sure to call your Internet Service Provider. The customer support will try to resolve the problem over the phone by checking your system on their end. If the problem can’t be solved over the phone, your Internet Service Provider will surely send a technical person to your home.

image courtesy of unsplash.com

Doctor Described as ‘Candy Man’ Admits to Distributing Opioids to Patients w/o a Medical Reason

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County doctor today admitted distributing opioids without a legitimate medical reason and falsifying medical records to cover it up, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

CNBNews graphics file

Robert Delagente, 45, of Oakland, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances, three counts of distribution of controlled dangerous substances, and one count of falsifying medical records.

“This defendant knowingly prescribed for his patients some of the most dangerous and addictive drugs available, sometimes with no more contact than a text message from the patient,” U.S. Attorney Carpenito said. “Many of these patients were dealing with pain and addiction, and instead of getting help from their doctor, they were drawn deeper into the cycle of drug abuse. His admission of guilt today ensures that he will be appropriately punished for this behavior.”

“Dr. Delagente sold his ethics, his medical license, and his moral compass,” FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie said. “There is no magic elixir for the pain caused by pill mill doctors. The cure is public awareness, victims who come forward and a determined fleet of FBI investigators who will arrest these unscrupulous practitioners when they run afoul of the law.”

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Beginning in May 2014, Delagente was a doctor at a medical practice called North Jersey Family Medicine (NJFM) in Oakland, New Jersey. He allegedly described himself in conversations pertaining to his prescribing of painkillers as the “Candy Man” and the “El Chapo of Opioids.” Delagente knowingly prescribed controlled substances, such as oxycodone, Percocet, Tylenol with codeine, and various benzodiazepines (alprazolam, diazepam, clonazepam, and temazepam), outside the ordinary course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. He ignored the inherent danger and medical risk of overdose, drug abuse, and death that can accompany prescriptions of highly addictive opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxers, both on their own and in combination with one another.

Delagente prescribed controlled substances without ever seeing the purported patient for a medical visit or even discussing with the patient the medical need for the prescription. He allowed patients to ask him for controlled substances via text message and would write a prescription for patients that he would leave at the front desk, without requiring an office visit or consultation of any kind. He allowed patients to dictate the strength and dosage of the controlled substances he prescribed for them. Delagente also prescribed the dangerous drug combination known as the “Holy Trinity,” comprised of opioids (usually oxycodone), benzodiazepines (usually alprazolam) and muscle relaxers (usually carisoprodol).

Delagente failed to monitor patients for addiction and ignored drug screening tests to determine whether certain patients were taking illicit drugs. In fact, Delagente prescribed controlled substances to patients he knew were addicted to opioids or other controlled substances. In one instance, an NJFM employee texted Delagente that a patient had gotten a babysitter and driven a long distance to get to the practice, but had been unable to see a doctor. Delagente responded: “Oh well … C’est la vie! Lol … He can wait for his oral heroin another day. Lol.”

One patient texted Delagente that the patient “probably can’t stop the pk’s,” referring to painkillers. The patient told Delagente that the patient “would need a plan to stop…not cold turkey.” A few days later, when the patient was having trouble obtaining pain medication, the patient wrote to Delagente that “If I go 4 days without [painkillers] I am in huge trouble.” In response, Delagente wrote “I will leave you a short supply RX [prescription] at the front to pick up.” Delagente then wrote the patient a prescription for 120 tablets of 30-milligram oxycodone for 30 days. Delagente at one point told this patient: “I’m literally sticking my neck out and can lose my medical license or [be] arrested for what I just did.”

Delagente also was charged with altering medical records of patients who received controlled substance prescriptions from him after law enforcement officials had subpoenaed the records in late April 2019.

Delagente faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on each of the distribution of controlled dangerous substances charges. Delagente faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the charge of falsifying medical records. Sentencing for Delagente is scheduled for June 10, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason S. Gould of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Sean M. Sherman of the Opioids Unit in Newark.

Columbus Buffetta, of Brooklawn; WWII Army Vet, Campbell Soup Employee, age 92

Columbus Buffetta had an immeasurable work ethic. He dedicated his life to his family and his Lord. He was witty and self made who took pride and pleasure in the simple beauties of life. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time at his home in Brooklawn with his family. On Friday February 21, 2020, after 92 years he was called away, but only to return home to the Lord.

“Buff” was born in Camden and had spent his formative years there. His home had contributed to the manpower of our great nation, upholding the ideals of our American freedoms during WWII in the U.S. Army. Early on he and his family owned and operated a variety store in Camden before settling his family down in Brooklawn. Columbus made a career as a machinist, at Campbell’s Soup in Camden and enjoyed spending time outdoors with his family camping and bicycling. Columbus will fondly be remembered as a kind hearted good samaritan who was always helpful with an outstretched hand.

Mr. Buffetta is the widower of his late wife Dolores (nee Williams) and is the father of Louis and his wife Joan, Richard, Dino & his wife Frances, Anna Maria & hier husband Russell Hall and Matthew Buffetta. He is the proud grandfather of 16 and great grandfather of 25. Mr. Buffetta is also survived and will be sadly missed by his sisters Gloria Parisi and Anna Sharp. “Buff” was predeceased by his siblings; Theodore, Leonard, Enrico, Mary & Louise.

Relatives, friends and neighbors are invited to join the Buffetta family on Friday morning between 9:00 and 11:00 am at Creran Celebration Etherington & Creran Funeral Homes 700 Powell St. Gloucester City where a remembrance ceremony will begin at 11:00 am. United States Army military honors will immediately follow at Eglington Cemetery & Mausoleum in Clarksboro. #crerancelebration #heartfelt

NJ NEWS COMMONS: MURPHY: \”FREE\” (PUBLIC) COLLEGE IS ON THE TABLE AGAIN

Yesterday, Gov. Phil Murphy spoke about his plan to make college more affordable for students who enroll in one of New Jersey\’s public colleges and universities. The focus is four-year institutions, and there\’s 11 total, including Rutgers University and Rowan University. Under the plan outlined in his 2021 budget — which he delivered yesterday — families who earn under $65,000 per year would be able to send their teens to college for free. The plan would affect students who enroll next fall (2021) and later. (

NorthJersey

NJ.com

)

TRUMP MOCKED SEA WALL. NOW THE PROJECT IS HALTED.

In a move that was called \”unexpected\” by The New York Times, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it is putting a

$19 million

feasibility study

on hold due to a lack of financial support. The federally-funded project was set up to investigate how to protect New Jersey and New York from the expensive and potentially — even likely —

catastrophic impact of sea level rise

. But on Twitter last month, President Donald Trump

called

one plan — a so-called

sea wall

— a \”

costly\” and \”foolish\” idea that \”probably won’t work anyway.\”

(

NJ.com

)

Feds cut funding on studies to protect NJ from storm surge (

NJ Spotlight

)

Van Drew supports town in FEMA storm repayment dispute (

WHYY

)

U.S. Army Corps suspends sudy of NYC storm protections (

Bloomberg

)

HEALTH OFFICIAL: IT\’S TIME TO PREPARE FOR CORONAVIRUS

The Centers for Disease Control is now urging Americans to anticipate the coronavirus — it\’s not a matter of if, but when, the agency said, and the first confirmed case of coronavirus (of unknown origin) in the U.S. was

reported in northern California

yesterday. The director of the Hudson Regional Health Commission, Carrie Nawrocki, explained it this way: “We’re not saying this is the end of the world and they should clear the shelves,” she said. \”Our goal is to try to prevent sick people from leaving their houses.” (

Jersey Journal

)

MURPHY PLEDGES $80M TO REPLACE LEAD SERVICE LINES

One part of Gov. Phil Murphy\’s budget for the 2021 fiscal year tackles the toxic lead in our drinking water crisis, which infiltrates schools and homes through old pipes. The governor says the state should set aside $80 million to replace these pipes, though the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection wagers the job will cost

$2.3 billion

— yes, that\’s with a \”b.\” (

NJ Spotlight

)

🙈

We\’re also keeping an eye on—

Court sides with Trump in ‘sanctuary cities’ grant fight (

Associated Press

)

Budget: No boost in municipal aid for local governments (

NJ Spotlight

)

Murphy: ‘too early to judge’ toll hike for Turnpike, Parkway (

NJ.com

)

Reformed chamber train rolls on amid harassment allegations (

WHYY

)

Why Murphy will have surgery in NY, not NJ (

USA Today Network NJ

)

PLUS:

APP, ProPublica launch project on police misconduct (

Asbury Park Press

)

Fines proposed for beachgoers who don’t secure umbrellas (

WHYY

)

Chemical contamination found in five private wells (

Asbury Park Press

)

😜

Not everything is terrible—

Learning about black history through African American artists (

NJTV

)

Princesses, superheroes thrill kids at party business (

Asbury Park Press

)

Collingswood Cinema Society February Feature: ‘Pi’ (

NJ Pen

)

James Beard 2020 nominees include 7 New Jersey chefs (

NorthJersey

)

Camden County GOP Announces County Candidates

Ambrosino: “2020 marks the 100

anniversary of women winning the right to vote and I am proud to announce a slate of candidates that happens to be all women.”

HADDON HEIGHTS (February 27, 2020)–– Camden County Republican Chairman Rich Ambrosino announced the county slate of GOP candidates today.

“2020 is the 100

anniversary of women winning the right to vote and I am proud to announce a slate of candidates that happens to be all women,” Rich Ambrosino said. “Our county candidates are, for Surrogate former Haddon Heights School Board member and Attorney Kimberly Stuart. Freeholder candidates are former Haddon Heights Councilwoman Jennifer Moore and Johanna Scheets, a board certified Behavior Analyst. Minister Nicole Nance, BBA rounds out the team running for the unexpired Freeholder term.”

Ambrosino continued, “On the stump our candidate in the First Congressional District, Claire Gustafson, discusses 2020 being the 100

anniversary of women winning the right to vote and the importance of supporting strong women for office, which fits perfectly with our organization’s efforts in recruiting more women as part of our work to diversify the party. I am proud of the team we have assembled.”

“To be clear, we did not choose an all-woman slate for the sake of choosing women, we don’t practice identity politics,” Ambrosino said. “We chose a group of strong, powerful women who are leaders that Camden County voters will be proud to vote for because they will make excellent elected officials.”

published Gloucestercitynews.net

Presidential Candidates Detail Plans to Reduce Poverty

Action for Opportunity Coalition Presses Candidates on Records on Economic Opportunity for Low-Income Americans

The Action for Opportunity Coalition, representing more than 30 non-profit organizations, unions, and advocates across the country have received from all presidential candidates, other than President Trump, written plans to address poverty and increase economic opportunity in the United States.

All candidates for president as well as several former candidates have written responses to the following questions:

What are the top five specific ways that you, as president, would increase economic opportunity for low-income Americans and decrease poverty, hunger, and homelessness?

What is your single greatest concrete career accomplishment to date that has increased economic opportunity for low-income Americans and/or decreased poverty, hunger, and homelessness?

As president, how would you staff and structure the development, leadership, and daily management of your economic opportunity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness initiatives in your White House, Cabinet, and Administration?

Responses from Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Mike Bloomberg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, and Elizabeth Warren can be found on the Action for Opportunity website:

https://actionforopportunity.org/

President Trump’s campaign was repeatedly asked to respond, but has not yet done so.

Ninety-three million Americans – nearly a third of the U.S. population – live near or in poverty, and many middle class Americans fall into poverty one or more times in their lives. From 2016-2018, one in eight U.S. households were food insecure. This includes one in six children, nine percent of working adults, and nearly eight percent of older Americans (ages 60+), according to Hunger Free America’s

2019 United States Hunger Atlas

The Action for Opportunity Coalition is led by Hunger Free America and A Place at the Table with major support from the Worcester County Food Bank. Other groups in the Coalition include the Communication Workers of America, South Carolina Appleseed, Bread for the World, Low Country Food Bank, the National Diaper Bank Network, Feeding Texas, the National Association of Social Workers-South Carolina Chapter, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Feast, Feeding the Carolinas, Food Research & Action Center, Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger, California Association of Food Banks, Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus, Swipe Out Hunger, WhyHunger, First Focus Campaign for Children, Sue-Ham Entertainment, Gary Hair Solutions, City Harvest, Alliance for Period Supplies, Kean University Human Rights Institute, and the Progressive Policy Institute.

Chef, TV host, and food activist Tom Colicchio, co-founder of A Place at the Table said, “We must highlight the concerns and questions of low-income and working class Americans in the 2020 presidential election in order to have a more equitable society in the future. In our democracy, all Americans — not just the ones who can pay lobbyists — deserve to have their voices heard.”

Said Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Fee America: “Here’s a startling statistic: In the primaries and general elections of 2008, 2012, and 2016, there were more than 50 Presidential candidate debates, yet not a single question on poverty, hunger, or homelessness was asked. We want to ensure that the road to the White House must pass through a very robust, fact-based discussion on how to slash poverty, hunger, and homelessness, rebuild the middle class, and restore the American dream.”