ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. CODEY PROPOSES MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES
2. BUDGET BATTLE LOOMS OVER STATE
3. CRISIS AHEAD FOR CODEY
4. RENTING EXPENSIVE IN NEW JERSEY AND GETTING MORE
SO
5. INMATE DEATH IN CAMDEN JAIL PSYCH UNIT
6. NAMI NJ ADVOCATE TO APPEAR ON CNN
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CODEY PROPOSES MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES
“For too long we have swept the problems of mental
illness under the carpet ... and hoped that they would go
away … that is not going to continue. The problems
of mental illness are difficult and expensive…But how
we handle the challenges of mental illness ... will speak
volumes about how we handle ourselves as human beings.”
See the Governors State of the State Address:
http://www.state.nj.us/sos2005/
Star Ledger summary of mental health proposals:
http://www.nj.com/statehouse/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-19/1105511615114630.xml
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BUDGET BATTLE LOOMS OVER STATE
The economy is adding jobs at a steady rate, the state's
political situation has stabilized, but a Herculean budget
battle looms large for New Jersey lawmakers in the year
to come. Political and economic observers noted that all
issues in 2005 will be overshadowed by the fight to plug
a state deficit projected to exceed $4 billion, without
slashing programs or boosting taxes.
Read the Asbury Park Press report:
http://www.app.com/gsbr/story/0,21421,1162739,00.html
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CRISIS AHEAD FOR CODEY
Today's State of the State address will be Codey's chance
to shine. Amid the celebrations, however, it should be remembered
that eventually the clock will strike midnight and Codey
will have to grapple with a $4 billion budget gap. While
the crisis is not one of his making, how he tackles it will
say much more about his tenure in office than today's speechifying.
The more somber budget message is scheduled for the end
of February.
Read the numbers in this Star Ledger editorial:
http://www.nj.com/opinion/ledger/editorials/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1105425022135900.xml
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INMATE DEATH IN CAMDEN JAIL PSYCH UNIT
Heroin addiction brought Christopher Miller to the Camden
County Jail's psychiatric ward, where he hanged himself
this weekend, authorities said. Because of his withdrawal,
Miller, who was initially placed on a suicide watch, was
then sent to the mental health director for an evaluation.
Miller was determined not to be a suicide risk and he was
placed in the mental health wing of the county jail, the
warden said.
Miller was in a cell with three other men Saturday morning
when he hanged himself with his own clothes, a prison jumpsuit.
The cell was built to hold one person.
Read more in the Courier Post:
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/southjersey/m011105b.htm
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RENTING EXPENSIVE IN NEW JERSEY AND GETTING MORE SO
New Jersey is the third most expensive state in the nation
when it comes to renting a place to live, and it's only
getting harder, according to a national report. Citing guidelines
that say a person should spend no more than 30 percent of
his gross income on rent, the annual "Out of Reach"
report says somebody making minimum wage would have to work
158 hours a week to meet that standard while paying for
an average two-bedroom apartment in the Garden State.
The network also called for passage of a bill that would
add another $15 million to the state's rental assistance
program.
Read the story and each county’s Fair Market Rent
in the Asbury Park Press:
http://www.app.com/gsbr/story/0,21421,1167257,00.html
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NAMI NJ ADVOCATE TO APPEAR ON CNN
NAMI NEW JERSEY mental health advocate Jill Zwick, CSW,
has been interviewed by the Cable News Network (CNN). Her
story (edited to about two minutes) will be telecast over
the network on Monday, January 17th, between 7 and 8pm (ET),
on the Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees show, as part a week-long
series on depression. The interview will include extracts
from the In Our Own Voice: Living With Mental Illness program,
of which Miss Zwick is an active presenter. These were taped
during her presentation today to a Monmouth County high
school psychology class.
