Dhiren Shah: Welcome to this interview Ms. Timberlake. What is the most important issue due to the Coronavirus Pandemic in your opinion?
Britnee Timberlake: Aside from making sure people stay alive and keeping the curve flat, housing is the most important issue during and after coronavirus. I have sponsored a bill known as the “People’s Bill” that will help COVID-19 economically impacted homeowners, renters, and landlords have a fair chance to keep a roof over their heads. If the bill passes, it will be the first in the nation with strong protections for everyone. If it does not pass, we are looking at an unnecessary wave of homelessness.
The passing of this bill will save the state millions of taxpayer dollars by reducing the amount of money needed to combat a tsunami of homelessness created by evictions and foreclosures that will lead to the need for more social services like, food insecurity, unemployment, shelter, mental and physical health, etc. The bill offers an opportunity for landlords and renters to work out an affordable repayment plan for any months of missed rent during the State’s Public Health Emergency. These payments would begin after the Public Health Emergency is over, and would be paid on top of their regularly agreed upon rent.
It is important the repayment plan be affordable to families as to not just delay an inevitable eviction down the road. If a landlord simply moves to evict without working a repayment plan out, depriving a COVID-19 financially impacted family the opportunity to keep a roof over their heads, then good luck to that landlord as they try to recover those lost months from a now homeless person. This bill gives a greater chance for families to keep a roof over their heads with no impact to credit or fear of being placed on a renter blacklist, while simultaneously giving landlords the best chance to recover lost months owed to them.
The bill is also good for homeowners and landlords because some banks are not offering fair mortgage forbearance. Some are requiring full payment on a 90-day forbearance due on the 91st day. Lump sum payments like this are not affordable to most or fair. It will only lead to eventual foreclosures down the road. New Jersey is already number one in the country in foreclosures, this bill keeps us from adding to that crisis.
The People’s Bill establishes a uniformed mortgage forbearance where the payment is put on the back-end of the loan, thereby extending the loan term with no addition fees, interest, lump sum payment, or impact on credit. Landlords can apply for the forbearance to help ease the financial impact of renters who may not have been able to pay their rent during COVID-19 or to ease their own COVID-19 financial struggles.
DS: What is the most essential resource for your constituents right now?
BT: Again I will say housing. There are people who are still waiting on their unemployment struggling to keep a roof over their heads all waiting for the “People’s Bill” to pass. In the meantime, I encourage people to visit the State’s DCA website to learn their rights about rental assistance programs available to them. Renters should contact their landlords if struggling to pay rent, and try to work a payment plan out. Also visit the HMFA website to learn about pending and existing assistance for small landlords and businesses. Those with mortgages who are financially struggling themselves, or who have tenants struggling should call their mortgage lender to see what their options for forbearance are; not all banks are behaving badly. Lastly, contact your local municipality to see if they are offering any COVID-19 housing relief.
DS: This is the most critical election of our lifetime. Why are your supporting Joseph Biden? Is it mainly because he is a democrat?
BT: I am supporting Joe Biden not only because he is a Democrat, but because I believe our current president is reckless, racist, sexist, and a poor leader. Our foreign and domestic relations are suffering under this president’s leadership. His poor response to both the Coronavirus and the movement to create equality and equity by dismantling systemic and systematic racism against black and brown people is embarrassing. If we are to have a good chance to move this country forward is the healthiest way, voting for the Biden Harris ticket is what we all should do.
DS: What do you think of Vice President Joseph Biden picking Senator Kamala Harris?
BT: I am proud the pick is a woman, and the cherry on top is that she looks like me. The black female vote turned out over 90% for Hillary Clinton. It is no secret black women have been the driving force of the Democratic Party’s success for years, it is nice to see some recognition for that by way of a minority VP pick. She will do a fantastic job and I cannot wait to see her debate current VP Mike Pence.
DS: What is the key difference between the State Assembly and State Senate?
BT: The State Assembly is what Congress is on the federal level, while the State Senate is what the Senate is on the Federal level. There are more State Assembly (80) people than State Senators (40). It is a system of checks and balances and both balance the creation of state laws. The State Senators do have something called “senatorial courtesy” within their counties and are the ones who must sign off on major appointments such as County Prosecutors. This is a power Assembly members do not have.
DS: If vaccination for the coronavirus is introduced, what advice would you give to your constituents?
BT: Listen to your health care providers.
DS: There are quite a few protests going on right now. While some are peaceful, others are not. Why do you think some have devolved into violence?
BT: I believe there are outsiders who have joined peaceful protests and disrupted them with violence in an attempt to change the narrative. I do not accept this change in narrative and choose to support the Black Lives Matter peaceful protests and what they stand for. The nation’s response is a long time coming.
Although disgustingly heinous, George Floyd’s murder was no more terrible than Philando Castile who was shot with his daughter in the back seat and his fiancé in the driver’s seat, while his hands were visible and he was obeying the officer. It was no more heinous than Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old father of five, who was shot in the chest and back by a Louisiana police officer outside a convenience store in Baton Rouge, La. The murder of George Floyd was no more heinous than Tamir Rice a 12-year-old playing in a park, Sean Bell the night before his wedding, or Amadou Diallo said to have a gun which was instead his wallet and was shot 41 times. Sadly, the list goes on and on. Protests all over the country occurred then, but it was like no one could hear.
This time it seems Coronavirus quieted down the country just enough to hear the outcry of black and brown people. While I am grateful our cries seem to now be heard, policies to end systematic racism are moving forward, and law enforcement is taking a stand for better justice, I cannot help but think of how many people’s lives could have been saved if this response occurred 4 years, 10 years, 50 years ago. Or how about in in 1963 when Dr. King told the world in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, “We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.”
DS: What is your opinion about defunding the police?
BT: It is possible to support both police and the Black Lives Matter movement; everyone should try it. My first bill passed in the Assembly required an independent investigation occur when a person dies in police custody or during an interaction with law enforcement. It was a great leap toward authoritative accountability. When administered, this law should be of assistance to officers who are doing the right thing while also sifting out biases that exist amongst those armed with power. As the mother of a son, it was important to me to fight for this bill to become a law to deter the use of excessive force and saves lives. There are other measures and laws that should be looked at as potential solutions to the long-time issue of racism and biases in law enforcement.
DS: Thank you very much for your valuable time. Once again, the best of health to you and your family.
