By Dhiren Shah
Dhiren Shah: Welcome to this interview. Why have you decided to run for State Senate?
Britnee Timberlake: I have decided to run for senate so that I can be at a higher playing field, to be able to voice the concerns of the citizens from that higher playing field. I want to have a bigger platform for people, so we can continue to pass the good legislation to make life easier for everyone, creating equity, and reversing the systemic issues deeply rooted within our systems, that unfortunately keep a lot of people out of opportunities and upward mobility throughout their lives.
DS: What is the difference workwise between the Assembly and Senate as far as your work is concerned?
BT: You have something call senatorial courtesy, which you do not get in assembly, and I am told with senatorial courtesy you are able to pass more laws. So, anyone that knows me knows that I am in politics so I can write legislation and do good work, and we already have a great record that exists doing great things. If I can improve the odds to do more legislation, I want to take that opportunity.
DS: But legislation is still generated in the Assembly?
BT: Legislation is passed by the Assembly as well as the Senate. With the senatorial courtesy, it is more likely that your legislation will be heard.
DS: How have things been in the state government since the redistricting?
BT: Things have been interesting in the state government with redistricting such as District 34. I represent East Orange, Orange, Clifton, and Montclair. With redistricting, I am running for the senate seat, in the areas of East Orange, Orange, Bloomfield, Belleville, Nutley and Glen Ridge.
DS: What is the biggest issue in New Jersey right now in your opinion?
BT: The biggest issue in New Jersey, I believe, is high cost of living. One of the things I am able to focus on and combat is that there are housing opportunities for all people through affordable housing and workforce housing. It’s the cost of living and being able to have access into the middle class, and having access into higher income classes and above the middle class.
DS: The tenants in certain cities have restrictions on rent raises. But rent control is not in all the cities. Why not have statewide rent control?
BT: Statewide rent control is something myself and my housing friends and advocacy groups all over the state are talking about. We do want to see statewide rent control, but we also want to see statewide inclusionary zoning, requiring every single construction project to have a certain percentage of affordability. Especially when there are tax abatements, PILOTs (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) given to developers, those projects especially need affordable housing.
With the model I have been promoting and pushing, we should really look not only at the 80% market rate and 20% affordability rate, but we should be looking at 75% market rate and 25% affordable rate. For those extra 5%, I called working professionals still in poverty, because of the high cost of living. So, someone works for municipal government. They do not qualify for a high salary, but they do not qualify for the affordable housing percent. We need to make sure that we provide stepping tools for more people and broadening the range from 120% median income on down. We have to make sure that we do not take away from those who qualify for affordable housing.
DS: What about the builders who are investing millions of dollars and if they have to build affordable housing, then with a lot of people with higher incomes wanting to buy nicer apartments, they are hesitant to buy it.
BT: People are not hesitating to buy the apartments, the builders can make it pencil out, as long as they receive something called subsidy. I have been extremely instrumental and making sure that we have the affordable housing, fully funded in the state of New Jersey. That fund right now has over $60 million in it, and I was also instrumental with my housing friends in getting housing production funds, which have more than $300 million in it.
These are the funds the developers can go after, to offset the costs of building affordable housing, but even if they do not go after those funds, and if the townships are granting PILOTs or tax abatements, then I do believe then that affordable housing should be required. If they are coming to the township for some kind of public assistance, then they should not displace the public for these developments.
DS: Can they do one big development in one place and affordable housing in another place?
BT: That is the model that has been done before. Personally, it’s not my favorite model. I believe that every development should be mixed income and mixed use.
DS: In your opinion, what do you think Gov. Murphy has done right AND what has he done wrong during his administration?
BT: I think Governor Murphy has something right to codify Roe v. Wade and passed the law. I do not promote abortions, but I promote a woman’s right to choose and make a decision about her own body. Furthermore, I am a proud feminist and I believe in women’s empowerment. I believe in a woman’s right to choose in all aspects of life. Governor Murphy did a great job really pressing the legislation to codify Roe v. Wade.
For what Governor Murphy did wrong, I have a program bill that I am still working on to cross the finish line. I am not able to finish it yet, even with the earlier agreement. I am still working on it. The bill provides equity and a level playing field for people who are experiencing foreclosures. It will help the person who is losing their home or next of kin which could their son or daughter, or renter who has been paying their rent on time then all of a sudden received a notice that the landlord is not paying their mortgage and they are being evicted, or a non-profit corporation wants to purchase the property and create affordable or workforce housing, or person who has committed to live in the community for seven years, they could. With the Community Wealth Preservation Bill I authored, they could participate at the foreclosure sale, with 3.5% down, and the rest of the money due in 90 days. Right now, as it stands at the sheriff’s sales, it is mainly cash deals, you have to have 20% down and the rest of the money within 30 days with interest building on the 11th day. With having to have cash or a money order, we know historically black and brown people have not had deep pockets to purchase and participate in that foreclosure sale. With my bill, it creates equity for those five categories. That also stops a lot of abuse from LLCs that are coming in and owning the homes in communities all over the state of New Jersey. He didn’t sign it into law.
DS: This one is from our own Kristopher Seals: “I have had difficulties with getting gas at stations lately. Attendants have either pushed the wrong button for the wrong, and more expensive, grade of gas, or have even entered the wrong dollar amount of gas. (Ex. I say $29 instead of $30, because attendants have tried to put in $40, claiming a ‘mistake.’) Those are just some problems. So here is my question to you as a constituent: Will you support making this a ballot question: ‘Should New Jerseyans be allowed to pump their own gas? Yes or No?’”
BT: Yes. There should be a hybrid approach. If you want to pump your own gas, you should be able to do so. If you don’t want to pump your gas, there will be an attendant there who will do it for you.
DS: Is there any chance we may see Governor Timberlake someday?
BT: Never say never.
DS: I have observed that elected officials take care of their family and friends, whereas with real people who have real problems, they ignore them. Still, the people are ignorant to elect the same people over and over again. What is your opinion about electing the right people in the election process?
BT: I think that I always tell people when asking for their vote, not to vote for me just because I ask, but to look for my record and vote for me because you believe in my work. I work very hard to work for the people in the great state of New Jersey and make sure that everyone has an opportunity and access to the American Dream. My record of $15 minimum wage, my record of independent investigations when anyone loses their life in an interaction with a police officer. This legislation came a year or two ago before the George Floyd case and only passed in the Assembly by one vote.
My record of securing the funds that we have for affordable housing. It is about our children having a better future, it is about women’s rights, birthing access which I have been instrumental in, including making sure we are reducing the infant maternal death rate as New Jersey has one of the highest rates, particularly amongst black women. My work is about helping people, my work putting principal over politics. All voters are empowered to ask what your record is, if it is a legislator, what laws have you passed, if it is an administrative, what laws have you supported and what is your vision for administration.
DS: Blind voting is where all the representative vote on a measure and no one knows who voted for the resolution. So, without any knowledge, the lobbyist cannot interfere directly or indirectly. what do you think about blind voting, to kick out the lobbyists?
BT: I believe that anyone who is doing the work of the people, is what you should research. We can look up and search who is asking for our vote, and what they have done to uplift the community. Voting is a very powerful tool.
DS: Do you have any message from your constituents?
BT: I want to thank to my constituents for sending me to Trenton as their New Jersey State District 34 Assemblywoman, and I am asking you to send me back at this time as your District 34 Senator. I am promising to continue to put forth prolific pieces of legislation that will change lives and reverse some of the issues, particularly as relates to poverty and access to housing, great healthcare, education, and so much more.
DS: Thanks for your time, Ms. Timberlake.
