Update on Civil
Rights in New Jersey
By Director J. Frank
Vespa-Papaleo
The New Jersey Division on Civil
Rights has had an exceptionally busy spring--busy investigating discrimination
charges, streamlining our regulations, conducting training sessions, and
planning important programs to make New Jerseyans more aware of their rights and
responsibilities in the areas of equal opportunity in the areas of employment,
housing, and use of places of public accommodation.
Consequently, we wanted to take a moment to highlight for you some free
resources and programs that are now available to everyone including:
1. Newsletter
Take a look at our informative newsletter, Outreach, available in both English
and Spanish.
English:
http://www.njcivilrights.com/downloads/newsletter/dcr_outreach_spring_05.pdf
Spanish:
http://www.njcivilrights.com/downloads/newsletter/dcr_outreach_primavera_05.pdf
2. Free Subscription - sign up now!
Sign up for our free newsletter, announcements, etc. by visiting:
http://www.njcivilrights.com/newsletter/subscribe.html Feel free to
encourage your friends, colleagues, and other organizations to subscribe.
3. State's First Ever GLBTI Seminar
Join us for our free seminar on June 14th at Rutgers University, on "GLBTI
Rights in NJ: Sexual Orientation Discrimination in Employment, Housing,
and Public Accommodations". Peruse the invitation, list of co-sponsors,
and agenda, and register now on-line at
http://www.njcivilrights.com/glbt.html. Register today because seating
is limited and spaces are filling up rapidly.
4. Proposed Regulations
Read our proposed new Rules pertaining to the Law Against Discrimination, and be
sure to submit any written Comments in a timely fashion. The proposed
regulations are available at
http://www.njcivilrights.com/proposed_rules.html Comments are being
accepted as follows:
Rules of Practice & Procedure: Comments due June 17
Housing for Older Persons: Comments due July 15
Advertisements Relating to Real Estate: Comments due July 15
5. Press Releases
Peruse our press releases Attorney General Peter Harvey's press releases
regarding civil rights matters are located at
http://www.njcivilrights.com/news.html
6. Director's Orders
In response to recommendation of a number of attorneys and human resources
professionals, we now publish an annual "Compendium of Director's Orders".
They are available for Director's Orders issued in 2002, 2003, and 2004, and can
be accessed by visiting:
http://www.njcivilrights.com/orders.html
7. Commission
The next meeting of the NJ Commission on Civil Rights will be on June 14th, 11
AM, 140 East Front Street, 6th Floor, Trenton. The Commission also has
scheduled meetings for August 9, October 19, and December 12, 2005. More
information on the Commission is available at
http://www.njcivilrights.com/commission.html
8. Memo to Real Property Owners
Attorney General Harvey and the Division have published a memorandum to owners
of real property, real estate agents, etc., regarding housing discrimination
under federal and state law. The memorandum is now available for download
and distribution in both English and Spanish at:
http://www.njcivilrights.com/prop_own_letter.html
9. Publications in English, Spanish, Arabic and Punjabi (in conjunction with
Sikh Coalition)
In an effort to constantly expand out outreach under served communities, we have
made a number of free publications now available for download in several
languages, including Arabic, Spanish, and Punjabi. For more information
see:
http://www.njcivilrights.com/library.html#publications. These new
publications are part of a new Immigrant Rights Program the Division is
organizing, to ensure that our immigrant friends and neighbors in New Jersey are
not victimized at work, in housing, or when accessing places of public
accommodations. No immigrant in New Jersey, regardless of immigration
status, can be forced to endure unlawful sexual harassment or other forms of
discrimination.
10. Upcoming Special 60th Anniversary Projects
As part of the DCR's and Law Against Discrimination's 60th Anniversary Year, we
will soon announce a series of special programs for the second half of 2005,
including:
* September 6 -- "Seminar on FLA, FMLA, & Reasonable Accommodations under
Federal and State Law" -- New Brunswick
* October 12 -- "Civil Rights Commission Special Community Meeting" --
Vineland
* November -- "Celebrating 60 Years of the LAD with the NJ's Legal
Institutions" -- Newark
We hope you enjoy our upcoming programs, new publications, and
information now available on our website. For further information feel
free to contact our Communications Coordinator, William Scheckel, at
William.Scheckel@NJCivilRights.org
or (973) 648-4817.
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