Dear Mayor:

On behalf of Mayor Bob Bowser, East Orange, League Vice President, Chairman of the League's Gang and Youth Violence Task Force, and Mayor Doug Palmer, President of N.J. Conference of Mayors, I have scheduled a press conference calling for the New Jersey Legislature to consider several bills which seek to address gangs and youth violence issues which confront all of our State's municipalities.

These proposals represent yet another facet of our ongoing strategy to deal with this growing and persistent problem. The bills are:

S-752 - Makes unlawful possession of assault firearm second degree crime.

S-753 - Upgrades penalty for unlawfully transferring firearm to an underage person.

S-755/A-464 - Permits municipality to enact ordinance to curb gang related loitering and criminal activity.

S-1365 - Establishes a Gun Court Pilot Program in Essex and Mercer Counties.

A-2683 - Grants to fund Ceasefire Anti-Violence Pilot Program.

A-1650 - Requires boards of education to offer elementary school students instruction in gang violence prevention.

The Press Conference will be held Tuesday, March 7, 2006
11:00 A.M. - State House - Room 109
Trenton, New Jersey

If you wish to attend or request copies of the bills, contact Shirley Cade at (609) 695-3481 ext. 14.

Thanks for your attention to this matter.