Thursday, April 25, 2013

Sheriff thanks Garfield and Miguel Reyes for getting gun buyback initiative started

According to northjersey.com: 
 
Jorge Huerge of the Bergen County Sheriff's Office checks out a gun at the gun buyback in Garfield at Our Lady of Mount Virgin Church on April 13.

Bergen County Sheriff's Officer Damian Pope checks in a Russian Military rifle in Garfield.

Bergen County's gun buyback program brought in a total of 1,345 firearms over a two-day period, which more than doubled what was collected in 2010.

Saudino additionally thanked the police departments that participated in the buy back program including the houses of worship that were designated drop-off locations. Saudino specifically thanked Garfield's City Manager Tom Duch and Garfield resident Miguel Reyes, president of United Residents of Garfield Engaging Neighborhood Transformation (URGENT), who helped get the gun buyback initiative started. Saudino said Garfield was the voice that helped set the initiative in motion.

Garfield held its gun buyback at Our Lady of Mount Virgin on April 13. The Garfield site collected one assault weapon, 80 hand guns and 56 rifle or shotguns.

Read more here:




Wednesday, April 24, 2013

URGENT's Miguel Reyes Quoted in the NEWS

According to nj.com:

Buybacks have been held across the state, but Saudino said Tuesday that Bergen's was spurred by efforts of local community groups like URGENT Garfield, which first approached their city council with the idea of holding one late last year. The group had been pushing the event on their own, distributing fliers in Garfield and surrounding towns in Bergen and Passaic counties.

"We've been pushing this pretty strong," Miguel Reyes, one of URGENT's founding members, told NJ.com over the weekend.

Read more here:




"We've been pushing this pretty strong." 
                                       - Miguel Reyes, Pres. of URGENT








Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Restore the Shore - Pics of the clean up of the Jersey Shore

Great job!  Saturday, 4/20/13
Restore the Shore!
Cleaning up the New Jersey Shore!



A lot of cleanup at the Jersey Shore
URGENT Cleaning up the Jersey Shore
Resting a bit after cleaning up the Jersey Shore

We are all in this together!  RESTORE THE SHORE! 
Cleaning up the New Jersey Shore



Clean up crew for the Jersey Shore





Monday, April 22, 2013

Garfield Gun Buy Back set for April

According to northjersey.com:

Garfield will host a Gun Buy Back program on April 13 at Mt. Virgin Church where anyone can trade in a gun for money with no questions asked.

Organizations and officials supporting the program include Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli, Sheriff Michael Saudino, Bergen County Police Chief Brian Higgins, the Bergen County Chiefs of Police, United Residents of Garfield Engaging in Neighborhood Transformation (URGENT), Father Peter Palmisano, the Garfield Mayor and Council and Garfield Police Chief Kevin Amos.



"We need to reach out to neighboring cities not just Garfield," said President of URGENT Miguel Reyes. "We need to spread the word and have the community come together for this to be a successful program.

Read more here:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/189412051_Garfield_announces_date_for_its_Gun_Buy_Back.html



"We need to reach out to neighboring cities not just Garfield...to spread the word and have the community come together for this to be a successful program."             -Miguel Reyes, Pres. of URGENT

Friday, April 19, 2013

JUSTICE for the CENTRAL PARK FIVE

Yusef Salaam and the Founders of URGENT
At an URGENT event 12/12: Remembering Malik Williams
LtoR: Reggie Buggs, Yusef Salaam, Miguel Reyes, Victor Urbaez
We support the CENTRAL PARK FIVE in their quest for economic justice.  Please read the petition from change.org and SIGN. 




Dear Mayor Bloomberg:

I am a resident of New York and a tax paying citizen of the US. I am asking for your support
in the civil case involving the Central Park 5. As you probably know, 5 young men were prosecuted and convicted for the rape of a jogger in Central Park. Prosecutors used our tax dollars to prosecute and convict 5 boys (now men) who have served time and have since had their convictions set aside. These young men had their education interrupted and their whole lives turned upside down because of this case.

When the real rapist stepped up and confessed his guilt the convictions were set aside. His DNA matched the samples taken at the scene of the crime, which further proved the innocence of the 5 boys, now men.

Instead of giving an apology for their judicial misconduct and coerced confessions, and offering economic justice for their wrong doing, City prosecutors are doing everything possible to delay the civil case which the boys and their families were forced to bring. More of our tax dollars are being wasted because prosecutors won't admit they were wrong.

We are asking that you do everything within your power to stop prosecutors from engaging in delays in the civil court. Although you were not the mayor at the time, surely if you would speak on the subject and demand justice for these boys, it would make a difference. The boys, now men, and their families deserve an apology and economic justice for the pain and hardship caused by the City and State. Justice delayed is justice denied.

We've witnessed you standing up for what you know is right and we're asking you to do it again in the case of the Central Park 5. If you need more information on the case, watch the movie produced by Ken Burns or read the book by his daughter Sarah Burns. The world is watching how citizens of this great country respond to injustice.

Sincerely,

To:
The President of the United States
The U.S. Senate
The U.S. House of Representatives
The Governor of NY
The NY State Senate
The NY State House
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor NYC
The Central Park 5 Seeks Economic Justice
Sincerely,
[Your name]



Thursday, April 18, 2013

Sheriff personally thanked URGENT for the success of the buyback program


northjersey.com:

Bergen County's gun buyback program brought in a total of 1,345 firearms over a two-day period, which more than doubled what was collected in 2010.

The initiative took place on April 13 and 14 at 11 locations and netted a total of 1,345 firearms, including 10 deadly assault weapons and scores of handguns, rifles and shotguns. Numerous boxes of ammunition, high-powered air rifles, flare guns, BB guns and knives were also surrendered.

"We're thrilled with the overwhelming results of our 2013 Gun Buyback," Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino said today at a press conference in Hackensack. "As we've seen far too many times, gun violence-whether intentional or accidental-destroys lives. While this initiative was a great step in getting unwanted firearms off our streets and out of our homes, we'll continue to find ways to curb gun violence and protect our children, our families and our neighbors."

    "Saudino specifically thanked Garfield's City Manager Tom Duch and Garfield resident Miguel Reyes, president of United Residents of Garfield Engaging Neighborhood Transformation (URGENT), who helped get the gun buyback initiative started. Saudino said Garfield was the voice that helped set the initiative in motion.    "

Read the whole story here http://www.northjersey.com/news/203258351_Sheriff_thanks_Garfield_for_getting_gun_buyback_initiative_started.html

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Cleaning up the Jersey Shore

URGENT is collaborating with the City of Garfield in a support effort to restore our Jersey Shore.

Our neighbors at the shore need our help.  We're going to Lavallette.

SATURDAY, April 20th 
@ 6am @ The Garfield City Hall

Transportation will be provided by the City of Garfield.  Lunch will be provided by the Ocean Beach Marina.  Work Clothes is the attire for the day!

Volunteers are welcomed.  So let's fill the bus and come together in the "City of Champions" and do our part!

RESTORE REBUILD RECOVER