Economic And Justice Reform Spotlighted Ahead Of Primary

With New Jersey’s June 10 gubernatorial primary fast approaching, the state faces critical questions about economic inequality and justice reform.  

Despite being one of the nation’s most diverse states, New Jersey continues to grapple with stark racial and economic disparities. From Black-owned businesses receiving just a fraction of state contracts, to persistent gaps in access to healthcare, housing, and opportunity. With the election’s outcome poised to shape the state’s direction for years to come, advocates and policy experts are calling for bold, systemic change.

Ahead of the gubernatorial race, the Fund for New Jersey and the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University hosted “The Future of Economic and Justice Reform in New Jersey,” the second in a four-part Crossroads NJ Conversations 2025 series.

The forum explored the intersection of economic policy, public investment and justice reform–and how these forces impact communities across the state. 

The New Jersey Disparity Study, recently released in January 2024, showed how Black-owned businesses received 1% or less of state contracts in all industries between 2015 and 2020. Furthermore, Black-owned businesses received 13.7 million for professional services compared to white-male-owned businesses with $3.4 billion.

Panelists included experts and advocates from academic, policy, and social justice institutions. Opening remarks were given by Dr. Julia Sass Rubin and Brandon McKoy, president of The Fund for New Jersey. Panelists included Peter Chen, senior policy analyst of New Jersey Policy Perspective; Rev. Dr. Charles F. Boyer, founder of Salvation and Social Justice; Maura Collinsgru, director of policy and advocacy at New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund and Kassandra Frederique, executive director of Drug Policy Alliance.

The conversation began with panelists envisioning what a more equitable New Jersey could look like by 2035. Boyer described a future where Black people are no longer subject to the “variability” of white-controlled systems. In that future, they would have agency over their education, economic security, and neighborhoods. They would be able to own their own homes.

The discussion shifted to the future of economics and justice reform in New Jersey, the need for systemic changes such as dismantling corporations, ensuring healthcare as a human right and redistributing resources.

“It is a myth that we have to create more, and it’s that myth that created the subjugation of enslaved African people to be a means of production,” said Frederique. “It is those things that create the conditions for informal economies that we then criminalize people, like people who sell drugs.”

Collinsgru pointed out that meaningful change will take generations, especially in healthcare, and cannot be easily improved by a single administration. Building on the theme of systemic challenges, Boyer also highlighted a widespread sense of false democracy. He described the current system as a “puppettocracy,” where people follow rather than actively engage in societal issues.

Panelist agreed that changing the underlying conditions  is essential to help enact change. One of the main obstacles that community members often face when wanting to make a long-term change is a lack of trust and skepticism, Frederique noted. Creating institutions that accomodate different kinds of people can foster innovation and bring people together, panelists said. 

“We can’t continue to exploit people at every other level and have guaranteed income and think we fix poverty because we steal from people all the time, and we create poverty by corporatization and all of these other things,” said Collinsgru of how mistrust is created in communities.

Panelists suggested that empowering disengaged residents and rebuilding trust in institutions can bring positive changes to the community and make a difference in politics.

Boyer emphasized the need for greater transparency. He pointed out that white individuals historically founded and led most nonprofit organizations serving Black communities. Often, they included just one Black person in a visible leadership role. Truly Black-founded and Black-led organizations remain rare. Even those organizations are sometimes viewed with suspicion. They face concerns of extraction similar to those of their ancestors, he said.

As panelists emphasized the importance of unity and rebuilding trust, McKoy explained that the event aimed to do exactly that. Conversation about the future of economic injustice and reform in New Jersey often gets overlooked. This is partly because the state sits between the New York and Philadelphia media markets, he said.

“I think that there’s a lot of dissatisfaction with things that happen on people’s behalf, without their input. And so to avoid that, you got to show up and you go to be engaged,” McKoy said.

With New Jersey being the 7th most diverse state in the United States, the governor holds significantly more power compared to governors in many states, McKoy said. Because of this, McKoy said, residents must participate in the democratic process. They must choose who will better serve their community, for better or for worse.

To get ready for the June 10 gubernatorial primary, residents should actively research the candidates. They should identify which policymakers align best with their values and priorities.

“I think it’s, it’s a motivating space for us to have conversations that actually can lead to real, real solutions that are sustainable and that can take us to a future that’s different than what we’re living right now,” Frederique said