Cultivating Justice in the Garden State: My Life in the Colorful World of New Jersey Politics

Cultivating Justice in the Garden State: My Life in the Colorful World of New Jersey Politics

Cultivating Justice in the Garden State: My Life in the Colorful World of New Jersey Politics

Cultivating Justice in the Garden State: My Life in the Colorful World of New Jersey Politics

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Overview

Born into a working-class Polish immigrant family in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Raymond Lesniak went on to become a major force in the tough and bruising world of state politics. In this remarkable memoir, he reflects upon his life and career fighting for social justice in the Garden State.
 
He recounts the many causes he championed in his forty years as a state legislator, from the landmark Environmental Cleanup Responsibility Act to bills concerning animal protections, marriage equality, women’s reproductive rights, and the abolition of the death penalty. He also delves into his experiences on the national stage as a key advisor for Bill Clinton and Al Gore’s presidential campaigns. With refreshing candor, Lesniak describes both his greatest achievements and his moments of failure, including his unsuccessful 2017 gubernatorial run. 
 
Cultivating Justice in the Garden State is both a gripping American success story and a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the inner workings of our political system. It offers an insider’s perspective on the past fifty years of New Jersey politics, while presenting a compelling message about what leaders and citizens can do to improve the state’s future.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781978824973
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Publication date: 04/22/2022
Pages: 210
Product dimensions: 6.30(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range: 16 - 18 Years

About the Author

RAYMOND LESNIAK grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey. After a stint in the army, he earned his B.A. from Rutgers University and his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. He served in New Jersey’s General Assembly from 1978 to 1983 and in its State Senate from 1983 to 2018.

Table of Contents

Foreword Bill Clinton vii

Prologue ix

1 My Hometown 1

2 Ma Green's Boy 11

3 Settling Scores 28

4 Elections Matter 47

5 Working Together 67

6 The Natural: The Saga of Jim McGreevey 82

7 Christie, Golan Cipel, and the Kushner Connection 93

8 Fighting Injustices 109

9 The Fight for LGBTQ Rights 125

10 On the Banks of the Old Raritan: My Love Affair with Rutgers University 135

11 Sports Betting: A Good Bet 138

12 A Wakeup Call and a Near Loss 149

13 Animal Welfare 154

14 Tax Incentives 161

15 Gubernatorial Campaign: Not the Last Hurrah 169

Epilogue 177

Acknowledgments 181

Index 185

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