Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty and his Democratic Primary challenger, Esperanza Porras-Field, are among speakers scheduled for Monday’s virtual kickoff of Morris Together, a nonpartisan coalition of religious congregations and nonprofits.
The 75-minute event stars at 7:30 pm on May 10, 2021; register here to watch.
Morris Together is a chapter of New Jersey Together, which began as Jersey City Together in 2016. It’s affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation, a national network of multi-faith community organizations established in 1940.
Although Monday’s webcast is being billed as Morris Together’s official launch, the nonprofit has been establishing relationships with 18 houses of worship and nonprofits for two years.
A listening campaign involved more than 2,400 people across Morris County last summer, according to lead organizer Frank McMillan.
Based on those conversations, Morris Together identified mental health and substance abuse, criminal justice reforms, and affordable housing as prime concerns of county residents.
In 2020, the organization urged a change in leadership in the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
Activists in Black Lives Matter Morristown march express disapproval of the Morris prosecutor, Aug. 22, 2020. Video by Kelly Montes:
That change occurred when Prosecutor Fredric Knapp retired. He was succeeded by Acting Prosecutor Robert Carroll.
Carroll also is scheduled to speak on Monday, along with Dan Greenleaf, CEO of ModivCare.
Morris Together intends to propose steps it says will make a difference in several areas. Monday’s topics may include:
- Issues with Modivcare’s medical transport services, particularly for those with mental health and substance use issues, and addressing parity issues with access to mental health care;
- Addressing racial disparities in Morris County’s criminal justice system;
- Establishing Crisis Intervention Team training for local police departments in Morris County;
- Establishing a homelessness trust fund for Morris County;
- Building and preserving affordable housing in Morristown.
Jersey City Together says it has “created or leveraged more than $450 million in investment in housing, schools, and communities.”
Dougherty and Porras-Field are scheduled to face off this Wednesday, May 12, in a League of Women Voters candidates forum at 7 pm. The deadline for the public to submit questions for that forum is 6 pm today, Monday, May 10.
The Democratic primary is on June 8.