DeLuca at the White House

How did you spend your Monday?

Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca and NJ State Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey spent theirs at the White House. 

DeLuca and Jasey were at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to participate in a panel discussion “Forum on First Suburbs, Inclusion, Sustainability and Economic Growth.”

“Maplewood, South Orange and West Orange are prime examples of what are often called 'first suburbs' or older suburbs surrounding cities,” Jasey recently told The Alternative Press. Jasey looked "forward to a lively discussion led by national experts detailing the challenges facing older developed metropolitan communities, hearing suggestions for potential remedies through federal policy and discussing ways to develop and support a new agenda for these communities.”

DeLuca told the public at Tuesday night's Township Committee meeting that the group assembled at the White House had some very productive meetings with members of the Obama administration and was looking to create a lobbying or advocacy group comprised of first suburbs — to focus on issues of particular interest to inner-burbs such as housing inclusion, diversity and education.

DeLuca said he and Jasey also had an opportunity to talk to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood about Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen's plan to re-allocate a half billion dollars earmarked for Northeast corridor train line electrical upgrades and instead send the money to midwestern flood relief. DeLuca said that LaHood was optimistic that Senators Menendez and Lautenberg would not allow such a move.

Otherwise, said DeLuca, "Being in the White House is pretty cool."