​​Please Reach Out to Lawmakers for Property Tax Relief for Older Residents, Those with Disabilities

​Here is their contact information for District 37 legistors and a sample letter to mail or e-mail:

Senator Loretta Weinberg
(201) 928-0100
Senweinberg@njleg.org

Assemblyman Gordon Johnson    
(201) 530-0469
AsmJohnson@njleg.org

Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle
(201) 928-0100
AswHuttle@njleg.org
 
All three share a district office with the mailing address of: 
545 Cedar Lane
Teaneck, NJ 07666

SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear [Decision Maker],
I am writing to you as a staunch supporter of the needs of older adults and as an advocate for the goal of helping residents age in place. We need your help to ensure that funding for the Senior Freeze and Homestead Benefit property-tax-relief programs is restored in the new state budget to be adopted before Sept. 30.
As you know, many older and disabled New Jerseyans struggle with high property taxes even in prosperous times. The economic downturn has led to lost income from jobs, investments, retirement accounts and savings accounts, making it harder for many older adults to pay for basic necessities like food, utilities and medicine. 
In Bergen County, the average annual property tax in 2017 was $11,564, or about 57 percent of the average annual Social Security earnings. New Jersey’s highest-in-the-nation property taxes are a major reason why half of all elder-led households are classified as “economically insecure.”
Cutting property tax relief programs could jeopardize the ability of many older residents to remain in their homes and communities as they age.
I hope we can count on your support.
Thank you. 
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]