ASSEMBLY, No. 1380

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

210th LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2002 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman JOSEPH V. DORIA, JR.

District 31 (Hudson)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Impreveduto and Assemblywoman Quigley

SYNOPSIS

    Directs NJ Transit to designate a Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit System station in Jersey City the Thomas and John Jackson Station.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

    Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

An Act concerning the New Jersey Transit Corporation and supplementing P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-1 et seq.).

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The Legislature finds and declares that:

    a. The Underground Railroad, the effort to assist persons held in bondage to escape slavery and become emancipated, is a meaningful part of our national and State heritage, and recognition of the Underground Railroad, and those involved with it, is important in reminding us of the adversity of slavery and the courage of both those persons seeking their freedom and those who assisted them in their journey.

    b. Thomas and John Jackson, former slaves, were successful oysterman along the Morris Canal in the 1800's, and are believed to have assisted those seeking freedom on the Underground Railroad and used their property in the Greenville section of the city of Jersey City in their efforts to aid those seeking emancipation.

    c. It is altogether fitting and proper to designate a station of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit System, located in the Greenville section of Jersey City, the Thomas and John Jackson Station, thereby recognizing the role of the Jackson brothers in the Underground Railroad and their role as successful African-American businessmen.

    2. The New Jersey Transit Corporation is directed to designate one of the stations of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit System, located in the Greenville section of the city of Jersey City, the Thomas and John Jackson Station.

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill directs the New Jersey Transit Corporation to designate one of the stations of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit System in the Greenville section of the city of Jersey City the Thomas and John Jackson Station.

    Thomas and John Jackson, former slaves, were successful oysterman along the Morris Canal in the 1800's, and are believed to have assisted those seeking freedom on the Underground Railroad. In particular, it is believed that they used their property in the Greenville section of the city of Jersey City in their efforts to aid those seeking emancipation.

    Designating one of the stations of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit System, in the Greenville section of Jersey City, the Thomas and John Jackson Station, would recognize the role of the Jackson brothers in the Underground Railroad and their role as successful African-American businessmen.