State Sen. Loretta Weinberg was supposed to officially retire from political office today, after 60 years — the past 38 in the state Legislature.
The 86-year-old Weinberg has long been the state’s standard bearer for liberal causes — championing the rights of women and the LBGQT community; advocating for health care, gun reform and public transportation; and pushing for open government and press freedom. That’s to name a few among many other issues.
And she’s been very effective.
If there is a single person who has been responsible for many of the laws that make New Jersey a progressive state, it’s Weinberg. She’s been successful despite being a woman, in what really is a moderate state, and has been a dogged proponent of many causes that were unpopular in their time. She rose to the post of state Senate Majority leader, despite having many political adversaries. But with few exceptions (notably, former Gov. Chris Christie) there’s rarely been true animosity.
That’s why there’s been a chorus of admirers — peers, news writers, advocacy groups and constituents — voicing regret that she’s leaving. I’m adding my name to that long list. It’s hard to imagine any single person taking on her mantle, no less, having the ability to achieve her lofty goals.
I’ve had the privilege of knowing Weinberg for more than 35 years. My first job was reporting on politics in Bergen County, where Teaneck, Weinberg’s beloved hometown, is located. At the time, she was a county bureaucrat, serving as clerk to the board of freeholders and assistant county administrator. I have to say, she hasn’t really changed much. Even then, Weinberg was clear eyed about her goals and what she hoped government could do to achieve them. Whether it was creating the first affirmative-action program in the state or establishing the first shelter for victims of domestic violence, Weinberg would unobtrusively push and prod elected officials to come around to her point of view. I think it was during this era that Weinberg learned how to get the press to highlight issues of importance to her, a talent that would aid her the rest of her political career. (She’s also become quite adept at social media, unlike most of her peers.) Still, she never grabbed for attention, instead letting elected politicians take all the credit.
Weinberg began her political activism in the 1960s, during the Vietnam War and the civil rights era. As a young housewife and mother, she wanted to get involved in the town where her family had put down roots. Before serving as a Democratic operative, she was working with other women in her community, licking stamps and going door to door for various causes, such as Teaneck becoming the first town in the country to voluntarily integrate its school system. From there, it was a short jump to becoming a loyal member of the Democratic organization, in what was then a swing county and a serious swing state.
She served on the Teaneck town council in the early 1990s, when she was also elected to the state Assembly in 1994. She moved to the state Senate in 2005, and was the first Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, running alongside former Gov. Jon Corzine. Christie beat her that year.
When asked what she sees her greatest legislative achievement, she unabashedly says “Oh, there are too many to choose.” Throughout her early legislative career, Weinberg became an unflagging proponent of gay rights, tenaciously fighting for years. She finally got the Legislature to approve marriage equality, only to see it vetoed by Christie. (The state Supreme Court eventually made the decision.) She’s also proud of her role in banning smoking indoors. Pragmatic as ever, she agreed to accept an exemption for casinos.
Her ability to navigate the many personalities in the Legislature was always key to her success.
Weinberg’s bête noir? Christie, who made national news when he told the press corps to “take a bat on her” when she dared to criticize a member of her own party, Joe DiVincenzo (a Christie ally and the Essex County boss) for double dipping with Christie’s support. His attack on the then 73-year-old grandmother was picked up coast to coast.
Christie also had Weinberg to thank for the Bridgegate scandal. Something didn’t sound right to her when she read a small story on NorthJersey.com about a massive traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge. She spent months pursuing the seemingly small event, even attending meetings of the board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Weinberg finally got to the bottom of things, leading to indictments when we learned the traffic tie-ups were a petty revenge tactic by the Christie reelection campaign.
Once she became Senate Majority leader in an unlikely pairing with Senate President Steve Sweeney, Weinberg got to wield real power. I’m still amazed that during strenuous wrangling for money from the Port Authority and the federal government for the anticipated $30 billion Gateway program, she got the go-ahead for rehabilitation of the shabby Port Authority Midtown Bus Terminal, now estimated to cost $10 billion before its done. Weinberg’s 37th Legislative District, despite bordering the Hudson River, has no access to New Jersey Transit trains. Most commuters from her neck of the woods travel by bus. The most recent federal infrastructure bill includes money for the project.
It’s taken many years of tenacious focus in the face of serious opposition for most of Weinberg’s accomplishments. Nevertheless, she persisted.