Animal Protection Hopes for 2022 | Op-ed
2021 was not a good year for advances in animal protection legislation in New Jersey, hopefully 2022 will be different. When I was in the State Senate, I was optimistic New Jersey would be “The Humane State.” While we’ve…
NJ Needs Zero Emission Trucks
The following contains Senator Raymond J. Lesniak’s testimony at the DEP hearing on May 20, 2021 for Advanced Clean Trucks Program and Fleet Reporting Requirements. Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of Governor Murphy and…
Third Anniversary of Legal Sports Betting in NJ
On May 14, 2018, while in the locker room at Suburban golf course, I received a call from Monmouth Racetrack CEO Dennis Drazin who told me the United States Supreme Court had upheld my legislation authorizing sports betting in…
Patricia Perkins-Auguste, Creating New Models for Building Successful Neighborhoods
Patricia Perkins-Auguste, Councilwoman-At-Large, City of Elizabeth, is a career public servant who embodies the principles of biblical teachings and practical delivery of professional public services to her community, constituents and business interests in and around the City of Elizabeth,…
Senator Weinberg, Breaking Down Barriers
New Jersey Senator Loretta Weinberg is retiring this year after serving in the Senate since 2005. She was first elected to public office on the Teaneck Township Council in 1990, completing her council term in 1994. She served in…
Salena Lesniak, My Remembrance on Women’s History Month
We celebrated Salena’s birthday February 27th. She would have been 45 years old. Sadly she died July 3, 2019 of arteriosclerosis, a silent killer. Salena was a standout from her teens, being one of the founders of Dems 2000,…
Stopping Cruelty to Animals is Not a Political Issue, it’s a Humane Issue
The following is the testimony former State Senator Raymond J Lesniak gave at the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing today regarding Bill S3401. Stopping cruelty to animals is not a political issue, it’s a humane issue. Ten states have…
I honor Chessie Dentley Roberts on the First Day of Black History Month
Black History Month starts today. I’d like to kick it off by honoring Elizabeth’s own – Chessie Dentley Roberts. Admittedly, I’m biased. Chessie taught me civil rights as a student at Roosevelt Junior High School. She was a civil…
Why We Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day
The terrible violence perpetrated by Trump supporters on the Capitol of the United States which resulted in five deaths caused by protestors carrying American flags and even some Confederate flags is a powerful reminder of why we celebrate Martin…
National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
Defund the police or refund the police? That is the question we contemplate on this National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Our police deserve to be celebrated for their every day confrontations of potential life threatening encounters. But while we…
STOP the Killing of 272+ Elephants. Embassy of Botswana
On Friday, Feb. 7, our Founder & President, Senator Raymond J. Lesniak recited the following keynote speech in Washington D.C., outside of the Embassy of Botswana Good afternoon, I’m Raymond Lesniak, the former New Jersey State Senator who…
Equality Should Not Be A Partisan Issue
Equality Should Not Be A Partisan Issue. Where Do Key NJ Republicans Stand On It? The House of Representatives passed the Equality Act with 236 votes for and 173 against. Eight Republicans voted in favor of the bill and…
Changing the Culture of Corrections
The Earn Your Way Out Act (S761/1986) (EWO) – the most significant criminal justice reform proposed in America was signed into law today’ Monday, January 20th, a historic day for criminal justice reform. Two years ago Governor Christie vetoed…
Earn Your Way Out: Testimony
On Thursday, Nov. 14, The Assembly Appropriations Committee heard testimonies from criminal justice advocates in support of Earn Your Way Out (EWO) S761/A1986 – the most significant criminal justice reform proposed in America. Here are some of those testimonies: …
Adoption Ceremony For Vincent The Miracle Cat
Vincent, the miracle cat, was adopted today after four months in quarantine – a tribute to Sue who saved Vincent, Brenna who adopted Vincent, and my wife Salena who instilled in me her love for animals. When Salena…
Happy Kids Heal Faster
A long time friend of mine, Hank Sheinkopf, prominent political advisor to mayors, governors and presidents, called me last year and asked for a favor, “Could you introduce Toys for Hospitalized Children to hospitals in New Jersey?” I responded…
Vincent The Miracle Kitten Needs Your Help
For all of you who have been following Vincent the miracle kitten’s journey to recovery, I’m pleased to report Vincent is recovering well. As you know, Sue risked her well being to save Vincent and the Monmouth County SPCA…
How Legal Sports Betting Came To New Jersey
Speech by Senator Lesniak at NJ Bar Association Sports Betting Conference at Monmouth Park Racetrack: I see today’s agenda focuses on the future impact of sports betting in New Jersey, so I thought I’d spend my few minutes to…
Update: Vincent The Miracle Cat
Sue and I were pleased to toast the successful surgery on Friday for Vincent the Miracle Cat (Can you guess the origin of Vincent’s name? Pretty obvious.) All is well! Vincent’s ear was badly damaged and needed to be…
Remembering Salena Lesniak
Today, we say goodbye to Salena Lesniak, our founder & president, Senator Raymond J. Lesniak’s wife and partner for over 20 years. Salena will be greatly mourned by so many, as she touched the lives of so many people…
Take Action To End The Abuse of Solitary Confinement In New Jersey
The abuse of solitary confinement in prisons is well documented. This abuse was on the brink of ending in New Jersey, but Governor Christie vetoed my legislation ending it. “The move was a blow to civil liberties advocates in…
Juneteenth
We celebrate Juneteenth as a reminder that the Emancipation Proclamation was only the beginning of the end to slavery in America and that the struggle for justice never ends. As Dr. King stated “We shall overcome because the arc…
From LGBTQ Supporter to Advocate
As a state legislator, I always supported LGBTQ Rights. In 1991, I supported amending New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity – but I was not a co-sponsor of the legislation. Supporting equality with…
Sports Betting Anniversary
Today, we celebrate the first anniversary of the Supreme Court decision declaring the federal ban on sports betting, PASPA, unconstitutional. My journey to bring legal sports betting to America started eleven years earlier on March 30, 2007 when my…
Golf with Donald Trump
Some years ago before Donald Trump expressed any interest in running for President, my friends Mike Sciarra, George Norcross and I played a round of golf with The Donald at his club in West Palm Beach. Trump is actually…
The Last President of The Greatest Generation
President George H. W. Bush exemplified the greatest generation of Americans who grew up during the great depression and fought during World War II, the greatest threat to our nation and the world. His entire history of service to…
September 11 Tribute
On September 10, 2001, at 9:30 am, I was in a meeting at the Port Authority’s office in the World Trade Center Building. One day later, 2,977 men and women died. There but for the grace of God go…
What John McCain’s Life & Death Taught Me
Never let adversity hold you back. Let it inspire you. There’s a line in a song by The Band Perry – If I Die Young – “Funny when you’re dead how people start listenin”. Senator John McCain didn’t die…
Our Commitment to the Community
The Lesniak Institute For American Leadership has seven specific causes in its advocacy mission- Animal Welfare, Community Service, Criminal & Social Justice, Addiction, Curbing Gun Violence, Education, Environmental Protection.
A Lifetime Of Advocacy Started At 12 yrs. Old
My political career didn’t begin until I graduated St. John’s Law School, but here’s how my commitment to being a voice for the voiceless and for social justice began:
