We, citizens of New Jersey; petition the state to increase New Jersey’s pride. We feel that our state is disrespected and we will not stand for it anymore. We want this to change right now. We deserve to be proud citizens of New Jersey. Please sign this petition to show your support for our cause. To increase NJ pride we have created three polices.

Our first proposed policy is known as New Jersey Public Service Duty. Run by the Department of Community Affairs, this policy will choose citizens to participate for public service duty, similarly to the way it is done for jury duty. Chosen citizens are requested to clean up New Jersey, its polluted cities and parks. Not only will the citizens have to clean up the cities, the chosen residents of New Jersey will also be working as volunteers for historic and state parks. Since working outside can be a liability to the state government, due to possible accidents, there will be an option to participate in either public service duty or jury duty. If any injuries occur, the state government will not be charged, blamed, or fined for the incident. A cleaner New Jersey gives citizens the opportunity to feel happy about where they live. Visitors and tourists will recognize New Jersey as the Garden State not the “Polluted State”.

Other than making people work to clean up New Jersey, we are taking more steps toward increasing New Jersey state pride by hopefully getting private owners of the New York Jets to change their team’s name. We are aware that private owners funded the stadium where the New York Giants play. However, New Jersey taxpayers’ money is used to maintain the stadium. NJSEA needed $19 million of state funding in the year 2011 alone. The roads around the stadium along with the police forces are paid for and maintained by New Jersey’s citizens and their tax money. If the teams want us to pay these taxes, we should have our state name on the team jerseys. If the owners refuse to change their names, they will be forced to pay for the maintenance of the stadium and other infrastructure on their own. This definitely puts the owners in a very tough position. If they are so intent on keeping their name, they have will have to pay massive amounts of money to keep the stadium and the land around it maintained. New Jersey will collect taxes from events that occur within the state. Our policies do not violate any rules and laws in the New Jersey state constitution. We are not forcing the team’s private owners to do anything, but of course the owners and the players should feel morally obligated for playing for New Jersey. They have the choice to change their name, or fund the stadium on their own.

New Jersey students are lacking state pride as well. In the New Jersey state Constitution, a clause states the government is responsible for “providing for the management and control of free public schools.” We feel that our schools do not teach students enough about the history of New Jersey. In fourth grade, students spend a few days talking about how important New Jersey’s involvement in the Revolutionary War was. Students should find out more about how New Jersey impacted the world and its culture with new inventions and successful people. The section of the state curriculum about NJ history must be expanded. We need to learn more about our home state and the detailed history of New Jersey. The more they know, the more they can appreciate