---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Russ Cirincione <info@russforus2020.com>
Date: Fri, Aug 15, 2019 at 1:25 PM

My name is Russ Cirincione. I’m a dad, a husband, and a public servant. As a government attorney, I'm a loud voice for housing rights. I’ve drafted laws that protect consumers. Now, I’m running for Congress in New Jersey's 6th district.

Even though I live in New Jersey, every morning, I get on a bus and commute three hours to and from work downtown Manhattan. My wife is a teacher. We don’t make the big bucks. Because of the insanely expensive housing costs, we couldn’t afford a house in the neighborhoods we grew up in. Like many people before us, my wife, my son, and I moved to Old Bridge. My life is like the millions of people who live in New Jersey that commute long hours, away from the family, to make a living. New Jersey needs faster and cheaper commuting options, like new high speed rails, electric buses, and more infrastructure. We also need local jobs so that most of us don’t have to do a 2-hour commute every morning.

Growing up, both of my parents worked and we were lucky enough to have many opportunities. I went to a good high school but I couldn’t afford college so I had to take student loans. My parents firmly believed I had to go to college to be competitive, so they encouraged it. I remember my high school guidance counselor said "just go to the best school you can get into, you'll pay your loans off eventually." But at 18, I had no idea it would leave myself and my wife with over $200,000 in student debt. College traps millions of Americans in soul crushing debt that is a drain on the economy. It's affected our ability to invest in retirement, move out of our parents basement, buy homes and start families. I couldn't afford to move out of my parents house until I was 27 years old. I see even the opportunities I had are dwindling for many Americans. I'd like everyone in this country to have it better than I did. We need free public college for all and cancellation of all student debt.

In college at Seton Hall, the high cost of on campus dorms forced me to off campus apartments for my junior and senior years. For two years I dealt with landlords that wouldn't fix the heat when it shut off during cold winter nights. I remember sleeping with my back on the furnace in an unfinished basement trying to stay warm, just waiting for it to be fixed. The electric systems would fail when we plugged in our phone chargers.

When I graduated undergrad in 2009, the market had crashed. I remember when the bailout bill passed, trillions of dollars were created overnight but millions of people would face foreclosure and had no bailouts. I thought that was unjust.

I went to law school because I never wanted to feel helpless again. So I could be a voice and understand how to navigate the legal system.

As an attorney, I’ve chosen to defending tenants’ rights in court. I’m often up against unscrupulous landlords and corporate attorneys in fancy suits. I’ve heard them argue almost anything to make an extra buck. Some landlords even try to deny tenants’ rights to organize and will even go so far as harassing tenants who complain about sub par conditions in their buildings, like rodents or dirty hallways. In one case, tenants complained about the owner’s loud barking German Shepherd. The dog was often left in the hallway to run around. Once the tenant Claire was chased into her apartment by the growling dog and complained. When the landlord found out, he decided to get mad about the complaint, rather than fix the problem. He pounded on Claire’s front door, and when she opened up the door he stuck a gun in her face threatened her life for complaining. Because we have very few federal rent protections, tenants are at the mercy of their local and state government.

If I’ve learned anything, I’ve learned that big money only cares about one thing: more money. Their interests are almost always against ours. They can always afford to hire expensive lawyers that argue the rules don’t apply to them. Working people are usually left fending for ourselves. My litigation experience taught me that it takes an army of people willing to stand up and demand our rights, and justice, for all of us, if we will ever counter the obscene influence of money in politics.

While, the establishment Democrats love to brand themselves as #TheResistance, time and time again, we have seen the establishment Democrats capitulate to the Republicans without a fight. Most recently, Nancy Pelosi agreed to hold a vote on a draconian immigration bill, despite having the option to obstruct and delay Mitch McConnell. The only reason that Democrats cooperate with the Republicans so much is because Nancy Pelosi isn’t alone! She has a team of representatives behind her.

I'm challenging Nancy Pelosi’s "enforcer," Frank Pallone. Frank has stated that he agrees with Pelosi on almost every issue. We don’t need an East Coast Pelosi that wants to "reign in the left." Congressman Frank Pallone leads the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees 60% of all legislation before Congress. He doesn’t regulate corporations, he allows many corporations to write the regulations and they have invested millions to his re-election campaigns over the years. And they've received quite the return.

We need strong representation in Congress willing to speak truth to power and address the crises of our time. Representation that will fight end the influence of big money. Big corporations and lobbyists ought to never, ever, influence anyone’s decision making. I want to work to build a system that defangs their power.

In today’s politics, it's not enough to just be "Not-Trump". I’m sick and tired of being told what is “politically possible.” I’m sick of the establishment telling me they won’t fight to make my son’s life better. I’m sick of our protests falling on deaf ears. We deserve leaders that put the People first and champion our causes. They need to get out of the way of those willing to actually do it. Now, we need a leader with the courage to demand bold action that the People want. That’s why we are demanding Medicare for All, 100% renewable energy, and ending corruption. We need new ideas and a new vision for America, for the future. Government is supposed to prioritize the important things, the things that help our country and our people make progress. So that's why I'm standing up to fight, for all of us.

- Russ