Suleiman launches South Jersey public policy think tank

Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman has founded a non-profit think tank and issue advocacy group, South Jersey Forward, which will look at public policy for the region over the coming years.

“From Atlantic City to the Delaware Bay, the Pinelands to Cape May, we will research and identify solutions that will make South Jersey a better place to live,” Suleiman said.

The new 501(c)4 group, Suleiman says, will not have a PAC and not be involved in partisan politics.  The plan is to write policy papers, conduct roundtable discussions with community leaders, and research issues facing South Jersey.

South Jersey Forward’s kickoff roundtable is set for May 31 at 7 PM aimed at identifying ways to expand housing for the middle class in Atlantic City.  Orange Loop developer Pat Fasano and Pastor Alexander Smith of the Community Harvest Church in Atlantic City will join Suleiman; the event will be livestreamed on the South Jersey Forward Facebook page

“We will not promote milquetoast ideas or boilerplate positions just to get a headline. South Jersey Forward and its contributors will be focused on bold proposals and ideas regardless of their political popularity,” Suleiman explained.

Suleiman has been interested in public policy as well as politics.  Last year, he wrote an Op-Ed proposing the use of casino taxes to fund housing incubator zones.