Organized retail theft isn’t just a nuisance, it’s a multimillion-dollar problem impacting local businesses, raising prices for consumers, and putting retail workers at risk. In this episode, we dive into recently signed legislation (A4755) sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Danielsen and Assemblywoman Heather Simmons that takes aim at highly sophisticated theft rings operating across New Jersey.

Hear why Assemblyman Danielsen calls this a win for working families and public safety and how this new law is designed to empower law enforcement, protect store employees and communities.

Retail crime affects all of us. If you care about keeping our neighborhoods safe and our stores open—this episode is for you.

This is Part 2 of a two-part series. In Part 1 we heard directly from law enforcement officials and industry leaders about the real-world impact of retail crime — and how this new law will better protect businesses, workers, and communities.

To learn more about this legislation, visit AssemblyDems.com.

In this episode of Jersey Rules, we dig into one of the most pressing issues facing our state’s small businesses, store workers, and everyday shoppers: the rise of organized retail theft—and the bold steps being taken to fight it.

You’ll hear from Montville Police Chief and 2025 President of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Andrew Caggiano; Tina Marie Pilate, Manager of Asset Protection for Wegmans; Jesse Levine, Senior Director and Chief Compliance Officer for Ravitz Family Markets; and Delaney Redford, Director of Public Affairs for the New Jersey Food Council. Together, they unpack the scale of the problem, how criminals are evolving, and what the new law—A4755 —means for enforcement, accountability, and morale on the front lines.

From professional shoplifting rings to retail violence, this episode goes beyond headlines and into the real-world impact, and real solution, shaping New Jersey’s response.

To learn more about this legislation, visit AssemblyDems.com.

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In this episode of Jersey Rules, we discuss critical legislation signed into law by Governor Murphy in January 2025: Bill A908, which establishes a rape kit tracking system in New Jersey. This new law ensures that survivors of sexual assault are never left in the dark about their cases, providing transparency, security, and accountability in the handling of sexual assault forensic evidence kits (SAFE kits). Our guests include Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, the bill’s primary sponsor, along with two key advocates from Younity (formerly Womanspace), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Featured in this episode:

Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (15th Legislative District), the primary sponsor of Bill A908 and a strong advocate for women's rights and justice reform.

Nathalie Nelson, CEO and President of Younity.

Varonda Kendrick, Younity’s Response Team Coordinator & Domestic Violence Victims Representative.

To lean more, visit assemblydems.com

*Trigger Warning: A note for our listeners: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault, rape kits, and the challenges survivors face in seeking justice. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault and needs support, help is available. You can call the New Jersey Statewide Sexual Violence Hotline at 1-800-601-7200, or connect with local organizations like Younity in Mercer County—whose members share their voices in this episode.

New Jersey stands up for intellectual freedom! The Freedom to Read Act was recently signed into law by Governor Murphy to ensure that schools and libraries remain spaces for diverse ideas, protecting against book bans that limit access to knowledge.

In our first episode of Jersey Rules, we sit down with bill sponsor Assemblywoman Mitchelle Drulis and Martha Hickson, a former high school librarian and advocate for the Freedom to Read Act, to discuss the power of books, the fight for free expression, and why this law matters for New Jersey and beyond.

In this episode, we explore the origins of the bill, policymaking in today’s climate, and what this means for educators, students, and readers across the state. Plus, Assemblywoman Drulis and Ms. Hickson share their personal connections to books and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Find out more about this legislation at assemblydems.com.

📚 Tune in to hear why the right to read is worth fighting for.

*Episode 1 was recorded in January, 2025.