To Gov. Phil Murphy:

A few months ago you said, “I am hopeful that a sufficient amount of funding will be available to support the [Civic Info Consortium] as it begins its important work.”

What’s changed?

Leaders in the legislature are working to pass a supplemental appropriation to fix the oversight in the FY 2019 budget to get the Civic Info Consortium the funding it was promised.

But we hear you are withholding your support for this historic initiative.

Work with legislative leaders and pass S2987/A4456 to fully fund the Civic Info Consortium.

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    Tell Gov. Murphy: Work with Legislative Leaders to Fund the Civic Info Consortium

    We’ve got one simple question for Gov. Phil Murphy:

    Do you support funding the Civic Info Consortium or not?

    Though Murphy originally approved giving the nonprofit $5 million to fund projects that would strengthen local journalism, that money had disappeared by the time he signed the Civic Info Bill into law.

    At the time of the signing, Murphy said, “I am hopeful that a sufficient amount of funding will be available to support the consortium as it begins its important work.”

    Legislative leaders are working on a solution, but Murphy is M.I.A.

    The Civic Info Consortium would invest in projects that are rooted in local communities and focused on uplifting the voices of people too many media outlets have systematically ignored.

    If fully funded, the consortium will serve as a model for other states to follow. But without sufficient funding, this groundbreaking project has little chance of success.

    We can’t let politics as usual stall this historic initiative. Tell Gov. Murphy to keep his promise and support local news.

    Picture courtesy of Gov. Murphy’s Flickr account. Photographer: Edwin J. Torres /Governor's Office.