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Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill (A5664) during a private ceremony in his office at the Statehouse in Trenton Friday morning. He was joined by eight people — lawmakers who sponsored the legislation and housing advocates. 

The bill Murphy signed into law creates the Community Wealth Preservation Program, and makes it easier for families to acquire properties at a sheriff's sale. A similar bill was conditionally vetoed by Murphy, and then-Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake introduced the overhauled version. 

"We know that owning a home is the biggest aspect of the wealth gap," he said. 

Murphy said the new law will get "safe affordable housing into the hands of folks who deserve it."

"It will rebalance the man on the street versus the big corporations that's vacuuming up city blocks and flipping them to turn a profit," he said. 

Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter pointed out that the bill passed with bipartisan support. Timberlake said she got it out of committee with bipartisan support as well. 
 
"You have to acknowledge it when you get something that's bipartisan," he said. 

 Murphy added that this legislation has "legs for many decades to come." 

The morning signing is one of four bills Murphy is set to sign Friday. Of the more than 100 bills on his desk, private ceremonies and public events are only being held for about 11 bill signings, he said. 

He took photos with Sens. Shirley Turner and Timberlake, and Assemblywomen Shanique Speight & Sumter. Asm. Benjie Wimberly was not present at the signing. 

"Big, big day," he said, congratulating the advocates and lawmakers. 

He signed the bill at his desk and gave out eight pens: 

1. Senator Britnee Timberlake

2. Senator Shirley Turner

3. Assemblywoman Shanique Speight

4. Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter

5. Staci Berger, President and CEO, Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey

6. James Williams, Director of Racial Justice Policy, Fair Share Housing Center

7. Beverly Brown Ruggia, Financial Justice Organizer, New Jersey Citizen Action

8. Matthew Hersh, Director of policy & advocacy, Housing & Community Development Network of NJ. 

Sophie Nieto-Muñoz, NJ Monitor

PHOTO 

Phil Murphy | Flickr

Rich Hundley, New Jersey Governor's Office