By Matt Lobosco |

LONG BRANCH – The opportunity for young people to engage in politics is growing in Monmouth County.

Out of a desire to spark youth political involvement, the chairs of the Progressive Caucus of the Monmouth County Democrats have formed a new subcommittee called the Young Progressives Committee. The team of young activists, which currently includes 10 members, has come together to promote a progressive agenda and to support specific campaigns that fight for the progressive platform. Anyone 35 years old or younger who lives in Monmouth County may join the committee.

On Tuesday, June 20, the committee held its second official meeting at The Inkwell Coffee House in Long Branch. The committee holds meetings once every month, but looks to increase meetings to twice per month as the group grows. Committee co-chair Kate Triggiano said the meetings are ultimately meant to “produce action.”

The Young Progressives Committee has no affiliation with the Monmouth County Young Democrats Caucus, which is separate from the Progressive Caucus.

A common theme among the committee members in attendance was the inspiration they received from Vermont’s U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a champion of the progressive agenda. Several members of the committee volunteered in some capacity for Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign in New Jersey.

Committee co-chair Jack Mamiye, who said he comes from a very conservative family,said he became much more involved in politics when Sanders ran for president. After graduating from Rutgers University, Mamiye went to work for 2016 Democratic congressional candidate Peter Jacob, who ran for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District. He said his motivation to campaign for Jacob was largely attributed to Sanders’ presidential campaign.

Some of the key points of the committee’s agenda include a $15 minimum wage, a single-payer health care system, free public college tuition, legalization of marijuana and criminal justice reform.

The group’s platform appears to coincide with many of the policies of 2017 New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Wisniewski. However, since the Progressive Caucus is a subcommittee of the Monmouth County Democrats, the Young Progressives Committee is not permitted to endorse a candidate different from the Monmouth County Democrats. The endorsement of the Monmouth County Democrats went to Phil Murphy, who won the party’s gubernatorial primary election on June 6 over Wisniewski and others.