In October of 1999, the NJ State Legislature established the New Jersey William Carlos Williams Citation of Merit, a position to be held by "a distinguished poet from New Jersey" who, during a two year tenure, should "engage in activities to promote and encourage poetry within the state..." The distinction was bestowed upon only two poets before being abolished in 2003, after controversy over a laureate's poem about 9/11.

There is no poet more fundamental and influential to New Jersey's psyche and mythos than Bruce Springsteen, and none more suited to promote poetry and poetic expression among New Jersey's young poets.

New Jersey and her residents need and deserve a figure who can promote and foster new voices and new perspectives and Bruce Springsteen is the man for the job. Please use your voice to convince Gov. Christie and the NJ State Legislature to reestablish the Poet Laureate title and to name Bruce Springsteen to this post.