Edison Dem. Party launches Indian American Caucus
Would allow members of the community to get involved in public policy
BY TOM CAIAZZA
Staff Writer

EDISON - For the first time in Edison history, a caucus has been formed to address the growing needs of the Indo-American community.

Called the Indo-American Caucus of the Edison Democratic Organization, the caucus would serve as a three-pronged approach to addressing Indian American issues, according to Satish Poondi, founder and co-chair of the new caucus.

According to Poondi, who was joined on June 1 by former Edison Township Council president and caucus co-founder, Parag Patel, state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-18) and Assemblyman Peter Barnes III (D-18) among others, for the official launching of the caucus, the group would give the Indian American community a voice in local politics as well as a resource for the community to understand the how public policy is created and functions.

"It is so that people understand exactly what is going on in government," Poondi said, "how government works, and how they can have an impact on policies."

Given the nature of the Indian American community, Poondi said this part of the caucus' role would be less about assimilation and more about bringing people into the process.

"It's not even a first-generation, second-generation thing," Poondi said, "a lot of people begin with a cynical view of politics. Because of that, they don't really understand."

Poondi said this is hardly confined to the Indian community, though.

"If you take a good cross-section of society, you'll find a lot of people aren't always sure how policies are made or how to make their voice heard in the policy-making process," he said.

The third, and most important aspect of the caucus, Poondi said, would act as a bonding agent between the Indian community and the larger Edison political community.

"I believe that the caucus is going to function as a way of bridging any gaps that are there between the Indian American community and the greater Edison community," Poondi said.

The caucus would allow for the Indian American community to be a part of the larger process as opposed to being an outside agent working with the political establishment.

"It's a way of bringing the Indian American community into the mainstream process," Poondi said, "so that there is an understanding and an incorporation of ideas and values."

Assemblyman Barnes, who said he thought the inaugural event of the caucus was productive, said that he had full faith in the "knowledge and savvy" of the two co-chairs of the caucus.

He said that the goals and aspirations of the caucus were reasonable, which include more representation on various policy boards but most importantly gives them that legitimacy.

"It gives them a seat at the table with the Democratic Party as a caucus," Barnes said.

Poondi said that there has been a distinct cultural and political line between the two communities, but said it was not an "us against them" mentality.

He hopes that added interest from the Indian community, through the caucus, and a level of legitimacy the caucus could provide with the political mainstream, could help to bridge the divide between the two.

Poondi said that the enthusiasm of the elected officials present at Friday's inaugural event, was very important to the caucus' being effective.

"It is extremely important to have elected officials show enthusiasm and embrace it," Poondi said.

The Indo-American Caucus will not exist to serve the agenda of its founders, Poondi said. Instead it will "create a forum where members can discuss the issues that are important to them."

The issues of the Indian American community, he said, by and large are the same issues the rest of the community are dealing with as well.

Poondi said that the Edison Democratic Organization and the members of the caucus reached out to each other to create the caucus, no one party pushed the other.

Poondi said it was a product of "the right conversation happening at the right time."

For the caucus to survive, Barnes said it needs to maintain a level of interest among its members. He said that he has already sought the help of council President Charles Tomaro in filling some vacant seats on council controlled boards like Zoning and Housing, with Indian American individuals.

Barnes said that he has also approached Democratic Chair Tom "Doc" Paterniti to allow the caucus representation on the Democratic Party's executive board.