Stephen N Zielinski Sr, his parents and Brother
I was a child of the 60’s and 70’s growing up. My first involvement in voter awareness was back in 1980 when I was 16. I felt that every person should be involved in our democratic system. Voting gives us the power to create positive change for our community and determine a better quality of life for us and our family. As my Eagle Scout service project for the Boy Scouts, I went door to door throughout my Ward educating neighbors on the importance of casting their vote, seeing if they were registered, and if not, helped them fill out the voter registration form.
I have always been deeply involved in food, nature, the environment, and the pursuit of meaningful change. My journey began in the 1980s when I first entered the food industry and restaurant business at the age of 16. Over the years, my passion for these areas has only grown stronger.
In collaboration with my family, my wife and I built a restaurant from the ground up, which we successfully ran for six years. This venture was more than just a business; it was a realization of our commitment to sustainability and healthy living. We established an organic vegetable garden that supplied all the vegetables for the restaurant, embodying the ultimate farm-to-table experience. Our garden-to-plate approach not only provided our customers with the freshest ingredients but also reinforced our dedication to environmental stewardship and the promotion of local, organic produce.
Through these experiences, I have gained a profound appreciation for the intricate connections between food, health, and the environment. They have shaped my perspective on the importance of sustainable practices and have driven my ongoing commitment to advocating for positive change in these critical areas.
From 2000 to 2008 I was a commodities broker and Commodity Trade Advisor. CTA. I traded many of the Commodities as well as bonds and major indices for my clients. In 2004 I created a hedge fund using limited credit spreads on the S&P 500. I built the fund from $200,000 up to $13.5 million in two years offering an overall return of over 16% per year. I had authored articles for Investopedia and was featured in Stocks & Commodities Magazine.
Fast forward to 2010 when I got back into the food industry, now as a manufacturer.
Created from a joke, I started a pickle and salsa company called Crazy Steve’s Concoctions.
I used these “condiments on a mission” to bring about change and make a difference. We used the labels on the jars to spread awareness on the environment, hunger, and the food we eat.
I also created a foundation called "Pickles against World Hunger" and I had gotten many celebrity chefs to sign our jars which we auctioned off. For every jar that we sold we made a small donation to Feeding America
. From humble beginnings our product was in over 53 Whole Food stores Acme markets and local grocers from Virginia all the way out to Kentucky.
When Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey, I gathered my team together and started "Rebuild The Jersey Shore", designing and selling tee shirts and donating the profits to help the victims of the hurricane. We also connected with "Operation BBQ Relief" setting up at fire houses and first aid squads, feeding people days after the storm hit. We donated a few hundred jars of pickles, handing them out to individuals in the food lines.
We always grew an organic garden Up to 1 acre selling and giving our produce and vegetables away. When my wife passed away of cancer in 2017, I decided to add eggs and pasture raised meats to the equation. I felt that people needed to eat healthy and not the mass produced CAFO meats that were in the supermarket. On our small 7 acre property we raised over 100 chickens out on pasture on our front lawn, as well as turkeys , ducks, goats and pasture raised pigs. Using organic and regenerative agriculture practices as much as possible. During this time I learned much about the earth and how making healthy soil gives us healthy plants and gives us healthy food which makes us healthy. I felt that the animals like all animals should live out their life as they were meant to, to be out in nature for pigs to slosh around in a mud pit to keep cool, for chickens to peck and eat the grass the bugs the dandelions.
For the past eight years, I have dedicated myself to the solar industry, driven by a passion for empowering homeowners to break free from the monopolistic grip of traditional electric utility companies. My journey began with a vision to add value to homes, save money for families, and contribute positively to the environment and the fight against climate change.
Building and training teams across the country has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. It’s not just about installing solar panels; it’s about creating a network of passionate individuals who share my commitment to sustainability and innovation. Together, we’re driving a movement that not only promotes clean energy but also fosters economic growth and resilience.
Every day, I am inspired by the stories of homeowners who have taken the leap into solar energy, witnessing their excitement as they see their energy bills decrease and their property values increase. These experiences fuel my dedication and remind me why I entered this industry in the first place.
As I continue this journey, I am more motivated than ever to expand our reach, develop new markets, and build stronger, more sustainable communities. The future is bright with solar energy, and I am honored to play a part in shaping that future for generations to come. https://cleanenergyadvisor4u.com/
My goal in running for the New Jersey State assembly seat in legislative District 12 is to take all that I have learned over the past 60 years of my life and develop reforms that are beneficial to the state, you my neighbors in District 12 as well as all residents in the state of New Jersey.
These are some of the issues that I'm looking to address:
Reform our education system. My wife was an educator and teacher for 18 years teaching special needs children from age 6 to age 20. Engaging over 120 students per year in life skills, she taught these children many things that are not taught in public schools. Balancing a checkbook, working out your time schedule, how to run a small business, growing their own vegetables and cooking with them. We need to stop spending money on high stakes testing of our children and take those funds and support our educators with new and invigorating teaching. An engaged child is how we bring about change.
It's time to end our dependence on the fossil fuel industry, which is not only environmentally destructive but also heavily subsidized by your hard-earned tax dollars. These subsidies perpetuate an outdated and unsustainable energy model, diverting funds that could be better invested in cleaner, more efficient alternatives.
By shifting our focus to green manufacturing, we can bring much-needed jobs to our state. This isn't just about creating employment; it's about fostering a thriving, forward-thinking economy that prioritizes sustainability and innovation. Green manufacturing jobs will not only provide stable, well-paying positions but also position our state as a leader in the burgeoning green economy.
Let's take bold steps toward a sustainable future. By reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and embracing green manufacturing, we can create a prosperous economy that works for both our people and our planet. It's time for change, and together, we can make it happen.
Reducing property taxes in New Jersey is a critical issue that directly affects the financial well-being of our residents. Property taxes in our state are among the highest in the nation, placing a significant burden on homeowners and making it increasingly difficult for families to make ends meet. This needs to change.
One of the key steps to achieving this goal is to stop the state from redirecting funds that are meant for municipalities. When state governments divert funds intended for local communities, it creates budget shortfalls that force municipalities to raise property taxes to cover essential services such as education, public safety, and infrastructure maintenance. This practice not only undermines local governance but also places an unfair financial strain on property owners.
New Jersey is called the Garden State. Unfortunately we spray too many pesticides and herbicides on our agriculture, which has been documented to cause many health illnesses throughout the country. I am looking to introduce legislation that will benefit organic farmers, introduce practices for regenerative agriculture, offer carbon capture credits to farmers, and ultimately make New Jersey the 1st regenerative agriculture organic state in the union.
We need to stop the corrupting influence of money in politics and create a statewide public for election financing reform. Taking money out of politics is one of the most critical and necessary reforms for the state of New Jersey because it makes all other reforms possible.
Keep up to date on the progress of my campaign and the solutions I am looking to present for you, the residents of New Jersey. Sign up to show your support and receive our Newsletter.
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