Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver spoke in early January after Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill to speed up construction permitting in New Jersey and announced more than $19 million in additional spending for nearly 80 affordable housing units. — Courtesy: Governor’s Office
By Joshua Burd
The death of Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver is rippling through the state’s commercial and residential real estate industries, whose leaders recalled her as a pioneer and devoted public servant who advocated for affordable housing and economic development.
Oliver, 71, died this week after what reports described as a long illness. Among other accomplishments, the Essex County Democrat was the first Black woman to serve as New Jersey’s Assembly speaker and the state’s first Black lieutenant governor, a role she held at the time of her death after serving for five and a half years alongside Gov. Phil Murphy.
She also served as the head of the state’s Department of Community Affairs, which made her a key figure and point of contact in the administration for the real estate sector.
“There may be no other individual in our state who fought harder to make housing more accessible than Lt. Governor Oliver,” said Jeff Kolakowski, the CEO of New Jersey Builders Association. “NJBA had the pleasure of working with Lt. Governor Oliver throughout her career of public service, and we were privileged to successfully nominate her for the Anthem-sponsored Improving Lives and Communities Award, presented in cooperation with the National Lt. Governors Association in 2021.
“This achievement served to further illustrate the positive impact of the Lt. Governor’s vast contributions to our state and her steadfast commitment to ensuring that the government worked for the people. Lt. Governor Oliver was a strong and consistent voice for the underprivileged and a champion for the most vulnerable among us. She leaves behind an incredible legacy of compassion, advocacy and service.”
Murphy, who was halfway into his second term of working with Oliver, called it “the best decision I ever made” when he picked her in 2017 as his running mate. He noted that, in her roles at lieutenant governor and DCA commissioner, she “(handled) some of the most challenging issues facing our state, including the revitalization of our cities, affordable housing obligations and homelessness prevention.”
“As someone who was born and raised in Newark, and who has called East Orange home for more than 40 years, Sheila did not view these issues in the abstract because she lived with them every day of her life,” Murphy said. “She brought a unique and invaluable perspective to our public policy discourse and served as an inspiration to millions of women and girls everywhere, especially young women of color.”
Other real estate industry leaders offered their sympathies while recalling their interactions with Oliver in her roles as a lawmaker and as a statewide elected leader.
“She was a true professional who was smart and understood the art of compromise,” said David Brogan, executive director of the New Jersey Apartment Association. “At the same time, she was steadfast in her beliefs, which earned her the respect of those who were fortunate enough to work with her. She will be sorely missed, and our deepest condolences go out to her loved ones.”
The Newark native and longtime East Orange resident spent 16 years in the Assembly. While always influential, she became a familiar face in recent years to New Jersey developers and other members of the commercial real estate sector, appearing at industry events to discuss affordable housing and construction permitting issues, among other topics.
Earlier this year, NAIOP New Jersey presented her with its Caren S. Franzini Public Partner Award.
“Our hearts go out to Lt. Gov. Oliver’s family and loved ones,” said Dan Kennedy, CEO of NAIOP New Jersey. “New Jersey has lost a true leader, and the commercial real estate industry a tireless advocate and friend. The NAIOP NJ community will mourn her absence. In life, Lt. Gov. Oliver was recognized and celebrated for her service, professionalism and championship of economic development — a legacy that will endure.”
