Gov. Christie Holding Town Hall Meeting in Howell on Wednesday
Event to be held at old Southard School
Photos
On Wednesday afternoon Gov. Chris Christie will be holding a Town Hall meeting at the old Southard School, which is now the home to the Howell Police Athletic League.
At the meeting, Christie will take questions from local residents with doors opening at 2:15 p.m. and the meeting is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis and, according to a press release from the governor's office, those in attendance are encouraged to bring their family, friends and neighbors to the forum.
Township Manager Helene Schlegel said she was looking forward to the governor coming to town. "We are excited and honored that he has chosen Howell to do one of his town hall meetings giving the residents an opportunity to interact with their governor in an informal setting," she said.
Councilman Robert Nicastro said he was glad that the governor was coming to Howell. "I'm excited and happy that the Governor is coming to Howell to spread his Jersey Comeback initiatives," he said. "Many of the initiatives are having a positive impact on helping us stabilize costs that we weren't able to in the past because of the legislation that was in place."
Nicastro also said the meeting will give township residents a chance to get their messages to Christie. "We know first hand Howell residents are not shy and will let the governor know the good and the bad," he said.
Deputy Mayor William Gotto said after doing some research he could not find a time that a sitting governor had come to Howell for a meeting like Wednesday's. "It's always a big deal anytime you get the recognition from a governor coming to your town to talk about local issues," he said.
Gotto said when the governor had first started doing these town hall meetings, representatives from the township had inquired about holding one in Howell. With such a large population, he said, it made sense to have one of these meetings here in town.
He also said that the old Southard School is a good example of the initiatives the town has taken to save money and best utilize their resources. "It's a symbol of some of the things he's driven," Gotto said.
Governor Christie has held similar meetings not only across the state but also in the local area appearing in towns like Freehold, Lakewood and Brick.
Those interested in attending are encouraged to call the governor's office at 609-777-2500. The township has also set up a link to RSVP through their website.
s
9:05 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
I had to contact the governor 4 times through email, phone and letters seeking help and direction on a critical issue I had been burdened with. Finally, "someone" from the State called me and when I was able to try and explain the issue and ask for help or direction in the matter I was told "well you're basically screwed there's nothing we can do." Not "let me see how I can help", or "that doesn't seem right, let me look further into it for you". I was told "you're screwed". I wouldn't give this guy the time of day and he lost my vote.
tpaige
9:25 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Well, we the people have let government run wild. Now they believe we are nothing but cash cows that are be to ruled and plundered.
jj
10:37 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Governor Christie will not be happy until there is two class of residents left. He is working on having the middle class disappear and doing a pretty good job at it. When all the middle class wind up in the poor class? Ask yourself how did I get here? When a governor is worrying about giving the tax break to residents who don't need it. You would have to question it. Those who are making 200.000 and more and of course in his own club, those who are making 500,000 and more above is seeing most of the breaks. The republicans on both state and national level keep on attacking and taking away from the supposed entitlements to the poor who are not only the most vulnerable and basic needs like food, housing and health insurance. All these needed programs to give to all the entitlement rich snobs who gets over by paying any taxes that really don't need anything other than more political support for himself. Keep on giving breaks to large companies including oil companies who have not only been gouging the consumers they get to pay zero taxes. These companies should not get tax breaks unless they actually hire employees and keep them. Let the break follow the employee. When they sent and allowed jobs overseas is what caused many job losses here in the USA, we should be charging China and all the other companies to export their products back in the USA. The USA has become the laughing stock of stupidity and blindly shuts their eyes to the problems here. "A Political Nightmare"
KC
12:47 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
I had a similar experience. I was never liiterally told "your'e screwed" but felt I was just given the blow off. No one cares about anything except elections I think and that is not a slam on Christie, but the entire system.
Paul
9:15 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Is anyone going to ask him about how the township was able to blow by the maximum 2% tax increase in any given year, after raising my taxes 20% this year? If so I will not need to go, not if I will attend and ask just that question.
tpaige
9:23 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Why setup a rsvp site but don't tell anyone how to get the name and password? Why even need a name and password!
veracious
10:56 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
agreed!
Patricia McCormack
10:30 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
I tried to RSVP but do not want to install Microsoft Outlook on my computer.
Adam Hochron
11:19 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
If you're having trouble with the RSVP website the township set up then definitely call the number for the Governor's office so you can RSVP that way.
jj
10:47 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
tpaige. Did you include the Governor in the government running wild? Did you notice the front page of the APP. The Governor's payroll is up 14% since he took office. He is not using our state as a "Cash Cow" machine running all over to different states to support his buddy Romney. What the heck,? Who do you think is paying for all these flights, driver, hotels, food bill etc... that comes with it all. Why should NJ pay for his political campaigning. He already admitted that Romney will lose in NJ, then why do it? He is wasting more tax payers money. I would like to see how much these bills equate to. Give me a break... He is all about himself and far he can get for his own.
Me Me Me
9:25 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
I liked tihs part of the artice - He also said that the old Southard School is a good example of the initiatives the town has taken to save money and best utilize their resources. "It's a symbol of some of the things he's driven," Gotto said. He's driven the shut down of a school that should of stayed open through educational budget cuts and merged all the students into Aldrich school and now my child needs to attend K-5 with 575 kids, over crowded classrooms, higher taxes for the residents, etc. Will not be attending and certainly will not give him my vote again if he should go for re-election.
bill sandow
8:43 am on Monday, September 10, 2012
When the "pie" of income shrinks to a lesser size "pie" there is less money to go around thereby causing shrinkage of staff and services. The Southard School closing was caused directly by the HTEA voting no to a salary freeze for the year (Notice the word freeze, not a reduction of salary). The HTEA vote resulted in not only school closure but also to eliminate many young teacher positions around the entire township.
James OBrien
5:08 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
What a bunch of BS. Southard school was closed because enrollment was down, period! They closed the wrong school,should have been Ardena, and we would have a beautiful townhall by now. Either way the HTEA contract had nothing to do with a school being closed.
veracious
10:56 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
Love how the council is taking credit for something done by the boe while blaming the boe for all the tax problems! The board should be closing another school and redistricting everyone due to reduced enrollments. It is ridiculous to have some schools over crowded while others have empty rooms.
Sall
9:11 am on Monday, September 10, 2012
Why not have it at the Global building so they can show off their greatest acquisition? Its only down the road for Southard.