Resident found Holt meeting informative

On the evening of Aug. 12, the residents of South River were given the opportunity to speak to U.S. Congressman Rush Holt in a Town Hall meeting held at the Borough Council chambers. A very gracious congressman gave an exhaustive list of accomplishments and also the shortcomings of the current, 110th U.S. Congress. He then took questions from the residents on a variety of issues including: Fuel costs and drilling for oil off the Jersey Shore; corporate tax rates; investing in research and educational initiatives in New Jersey; election reform; the various costs of the Iraq War; and veterans' issues.

In addition to the congressman's presentation, former Middlesex County Freeholder Jane Brady gave a presentation about the challenges in the current county economy. Overall, the entire two hours were a very productive and informative exchange. South River owes Congressman Holt a debt of gratitude in a figurative sense for his graciousness in attending this Town Hall. The borough also owes a literal debt of gratitude to the congressman for the $117,500 grant he got for the borough to purchase new public safety radios.

The only somber note on the whole evening was the icy reception the congressman got from a sitting Borough Council member, who challenged the congressman on economic issues in what many would consider a confrontational manner. Whether Republican or Democrat, a sitting U.S. congressman deserved more respect from our governing body than he received from Councilman Mike Trenga.

That aside, the positive nature of the evening as a whole and the fact that, at the very least, even such a confrontation can be qualified as an exchange of ideas underscores again the good feelings this resident of South River got out of the meeting with Congressman Holt.
Rui Almeida
South River