South Jersey: A separate reality
South Jersey does not exist. It is not in the realm of states. There is no South Jersey on the map, like South Dakota or South Carolina. Some believe it doesn’t exist at all in the minds of politicians controlling the state Legislature, except as a concept around the territory of Senate President Steven Sweeney […]
Turning his back on American exceptionalism
Congressman’s oath pledges support for Constitution, not to any leader When given the stage and an audience of patriotic Americans, Congressman Jeff Van Drew hauls out a well-worn speech about American exceptionalism, the belief that the United States of America is unique among nations around the world and, in fact, superior. Factors that contribute to […]
Ocean City Council on Ørsted’s wind farm: Not In My Back Yard
Would turbines on the horizon hurt the tourism industry? We doubt Ørsted’s public representative expected what was coming her way on Thursday night at the Ocean City Council meeting. Kris Ohleth finished a cheery generic presentation of the Denmark-based company’s proposed $1.6 billion offshore wind farm. She was speaking before council because the company is […]
Youth sports limits should follow high school limits
New order makes U.T. request moot, but what happens after start of new year? Representatives of youth sports organizations participated in the remote meeting of Upper Township Committee on Nov. 23, advocating for more access to township facilities. They said they have plans in place to protect their athletes and were frustrated with further delays […]
Can we keep politics out of services honoring our veterans?
Veterans fought to preserve our Constitution and the rights it infers, including the freedom of expression, but do politicians have to use that freedom to add to the rifts in this nation on days we set aside to honor the personal and ultimate sacrifices of those veterans? Some politicians can’t help themselves, can’t help injecting […]
The slow slog of government progress
It took years for resident Donna Moore to convince Ocean City Council and the administration to stop putting dangerous pesticides on public lands, but she finally succeeded last month. There have been countless appearances at public comment sessions to implore council and the administration to stop using – and to have its private contractors stop […]
Don’t ask people to look away from a racist symbol
At last week’s committee meeting, which blew up over Young’s resignation and Young appearing (via Zoom) to say he didn’t resign, a second controversy erupted over a car and truck parade through the township to support President Donald Trump. The main controversy over the parade was that one vehicle also displayed a Confederate battle flag. […]
Hobie Young isn’t the victim here
Hobie Young resigned from the Upper Township Committee after he embarrassed himself and the township by posting vile and disgusting images of Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Now he wants to play the victim with a following of local residents egging him on. He is no victim. Hobie, you screwed up. You owned it, […]
Mutual assured political destruction
Don’t make excuses for horrible behavior online Just as troubling as (now former) Upper Township Committeeman Hobie Young posting vile and disgusting memes of vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Facebook were the few people who defended it. They weren’t defending the misogynistic, sexist and repulsive memes on the basis of free speech rights, that […]
Mail in those ballots
Fervent Republicans and Democrats claim this is the most important election in our lifetimes or, in a greater display of hyperbole, since the Civil War. Depending where you stand on the political spectrum, when it comes to the presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, you may well agree. It shouldn’t matter: citizens should […]