by James Blackburn
for Viking News

Tackles issue ranging from education to health care

New Jersey Representative John Adler (D) recently spoke and gave a question and answer session at Ocean County College.

OCEAN COUNTY COLLEGE – Congressman John Adler gave a speech and question and answer session at Bartlett Hall on April 8th. The Democrats and Independents Club hosted the event.

Rep. Adler has been preparing for his upcoming re-election campaign against the retired San Diego Charger, Jon Runyan. He currently represents the third district of New Jersey, which includes Ocean, Burlington and parts of Camden counties.

“We live in the most tumultuous era since the Great Depression,” he said.

Alder is considered to be a “Blue Dog Democrat.” He said that he votes for what he believes is right, even if it does not fall along party lines.

“Government cannot solve all problems, government should provide opportunity,” the representative stated. He reinforced his backing of the stimulus bill.

“I can’t imagine how much worse off we would be if Congress and the president had not passed the stimulus bill – I’m not for a second suggesting that it’s good now, it’s not.” he said. “I’m proud to be one of the people trying to do things, develop small business, revive the middle class that is definitely struggling right now, and not lose sight of the point of public education and higher education – really as a ticket to success and opportunity.”

Rep. Adler grew animated when asked about the policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell” in the military.

“The idea that we wouldn’t take people because they are gay or lesbian is astonishing to me. We have had this in our history in the past, when we didn’t want to have African-Americans fight, and we look back now, and that looks absurd.” he said. “If someone is brave enough to pick-up a rifle and keep my family safe by going overseas – I thank God for them. I don’t care how they live their private life, that’s their business.”

On the issue of the recently passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act -aka the health care bill – Adler was the only “nay” vote from the eight Democratic representatives from New Jersey.

“I did not vote for the bill when it came up in November, I didn’t vote for it when the House voted on the Senate version of the bill, I didn’t vote for the “clean-up bill” that was supposed to fix the flaws on the House version,” he stated. “I thought all along, while it did some very good things to subsidize insurance for more working Americans who can’t afford it themselves, not using pre-existing conditions to deny coverage, clamping down on insurance company abuse – this is overdue.”

“Some of these I think were very bi-partisan, but I don’t think this bill will in any way reduce the premium increases for families and businesses that buy their insurance are facing right now,” added the representative. “That is the wrong direction for the middle class.”

When asked about Governor Chris Christie’s recent educational funding cuts, he said that the governor faces a “real mess” in dealing with the budget, but cutting funding for education is not the proper channel to take to try and reduce the deficit.

“If there is one place New Jersey has an edge, we have got just about the best school system of any state in the country. I am very weary of dumbing down the quality of our education, because that doesn’t hurt just short term that could hurt for a generation or longer,” Rep. Adler stated.

The last question came from a middle aged African-American man sitting in the back of the room. He took the microphone nervously and looked around at a room of mostly college students, who had craned their necks to hear him speak.

“I remember the time when the name nigger was hurled at me, I was spat upon, and I thought we had gone beyond that,” he said. “Now you are seeing that certain people are using that same tactic to try to affect policy and I’m finding that, we are getting to the point where we are separating again and it’s going to be us versus them. What do you do when, no matter what you say or do, they are going to say no?”

Adler answered almost as soon as the man finished.

“It is enormously frustrating, because clearly the problems we face as a country are not Republican or Democratic problems, if you don’t have a job that is a family crisis,” he said. “There is a lot of racism out there, I think a lot of it is tied to the race of our president.”

“I don’t have any problem with people disagreeing with me on a particular issue, that’s fair game, that’s the greatest part about America. That we can come talk to one another, but to do it civilly, I don’t mind people yelling at me. I even had an old lady shove me,” the representative added. “But what you’ve described and with what I’ve seen with colleagues, are troubling. I will tell you, there are a lot of Republicans in Washington who are fundamentally really good people, and some of them are bullied from their own party to go farther to the right then they really are personally. The level of rancor right now in our country is troubling. I think most Americans, don’t buy into that.”

To learn more about Congressman John Adler please his official website at http://adler.house.gov.

by Erik Ahrend
for Viking News

One of the new "green" OCC security trucks. Photo by Peter Litter.

OCEAN COUNTY COLLEGE – Ocean County College security purchased three environmental friendly vehicles as part of the college’s initiative to make OCC an environmental friendly campus.

The new vehicles provide greater accessibility and utility while keeping noise and air pollution to a minimum. Two small electric pick-up trucks, made by Vantage Vehicle International, are designed to replace the old golf carts. The new Ford Hybrid Escape will patrol campus and assist students in the parking lot.

“The golf carts ate gas, they were uncomfortable, noisy and were often hard to start up in the winter time,” Jon DiRocco, security sergeant, said.

“The green trucks are taller, which provide a better view for the security guards,” Katie Grofik, manager of security operations, added. “They also carry equipment such as first aid kits, automated external defibrillators, night time safety vests and cones which allow [security] to block off certain parts of the campus if need be.”

Students should also expect to see patrol bikes and walking security guards patrolling campus in the upcoming months.

“If the officers are comfortable walking or biking, they can” Ms. Grofik said. “Especially with the nice weather you will see more officers on bikes, they can respond faster and they can go where the new vehicles can’t go.”

According to vantagevahicle.com, the green trucks are able to reach a top speed of 25 miles per hour in five seconds, carry a payload of 1,950 pounds have a 995cc four-cylinder engine. They are also able to drive up to 60 miles or eight hours on a six-hour charge.

Fordvehicles.com states the hybrid has an average fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon, can hold up to 66 cubic feet of cargo and feature regenerative braking which allows the car to recharge itself every time the driver brakes.

“They are also silent, you can barely hear them,” Ms. Grofik said. “The green trucks won’t interrupt classes.”