Recently, I received a letter from the 24th District Legislative Offices of Assemblywoman (Dawn) Fantasia, Assemblyman (Michael) Inganamort and Senator (Parker) Space.
The letter thanked me for contacting them in support of continued state funding for New Jersey’s community colleges.
I appreciated their words of thanks but did not appreciate the politically partisan and disingenuous comments in their letter regarding the restoration of $20 million in community college operating aid and the 18 percent cut to the Community College Opportunity Grant program.
The letter’s wording that I objected to was a partisan attempt, using half-truths, to disparage Democrats regarding one single issue of community college funding.
Instead of disparaging comments about the opposing political party, try addressing the real issue of the overall partisan dysfunction that exists in our politics, as evidenced by the 2025 state budgeting process.
When is this dysfunction going to cease and be replaced with bipartisan work that benefits the people of the 24th District, the state, and the nation?
When our political leaders focus on facts and discuss meaningful policy differences, compromises are reached that are typically more efficient and productive.
Our elected legislators can start setting a new tone in our politics and should do so immediately. And, as voters, we should expect nothing less than fact-based, good-faith debate about policy, not partisan sniping.
We, the voters, have the power to make change, if our political leaders do not have the will, by voting for those who we believe have the best interests of the citizenry in mind.
Gary DiPippo
Wantage