Standing Between Us and Them
By Albert B. Kelly
I’ve commented at various times since November that
elections have consequences. Even as I write this, the Trump administration is
about to impact the lives of a lot people in our area and throughout South
Jersey. It won’t happen with bells and whistles, just a pen and the “delete”
button on a keyboard.
Right now, Donald Trump and his advisors are crunching
budget numbers- deciding what’s important and what can be eliminated. While
federal budgets aren’t exciting things to consider, they say a lot about values
and priorities.
As it stands right now, Mr. Trump wants to give hefty tax
cuts that will mostly accrue to the wealthy. At the same time, he also wants to
massively ramp up the money spent on weapons and systems. In order to this, he
will have to give the ax to lots of other programs that everyday folks depend
on.
Most of the programs on the chopping block are the very
programs that are now helping residents throughout Cumberland County and South
Jersey.
Mr. Trump wants to eliminate the Community Development Block
Grant program known as CDBG; the HOME investment program, Neighborhood
Stabilization Program, and Emergency Shelter program to name a few.
These programs provide funding to counties and communities
(i.e. Bridgeton, Vineland, Millville, Franklin Twp, Gloucester County) to assist
lower income families, senior citizens, the homeless, disabled and other groups.
For example, CDBG funds help lower income homeowners with repairs to their
homes.
CDBG funds are also used for infrastructure projects, meals
on wheels, youth programs, library activities, historic preservation, handicap
and ADA-related services and facilities.
By killing these programs, the Trump administration will shift billions
of dollars to tax cuts- most of which will benefit those in far better shape.
Mr. Trump also wants to kill the Low-Income Home Energy
Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program. These
programs help our senior citizens, disabled people, and lower income families avoid
having to decide between heating and eating.
Some of Mr. Trump’s other cuts include taking away funds for
after school programs for children and funding that provides legal aid services
to those who cannot afford legal representation.
Mr. Trump also wants to ax funding for the National
Endowment to Arts, the National Endowment to the Humanities, Council on
Homelessness, U.S Trade and Development Agency, assistance for rural areas, and
funding for historic preservation.
Candidate Trump promised to make America great again-
President Trump intends to try and do it on the backs of the many thousands of
people in our area whether lower income families, rural areas, urban communities,
or the disabled to name a few.
So who stands between us and those budget cuts? It’s our
representatives in the nation’s capital. For most of us in Southern NJ its
Congressman Frank LoBiondo- he is our voice in the House of Representatives.
At some point, Mr. LoBiondo will be called upon to vote yea
or nay on the budget. While Mr. LoBiondo is a Republican, this is not just
partisan politics- he is our voice, the one who represents all of us, not just
those in his party or the ones who voted for him.
He has a direct vote in the House so if these cuts will,
like repealing the health care act, damage you or your family members or
neighbors, let him know about it and that you’ll be watching because much
depends on it.
We also have two senators; Robert Menendez and Cory Booker
and while both are Democrats, this is not about partisan politics, not when so
many people’s lives and well-being hang in the balance. They too vote and stand
between us and a budget that will hurt a lot of people- let them know about it.
To communicate with Congressman Frank LoBiondo in DC, you
can call (202) 225-6572 or write to him at 2427 Rayburn Building, Washington
D.C. 20515; and his NJ Mays Landing office is (609) 625-5008 and located at 5914
Main Street, Suite 103, Mays Landing NJ 08330.
For Senator Robert Menendez call (856) 757-5353 or write to
Barrington Commons, 208 Black Horse Pike, Suite 18, Barrington NJ 08007. For
Senator Cory Booker, call (856) 338-8922 or write to One Port Center, 2
Riverside Drive, #505, Camden NJ 08101
These are the folks standing between us and those who would
cause a lot of pain and struggle by killing off the programs so many depend on
to survive. Now is the time to be heard.