The Kennedy assassination changed us all; Vote for Sherrill; Red light cameras worked; Boggiano drawers | Letters

Where were you when you heard the news?

Some six decades ago, the United States was shocked, horrified and deeply saddened by the assassination of a young president who wanted to lead the nation into a new era, one of acceptance, compassion, tolerance and understanding. Unfortunately, an assassin’s bullet shattered the dreams of a “New Camelot.”

And to this day people ask, “Where were you when you heard the news?”

Indeed, the assassination of our 35th President, John F. Kennedy, on November 22, 1963, had a profound impact on the United States. The nation was in shock and grief, and the event had a significant effect on American politics and society.

Admittedly, in the immediate aftermath of the assassination, relatively little had changed. President Lyndon Johnson addressed Congress after the funeral, saying, “Let’s go on.”

But in the long run, the impact on the nation has been extremely significant.

Unlike Lincoln and FDR, who were taken from the national scene just as they were completing their historic tasks—specifically, the Civil War and World War II—JFK met his untimely fate while he and his administration were right in the middle of their agenda. .

The tax cuts he had proposed in February 1963 and the civil rights bill he had approved that year had been long delayed in Congress. These initiatives were well on their way to passage when JFK died. Nationally, JFK was extremely popular, running far ahead of any Republican candidate for the Oval Office by larger margins than those enjoyed by Franklin Roosevelt.

The assassination also had a transformative effect on American politics. New York Times columnist James Reston, the dean of American journalism, said Kennedy’s assassination was a symptom of a sick society. Prominent historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr., a Kennedy White House aide, said the assassination of JFK was proof that America was an overly violent society.

The 1960s, after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, saw great changes in the United States. There was a growing deterioration of trust in the government. The way the older generation viewed America’s youth was changing, and the limits of our constitutional freedom of speech were being severely tested.

Before his death, Kennedy had proposed civil rights legislation that would prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, sex, or national origin. For its time, this legislation was controversial, and consequently it had stalled in Congress before JFK’s death. Suffice it to say that the assassination changed the political dynamics of the civil rights movement.

The nation remained in mourning for a very long time – until four boys from Liverpool helped a grieving nation when they appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on February 9, 1964. And then, as they say, the rest was history.

John Di Genio and Albert J. Cupo, Jersey City

Sherrill for governor

I urge all New Jerseyans to support Mikie Sherrill for Governor. As one of a long line of Navy veterans—my great-grandfather served in World War I and my grandfather survived a Nazi submarine attack in World War II—I was raised to stand up for what I believe. That’s why I’m proud to endorse Mikie Sherrill for New Jersey’s highest office.

Mikie is a proven leader. A pioneer in the US Navy, she graduated from the Naval Academy and commanded a combat helicopter squadron at a time when few women had that opportunity.

Her service paved the way for future generations of female aviators and broke barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field. As a federal prosecutor and in Congress, Mikie advocates for victims of domestic violence. Her commitment to fighting for women’s rights is unwavering, and she will continue to defend reproductive rights in New Jersey and ensure that every woman can make her own health care decisions.

In Congress, Mikie worked side by side with veteran advocates like me, fighting to ensure veterans have the resources they need to succeed in civilian life. Mikie’s dedication to veterans comes from a place of deep understanding – a veteran herself, she knows what it means to serve.

With veterans’ benefits increasingly under attack in Washington, New Jersey will need strong leadership to protect and expand support for those who served our nation. Mikie Sherrill is that leader. She is committed to making New Jersey a beacon for veterans and for all residents fighting for a future where all can thrive.

Visit Mikie’s campaign website to learn more and get involved. Together, let’s pave the way for a brighter and more affordable future for our veterans and all New Jerseyans.

Michael Embrich, veteran, former New Jersey State Commander, Veterans Service Organization, former policy advisor to the US Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Reinstate red light cameras

Joan Quigley’s recent article (“Traffic, bike lanes: Two causes of general dissatisfaction among Hudson voters,” Nov. 19) lamented the lack of traffic enforcement, especially in cities. She’s right that police departments don’t have the staff to really concentrate on that; imagine doubling the size of a “$100,000+ per year” police force to hand out $100 tickets fought by $500-per-hour lawyers.

However, New Jersey once had an effective alternative: the Red Light Camera (RLC) program.

True, it had some flaws. One, the length of the yellow interval, was easily corrected (but does anyone really do you think the 85th percentile speed on Kennedy Boulevard is 25 mph?). The second was how Right Turn on Red (RTOR) was enforced. Issuing summonses based on the speed of a right-turning vehicle may have been the only way a camera-based enforcement program could identify violations, but this method is nowhere described in the state’s motor vehicle statutes (section 39).

I ignore the accusation that they increased other crashes, especially the same direction; no NJ motorist “hits the brakes” when they see a yellow interval, or a pedestrian for that matter!

Despite Declan O’Scanlon (New Jersey State Senator, R, Monmouth County), the RLC program was highly effective in curbing red light and associated crashes. The mandatory six-month summary reports that cities submitted to the NJ Department of Transportation showed that the incidence of sensitive (right-angle) crashes was reduced not only at the monitored intersection, but also at the unmonitored “control” intersection (one was required for each monitored location).

But based on the “drumbeat” of criticism from a vocal minority, rather than fine-tuning the program as is usually done—eliminating RTOR enforcement entirely, settling for NTOR and Red Light violations—the Legislature abruptly canceled the program without even requiring a final report. Probably because they were afraid of the positive results.

The alleged grunt in Hudson County once again proves Mark Twain’s prescient observation: “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it!”

Ken Newman, PE (Law), FITE (Law), Sarasota, Florida (until recently Pompton Plains)

Lame excuses from Boggiano

The Pompidou Museum is certainly a source of controversy.

Of course, Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano finds himself right in the middle of this contentious issue. His recent comments that he did not know about the “special assessment” that will be used to fund the art museum makes us question Mr. Boggiano’s ability to represent Ward C. Lame excuses like “nobody told me about this” or “I didn’t know about this” simply won’t do.

As elected representative, Mr. Boggiano’s duty and responsibility to stay informed. He owes that much to his voters.

If Mr. Boggiano is unable to keep abreast of issues arising in his congregation, should Mr. Boggiano resign his seat on the council.

But when we think about what has happened with the Pompidou x Jersey City Museum, we believe that the Mayor and Council President had sent Mr. Boggiano a clear message when a while ago they went to Paris to discuss the museum and left Rich Boggiano. behind, even though the museum was supposed to be within his department. Ironically, we also remember during the election debate in 2021 how Mr. Boggiano defended Pompidou as something positive for society.

At this point, Mr. Boggiano at odds with his Team Fulop colleagues regarding the Pompidou Museum and the recreation centers. It is readily apparent that Team Fulop no longer finds Boggiano an asset or at least an ally. True, given the Paris trip, we doubt Team Fulop ever considered Mr. Boggiano for being a viable and valuable member of the team.

At this point, we can honestly say that the people of Ward C have lost confidence in Mr. Boggiano’s ability to represent them on the council. Mr. Boggiano’s lame excuses and lip service are no longer enough to secure the trust of his constituents.

It is time for the people of Ward C to elect a representative who will stay on top of things in Ward C. Team Fulop has moved on from Rich Boggiano and so should the voters of Ward C.

Jack and Joseph D’Elia, Jersey City

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