Frelinghuysen to hold invitation-only phone meetings with constituents

Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) accused Democrats of trying to 'take over one-sixth of the economy.'
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.)
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By Kevin Coughlin

Some 350 people signed up for a town hall meeting in Boonton on Tuesday night, but the honored guest won’t be attending.

Rep.  Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) said he prefers to speak with constituents over the phone.

Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.)
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.)

“I am aware that certain groups have scheduled what they are calling ‘town hall meetings’ and I applaud the effort. I am happy that they are exercising their First Amendment rights to engage on the big issues of the day and endorse their right to free expression,” the 12-term congressman said in a statement.

“But my goal is not argument.  My goal is to continue the same civil discourse I have had with my constituents over the years.

“I will be continuing to visit all 54 communities in my district to meet with the people and listen to their concerns.  And we’ll be having more telephone town hall meetings so I can engage with as many people as possible. 

“I invite all constituents attending this week’s demonstrations to participate in our teletown hall meetings by passing along to our office a contact number,” Frelinghuysen said.

The Boonton town hall, and three other town halls this week, have been scheduled by the grassroots group NJ 11th for Change.  It has been gathering each week at his Morristown office for #FridaysWithFrelinghuysen, to ask that the congressman host his first town hall since 2013.

Constituents — mothers with babies in tow, senior citizens, immigrants including members of Morris County’s Muslim community–have raised concerns about the Trump administration, its immigration policies, and Frelinghuysen’s votes to defund Planned Parenthood and loosen gun control laws.

Their interactions with Frelinghuysen staff members–who were presented with a 2,700-signature petition requesting a town hall meeting– have been polite.

NJ 11th for Change invited Frelinghuysen to a town hall meeting in Sparta last weekend. He did not attend.

Similar meetings are scheduled for Little Falls on Wednesday,  Feb. 22, 7 PM (United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 464A Hall, 245 Paterson Ave.,) and for Livingston on Thursday, Feb. 23, at  7 PM (Temple B’nai Abraham, 300 E. Northfield Road).

Speakers scheduled for Tuesday’s town hall, at the Jam-E-Masjid Islamic Center on Harrison Street in Boonton, include:

  • John McKeon, NJ Assemblyman
  • Brian O’Neill, Immigration Attorney
  • Bill Cole, The Education Association of Morris
  • Joel Cantor, Distinguished Professor of Public Policy, Rutgers University
  • Diane DuBrule, ACLU
  • Gordon MacInnes, President of NJ Policy Perspective

MORE ABOUT NJ 11TH FOR CHANGE

10 COMMENTS

  1. Why are you so afraid to meet your constituents in person? Why do you have to turn t a “telephone conference”? It looks like you have something to hide! We all know you do!

  2. He supported his father, when Peter as an elected official, worked so hard to prevent a jetport and Rte. 287 from harming the environment surrounding their estate. I felt certain that he understood the importance of protecting the environment beyond Harding Twp.

    Then I learned he currently has one of the worst voting records on those issues. I learned that he has withdrawn, his longtime support of Planned Parenthood. They were the only health care source available for my deceased daughter when she need a chest X-ray because she had discovered a lump in her breast in 1999. They have offered many necessary services for the poor and uninsured. , never using federal funds for any of those services disputed by certain religious groups. Eliminating all funding will be felt by those poor and needy citizens, who need them the most. As he helps the current congress dismantle the Affordable Healthcare we now have, how many more of his constituents will suffer? Not only will I not vote for him again but I feel deeply disappointed in this total lack of character in someone I had come to know and respect.

  3. Why can’t we see a transcript or an audio recording of this “town hall”? Is this considered proprietary/confidential information? I expect the congressman to heavily screen and limit the questions so that he doesn’t have to address anything from those across the aisle, but what is the purpose of what’s essentially a telephone press conference if only a tiny, tiny percentage of constituents (who happen to be on the secret list, happen to be home at 5 on a weekday, happen to pick up calls from random area codes that have incomplete caller ID info) can listen to it?

  4. I was born and raised in Morristown but I currently live in Europe. His web site will not accept my European address or telephone number. This contact information is allowed when I apply for an absentee overseas ballot. It seems that he wants my vote but not my opinion.

  5. After my friend called and left her phone number, I also called the local Frelinghuysen Morristown Office, gave them my phone number and asked to be included in his next tele-town hall that will include Morris county/ Morristown. Also, sent him a few emails with my thoughts. You go to his website:
    https://frelinghuysen.house.gov/
    hover your cursor over the “contact us” tab, then click the “contact form”, I’m sure once he sees all the issues that we want to discuss, he’ll gladly make time for us in Morristown.

  6. Question: Is the congressman actually in New jersey at present? My recorded invitation to a “telephone town hall” had a caller ID readout from Daytona Beach FL. Perhaps this was just a service he used, but it did make me curious.

  7. He said: “But my goal is not argument.” I think our representative is making an assumption. All I ask is that he listen to my concerns. Why does he assume an argument? He said: “My goal is to continue the same civil discourse I have had with my constituents over the years” but the last time he held a town hall was in 2013. I ask him to change this sentence from ““I will be continuing to visit all 54 communities in my district to meet with the people” to “I will meet with the voters in my district.” I am sorry our representative thinks of me as an adversary.

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