With food prices near record highs, New Jersey just announced that due to the end of a federal program, February will be the last month households enrolled in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive emergency benefits made available during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taxpayers were also just informed that Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy used $522,000 in federal COVID “rescue” money allocated to New Jersey to purchase eight Chevy Suburban SUVs to ferry a handful of “elite” public servants around the state. Reportedly, our good governor is auditioning for the White House. Apparently, he needs to be transported in style.
And, none of the SUVs that were purchased is an electric or hybrid model. Doesn’t Murphy trust the environmentally friendly vehicles he wants other New Jerseyans to buy?
I hope somebody asks Murphy about the reduction in SNAP benefits at his next news conference. If recipients can’t afford to buy the basics like eggs, milk and fresh produce, maybe he could allow those SUVs to do double duty and transport our residents to area food banks.
When asked if using COVID funds to purchase those SUVs was a legitimate expense, his response was, “I don’t think it’s illegitimate.”
Having the talent to doublespeak with ease is a very useful skill in politics.
Carol Rhodes, Barnsboro
Where are all of Biden’s new jobs? I can’t find one
“Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!,” boasts Michael Makara in his recent letter, “Jobs agenda beats a revenge agenda,” praising the Biden administration.
Makara writes, “Over a half million new jobs were created in January. The Biden agenda is keeping food on the table and money in the pockets of those who want to work.”
Really? Where exactly are these jobs? Because I haven’t been able to find one.
I have been unemployed since December. Every day I’ve submitted what must be over 50 resumes for numerous positions posted on internet job sites. Out of all that, I’ve only been to three face-to-face interviews. And, still, I have nothing.
To me, that says the recent Labor Department jobs report may be a flat-out lie, like so much coming from the Biden administration and the liberal news media.
George I. Anderson, Vineland
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at [email protected]
Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.