RUTHERFORD — From a woman who called him God outside of New Jersey, to two others who engaged him in near-shouting matches, Gov. Chris Christie faced a lively crowd today at a town hall meeting to discuss his agenda. The Republican governor was often interrupted for applause as he discussed his plans to curtail the growth of property taxes,...
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Gov. Chris Christie talks with Joe Sivo of Union City after speaking to a crowd of New Jerseyans about "Cap 2.5, " his proposed constitutional amendment to impose a 2.5 percent cap on increases in the property tax levy and state spending on May 17. Today, Christie held his third town hall meeting on the topic in Rutherford. RUTHERFORD — From a woman who called him God outside of New Jersey, to two others who engaged him in near-shouting matches, Gov. Chris Christie faced a lively crowd today at a town hall meeting to discuss his agenda.
The Republican governor was often interrupted for applause as he discussed his plans to curtail the growth of property taxes, and reiterated his opposition to a tax increase on millionaires. But he also got confrontational with some questioners, including a teacher who criticized the governor's focus on teacher pay.
"You couldn't do any worse, having it in your hands," Christie said. He also received applause when he criticized a record-breaking Statehouse protest on Saturday, where 30,000 to 35,000 people -- most from public employee unions -- criticized his reforms, as well as his budget cuts to schools, towns, libraries, property tax rebates and other areas.
"That protest on Saturday was the special-interest, me first rally," Christie said, led by those who want their pay and benefits to come before other taxpayers' ability to pay.
"You are God outside of New Jersey," Clara Nivot, a 65-year-old from Bergenfield, told Christie. "Let New Jersey be affordable ... We are the silent majority that's learning to speak out."
She was followed at the microphone by Rita Wilson, an English teacher who lives in Kearny. Wilson told the governor she was one of the educators he criticized as having a "me, first" attitude, but she's making a smaller salary than she would as a baby-sitter.
"I'm not a rabble-rouser. I'm a simple English teacher," whose students perform well, Wilson said. "I work really hard."
Wilson said she used the babysitter example to make a point as Christie has pressured teachers to take a one-year wage freeze and contribute at least 1.5 percent of their salary toward health benefits. She and Christie then testily talked over each other for several questions and answers.
"You know what, you don't have to do it," Christie said.
"Teachers do it because they love it," Wilson told him.
The governor said in a time of "economic crisis," teachers and their main union -- the powerful New Jersey Education Association -- should be willing to take the freeze.
After the 90-minute session, Christie said he welcomed the "spirited exchange."
"I don't want to lose touch" with average voters, he said.
Christie has proposed a 33-bill "toolkit" that he says would give local governments more leverage to control costs and slow the rise in property taxes. Democrats who control the Legislature are planning a special session this summer to consider the reforms.