To our new Governor

Governor-Elect Phil Murphy has his work cut out for him, and we have to hope that he will not possess the bully and adversarial demeanor that has been a constant trait of our lame duck governor, Chris Christie. We also have to hope that Murphy will rethink his reported campaign pledge to raise taxes across the board.

“Thanks” to Christie, and his predecessors, New Jersey has witnessed an exodus of residents moving out of the Garden State, mainly to seek relief from the high real estate property tax burden. If the Murphy tax plan gets through the Legislature, my fear is that the exodus of longtime residents, especially among the middle class and residents living on fixed incomes, will escalate. Is this what Murphy really wants to see happen?

I did not vote for Murphy, and I did not vote for Kim Whatshername. I was not impressed with either candidate, and it appears that New Jerse-yeans are stuck with Murphy, who was really the lesser of two evils. We just have to hope that Murphy backs off on his grandiose tax increase plan. If he pursues it, he is very likely to be a one-term governor.

— Taxed To The Hilt

The Guadagno camp fear-mongered enough about the tax hikes. He said he’s raise taxes on the rich and get a lot of money through marijuana legalization, not an across-theboard-tax-hike for all residents.

— Ed Note