Jim Florio Comes to Chatham

When former New Jersey Gov. Jim Florio agreed to speak at a fundraiser for the Democratic Scholarship Committee of the Chathams that took place Saturday, he knew the venue would be perfect for the message he wanted to deliver.

Florio, who addressed the crowd at Charlie Brown's Steakhouse, said to create more growth in today's economy, we need to focus on energy policies and need to be aware of what we're doing to our environment.

In order for that to happen, he said, it's important for young people to step up. Scholarships are one way for them to do that.

"This is a good day to be talking about scholarships because the key to dealing with our problems going forward is having an educated population," Florio said.

The scholarship committee will give out an $1,000 scholarship to a graduating Chatham High School senior this year. It has also given out scholarships the past three years.

Florio, who now teaches public policy at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, said that in an effort to afford young people the opportunity to affect change, people need to understand what needs to be changed. As a result, they to have a "better understanding of the deficiencies of the process."

The dilemma today, he said, is that there is too much information out and about that can sometimes easily cause people to confuse common sense ideas with bad ones.

"We need to develop analytical skills in our young people so they can develop a knowledge of what is relevant and what isn't relevant," Florio said.

Young people, he said, need to learn the art of compromise. If they do so, he said, and have what he called "intellectual courage," they can become good leaders.

Later, during a question and answer session, Florio said he favored funding schools not through property taxes, but through income taxes and other sources. He said we need to reduce our dependence on energy, and said local governments will have a difficult time going forward working with the state as it attempts to shore up its deficit and balance its budget.

He also said he did not favor any form of fingerpointing, saying he was not sure anyone has the answer to solving the state's fiscal crisis.

"We don't have any choices, except for unpalatable ones," Florio said.

The scholarship committee will award its scholarship at Chatham High School's graduation. It is currently accepting essay applications for the award.