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Editor, Asbury Park Sun,

Thank you to all who contributed to the Mayor’s Rodeo for Recreation.

A special thank you to the committee consisting of Leesha Floyd, Cassandra Dickerson, Caroline O’Toole,Tara Werner, Cindy Dye, Barbara VanWagner, Tamica Smith Genise Hughes and Kevin Keddy; some who worked for six months to make this  happen.

Congratulations to the honorees, Thomas Donovan, Traci Akins and Mary Christine McCluskey, recognized for all they have done in giving back to the community, and especially to the Recreation Department and the children of Asbury Park.

Oh What a Night – from the horse and wagon rides, to the great food and awesome entertainment provided by Dez and the Swagmatics, followed by a delicious cake and ending with great fireworks.

Anyone wishing to donate please call (732) 502-5759, or send a check made out to the City of Asbury Park Recreation Trust Fund.

Mayor John Moor

Asbury Park

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Editor, Asbury Park Sun,

The earth does not need humans in order to survive. Humans need the earth in order to survive. This simple truth alone demands governing bodies to make their foremost priority the environmental protection of our earth and the environmental health of its citizens. The earth consistently and constantly needs to be nurtured, restored and preserved in order to sustain all living and future life.

Back in 1990, over 25 years ago, the UN Environmental Sabbath/Earth Rest Day on “Only One Earth” states it most eloquently and succinctly in its Earth Charter:

We have forgotten who we are,

we have lost our sense of wonder and connectedness,

we have degraded the Earth and our fellow creatures,

and we have nowhere else to go.

If we lose the sweetness of the waters,

we lose the life of the land,

if we lose the life of the land,

we lose the majesty of the forest,

if we lose the majesty of the forest,

we lose the purity of the air,

if we lose the purity of the air,

we lose the creatures of the Earth.

Not just for ourselves,

but for our children,

both now and in the future.

Joyce Grant,

Environmental and Social Justice Activist

Asbury Park

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Editor, Asbury Park Sun,

I would like to express my sincere thanks to Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. for his continued leadership and support for America’s renewable fuels industry.

Most recently, Rep. Pallone joined his colleague, Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), in expressing his concern in a letter to President Trump that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt is improperly issuing waivers to petroleum refiners that allows them to avoid fulfilling their obligations under Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.

The RFS, passed by a bipartisan Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush, requires a minimum amount of renewable fuels to be blended into U.S. gas and diesel supplies. By issuing waivers to refiners to avoid their obligations, the refiners are able to block the congressionally required displacement of petroleum products while the amount of cleaner-burning, domestically-produced renewable fuels is dramatically decreased.

In fact, according to recent testimony by the Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, EPA’s waivers last year eliminated demand for more than 1.1 billion gallons of renewable fuels.

As Representatives Pallone and Peterson state in their letter to President Trump:

“Misuse of the small refiner exemption to reduce renewable fuel volumes undermines the goal of the RFS program, creates uncertainty and economic hardship in the agricultural community, and gives unfair advantage to specific facilities within the refining sector. In addition, the lack of transparency and public accountability related to the granting of these waivers creates the appearance of partiality to favored interests.”

The EPA’s decision to give refiners free passes is hurting renewable fuels producers, consumers and families who appreciate the benefits of cleaner air. As Representatives Pallone and Peterson continued in their letter, the President should “instruct EPA to suspend consideration of any additional waiver requests and take steps to improve the transparency and accountability of the waiver program.”

Donnell Rehagen, CEO

National Biodiesel Board

Jefferson City, MO

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