BRICK – Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) spoke to hundreds at the Brick Police Athletic League hall about his opinion on the executive branch’s overreach, the economic impact of tariffs, the threat to Medicaid, and the issue of corruption. He delivered sharp critiques of the current administration’s policies on healthcare, immigration, and foreign affairs, calling for a nationwide mobilization to protect Medicaid and oppose tariffs.
Kim fielded questions from those in the audience as well, mingling with them both inside and outside the hall. “This isn’t about Democrats or Republicans or independents,” he said. “This is about those who stand for the Constitution and those who don’t.”
“We are seeing this administration take efforts to be able to consolidate and seize power within the executive branch, sidelining the other two branches of government, which is something that is unconstitutional,” Kim asserted. He expressed deep concerns about the growing influence of wealthy individuals and special interests, citing Elon Musk’s involvement in politics and business. “We cannot have a situation in this country… where we have somebody who is simultaneously trying to dismantle our government while also running businesses that have billions of dollars in (government) contracts.”
Kim, who is not a veteran, warned about efforts to cut Veterans Administration staffing. “Now we’re seeing attempts to eliminate tens of thousands of VA jobs. One out of every three government employees is a veteran. That’s not just bad policy – it’s wrong.”
The potential consequences of funding cuts, particularly for Medicaid, were a major focus of Kim’s address. Kim said he couldn’t support the budget bill and discussed the fight that will ensue when the next appropriations process starts in September. “This is a project that is about protecting health care, about protecting Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security,” he explained, highlighting the significant number of New Jersey residents who rely on these programs.
On foreign policy, Kim criticized the president’s stance on global affairs. “We are literally going to celebrate our 250th anniversary as a nation next year. We should be standing with countries trying to defend themselves from invasion, authoritarianism, and dictatorship,” he said. He pointed to North Korea’s involvement in Ukraine as a sign of growing global instability. “North Korea literally has troops in Ukraine right now, fighting alongside the Russians. What happens there shapes how Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea act toward us.”
Kim also raised concerns about judicial independence. He recalled the tragic case of Judge Esther Salas, a New Jersey federal judge whose son, Daniel Anderl, was murdered by a gunman targeting her family.
“When we see the richest person in the world calling out judges by name, when we see the President of the United States doing the same, we know how dangerous this moment is – not just for judges, but for our country,” he said.
Expanding on his views on President Donald Trump, Kim said the president is not a disrupter. Instead, he called him a hoarder. “He’s trying to hoard the power to himself,” said Kim. “To hold the wealth for him and the people that are loyal to him, and that is the breeding ground for corruption.”
This was Kim’s third town hall in three days and his 86th since taking office as a U.S. representative in 2019. His decision to visit New Jersey’s 2nd and 4th congressional districts was deliberate – he had previously represented versions of those districts before redistricting.
Interest in the event was high, with 281 people packing into the Brick PAL Center, creating a standing-room-only crowd. According to Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy, another 203 attendees gathered outside to listen to Kim. Some of those unable to make it inside the event left the venue to join others watching it live on C-SPAN.
Confronting Tough Questions
As he was wrapping up his speech and opening the forum for questions, he noticed something alarming at the back of the room. Someone was having a medical emergency. Without hesitation, Kim rushed to assess the situation.
Ocean County Sheriff’s officers, who were providing security for the event, quickly stepped in to assist a woman experiencing a medical emergency. Kim called for a break while EMS professionals did their work.
The town hall was paused for approximately twenty minutes. Upon resuming, Kim fielded questions and offered more intimate discussions at the end of the event.
One emotional moment arose when a second-grade teacher recounted a student’s fear of deportation. Another attendee challenged Kim’s vote against protecting women and girls in sports. Kim defended his position, stating, “They’re using this legislation to try to push forward on their fundamental belief, which is that they think that people in the trans community have mental health issues and that they don’t believe that that is something that actually exists.”
A woman said she works for an agency discussing a 65 percent cut in spending and wanted to know what Congress would be doing about the misuse of appropriated funds. She also spoke out against the current administration’s stance against organized labor as a union leader.
Little Egg Harbor residents Joanne Drozd and Daniel Feras came to interact with Kim, driven by their deep dissatisfaction with the current state of government. Recently, the pair participated in a protest against Congressman Jeff Van Drew, where they were troubled by reports labeling them “paid protesters.” Both vehemently denied the accusations.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” stated Drozd, a retired teacher whose father and son are veterans. “The Democrats need to speak out and get much more vocal. We’re doing what we can, attending protests.”
Feras, who retired after 43 years in technology, raised concerns about security and access. “These people hired by Musk don’t have security clearances. They’re not even U.S. government employees, yet they’re getting access,” he said. “From my technology background, I worry about what they could be doing. They could be installing back doors to information, setting themselves up for future access. Why is this even necessary? They should be working through established agencies.”
Some attendees expressed frustration with the perceived lack of effective leadership within the Democratic Party. Kim acknowledged their concerns, stating, “I’m not here trying to speak on behalf of the entirety of the party… I do think we need to make sure that we have new voices in the mix.”
