WATCH: Frelinghuysen Criticized At Activist-Held Town Hall

PARSIPPANY, NJ — According to members of citizen activist group NJ 11th For Change, when they asked U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen to hold a town hall meeting for his constituents, he told them that finding a venue was “difficult.”

So they took matters into their own hands.

This week, NJ 11th For Change members held a series of public, town hall meetings at four locations in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional district, represented by Frelinghuysen, a Republican and chairman of the House Committee On Appropriations. The 11th district includes the majority of Morris County (you can see a full list of Morris County towns below).

On Thursday, 11th For Change held its fourth and final town hall at Temple B'nai Abraham in Livingston. The Facebook event page listed speakers including:

• Shawn Klein, Livingston mayor
• Joel Cantor, professor of public policy, Rutgers University
• Les Leopold, author and executive director of The Labor Institute
• Karol Ruiz, co-president, Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center
• Lloyd Naideck, chief of staff for Assemblyman John McKeon

During the event, which drew upwards of 500 people according to organizers, activists raised concerns about the possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, possible cuts in federal funding for groups such as Planned Parenthood, and Frelinghuysen’s voting record, which they said consistently falls along GOP lines against the will of many of his constituents.

Frelinghuysen was not present at the event to address their concerns. He sent Patch the following statement about his absence:

I am aware that certain groups have scheduled what they are calling ‘town hall meetings’ and I applaud the effort. I am happy that they are exercising their First Amendment rights to engage on the big issues of the day and endorse their right to free expression.
But my goal is not argument. My goal is to continue the same civil discourse I have had with my constituents over the years.
I will be continuing to visit all 54 communities in my district to meet with the people and listen to their concerns. And we’ll be having more telephone town hall meetings so I can engage with as many people as possible. I invite all constituents attending this week’s demonstrations to participate in our teletown hall meetings by passing along to our office a contact number.

Watch a video of the town hall below.

TELEPHONE TOWN HALL

On Tuesday, Frelinghuysen held a seemingly unpublicized “telephone town hall” conference call which drew only a single reporter after a friend tipped her off.

One resident told Patch she had been alerted to the so-called "teletown hall" by a robocall, which she described as "very vague," saying it did not include the time or how to dial in.

>>> Read More: Frelinghuysen Holds Controversial, 'Invitation-Only' Telephone Town Hall

The 11th district includes the majority of Morris County: Boonton Town and Township, Butler, Chatham Borough and Township, Denville, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Madison, Mendham Borough and Township, Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Pequannock, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway Borough and Township, and Victory Gardens.

Photo: NJ 11th For Change, Facebook

--With Reporting by Eric Keifer (Patch Staff)