Board of Education Voting Meeting - 9/26/18: Tony Perry Tries and Fails To Make A Deal And Shows How Little He Understands

I just finished watching the video from this past Wednesday night’s Middletown Board of Education (BOE) Meeting. What started out as a nice night of recognition for teachers and administrators involved in the school district being awarded 'Future Ready Silver Certification' (a distinction, given to only 35 schools in NJ, 17 of which Middletown is one), ended in what can only be characterize as a desperate attempt to gain some recognition as a candidate for Township Committee by the school community, from Middletown Committeeman Tony Perry, who is up for election this November.

It seems Middletown’s Board of Education isn’t the only entity in our community not immune to political stunts this election season.

When the meeting was opened for Public Comments, the unelected Committeeman and Candidate, Tony Perry (who, by the way was appointed by his Father In Law, Gerry Scharfenburger to the Township Committee), took to the microphone 'On Behalf of the Township Committee' to address the BOE regarding a possible agreement to take over the maintenance of 'Bayshore Elementary'.

A couple of quick notes before moving on; First, wasn't there just a conference held by Mayor Kevin Settembrino, where he proclaimed that he alone spoke for the TC, which would mean that either Settembrino sanctioned Mr. Perry's visit to speak on behalf of the committee and make an offer or Tony Perry was going rogue,  trying to make deals on his own, even though he is not a member of the joint Shared Services Committee. Later in his comments, he seems to back away from this statement and declared he 'doesn't speak on behalf of anyone, but himself'. Secondly, there is no 'Bayshore Elementary ', he would know that if he lived in Middletown for more than 5 minutes before becoming a Township Committeeman and not attempting an obvious political stunt, so I will assume he is referring to Bayview Elementary School.

Moving on ... Perry made reference to the potential Stevenson's Park Sports Complex, which in his words, 'is a political football' and 'not an honest discussion of how many fields would be placed there.' He goes on to accuse others (presumably, his opponents, one of which is Board Member Danielle Walsh) of 'intentionally misleading the residents of Shady Oaks and Shadow Lake'. Honestly, I'm not sure what these statements were meant to accomplish at a BOE meeting other than an attempt to garner votes by driving a wedge between the BOE and the parents of a few sports kids.

You can call me crazy if you want, but according to the plans for the sports complex that I and others have seen, they clearly show a plan to create a total of 9 multi-purpose sports fields beginning with a Phase 1 start of 2 fields.... Again, call me crazy, but how does informing residents living adjacent to Stevenson Park of plans for a potential Sports Complex by others 'intentionally misleading' or relevant in any way to the BOE?

He then offered to propose on 'behalf of the Township Committee' to take over control and maintenance responsibilities for Bayview Elementary Fields. In return, the Township Committee would decide which entities are entitled to use of the fields, with the school events getting priority. Not a bad deal for the BOE, right? Except, Board President Joan Minnuies pointed out, the Township Committee already decides who gets priority over these fields. He went on to refer to Bayview as an 'unknown and treasured part of Middletown.' Unknown? Really? I’m sure thousands of Belford residents would be shocked to know their elementary school was unknown to a candidate for the Township Committee.

Committeeman Perry also asserted that in the arrangement, the 2 baseball fields presently there (albeit without pitchers mounds because they are multi-purpose fields) , would be torn down to make room for the maintenance of soccer, flag football and lacrosse fields. When BOE member Michael Donlon questioned this, Perry inferred that it would be fine because there were no issues with lack of field time for baseball in Middletown.

BOE member, Danielle Walsh questioned his political motivations for addressing the BOE, since he 'had never been to a Board of Education Meeting before tonight' and 'suggested what would amount to an agenda item for Shared Services'. And further took issue with Mr. Perry's accusation that the BOE 'ignored' their fields. It was at this point that Mr. Perry changed his tune and insisted he was there speaking 'on behalf of himself', then went on to say 'I don't have the ability to have my voice heard to the School Board on my opinions about Shared Services decisions that occur. Unfortunately, that is why I have to come to these meetings.'.

BOE member Nick DiFranco also took issue with some of Mr. Perry's assertions regarding Shared Services and the extent to which the BOE was involved in addressing issues with field usage.

The bottom line here is that Mr. Perry, accompanied by another unelected Committeeman, Rick Hibell (who did not speak) seemed out of his depth of knowledge when it came to not only how the BOE works, but how to effectively communicate within the boundaries of his own Township Committee. But this is what you get when you have a Township Committee where there is no accountability to the point of blatant nepotism. Watch the exchange in the video for yourself and decide (I’ve queued it to the start of Perry’s comments).

Other than what I’ve mentioned above, the Voting Meeting was relatively uneventful (with the exception of Board Member Leonora Caminitti referring to another BOE member as a 'sissy'), but you should still take the time to watch the entire meeting, which you can access …. HERE

And while you’re at it do me a favor, consider asking the BOE to work on their video sound quality. I appreciate the transparency of the taped meetings, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

Fiore Is At it Again; Belittling Residents Via Facebook

I recently heard a rumor that Middletown's currently act deputy-mayor, Tony Fiore had been muzzled by both the Middletown Republicans and his employer.

It was just last week, that acting mayor Kevin Settembrino let it be known that no one but himself  speak on behalf of the Township Committee other than himself. But yet, here's Tony speaking out about Township business once again and in the process belittling a resident in the process.

As for Fiore's employer, it has been rumored rather loudly, that they gave him an ultimatum, your job or your politics. Apparently they don't appreciate the way he conducts himself on social media or on the dais. His brash, argumentative and condescending comments to residents is seen as a poor reflection on his employer and they have had enough of it.

From what I've heard, his employer has taken the position that if he wishes to keep his job after his current appointment as deputy-mayor is over, in the future, he will no longer be allowed to serve as acting mayor or deputy-mayor. Further more, they wouldn't take kindly to him running for office again. So his days on the dais appears to be limited.

Evidently, it seems that Tony Fiore doesn't care because here are some screen shots taken just a little while ago of Fiore speaking on behalf of the Township Committee and derogatorily belittling a resident that he disagrees with. Fiore made these comments on a Facebook page for Middletown residents. I'm sure if the moderator of the page didn't turn off the ability to comment on the original post, the below exchange would have very quickly descended deeper into the mud.   

Interesting Question, Is Middletown Being PILOT'ed ?

Over on the Facebook group, Stop Village 35, the Admin there added an interesting post yesterday asking if the town is engaging in the PILOTing of Middletown.  Until reading this post I had know idea what this alleged PILOT program entailed. 

PILOT is an anachronism for Payment In Lieu Of Taxes and is essentially a huge give away to developers in return for cash payments directly benefiting Town Hall. According to the Stop Village 35 post  95% of these payments would go to the municipality, 5% to the county and 0% would be given to the Board of Education. Which means that both Monmouth County and Middletown's Board of Education(BOE) are cut out of potential vast amounts of tax dollars that should be rightfully owed to them. For the BOE this would mean that Middletown's children and the quality of their education is at risk because of under funding and could then lead to higher school taxes being imposed to make up the difference.   

The post goes into further detail about what the PILOT program is and its potential ramifications for Middletown, if in fact this is what's happening behind the scene. It also hints at my Thursday post concerning the inflated cost of the new municipal complex that is in development.

The Stop Village 35 Facebook page is closed to the general public, you need to be a member of the group to see any of it's posts so I've copied it and have added it below for people who can't access the page to read. It really is a fascinating read and should be alarming to residents.

   

IT’S TIME TO TAKE BACK OUR TOWN. Fund the Fight, Save Middletown: http://bit.ly/Save07748
WHAT OUR TOWN OFFICIALS AREN’T SAYING: Redevelopment designation and PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) go hand-in-hand. They don’t want to talk about their possible deal with the Circus Liquors Redevelopment Developers; nor do they legally have to disclose a PILOT deal at this point.

Here’s a juicy nugget that might explain why our Township Committee gave it all away to the developer — the possibility of a PILOT program. The biggest effect of a PILOT program is how payments are disbursed: 95% to the municipality, 5% to the county, 0% to the schools. OK, this means the Board of Education loses out, the quality of our kids’ education is compromised, and our property values are screwed. Quality of education is a huge factor in property values.

Funding for the Municipal Complex, Town Hall, is rumored at $54 million to build. This is relevant to the following explanations of Areas in Need of Redevelopment, applicable PILOT programs, and revenue that is reaped by the municipality. This is complicated, but it’s important!

By designating a site an Area in Need of Redevelopment, the municipality may enter into a PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) agreement with the developer. Archer Law offers a clear explanation of NJ PILOT programs: http://bit.ly/PILOT_explained

“Instead of property taxes, developers make an annual PILOT payment to the municipality. The PILOT payment is typically much less than traditional taxes, and is structured so that the municipality receives more of a benefit than it would from usual property taxes. Not only do these exemptions save a developer in real estate taxes, but they provide an increase in the fair market value of the property as a result of higher net operating income.

Long-term tax abatements may last up to 30 years from the completion of a project, are typically utilized for larger redevelopment projects, and require a municipality to declare an area as being in need of redevelopment....The PILOT structure...greatly reduces the developer’s tax burden, and results in significant savings over the term of the PILOT agreement.”

Effects of PILOT programs:

PILOT programs may last as long as 30 years from completion of project, or 35 years from date agreement is signed; minimum term is 10 years.

PILOT program payments are disbursed 95% to the municipality, 5% to the county, 0% to the schools. School taxes are the greatest single portion of tax bills in Middletown. In some cases, the property may already have been paying school tax, but under PILOT, that obligation would be removed.

PILOT amounts often exceed the revenue municipalities would have received from taxes, while, at the same time, denying funding to school districts.

PILOT programs artificially depress rateable property tax base.

IT’S TIME TO TAKE BACK OUR TOWN. Fund the Fight, Save Middletown: http://bit.ly/Save07748

Saturday Morning Cartoon: Disney's Paul Bunyan

This weeks Saturday Cartoon is a real classic that every one should see at least once in their lifetime. I would suspect that a vast majority of kids under 12 have never seen this Disney cartoon about Paul Bunyan and his blue ox Babe. Both are iconic characters of american folklore.

Pallone to Hold U.S. Service Academy Day at Naval Weapons Station Earle on September 29th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2018


LONG BRANCH, NJ – On Saturday, September 29th , at 10:00 a.m., Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06) will be hosting a U.S. Service Academy Day at Naval Weapons Station Earle, Leonardo Pier Complex. The event will provide a forum for students who are interested in attending one of our nation’s prestigious U.S. Service Academies to learn more about the process for admission.

The event will focus on the admissions process, steps to obtaining a congressional nomination, and lifestyles as Cadets or Midshipmen at the academies. Interested students will have the opportunity to personally meet and speak with representatives from the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and ROTC programs from Rutgers University.

“Our nation’s service academies are some of the highest caliber institutions committed to graduating leaders of character, honor and integrity,” said Congressman Pallone. “Graduates are selflessly prepared to assume some of the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government. By hosting this U.S. Service Academy Day, it is my hope that we will inspire young people of the 6th Congressional District to come and explore the many opportunities that our academies have to offer.”

Doors will open at 10:00 a.m., and presentations from the Academies will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. Reservations are required for admission, therefore, interested students and parents should RSVP to Dawn Rebscher at (732) 571-1140.

Heard It In The Hallways: New Middletown Municipal Complex To Cost $54M

Overlooked by myself and others at the September 17th meeting of the Middletown Township Committee, was an item with mentioning. On the Meeting Agenda for the night,  a public hearing was scheduled to take place on the proposed Township Ordinance  "2018-3236 Ordinance Adopting Amended Municipal Complex Redevelopment Plan for Block 815 Lots 1.01, 6 and 7 on the Official Tax Map of the Township of Middletown".

Laid out within the electronic copy of the agenda for the night, was the entire proposal for the planned municipal complex (which you can see by falling the link above). However, that public hearing never took place. It was postponed for a later date, which I've since learned to be the night of Nov. 19th, which is the first meeting of the Township Committee after the Nov. 6th election and 3 days before Thanksgiving. Historically, that meeting is sparsely attended and happens to be a good night to drop a bombshell that few will hear.

So why was this proposed public hearing abruptly rescheduled at the last minute you ask? Well, according to a very, very, reliable person who would have knowledge of the details, after telling residents for months that the cost of a new municipal complex, which Township authorities had estimated  to cost $20M, has ballooned upwards and potentially over $54M!

That's right, $54M. That's nearly triple the original cost estimate for the complex and Township authorities couldn't stomach presenting that information at the meeting knowing that there were going to be so many people there asking questions about the potential of a huge sports complex being built at Stevenson Park.

$54 million dollars is big chunk of change, what could possibly cost that much money to build? And why, if you read the redevelopment plan, is the Township constructing two buildings to used as some sort of retail establishments? Isn't there going to be enough empty store fronts once the proposed Village 35 retail complex is built?

One other thing that should be kept in mind and it is said quite often about financial dealing like this is, "Follow the money" and "Who will benefit" the most from this.  Well, I can tell you who. It's the Bonding agency and it's attorneys! Few people know this but the bonding attorney for the Township is none other the Middletown Republican Municipal Chairman, Peter Carton. His law firm has handle all the bonding projects that Middletown has needed financing for, for two decades. Peter Carton and his firm have gotten fat feeding from the trough of Middletown taxpayers.

As usual, the Township Committee doesn't want you to know about this stuff and are happy to bury this information until after the election, so as not to upset potential voters.

  

There Will Be No 'Fake' News In Middletown, Working Reporters Are A Pet Peeve of Settembrino

  Kevin Settembrino Photo by Muriel Smith • The Monmouth Journal

When I first read this article after it was brought to my attention Wednesday night, "Middletown’s new mayor holds meet and greet with local media", published at The Monmouth Journal (which you can read HERE), I was astounded by the arrogance of it, but I can't say that I was surprised by it because very little that comes from those currently running Middletown surprises me anymore.

According to the article, Middletown's appointed mayor, Kevin Settembrino (who made it very clear that he was the man in charge) called for a, "friendly session with local media personnel as a means of getting to know reporters better, as well as a way to introduce the township’s Public Information Officers, Tara Berson and Jessi Ticino, to the media. Township administrator Tony Mercantante was also present along with editors and journalists from local media outlets."  Settembrino went on to state that, " he wanted a good working relationship with the media, he also said requests from reporters working on a tight deadline for quotes or information is a pet peeve of his. What’s more, he doesn’t like surprises and discourages reporters from seeking information from other members of the Township Committee." ... " “I don’t want to be reading information you got from a member of the Township Committee,” he said. “I’m not happy about that.” "

Can you believe that statement? The audacity and arrogance that it takes to make such a statement is astonishing. Middletown's appointed mayor doesn't like reporters who ask questions or are working on deadlines, it's a "pet peeve" of his? You've got to be kidding me, it's like he's Middletown's own little version of Donald Trump! There will be no 'fake' news in Middletown, all questions must be submitted in writing and given directly to the public information officers first! Oh, and by the way don't speak to anyone but me!

Oh my God, that's a new level of chutzpah even for me!

Back in the day of lazy reporting of Township Committee meetings, former Public Information Officer Cindy Herrschaft, use to hand press releases with statements from the Committee, to reporters with highlighted talking points addressing things that were going to be spoken about during meetings.   For those that attended meetings back in the day, if you picked up a newspaper several days after a the fact, it was as if the meeting you were present at didn't happen. It was a crazy alternate universe that we seemed to live in.

Does Settembrino's statements above also mean that because he wants to be the ultimate control freak, that he is officially putting a muzzle on Tony Fiore? We all know that Tony Fiore has quite the presence on social media and likes to bait, chastise and insult people that have an issue with what is happening in and around Middletown. Fiore speaks on behalf of the township all the time when he is not authorized to do so and as a result creates some of his own 'fake' news with gross mischaracterizations and exaggerations on events both past and present. He  seems to think that people are misinformed and ignorant of facts, so they will unquestionably believe what he says.

This town is long over do for change on it's governing body. Middletown doesn't need arrogant 'A'holes like this, who think that the public is ignorant and doesn't know what's best for themselves or the town. November can't come soon enough!

September 17, 2018 Middletown Township Committee Meeting

I just finished watching the video of this past Monday night's Middletown Township Committee meeting. It started off as your regular, run of the mill monthly event. The Township promoted two police officers due to recent retirements and an ordinance was adopted to acquire property along Rt. 36 in Pt. Monmouth to be used as a vehicle impound facility. And an ordinance to amend the redevelopment plan for the new municipal complex was moved to the November 19 meeting.

The most interesting part of this meeting and the real highlight of it that should interest everyone, was the Public Comments portion of the video, which starts at the 22:14 minute mark of the video.

Many local residents came out to passionately voice their opposition to the proposed sports complex that is being planned for Stevenson Park, off of West Front Street in Lincroft.

After the first person voiced their opposition to the plan, acting mayor Kevin Settembrino started that members of the Township Committee will be meeting with residents of Shady Oaks in the coming days to answer any questions that residents living there would have. He then stated that if those he called upon to speak to the committee refrain from asking or rehashing questions about the sports complex. As you can expect, that comment didn't go over well and residents continued with their line of questioning.

During much of the questioning, those speaking were interrupted incessantly and often combatively, by both acting deputy-mayor Tony Fire and acting-mayor Kevin Settembrino.  In the end however, more than a dozen people, which included Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry, voiced their opposition to this complex being built at Stevenson Park.

Will their voices be heard? Based on responses by members of the Township Committee, probably not.  We'll have to stay tuned.




As always you can download a copy of the Meeting Agenda that contains the discussion items and the proposed resolutions and ordinances that were voted on or presented during the meeting. A box around an item is a link, bringing you further into the document to that resolution or ordinance. At the end of the resolution there will be a link bringing you back to the agenda. Attached to this agenda is also the monthly bill list, so that everyone can see how the Township is spending our tax dollars.

Letter: Support Josh Welle for U.S. Congress

Dear Editor:

Voters in New Jersey's 4th Congressional District who value equality and human rights should tell Trump-supporting Republican incumbent Congressman Chris Smith, "You're Fired", by casting their U.S. House of Representatives vote for Democratic candidate Joshua Welle, a respected U.S. Navy Veteran.

Joshua Welle won the Democratic Party primary to challenge draconian bigot Republican Congressman Chris Smith, who doesn't believe that LGBT couples should be allowed to adopt children, and instead Smith prefers to warehouse children in orphanages. If the voters don't stand up and throw Smith out of office, the district is effectively endorsing his hate. Smith is also unsurprisingly opposed to women's reproductive rights, so he clearly needs to go. Joshua Welle supports the rights of women and LGBT people, so voting for him should be an easy sell for anyone with an ounce of human decency.

Prior to retiring, I was an active leader in efforts to support LGBT students, staff, and faculty at Brookdale Community College. Yet Congressman Smith, whose district includes our campus community, shamefully opposes the environment of equality we sought to achieve.

The bottom line is, if you're a bigot who hates the gay community, incumbent Republican Chris Smith is your guy. If you believe all our diverse citizens must be treated with respect and dignity, Democrat Josh Welle is who will represent you in Congress.

Now that the lid has been blown off on Chris Smith's anti-LGBT extremist views, voters need to take action by electing Democratic candidate for U.S. House Josh Welle.

Carol "Kitty" Hafner (D)
Former Congressional Candidate
Box Elder, South Dakota


The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog.

Saturday Morning Cartoon: Time for Timer PSA: "Hanker for a Hunk o' Cheese"

It's been a long time since I posted a Saturday morning cartoon, I've kinda missed it.

Back in the 1970's, at the height of Saturday morning cartoondum, ABC television network would show these "Time for Timer" PSA cartoons, they were corny but I remember them fondly.

"Timer, a tiny cartoon character who represents the sense of "time" in the human body. Timer is in charge of when a person felt it was time to eat, time to sleep, etc. He carries a large pocket watch inside of him, which would often set off an alarm whenever something was about to happen... A wise-cracker as well as a song-and-dance man, Timer promotes healthy eating and personal hygiene for children, using clever songs and animation." - Wikipedia

Pallone Celebrates Passage of Major Safe Drinking Water Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2018


New Jersey Congressman Led Negotiations on the Landmark Legislation to Update the Safe Drinking Water Act for the First Time in 20 Years

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) celebrated passage of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, which reauthorized the Safe Drinking Water Act for the first time in 20 years providing significant new funding to state and local governments to improve drinking water infrastructure nationwide. Pallone, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, led House Democrats in the bipartisan negotiations to update the nation’s drinking water standards.

“This bipartisan bill reauthorizes the Safe Drinking Water Act for the first time in 20 years, and provides significant funding to states like New Jersey to upgrade their drinking water infrastructure,” Pallone said. “The bill nearly doubles funding for the State Revolving Fund, provides grants for schools to replace lead in drinking water fountains and increases emergency assistance for areas affected by natural disasters and extreme weather. Safe and clean drinking water is a necessity for everyone, and this agreement will help communities throughout New Jersey and around the nation modernize their water infrastructure.”

Last year, Pallone introduced Democrats’ comprehensive proposal to update the Safe Drinking Water Act, which served as the foundation for the safe drinking water provisions adopted by the House today. Pallone’s proposal enjoyed widespread support from safe drinking water and environmental advocates including the League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Clean Water Action, Environmental Working Group, and Environmental Integrity Project. Several provisions from Pallone’s Safe Drinking Water bill were included in America’s Water Infrastructure Act, such as the school drinking water fountain replacement grants, which will help schools throughout New Jersey that have experienced high drinking water lead levels.

The bill passed by the House today includes several significant improvements to the Safe Drinking Water Act, including:

· Nearly doubles funding for the State Revolving Fund (SRF)—from $1 billion to $1.95 billion in 2021, which provides funding to states and localities to improve water infrastructure;

· Creates a grant program for replacing leaded drinking water fountains in schools

· Directs the government to conduct a national inventory of lead service lines and to develop a cost estimate to replace them;

· Requires water utilities to provide more frequent drinking water quality reports to consumers that are comprehensive and understandable;

· Provides assistance to water utilities to improve resiliency to extreme weather, which continues to rise due to climate change;

· Provides $100 million for grants to extend access to safe drinking water into areas impacted by natural disasters.

Pallone Admonishes Rep. Chris Smith’s Anti-LGBTQ Adoption Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2018


WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) released the following statement condemning the comments made by Congressman Christopher Smith (NJ-04) at Colts Neck High School implying that children would be better off in orphanages than with LGBTQ parents.

“I am deeply outraged and offended by Congressman Smith’s bigoted views on LGBTQ adoption. Congressman Smith should know that LGBTQ parents are just simply that – parents. They are parents who provide every bit of love and care as their heterosexual neighbors. Unfortunately, this is not the first time Congressman Smith has dismissed the rights of LGBTQ Americans. He should apologize.

“My heart breaks for the young high school student who was told by Congressman Smith that her sister was somehow less deserving or qualified to be a parent. I am inspired by her courage in standing up to Congressman Smith. I know that the overwhelming majority of New Jerseyans stand with her.

“Today we are once again reminded that the fight for equality for LGBTQ Americans is far from over. Congressman Smith’s GOP colleagues and the Trump administration continue to discriminate against LGBTQ Americans, whether it be legalizing discrimination against LGBTQ persons seeking healthcare, banning transgender servicemembers from our military or nominating Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. We cannot allow this bigotry to stand and must work to ensure that LGBTQ Americans have legal and social equality in our country.”

Roll Call: Rep. Chris Smith Brought Up Orphanages After Same-Sex Parenting Question

Congressman Chris Smith, Middletown's other representative in Congress,  truly is an abhorrent individual. I'm very fortunate that he isn't my congressman. - MM

From Roll Call:
9/12/18

High school senior asked if her gay sister would be less of a legitimate parent

Rep. Chris Smith’s controversial views on gay marriage were thrust into the spotlight again Wednesday after the New Jersey Republican brought up orphanages when asked about same-sex parenting, according to an audio recording of the exchange.

The recording, reportedly taken on May 29 at Colts Neck High School in Central New Jersey, was obtained by the Washington Blade, an LGBT news source based in Washington, D.C.

Hannah Valdes, a senior, asked Smith whether her gay sister, in his opinion, would be “less of a legitimate parent” than someone in a heterosexual partnership.

Smith has previously voted to prohibit gay parents from adopting children in Washington, D.C.

Another student asked Smith what made “others” better candidates for adoption than gay couples.

That’s when Smith suggested alternatives existed to gay couples adopting children, including orphanages.

“Somebody mentioned orphanages before,” Smith said in the recording. “I mean, orphanages are still a possibility for some kids.”

Smith’s office could not immediately be reached for comment.

Smith has raised eyebrows for previous comments on same-sex couples.

At a hearing in the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa in 2015, Smith said he was a “strong believer in traditional marriage” and that he does not “construe homosexual rights as human rights.”

“Others have a different view and I certainly respect them,” Smith said.

That comment drew a rebuke from fellow New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone, a Democrat.

“Congressman Smith is welcome to have his own opinions, but when he makes such an inflammatory statement in an effort to push the administration into ignoring the rights of LGBT people as a matter of policy, it crosses the line,” Pallone said, in a statement at the time. “Representatives in Congress must be promoting the expansion of human rights, not fighting to limit its definition to people that they deem to be appropriate.”

Smith said Pauline was “twisting his words” and had taken them out of context.

September 4, 2018 Middletown Township Committee Meeting

This month's Workshop meeting of the Middletown Township Committee took place on Tuesday night September 4th. It was held in the courtroom of Town Hall this week due to the large crowd that wished to speak at the public hearing that was conducted on the  proposed development of Stevenson Park.

Stevenson Park is located on W. Front Street and is an undeveloped park on the western end of Shadow Lake.  The Township is proposing to construct up to 9 soccer fields in the park. There were many people attending to express their concerns, on both sides of this project.

Also at this meeting, ordinances were adopted to increase the amount of money the town will borrow to provide more playground and remote control equipment in the parks, land swaps within the Bamm Hollow development project for utility easements and to provide death benefits to EMS volunteers.

Ordinances were also introduced to amend the municipal complex development plan and to purchase more property along Rt. 36 in Pt. Monmouth.





As always you can download a copy of the Meeting Agenda that contains the discussion items and the proposed resolutions and ordinances that were voted on or presented during the meeting. A box around an item is a link, bringing you further into the document to that resolution or ordinance. At the end of the resolution there will be a link bringing you back to the agenda. Attached to this agenda is also the monthly bill list, so that everyone can see how the Township is spending our tax dollars.

Happy Rosh Hashanah

Colin Kaepernick Nike Commercial

Regardless what you may think, this is a thought provoking ad from Nike. The outrage over Colin Kaepernick narrating and appearing in it is petty. It's the message that counts not always the messenger.

Pallone Remarks at Hearing with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2018

Washington, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) delivered the following opening remarks today at a Full Committee hearing on “Twitter: Transparency and Accountability:”

Over the past few weeks, President Trump and many Republicans have peddled conspiracy theories about Twitter and other social media platforms to whip up their base and fundraise. I fear the Republicans are using this hearing for those purposes instead of addressing the serious issues raised by social media platforms that affect American’s everyday lives.

Twitter is a valuable platform for disseminating news, information, and viewpoints. It can be a tool for bringing people together and allows one to reach many. In places like Iran and Ukraine, Twitter was used to organize and give voice to the concerns of otherwise voiceless individuals. Closer to home, Twitter and hashtags like Stay Woke, Me Too, and Net Neutrality have fostered important conversations and supported larger social movements that are changing our society.

But Twitter has a darker side. Far too many Twitter users still face bullying and trolling attacks. Tweets designed to threaten, belittle, demean, and silence individuals can have devastating effects, sometimes even driving people to suicide. While Twitter has taken some steps to protect users and enable reporting, more needs to be done.

Bad actors have co-opted Twitter and other social media platforms to spread disinformation and sow divisions in our society. For example, Alex Jones used Twitter to amplify harmful and dangerous lies such as those regarding the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Others have used the platform to deny the existence of the Holocaust, disseminate racial supremacy theories, and spread false information about terrorism, natural disasters, and more.

When questioned about this disinformation Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said the truth will win out in the end, but there is reason to doubt that. According to a recent study published by the MIT Media Lab, false rumors on Twitter traveled “farther, faster, deeper, and more broadly than the truth” with true claims taking about six times as long to reach the same number of people. That’s dangerous.

And countries like Russia and Iran are taking advantage of this to broadly disseminate propaganda and false information. Beyond influencing elections, foreign agents are actively trying to turn groups of Americans against each other. These countries are encouraging conflict to sow division and hatred by targeting topics that generate intense feelings such as race, religion, and politics.

Unfortunately, the actions of President Trump have made the situation worse. Repeatedly, the President uses Twitter to bully and belittle people calling them names like “dog,” “clown,” “spoiled brat,” “son of a bitch,” “enemies,” and “loser.” He routinely tweets false statements designed to mislead Americans and foster discord. The President’s actions coarsen the public debate, and feed distrust within our society.

President Trump has demonstrated that the politics of division are good for fundraising and rousing his base. Sadly, Republicans are now following his lead instead of criticizing the President for behavior that would not be tolerated from a child. As reported in the news, the Trump campaign and the Republican Majority Leader have used the supposed anti-conservative bias online to fundraise. This hearing appears to be just one more mechanism to raise money and generate outrage. It appears Republicans are desperately trying to rally their base by fabricating a problem that simply does not exist.

Regardless of the Republicans’ intentions for this hearing, Twitter and other social media platforms must do more to regain and maintain the public trust. Bullying, the spread of disinformation, and malicious foreign influence continue. Twitter’s policies have been inconsistent and confusing. The company’s enforcement seems to chase the latest headline as opposed to addressing systemic problems. Twitter and other social media platforms must establish clear policies to address the problems discussed today, provide tools to users, and then swiftly and fairly enforce those policies. And those policies should apply equally to the President, politicians, Administration officials, celebrities, and the teenager down the street.

It’s long past time for Twitter and other social media companies to stop allowing their platforms to be tools of discord, of spreading false information, and of foreign government manipulation.

Thank you, I yield back.

MAGUIRE, WALSH & BYRNES FOR MIDDLETOWN COMMITTEE

Your voice matters, your vote matters.

The Labor Movement in the United States

The impact of labor unions on the American workers can not be understated. Instead of building on union success and enjoying the fruits of their labor, it seems that modern day workers are falling behind.

Before Sending Your Kids Out The Door, Here Are A Few Backpack Safety Tips

Every so often myself and my co-workers are sent little messages from our Health and Safety Coordinator on various topic, they are often useful commonsense tip on subjects that many of us take for granted. Case in point, it's back to school time here in Middletown as well as all around the country, how many people have given a second thought to the backpacks that their kids will be lugging around with them for several hours each day? Not many, I'm sure:

With a new school year beginning soon, two orthopedic groups have released tips to help kids avoid backpack-related injuries.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America warn that wearing a backpack that is too heavy or improperly positioned could result in sprains, strains or posture problems. More than 9,500 such injuries occurred among children 5-18 years old in 2012, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

To avoid injuries, the groups advise students to:

• Carry no more than 15-20 percent of their body weight.
• Use both shoulder straps and adjust them to keep the load close to the back.
• Remove items if the backpack is too heavy and pack the heaviest things low and in the center.
• If possible, leave books at home or school instead of carrying them back and forth.

Parents also can help by purchasing the right-size backpack for their child, and asking if their child has
any numbness or tingling in the arms, which could indicate the backpack is too heavy or fits poorly.

Choosing the Right Backpack

When choosing a backpack, look for one that is appropriate for the size of your child. In addition, look for some of the following features:

• Wide, padded shoulder straps
• Two shoulder straps
• Padded back
• Waist strap
• Lightweight backpack
• Rolling backpack

The correct use of both of the wide, well-padded shoulder straps will help distribute the weight of the backpack.

Letter:Middletown Residents Deserve Info Session on Redevelopment Plan

The following letter appears online at the AHHerald.com:



Dear Editor,

The narrative being spun by the Middletown Township Committee that they are unable to conduct information sessions regarding the redevelopment plan because a lawsuit was filed is false. The lawsuit filed by a citizens’ group challenges the decision by the Township Committee that the property in question fits the criteria for “an area in need of redevelopment.” That is the only issue in the lawsuit. How that issue is decided has nothing to do with the specifics of the redevelopment plan such as how many houses and how much commercial space will be built, what buffers will be in place, or what open space will be preserved. The information sessions would deal with the redevelopment plan, not the decision that the area is in need of redevelopment.

The Township Committee is spinning this false narrative to distract the public from a pre-ordained agenda to railroad through this redevelopment project with as little public participation as possible. We, the residents of Middletown, deserve better.

Michael M. DiCicco
Middletown, New Jersey