Video: Jen Beck is Wrong For "All of Us"

Jennifer Beck is wrong for Monmouth County and wrong for "All of Us"

Monmouth County Democrats Launch Website Highlighting Senator “Both Sides” Beck’s True Record

For Immediate Release
September 18th, 2017

Monmouth County Democrats Launch Website Highlighting Senator “Both Sides” Beck’s True Record; a website designed to expose Republican Senator Jen Beck’s legislative record.

Hazlet - Today, the Monmouth County Democrats announced the launch of their new website www.BothSidesBeck.com. The website details Republican Senator Jen Beck’s legislative record on issues important to Monmouth County families.

Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth)

“Senator Jen Beck has a bad habit of glossing over her true voting record and claiming to be on both sides of multiple issues,” said Matt Anderson, Executive Director of the Monmouth County Democrats. “This website is designed to give voters a closer look at Both Sides Beck’s actual voting record and see how many times she voted against Monmouth County families’ interests.

“From property taxes to equal pay, Beck has claimed one thing yet voted another way, often times even flipping her original vote just to support Governor Christie’s agenda. Monmouth County families deserve better than Both Sides Beck.”


The website is live and can be viewed at www.BothSidesBeck.com.

LETTER: O’Scanlon has nothing new to offer voters

The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog. This letter appears online at the Asbury Park Press:


Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon’s Sept. 7 op-ed piece “Gopal lacks credibility on property taxes” on community consolidation and property tax relief was transparently self-serving. Apparently all it will take to solve the Gordian knot of New Jersey taxes is electing him, Sen. Jennifer Beck, and other like-minded candidates to office. But the record would suggest otherwise.

After nearly a decade in office, we don’t have tax reform because O’Scanlon has nothing new to offer, has presented no innovative ideas and has no record of significant accomplishments or collaboration to extol. Instead he just rolls out the same old public service villains — police, firefighters, teachers and “special interests” — as the root cause of our tax dilemma.

It is no less emblematic of their monolithic worldview that both O’Scanlon and Beck voted against equal pay for women. And it is especially interesting to note that O’Scanlon’s ire and focus of the piece were directed at Vin Gopal, who is not the candidate O’Scanlon is running against. Does he really think so little of Beck and other women that he must “mansplain” complex issues to and for them? Beck should be able to speak for herself to the candidate opposing her, but if she believes women don’t deserve the same pay as men, then perhaps she is better off letting O’Scanlon do the speaking for her.

It is time to stop pointing fingers, blaming others and throwing rocks at other candidates. O’Scanlon has had nine years to solve the tax problem and he hasn’t succeeded yet. Why should he another two years to try? He shouldn’t.

Kevin Akey

Little Silver

Highlands Bridge Dedicated In Honor of Joseph Azzolina

photo by Matt Morehead via Facebook

Yesterday the new Highlands Bridge was officially renamed in honor of  long time Middletown resident, former NJ State Senator, NJ Assemblyman and respected local businessman Joseph Azzolina. The bridge is now know as the "Captain Joseph Azzolina Memorial Bridge".

Among those present for the dedication ceremony were Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, Congressman Frank Pallone, State Senator Jennifer Beck and Senator Joseph Kyrillos. Conspicuously missing from the proceedings were representative from Middletown; No Mayor Fiore, No Deputy Mayor Massell, No Township Administrator. Nope, nobody.

How disrespectful was that?

Azzolina who passed away on April 15, 2010, was  a true patriot, he served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1944-1986, Captain (Retired).  As a reservist, he returned to active duty in 1983 for a tour of seven months – four of them off the coast of Lebanon – aboard the battleship USS New Jersey. He received three Meritorious Service Medals and two Navy Secretary Commendation Medals in addition to other combat awards and honors. As an Assemblyman, Azzolina led the effort to acquire the retired ship and have it docked in New Jersey waters where it has been transformed to a floating museum.

By all accounts yesterday's ceremony was a respectful and fitting tribute to Azzolina, Senators Beck and Kyrillos and Congressman Pallone delivered heartfelt words honoring him. 

I was told however last night by a someone who attended the ceremony, that the lack of any officials from Middletown did not go unnoticed. Evidently the battle scars over the proposed Town Center project still run deep within Middletown's GOP. 


You would think that for just one day, the local Republicans would put aside their differences with the Azzolina family, to honor a man who had done so much for the state and bayshore region and who was so greatly respected by both Democrats and Republicans alike. Instead, they snubbed the Azzolina family and disrespected the memory of "Big" Joe Azzolina himself. 

APP Endorses Gopal For Assembly While Backing GOP Incumbents

This past Thursday the Asbury Park Press's Editorial Board came out with its endorsements for the new 11th Legislative District, in so doing the board once again has recommend that voters split their votes in the district, which leaves some to scratch their heads.

After reeling against incumbents all year long in their editorials, the APP has chosen to endorse two of them in Jen Beck and Caroline Casagrande, both Republicans that have shown that they will do or say anything to get reelected. They have both flipped-flopped on many issues that directly relate to their new district this year, gay marriage, women's health care issues and the funding of Planned Parenthood, just to name a few. It seems as though the only reason why the APP has chosen to endorse these two is because they seem to "tow the party line" on most, if not all the other issues that don't seem to have a direct impact on their reelection bids.

On the flip side of these endorsements the APP has decided to endorse Democrat Vin Gopal for one of the other Assembly seats up for grabs over Casagrande's running mate, Mary Pat Angelini.

In it's endorsement the APP had this to say about Gopal, "... we believe Gopal, who owns several small businesses including a group of community newspapers, would offer a fresh, perceptive set of eyes on the continuing set of problems plaguing New Jersey. In addition, he seems to be a candidate willing to compromise in order to get much-needed work done...."

Gopal, who was born in Neptune and grew up in Freehold currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce and was elected to a three year term as President of the Hazlet Business Owners Association in January of 2010. Vin Gopal also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Monmouth County where he is a member of their Finance Committee. Gopal also serves on the Advisory Board of New Leaders Council – New Jersey, is clearly the right choice for the State Assembly in the 11th district.

The same can't be said for Beck who is running against Ray Santiago in the for the open State Senate seat. She received a number of negative reader comments left by posters on the APP website.

Here are a few:

PoorBob
8:03 AM on October 28, 2011

It seems the APP glossed over Jennifer Beck's record. She IS NOT an ally of Chris Christie (have you seen the governor endorse her?). Beck attempted to override Christie's defunding of Planned Parenthood--the largest provider of abortions. She was one of two Republicans that attempted that ghastly deed. Thank god Chris Christie prevailed on that issue.

Jennifer Beck also received campaign contributions from Solomon Dwek. When it was exposed, Beck claims she "donated" it to charity; however, she refuses to be transparent and show proof of such donation. Isn't she the one that wants others to be transparent??

She is now for gay marriage. In her old district, she was against it. Gee, you think the large population of gay and lesbians in her new district had something to do with her flip-flopping??

Read below, and decide if you want Jennifer Beck around (again).

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dump-State-Senator-Jennifer-Beck/181295051917672

sir99
11:35 AM on October 28, 2011

Beck is nothing more than a shill for her special interest contributors. When the Freehold Regional district wash awash with the Call me Doctor Wasser issue, she refused to get involved. That is up until it became the story of the year in the APP. Only then did she say a single word. Beck had the opportunity to go to bat for all the school districts that feed the regional but chose to only speak up for the regional who was fronted by one of her major contributors.

fraudfinder
7:05 PM on October 28, 2011

Are you kidding me?? Beck received money from Solomon Dwek??? What was she supposed to do..do what the other politicians did--vote for something and get something in return???

I read that "Dump Beck Site" I just can't believe her driver's license got suspended so many times. What a hypocrite, she likes to make laws, but not obey them.

It seems the people in Tinton Falls are angry with her for the same reason the people in the Freehold Regional HS District are angry--she did not go to an important Board meeting regarding the Fort Monmouth (non-military) kids going to their schools and costing them a huge amount. They reside within the jurisdiction of Colts Neck--why haven't they accepted them??? Where is Casagrande on this???

I can't believe they were endorsed by the APP---It is indeed time for a change!!!

MoreMonmouthMusings Blog Taken Down

It would appear that sometime this morning that Art Gallagher's blog MoreMonmouthMusings.net has been taken down and is, at this time not operational.

The last posting to the blog made by a mysterious administrator was at 11:16 last night and was an awkward attempt to discuss a few local issues in 12th LD as reported by Eatontown Patch.

The post also attacks local republican Jim Sage, who has made it his mission in life to see that State Senator Jennifer Beck who is now seeking reelection in the newly created 11th LD, does not return to Trenton. Sage has a facebook page titled Dump State Senator Jennifer Beck that is a thorn in the side to Beck and disdained by many Republicans in Monmouth County.

No word on why the blog was shut down or when, if ever, it will return.

NJ Senate Dems target Beck with failed public safety override

Senator Jennifer Beck has flip flopped on marriage equality and women's healthcare due to politics. However, when it comes to protecting the streets of Asbury Park, Long Branch, Red Bank and the 11th District - She is siding with Governor Christie's drastic cuts.

By Max Pizarro PolitickerNJ

Unless your name is Whelan, Gordon, Polistina or Driscoll, most insiders see the post-redistricting legislative election year landscape as a bore snore: 37 or 38 Senate cocoons all but perfectly preserved against an opposing party onslaught.

But Democrats want to soften up their rivals where they can, and in light of the public safety argument, in particular, some of them see at least the shades of an opportunity in the newly formed LD11, where state Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-11) seeks re-election.

"They think they have an opportunity to play there," Patrick Murray, pollster and political scientist for Monmouth University, told PolitickerNJ.com.

Beck broke with Republicans Monday to vote in favor of restoring $7.5 million for women's healthcare, signaling to Democrats that the incumbent is serious about a challenge from Freehold attorney Ray Santiago.

Today, state Sen. Paul Sarlo, (D-36), zeroed in on Beck as he tried to get her to consider backing restoring a line item of $50 million for public safety, a doomed proposition along with the other Christie cuts to the Democratic budget.

"I can only look at the budget as a whole," Beck told Sarlo.

Democrats hope Beck's reconfigured district, which now includes urban municipalities Long Branch and Asbury Park, will present outrage opportunities for the challenger as they try to sink Beck by tying her to Christie.

Two inside sources told PolitickerNJ.com that while they doubt they can topple Beck, Assembly Democrats want to try to get into a dogfight with the GOP in the 11th to pick off Beck's running mate, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande of Colts Neck

My9 Interview with Brenda Blackmon Featuring Ray Santiago, Candidate For NJ State Senate In District 11

Watch Ray Santiago's interview on My9, which aired 7/10/11. He speaks about pension reform, the governor's line item vetoes, his background, and his campaign!

Ray is running for State Senate in the newly formed 11th district against incumbent Republican Jennifer Beck. He will be on the ticket with running mates Vin Gopal and Marilyn Schlossbach who are seeking the Assembly seats in the same district.

MY9TV.COM - Political strategists Brendan Gill and Bill Spadea debate the Governor Christie’s line-item vetoes to the State Budget, as well as the war of words between Senate President Sweeney and the Governor over the cuts. Then, State Senate Candidate Raymond Santiago discusses his run for office and the issues that concern him the most. And as we turn to the economy, we hear about a bond program in Essex County that’s helping small business owners in the community.

New Jersey Now: July 10, 2011: My9TV.com

Vin Gopal: My Candidacy For The State Assembly In The 11th District

Originally posted over at Blue Jersey

When I saw the new 11th District Map, I decided after years of working behind the scenes, I wanted to place my name on the ballot. The new 11th Legislative District has 36,643 registered Democrats, 26,405 registered Republicans and 68,899 registered unaffiliated voters. The district is home to Asbury Park, Long Branch, Neptune, Red Bank, Freehold Borough, Tinton Falls and many other beautiful Monmouth County municipalities. Of the 18 towns in the district, 11 of those towns have 4,000 or more registered voters. Out of those 11 towns, 9 of them have more registered Democrats than Republicans, most of them overwhelmingly. 9 of the 11 big towns in the district have more registered Democrats than Republicans.

Get where I'm going with this? It is a Democratic district. Basically all the strong Democratic towns in Districts 11 and 12 got merged while all the strong Republican towns, including Wall (goodbye Sean Kean!), Rumson, Millstone, Brielle, Avon, Monmouth Beach, Sea Girt, Englishtown, Fair Haven, Little Silver (sorry Declan O'Scanlon), Manalapan, and Oceanport all got thrown into other legislative districts. It really is remarkable what happened here!

This district is for Democrats to win. It will be about raising the funds necessary to compete and turning out our base. It will be about turning out voters from nonpartisan towns like Asbury Park and Long Branch, giving them a reason to vote in November.
The incumbents are Senator Jen Beck, Assemblywoman Caroline Cassagrande and Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelni. Three good people who are gravely out of touch with this new 11th District. Poor Caroline, I don't think even if I gave her a GPS she would know how to get to Asbury Park. You see, the challenge for Assemblywoman Cassagrande and Senator Beck is they are unknown in a big chunk of the district, which basically puts us at even playing field.

Some of you on Blue Jersey know me as an activist, somewhat of a troublemaker but may not know my background. It wasn't long ago I stirred the pot by organizing a petition with the help of this website to make sure Senators Buono and Vitale weren't pitted against each other. I admit, I do have a history of mixing things up, but I'm proud of that and I think that is what will be make me an effective legislator in Trenton.

I'm a small business owner - I have a chain of community magazines and newspapers covering different areas of Monmouth County. I also own a retail store in Hazlet which does embroidery, t-shirts, banners and personalized gifts. I serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce and as President of the Hazlet Business Owners Association. I also serve on the Board of Trustees for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Monmouth and Middlesex Counties. That is my day job. My assembly runningmate Marilyn Schlossbach is a talented restauranteur. She owns and operates several restaurants in Asbury Park, Normandy Beach and Shrewsbury, including the popular Langosta Lounge on the Asbury boardwalk. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, she opens the doors of her restaurant to feed anyone and everyone in Asbury Park. Her philanthropy has won her recognition among her peers and customers. Marilyn also serves as the Board of Directors for the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce and on the Board of the Asbury Park Urban Enterprise Zone. She is also very active with Clean Action Ocean and the Surfriders Foundation. Our Senate runningmate, Ray Santiago, is a former New York City prosecutor who has been a Freehold Borough attorney for the past 8 years, operating a small business that serves clients throughout Monmouth County. He is very involved in the Monmouth County Bar Association, the cub scouts and other organizations in our community.

The three of us are business owners, not politicians and we share a sense of values that will shake New Jersey government up.

In the upcoming weeks, we will launch a website and formally launch our campaign. In the mean time, we are aggressively fundraising to put out strong numbers for the quarter.

We will be welcoming Congressman Jared Polis, the first openly gay man elected to Congress, to our district on May 26th. The three of us stand united behind our brothers and sisters who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Unlike the incumbent, Senator Jennifer Beck, who voted against marriage equality, who probably never realized she would ever be representing communities like Ocean Grove and Asbury Park now (regretting that vote yet Jen?) - we stand for values of equality for all New Jerseyians.

Imagine what happens to Governor Christie when halfway through his term, Democrats once again get elected to the legislature from Monmouth County - the same county he stomped all over 2 years ago. If we get in, we will build to make sure Chris Christie does not walk all over us again in 2013.

During the next several weeks and months, we will be updating you on our race and our campaign to stand up for Democratic principles. We hope you will join us! We can't win this race without you!

Note: This is a re-post from yesterday. Blogger was experiencing technical difficulty after a system upgrade and wiped out all posts after the 5/11

There's Still Work To Be Done On NJ Marriage Equality Bill

As we know from my last post, the state Senate Judiciary Committee last night narrowly approved historic legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage in New Jersey by a 7-6 margin.

It was a bold move on their part but the fight for marriage equality does not end there, there is still work to be done. The Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act now moves to the Senate floor for a full vote on Thursday.

It has been pointed out to me that one of the main reasons why New York's marriage equality bill was defeated recently was because New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr. who is usually a gay rights supporter voted no on the the NY state gay marriage bill. He stated the reason for his "No" was over 70% of the email, calls and letters on the subject were against the bill.

The roll call vote was made it was carried out in alphabetical order, so his early no vote was an excuse for others to vote no and defeat the bill.

We can't allow this type of situation to happen again here in New Jersey, it's time to contact your NJ State Senate representatives and let them know that marriage equality for same sex couples is not a religious issue but a civil rights issue that is morally right.

Alphabetically Monmouth County's represntative Sen. Jennifer Beck(R-12th), would vote 5th and there for could sway others vote for or against this legislation. Call or email her office and tell her to vote in favor of marraige equality on Thursday unlike her vote Monday night against it.

Then do the same for each of Monmouth County's other State Senators Joe Kyrillos (R-13th) and Sean T. Kean (R-11th). Let them know that the rights that all opposite sexed couples share should be passed on equally to all couples that love each other irregardless of their sexual preferences.

If you don't live in Monmouth County but wish to contact one of your State Senators to express your support for the Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act, here is the contact list for all of New Jersey's legislative members

Christie-Beck Dream Team in 2009 ?

State Senator Kevin O'Toole(R-Bergan) has come out and seemingly has given his blessing to a Chris Christie - Jennifer Beck dream team ticket for Governor/Lt.Governor in 2009, its being reported today on PolitickerNJ.

Click here and all about it.