Out of the Ordinary, Middletown Budget Hearing Scheduled For May 6th Workshop Meeting

This coming Monday night, May 6th, the Middletown Township Committee will be holding a hearing on its proposed 2013 FY budget (after it had been introduced back in March). This year's budget hearing is a little out of the ordinary, in the sense that the Committee will be holding this hearing on a night scheduled for a workshop meeting as opposed to during a normal monthly business meeting. Why is that?

Workshop meetings are generally held in the small conference room next to the Clerks office. This room is cramped, has limited seating and very often fewer than a dozen people attend this meeting.  It should really be held during the monthly business meeting which is on the 3rd Monday of each month. It's as if the Township Committee is trying to hide something and doesn't want the public to know about it. As of today, there is still no notice of the hearing on the Township's website and nobody bothered to mention it at the last two Township Committee meetings on April 1st & 15th, which is strange seeing how public notices were sent out prior to the April 15th meeting (but you'd have to do a bit of research at this point to find them).

While the attitude may be who cares? And this isn't any big deal, it really is.

People do have a right to know about this meeting and trying to keep it quiet to discourage public participation is wrong. Very few people today look at the public notice section of the newspaper anymore, making a public announcement at a meeting in this instance, is more than warranted and is just common courtesy. After all, public announcements by the Township Committee are made all the time when a public hearing needs to be held on a new township ordinance or resolution. You would think that something that affects residents tax dollars such as a hearing on a proposed budget would be given the same treatment.

Evidently not.

(TRT Public Notice Middletown FY 2013 Budget Hearing)

Barbara Buono Has Chris Christie "Running Scared"

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono appeared on MSNBC's the Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell last night and according to O'Donnell, Senator Buono has Governor Christie "running scared". How else do you explain Christie's spending $1.2 billion running a campaign ad this early in his reelection bid?

If you missed it, you should really take a look at it below.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

From MSNBC:

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate challenging Chris Christie in his re-election bid, Barbara Buono, appeared on MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell to clarify Chris Christie’s record on taxes, spending cuts, massacre control and education–topics the New Jersey governor all touched on in his first TV ad of his re-election campaign.

With a substantial buy of $1.2 billion, the Republican governor’s campaign began running the ad Wednesday in New York City and Philadelphia TV markets. Christie’s ad touts bipartisanship, saying his ability to reach out to both sides of the aisle got “New Jersey back on track.”

“Working with Democrats and Republicans, believing that as long as you stick to your principles, compromise isn’t a dirty word,” the narrator says.

“It is a little surprising,” Buono told O’Donnell, questioning the early ad buy. “It shows his numbers are artificially inflated because of Hurricane Sandy.”

The New Jersey State Senator, who has been backed by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, bashed the title of Christie’s ad, “Jersey Proud,” pointing out that New Jerseyans “are not proud of the governor’s record on unemployment” with over 400,000 still jobless.

“He’s living in some alternative universe where, you know, we are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to economic growth, and yet he’s calling it a New Jersey comeback. I beg to differ and I’m going to change that,” Buono promised...

Read more ....

Don't let Gov. Christie sneak school vouchers into the budget

From the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey:

If at first you don't succeed, slip your plan into a budget bill when you think no one's looking. That's exactly what Gov. Chris Christie has done by stuffing a $2 million private school voucher program into the budget.

The only way to remove a proposal slipped into the budget is if our legislators take it out. Email your lawmakers in Trenton: Tell them that shoehorning vouchers into the budget is unconstitutional.

This $2 million plan for private school vouchers violates the New Jersey Constitution in three ways:

• The state Constitution forbids officials from using the budget process to create substantive new policies, but that's exactly what's happening with vouchers. It's one thing to consider legislation through an open process with public input; it's another to sneak an unpopular, controversial, constitutionally questionable program in the state budget.
• NJ's Constitution calls for a "thorough and efficient" education, and it spells out how: through a "system of free public schools." It explicitly states that money for that system of free public schools should be used only for that purpose and nothing else.
• Private school vouchers use government money to support religious organizations. "Private schools" range widely, but the most affordable ones, where the majority of tuition can be covered by the vouchers, tend to be parochial schools. (More than half of private schools nationwide are religiously affiliated.) That means private school vouchers encourage enrollment in religious schools, and when state money goes to a parochial school, it violates the state Constitution's ban on public money supporting religious institutions . What's more troubling is that legislators have said publicly they hope vouchers will support religious schools with financial struggles. That is not why we pay taxes.

When school vouchers are discussed in the public arena, they're not popular – and for good reason. They divert public education funding to private and religious schools where civil rights laws, transparency regulations, and state standards don't always apply.

When a reporter asked the Christie administration about potential legal action challenging the constitutionality of Christie's actions, his spokesman replied: Bring it on.

Well, right now you can bring it on – by bringing your voice to your legislators.

Our hard-earned dollars should be spent on educating our children, not diverting money into unaccountable, secretive schools that have no imperative to respect students' or employees' civil rights.

ACLU of New Jersey
www.aclu-nj.org

Pallone Announces More Than $8 Million in Grants for Repairs and Reimbursed Services Due to Sandy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, May 3, 2013

FEMA Funding Awarded to Middlesex County, Monmouth County, and Woodbridge

Long Branch, NJ – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06) announced more than $8 million federal grants for repairs and reimbursements for emergency measures performed due to Superstorm Sandy.

“Communities, cities, and counties are far from fully rebuilt from Sandy, and they are still taking financial hits due to the many unanticipated costs they continue to face,” said Congressman Pallone. “We are all in this together, and these communities shouldn’t have to bear the entire cost of the storm alone.”

The following grants were awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a result of Superstorm Sandy:

$1,257,465 to Middlesex County for repair of the boardwalk at Old Bridge Waterfront Park

$3,714,294 to Monmouth County Public Works for costs required to pump out reservoirs, clear blocked roads, set up evacuation routes, detours, and block hazardous areas

$1,291,688 to Monmouth County for costs associated with the Sheriff'’s Department supplying security at the shelters, conducting welfare checks, performing search and rescue, and to man emergency call centers

$1,734,561 to the Township of Woodridge for contractors used to load, haul, and dispose of approximately 22,000 cubic yards of debris

Pallone Calls for Stability in Student Loan Interest Rates at Monmouth University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, May 2, 2013

Without Congressional action, student loan interest rates are set to double on July 1

Long Branch, NJ—Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) met with a small group of Monmouth University students to discuss the need for certainty and stability in student loan interest rates. Interest rates on need-based loans for more than 7 million students are set to double in July of this year, and the students asked questions and talked to the Congressman about the impact this interest rate hike would have for them.

“A college education should not be reserved strictly for the wealthy and fortunate, but it should be an opportunity for all those with the desire and determination to expand their educational horizons,” said Pallone. “With current interest rates at historic lows, and exceptionally high unemployment for recent college graduates, allowing student loan interest rates to double is unfair and makes no sense.”

The majority of student loans are federally backed loans, and if Congress fails to act on this issue, the neediest students will pay $1,000 in additional repayment costs per year. Last year, interest rates were set to double for student loans as well, until a public outcry compelled the Republican led Congress to extend the 3.4 percent rate through the 2012 - 2013 academic year.

Congressman Pallone has been a longtime and outspoken advocate for access to and affordability of higher education. In 2007, Democrats in Congress provided relief for students from high interest rates on need-based loans by passing the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. The law lowered interest rates on subsidized Stafford Loans each year until they reached their current low of 3.4 percent. Since then, millions of students have benefitted from lower rates.

TOMORROW: CWA Pickets State-Wide

Protesting Christie Scheme To Open Civil Service to Patronage & Nepotism With Nearly No Public Input

(NEW JERSEY) – Tomorrow, members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) will be protesting Governor Chris Christie’s scheme to change Civil Service as we know it. Christie’s proposal erodes protections for workers by eliminating the current system of merit-based promotions. This plan essentially abolishes objective and transparent measures for promotions and replaces them with politically-motivated "advancement.” This is the most radical change to Civil Service in half-a-century, yet the first time requests for public hearings have been flatly denied.

At workplace pickets throughout the state, CWA members will be speaking out against Christie’s plot to “broad band” titles - which would hurt hundreds of thousands of workers, as well as expose every single New Jerseyan to higher taxes due to corruption, cronyism, and patronage. Christie’s proposal will eliminate most competitive promotions and open the door to a flood of favoritism, nepotism and discrimination. The plan is a wholesale attack on New Jersey’s working families, women, the disabled and people of color. Moreover, it will entirely eliminate veterans’ preference in hiring and promotions.

“This latest Christie scheme to gut Civil Service will create more patronage and corruption at all levels by putting every single advancement at the mercy of political pressure,” said Hetty Rosenstein, CWA NJ State Director. “We’re holding pickets in municipalities throughout New Jersey to highlight how both state and local government will be harmed. This proposal unfairly rigs the rules so those who buy influence or enjoy special connections can get ahead…while disabled workers, LGBT workers, women, workers of color, older worker, and veterans will all have a major barrier to discrimination destroyed and the public will be harmed.”

CWA Protests will be at the following locations: Noon-1 p.m.


Trenton Area:
Department of Labor, 1 John Fitch Parkway
Civil Service Commission, 44 South Clinton Street
Department of Banking and Insurance, corner of Warren and West State
Department of Environmental Protection, 401 E State St
Department of Health and Agriculture, 369 S. Warren St.

Central Jersey:
342 Westminster Ave, Elizabeth
181 Howe Lane, New Brunswick
200 West 2nd Street, Plainfield

North Jersey:
650 Bloomfield Ave, Bloomfield
125 State Street, Hackensack
50-58 Burnett Ave, Maplewood
124 &153 Halsey Street, Newark
100 Hamilton Plaza, Patterson

South Jersey:
101 Haddon Ave, Camden NJ
215 Crown Point Rd, Thorofare, NJ
1601 Atlantic Ave, Atlantic City


Even though New Jersey’s Constitution requires public jobs be awarded through a competitive testing process wherever possible, the Civil Service Commission is seeking to bypass these mandated requirements by "broad banding" titles. They’re aiming to place dozens - and possibly hundreds - of titles into “job bands” where management would be allowed to unilaterally “advance” favored workers through the band rather than requiring competitive examination. This would eliminate objective and transparent measures – such as lists of promotion-eligible workers, public postings of who was awarded the position. Since veterans preference is tied to promotions, it eliminates veterans preference in the 90% of cases where there will no longer be promotions.

The Christie Administration held a single public hearing in Trenton on the proposal at 3pm on April 10th - a workday. To say that the hearing was scheduled at an inconvenient time would be an understatement, as even several legislators had difficulty attending. It was virtually impossible for workers opposed to Christie’s proposal to have their voices heard. Those people directly affected deserve a true public process and an opportunity to have their concerns addressed their concerns.Christie has denied requests for more hearings at times and locations when working people all over the state can have a chance to be heard. So, CWA has launched a petition for supporters to call on the CSC to schedule additional public hearings locations, dates and times. The petition can be viewed and signed at www.cwanj.org.

The Communications Workers of America (AFL-CIO) represents both private sector and public workers. CWA represents more than 70,000 working families in New Jersey, including over 40,000 state workers, 15,000 county and municipal workers, and thousands of workers in the telecommunications, airlines, health care and direct care industries. It represents thousands of public workers both in Civil Service jurisdictions and those that have not adopted Civil Service.

NJEF endorses Buono

The below article appeared in the Asbury Park Press this past Sunday, 4/28. It makes strong points about Chris Christie's environmental record after he painted himself as an environmentalist in 2009 as he ran for governor the first time around. This time, given his move to gut environmental programs and raid clean energy funds for the general budget, no one should be fooled . Many are unaware of his chicanery and still think of him as a pro-environment!

Environmental group to support Buono

The NJ Environmental Federation endorsed Democratic Sen. Barbara Buono for governor last week, even though it backed Chris Christie in 2009. It said endorsing Buono was “an easy call,” given a series of broken promises by Christie and Buono’s record on issues like clean energy and green jobs.

“Barbara Buono is without any doubt the environmental candidate in this year’s race for governor,” said Janet Tauro, NJ Environmental Federation’s board chair. “We agree that the environment and the economy are inextricably linked, while Governor Christie’s policies show them to be mutually exclusive.”

“We need a leader who’ll invest in a green economy, not raid it,” said federation board member Ben Forest, citing the governor’s annual diversion of Clean Energy funds totaling more than $750 million and growing.

The NJ Environmental Federation is the state’s largest environmental organization.

Residents and Small Businesses Impacted by Sandy Now a Critical Step Closer to Recovery

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Approved $1.8 billion Disaster Recovery Plan for New Jersey

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone praised the approval of New Jersey’s $1.8 billion Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) disaster recovery plan that will help New Jersey’s homeowners and businesses impacted by Superstorm Sandy.

“I hear from New Jerseyans every day about how difficult this process is, and I know that many of them are not even close to a full recovery. The approval of this $1.8 billion plan means that more people now have an end in sight, and it will allow businesses to focus on business instead of how to pay for repair costs.” said Congressman Pallone.

The New Jersey CDBG disaster recovery funds have been allocated for homes and small businesses suffering damages following Superstorm Sandy. These grants will help residents repair their homes, fund buyouts in areas where people face repetitive flooding, assist homeowners who need help to raise their homes and businesses with repair costs not covered by insurance or small business loans.

The CDBG plan, submitted by New Jersey, was approved today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funding was made possible by the Sandy Relief Package passed by Congress.

Fracking video and Q&A -- May 16, 7 pm, First Presbyterian Church of Rumson

Here's another local opportunity to learn and ask questions about fracking.

NJ WATCHDOG: Reality TV Rumble Stars 'Disabled' Cop Inbox x

For Immediate Release:

Reality or Fake, Police Disability Pays!


On television, Joseph Derrico pursues a monster truck on foot, pulls the driver out of the vehicle and tosses him to the ground. He is on truTV's "Bear Swamp Recovery," a reality show on vehicle repos by the "baddest towing team in Jersey."

Yet Derrico collects a police disability pension of nearly $70,000 a year. In the eyes of the State of New Jersey, the retired Hamilton Township cop is "totally and permanently disabled" by a leg injury.

No stranger to trouble, Derrico was a criminal defendant when he retired in 2010. A Mercer County grand jury indicted Derrico on a felony charge of theft by receiving stolen property.

The patrolman escaped with his pension intact – thanks to a secretive deal with Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph Bocchini, who dropped the case when Derrico retired

If convicted, Derrico could have lost his pension. Instead, he has collected $180,000 in tax-free disability pay from the state Police and Firemen's Retirement System. If he reaches his life expectancy of age 80, Derrico's bad leg and behavior will be good for $2.5 million.

Bocchini claims his office has no record of the indictment or dismissal of charges against Derrico. In response, New Jersey Watchdog is suing the prosecutor in Mercer County Superior Court to produce the records or an explanation of why they no longer exist.

The Derrico case illustrates the inherent weaknesses of a $200 million a year disability pension system that's prone to abuse by police and firefighters in New Jersey.

Check out the full story – a joint investigation by New Jersey Watchdog (http://newjersey.watchdog.org) and NBC 4 New York – at http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2013/04/28/fake-or-reality/.

"Forgotten Wet-sider" Wishes To Give Away Surviving Superstorm Sandy Possessions To Needy Storm Survivors Before House Is Demolished

Danae Goodell-Wilson, the "Forgotten Wet-sider", lost her home and cars in during Superstorm Sandy. Many of her possessions were spared though but she cannot take them with her to a small rental unit, they all must go before the home is destroyed.

This afternoon she will be opening her home to fellow Sandy survivors who need clothes and kitchen goods to come and take what they can use. She has mostly women's and older girls clothes but also some men's, boys and babies. She has a LOT of clothing to give away. It may not be couture but she really want to help people who are struggling like herself.

Please email her at EnjoyMoreLife@hotmail.com for the address to come by.

She is a Middletown resident and hopes that she can help a few people.

President Obama's Weekly Address 4/27/13: Time to Replace the Sequester with a Balanced Approach to Deficit Reduction

WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama said that because Republicans in Congress allowed a series of harmful, automatic budget cuts—called the sequester—to take effect, important programs like Head Start are now forced to reduce their services. After travelers were stuck for hours in airports and on planes this past week, members of Congress passed a temporary band-aid measure to stop the cuts that impact airlines — but they must do more to stop cuts to vital services for the American people. That’s why it’s time for a balanced approach to deficit reduction that makes smarter cuts and reforms in the tax code while creating jobs and strengthening the middle class.

Anthrax, Now Ricin

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter:

You no doubt remember the atmosphere of fear and even panic in mid-September 2001 as 22 people contracted anthrax from letters mailed to news outlets and to Congress. People died then – two postal employees and three other innocent citizens. Those troubling days returned to my mind last week when we learned that the deadly poison ricin had been found in letters mailed to the Senate and to President Obama. Fortunately, no one has died this time.

The manner in which these letters were discovered shows that our nation has, at least, learned one lesson from the anthrax attacks: Both letters were opened and tested in off-site mail facilities set up after the anthrax attacks. Yet I am troubled that other lessons remain unlearned.

How could the FBI have responded more appropriately in the immediate aftermath of the anthrax attacks? Did the FBI truly build a sound scientific and criminal case against Bruce Ivins, the suspect held responsible for the attacks? Is the government’s current response to the ricin attacks repeating errors of the past?

I have previously offered legislation that would create a special commission, modeled after the 9/11 Commission, to investigate the anthrax attacks and determine what lessons we can learn still. As last week’s poisoned mailings demonstrate, the need for answers remains.

For security reasons, all letters sent to Congress since 2001 undergo intensive screening that can take days or weeks to complete. Should you ever wish to contact me, please feel free to e-mail me at holt.house.gov/contact to ensure your message reaches me without delay.

See Work From 100+ High School Artists on Tuesday

On Tuesday evening, I will showcase more than 100 outstanding artworks entered into the Congressional Art Competition by high school students from all over the four counties of the 12th Congressional District. I invite you to attend to view the artworks and to see the announcement of this year’s winners.

Tuesday, April 30, 6 p.m.
Imperia Banquet Center
1714 Easton Avenue
Somerset, New Jersey

As a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, I will continue to do all I can to maintain strong federal support for the arts and arts education.

Learn About Our Nation’s Military Academies

America’s military service academies provide a four-year college education, with full scholarship, to young men and women who pledge to serve as the next generation of leaders in the U.S. military services.

On Sunday, May 5, I will host an Academy Day for high school and middle school students and their families to learn more about the U.S. military service academies. Presentations will be offered by the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and U.S. Naval Academy.

Sunday, May 5, 1:00 p.m.
Ewing Township Municipal Building
2 Jake Garzio Drive (off of Upper Ferry Road)
Ewing, New Jersey

Seating is limited, so please RSVP to Scotia.MacRae@mail.house.gov with your name, grade, and school. For more information, please call 1-87-RUSH-HOLT (1-877-874-4658), or visit the Academy Nominations section of my website to see the procedures that applied for the applicants last fall. This year’s procedures will be similar.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

Mtown News Flash 4-26-13

From Middletown Alerts:

Unwanted Medication Drop Off April 27

Got Drugs? Turn in unwanted or expired medication for safe disposal at the Middletown Police Department on Saturday, April 27th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Police Headquarters is located at Town Hall, 1 Kings Highway. The collection is part of the National Take Back Initiative. Call 732-615-2039 for local information. Call the DEA at 1-800-882-9539 for program inquiries. Medications only. No needles please.


Business to Business Night April 30

Middletown’s Annual Business to Business Night will be held on Tuesday, April 30th from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church Street. All Middletown business owners are invited to meet and network in a relaxed atmosphere with light fare from Chiafullo’s. The event will also represents Middletown’s official kick-off for the Paint the Town Pink campaign. Pink-up kits for businesses interested in participating will be available. The event is hosted by the Community Affairs Council and sponsored by Chiafullo’s, Suzie’s Sweet Shoppe, CMDS, The Write Angles LLC and Gateway Press. Reservations are suggested. RSVP to Lori Anne Oliwa at LoriAnne@TheWriteAngles.com.



Sandy Recovery Assessment – Participants Needed

The Monmouth County Long Term Recovery Group is conducting assessments of unmet needs of flood damaged areas of Middletown and other communities. The assessment is being conducted by World Renew Disaster Response Services, a volunteer group that has responded to disasters in the US for more than 40 years. If you have been affected by Superstorm Sandy, please sto

p by at one of the centers listed below. Your participation will help paint a complete picture of the recovery needs of our community.

New Monmouth Walk-in Center
New Monmouth Baptist Church, at the Griggs Counseling Building (the white farmhouse to the left of the gymnasium), New Monmouth NJ 07748

• Saturday, April 27, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Monday, April 29, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, April 30 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Leonardo Walk-in Center

Henry Hudson Trail Activity Center, 945 Highway 36, Leonardo NJ 07737

• Saturday, May 4, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Monday, May 6, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, May 7, 12:00-7:00 pm

Disaster Assistance Registration Deadline May 1
www.disasterassistance.com
Superstorm Sandy survivors who had storm-related damages in New Jersey have just five days left to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Residents must register for disaster assistance by midnight (EDT), May 1.

Pallone Statement on Legislation Allowing FAA Flexibility In Staffing Shortages

Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) released the following statement regarding legislation passed today in the House of Representatives allowing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to prevent furloughs that have caused airport delays around the country as a result of budget sequestration:

“Today’s vote to allow the FAA the flexibility to prevent the furloughs that have slowed flight air travel and caused hours of delays at our nation’s airports, was a glaring example of why the automatic, across the board cuts known as the sequester are such a bad idea. While I voted for this bill to help restore normalcy to air travel, it does nothing to meet the other pressing needs and critical programs that are being slashed by sequestration.

“I have opposed the sequester since it was first conceived. The idea that across the board, blind cuts could be used as a vehicle to reduce spending is foolhardy and dangerous. The sequester cuts seriously hurt our economy, debilitate programs Americans rely on, and put our public safety at risk. Budgets are statements of priorities, and by pursuing a piecemeal approach to fixing the sequester, we are being asked to place a higher value on airline delays in lieu of Head Start, the Supplemental Nutrition Program Assistance Program (SNAP) , funding for science and research, FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, and public safety to name only a few.

“Members of Congress are elected to work together and act in the best interests of our constituents to make tough decision on things like federal spending. Sequestration represents a failure of that charge by House Republicans and sadly, as the effects of this wrongheaded plan become more and more apparent, it is likely that we will see more acts of desperation like today’s vote, rather than a long term fix that truly addresses the needs of Americans.”