How To Cut The Cost Of Infrastructure Construction In NJ

New Jersey's cost of road and bridge construction is the highest in the nation by far. It doesn't have to be.

Forty states use design build bidding which uses the competitive process to design the most efficient construction -reducing construction costs and overhead. New Jersey does not.

On multi-contractor, multi-agency construction, like the Rt. 35 project which cost taxpayers $25 mil for a contractor doing no work for months, a construction project manager could have avoided the work stoppage that kept a contractor idle because of a lack of communication among state and local officials.

Inexplicably Governor Christie suspended Phase II of a contract with Rutgers to recommend measures to cut the cost of infrastructure construction. The cost of Phase II was $60,000.

"Phase II of this study will conduct an analysis of toll road authority expenditures and produce a detailed case study analysis of various NJDOT and toll authority roadway and bridge projects to understand cost efficiency variation more completely."


NEWS RELEASE

Rutgers study estimates cost to build and maintain NJDOT roads

(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the release of a new study conducted by Rutgers University's Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center that determined the average cost to plan, construct, operate, and maintain one mile of roadway under NJDOT jurisdiction is $183,757.

The study is part of a two phase effort to provide an understanding of aggregate costs associated with NJDOT roadways and bridges. Rutgers will conduct additional research to understand more completely the factors that influence cost efficiency.

“The New Jersey Department of Transportation is committed to providing a modern, safe, and reliable transportation system throughout the State in the most effective manner possible,” NJDOT Acting Commissioner Richard T. Hammer said. “The study is part of an on-going effort to identify those factors that drive costs in New Jersey’s public transportation sector.” 

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Pallone Welcomes President Obama to Rutgers for 250th Anniversary Commencement - Obama Accepts Rutgers’ Invitation after Pallone led letter asking him to Speak at Commencement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2016

Obama Accepts Rutgers’ Invitation after Pallone led letter asking him

to Speak at Commencement

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) applauded the news that President Obama will deliver the keynote address at Rutgers University’s 250th Anniversary Commencement in May 2016. Last month, Pallone led members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to accept Rutgers University’s invitation. Rutgers is located in Congressman Pallone’s district.

“I am thrilled that President Obama will take part in the celebration of the enormous contributions that Rutgers has made to New Jersey and our country over the last 250 years,” said Pallone. “Rutgers is one of the largest and most prestigious research universities in the nation and President Obama’s acceptance of this invitation is a reflection of the excellence of the entire Rutgers community. I am extremely proud to represent the Rutgers community in Congress and look forward to continuing to celebrate its 250th anniversary.”

Pallone’s letter to President Obama is attached and included below.


March 22, 2016

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20006

Dear President Obama:

We write to encourage you to accept Rutgers University's invitation to deliver the keynote address for its 250th Anniversary Commencement on May 15, 2016.

Started as Queens College in 1766 under the royal charter of George III, Rutgers is one of the original nine colonial colleges and the only one to become a flagship state land-grant university. Today, Rutgers is one of the largest and most prestigious research universities in the nation and home to world class research across all academic disciplines.

Throughout the University's long and distinguished history, Rutgers students and scholars have attained significant achievements in a variety of areas. In 1869, New Brunswick hosted the first intercollegiate football game, and in 1952, Professor Selman Waksman won the Nobel Prize for Medicine for research leading to the discovery of streptomycin, the first antibiotic treatment effective against tuberculosis.

Additionally, Rutgers students have been named Rhodes Scholars, Fulbright Fellows, Gates Cambridge Scholars, Churchill Scholars, Truman Scholars, Woodrow Wilson Scholars, and Udall Scholars. The faculty includes MacArthur "Genius Award" winners, recipients of the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology, Pulitzer Prize winners, and dozens of members of the National Academies.

Rutgers has been recognized as one of the most diverse universities in the nation with students hailing from all 50 states and more than 115 countries. Rutgers educates more than 67,000 full-time students on its three campuses and is committed to introducing first generation, low-income, and academically motivated students to the promise of a college education through its Rutgers Future Scholars Program.

We are pleased to come together to support Rutgers University's invitation for you to address the graduates of the 250th Anniversary Commencement. Your participation will make this important milestone in Rutgers' history all the more memorable and auspicious.



Sincerely,


FRANK PALLONE, JR.
Member of Congress

Pallone Hosts Discussion with Public Health Experts to Highlight Zika Concerns

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2016


NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6), the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, held a discussion with public health experts at the Child Health Institute of New Jersey on the threats posed by the Zika virus. Congressman Pallone’s tour of the institute to hear from those studying conditions related to Zika comes in advance of an upcoming Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations subcommittee hearing on our understanding of Zika and what steps are being taken to counteract the threats posed by the virus.

“The Zika virus is clearly a public health concern, and we need to make sure authorities in New Jersey and across the nation are being proactive and taking the necessary steps to ensure that it does not become a public health crisis,” said Pallone. “There is still much we do not know about the virus and its impacts on human health, so I thank the experts and researchers at the Child Health Institute and Rutgers University for their insights ahead of next month’s Energy and Commerce hearing on Zika.”

 During the roundtable discussion, Pallone heard repeated calls to upgrade the nation’s health infrastructure so that researchers can more adequately respond to outbreaks of viruses that were once isolated, but are now spreading to more temperate climates due to increased travel and global warming. The experts also noted that, since the Zika virus is more prevalent in densely populated areas, the response to dealing with mosquitoes that carry the virus must be different than simply spraying marshes and fields. In this case, more attention must be given to ensuring that there is no standing water left in cups and small containers.

The World Health Organization recently declared that the Zika virus, which has recently spread to the Americas and has been identified in 20 states, is a public health emergency. The virus is transmitted by mosquitos and while symptoms—which only show in one-in-five people infected by the virus—are usually mild, it may also cause neurological conditions. When Zika infects pregnant women, mother-to-child transmission may lead to miscarriage or certain birth defects, including microcephaly, in which a child is born with an abnormally small head and brain.

Pallone toured the Child Health Institute of New Jersey and held a discussion with public health and disease transmission experts including Dr. Sherine E. Gabriel, Dean of the Rutgers Medical School; Stephen Jones, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Health System; Amy Mansue, President and CEO of Children’s Specialized Hospital; Dr. Chen Liu, the chair of Rutgers Medical School’s Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine; and Dr. Dina Fonseca, an associate professor on vector biology at Rutgers University’s Entomology Department.

Earlier this month, bipartisan leaders of Energy & Commerce Committee requested a briefing on the Zika virus from the directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). President Obama requested $1.8 billion in emergency funding in his FY2017 budget to enhance domestic and international efforts to combat Zika, including work on the development of vaccines and diagnostics, and to improve scientific understanding of the disease.

Pallone Unveils Comprehensive Legislation to Address Substance Abuse Crisis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2016


Bill Commits $500 Million Annually to Help Patients in All Stages of Prescription Opioid & Heroin Dependence

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6), who serves as the Ranking Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, unveiled comprehensive legislation to address the substance abuse crisis plaguing far too many communities in New Jersey and across the country. Pallone held a press conference at the Damon House in New Brunswick to discuss his bill, the Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and Reduction Act, which will commit $500 million annually to help individuals at all stages of crisis, specifically those suffering from prescription opioid and heroin dependence.

“This epidemic affects families from all walks of life and unfortunately, has become personal for too many New Jersey families that have been impacted by addiction or lost loved ones to an overdose,” said Pallone. “My comprehensive bill will tackle the substance abuse crisis we are now facing by providing significant funding for critical treatment and recovery programs. New resources will help to reach those who have fallen through the cracks before it is too late and also provide support to those on a path to recovery.”

The Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and Reduction Act has four core elements:

1) Preventing the onset of substance abuse,
2) Responding to those already in crisis,
3) Ensuring access to treatment for all patients, and
4) Supporting life-long recovery from addiction

The legislation sets guidelines requiring those prescribing opioids to undergo critical training; helps to improve a provider’s ability to diagnose addiction; provides funding for state and local governments and community organizations to train first responders, physicians, pharmacists, and the public to respond quickly and effectively to prevent overdoses; and makes naloxone, a safe and effective antidote to overdoses, more affordable.

Pallone noted that the bill also expands evidence-based treatment, including access to medication-assisted treatment; funds syringe exchange programs that often offer a path to treatment and decrease the spread of infectious disease; provides critical resources to communities that recognize a new heroin or opioid outbreak in order to combat addiction swiftly; and creates a new grant program to fund the work done by recovery schools and collegiate recovery programs like the Raymond J. Lesniak Recovery School and the Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance program (ADAP) at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

“These initiatives are critical for saving lives, and we are grateful to Congressman Pallone for his leadership in helping to ensure that evidence-based treatment and ongoing recovery support are readily available for everyone in need,” said Debra Wentz, President and CEO of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies.

“We appreciate Congressman Pallone's support and applaud his call for additional resources for both national and statewide efforts to address the epidemic of prescription opioid and heroin dependence,” said Lisa Laitman, director of the Rutgers Alcohol and Drug Assistance Program. “His particular focus in New Jersey on providing adolescents and young adult access to evidenced-based treatment and recovery support is much needed in light of the toll this epidemic has taken on our young people in New Jersey.”

A factsheet on the legislation is available here. A section-by-section breakdown of the bill is available here.

Pallone Announces Cancer Research Grant to Rutgers

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-6) today announced a grant award through the National Institutes of Health to Rutgers University to provide over $351,000 for cancer research. The grant will support research designed to develop an understanding of what makes certain faulty genes lead to the development of breast cancer. A better understanding of these genes could lead to treatments that are minimally invasive, yet effective in preventing the onset of cancer.

“As technologies and science improve and progress, our commitment to cancer prevention must be strengthened as well,” said Congressman Pallone. “This grant, which I am pleased was awarded to Rutgers, brings us one step closer to preventing breast cancer and is a prime example of the commitment that is necessary in this fight.”

The research will attempt to better understand the link between faulty BRCA1 and BRCA 2 genes and the development of cancerous tumors. Mutations in these genes account for approximately 5-10% of all breast cancers developed in the world. Those carrying the mutated BRCA1 gene are at a nearly 80% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer and a nearly 40% risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Letter: Herion Epidemic Calls For Test Program

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


Dear Editor,

New Jersey is facing a heroin epidemic and lacks enough treatment facilities and services to assist addicts seeking to get clean. Yet we still criminalize addicts, who have a medically diagnosable dependency on heroin. It is morally wrong to criminalize people suffering from the disease of addiction.

New Jersey should begin a test program of distributing free heroin to addicts through a research program that could be organized through Rutgers University. Safe injection clinics should be opened in high-use municipalities such as Toms River, Ocean Township and Middletown. Heroin maintenance programs prevent crime, reduce overdose and help bring addicts into treatment services.

Clean needles should be made available free at every high school, college and hospital in the state to prevent the spread of Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS.


Eric Hafner
Toms River

Pallone Announces $550,000 for Ongoing Autism Research at Rutgers University

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that Rutgers University has been awarded $550,000 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue ongoing research to identify and evaluate changes in the number of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities in the state of New Jersey. The CDC suggests that 1 in 68 school age child in the United States is living with autism. However, in New Jersey, that number is 1 in every 45.

Rutgers University is a part of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, which is a group of programs at sites across the country funded by the CDC to estimate the number of children with ASD and other developmental disabilities living in different areas of the United States. This funding will be for the first year of the program’s four-year cycle.

“We must take on autism as the urgent public health concern it is, especially in New Jersey,” said Congressman Pallone. “For years, Rutgers has been a leader with regard to autism research, and this latest award will allow their invaluable research to continue. Their ongoing work will help us more fully understand the different ways that ASD affects children throughout our state and make sure that children are properly diagnosed. We’ve made significant strides over the past decade in confronting this disease, but there is still much more that remains to be done.”

Congressman Pallone has repeatedly spoken out against the harmful, across the board budget cuts, known as sequestration, that slashed critical funding to autism research and programs. He has consistently urged his colleagues in Congress to prioritize policies that do not further reduce the budgets of agencies like the CDC, which monitors the prevalence of autism in America.

Pallone Announces $117,000 for Rutgers University to Help New Jersey Businesses Reduce Pollution

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that Rutgers University has been awarded $117,000 to help New Jersey businesses reduce the amount of toxic materials that they generate or use. The funding, provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will allow Rutgers to identify manufacturers that are candidates for pollution prevention assistance, particularly those that are vulnerable to releases of hazardous substances in the event of climate change-related storm surges.

“The sheer force of Superstorm Sandy and the destruction that lay in its wake was devastating, but a toxic spill in addition to the physical damage would have been disastrous” said Pallone. “We must make sure that, in the event of another overwhelming storm, harmful chemicals that could pollute our environment are not released from industrial plants. This funding will help us do just that by reducing the amount of hazardous materials that New Jersey businesses use and produce.”

With this grant, Rutgers will work with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the Rutgers Small Business Development Center to help businesses use less toxic substances during the manufacturing process.

“It is significant that, as one of the largest universities in the region, Rutgers is leading the way on pollution prevention, and I hope that other educational institutions and localities will follow suit. I’d like to thank them for their efforts on this front and the EPA for funding this important initiative in New Jersey.”

New Jersey’s Request to Temporarily Halt Rutgers-Led Seismic Survey is Denied

July 8, 2014

www.CleanOceanAction.org
www.StopRutgersOceanBlasting.org



On Tuesday, the U.S. District Court in Trenton denied the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s application to temporarily stop a seismic survey off the Jersey Shore. The seismic activities, which will send loud blasts of noise into the marine environmental every five seconds for 24 hours a day for 30 consecutive days, can proceed for the time being. These blasts have been demonstrated to cause serious harm to a variety of marine life, include whales, dolphins, turtles and fish.


Upon learning of the Court’s decision, Clean Ocean Action Executive Director Cindy Zipf stated, “This is an unfortunate development. Rutgers is now free to blast away, putting marine life and fishermen’s livelihoods at risk. We will most definitely be on the lookout in the coming weeks for strange behavior and/or the death of marine life off our coast. And we hope the legal fight is not over.”

DEP could seek to overturn this decision by filing an emergent appeal with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. DEP may also have a second shot at a temporary injunction before the District Court, but COA has not yet received word of whether DEP’s request was granted for a hearing on relief that would stop the blasting during the litigation.

While the Court’s decision has not yet been posted online, COA has learned that the Court based its decision on the public process pertaining to an Environmental Impact Statement prepared years ago for marine seismic research around the globe. “DEP was asking to review an authorization issued one week ago, not an environmental study finalized three years ago,” stated Andrew Provence, counsel for Clean Ocean Action, “That programmatic EIS preceded any concrete plans by Rutgers to blast our waters every five-seconds for a month.”

For now, the Rutgers-led study can proceed to do just that, without reprieve to the marine life and the commercial and recreational interest in and around the 230-square mile survey area.

STATE TAKES LEGAL ACTION TO STOP SEISMIC BLASTING!

For Immediate Release:
July 6th 2014

DEP ASKING FEDERAL COURT TO HALT WORK OFF THE COAST OF BARNEGAT INLET THAT COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE STATE’S TOURISM AND FISHING INDUSTRIES, AND TO MARINE LIFE

TRENTON – – The Christie Administration is taking legal action to halt a federally approved seismic ocean survey that is scheduled to start this month off the New Jersey coast, and which could adversely impact the state’s vital tourism and fishing industries, and marine life, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin announced on July 3.

The state has filed legal papers to seek injunctive relief in federal court to prevent the vessel, R/V Marcus G. Langseth, from conducting seismic research off the coast of New Jersey at this time. Please visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/docs/seismic-testing-federal-complaint.pdf

The DEP believes this research, which would use loud, powerful sound blasts to map the ocean floor over a 30-day period, will likely have a detrimental effect on New Jersey’s fisheries and marine mammals. The study is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and led by Rutgers University.

“We must carefully safeguard those resources, which play such a key role in our state’s $40 billion tourism industry, for the benefit of our residents, businesses and the environment,’’ Commissioner Martin said. “The Christie Administration continues to focus on clean ocean water quality, protecting our coastline and working to enhance our coastal recreation and fishing industries."

“We have made our concerns clear to the NOAA and remain hopeful that, at the very least, this initiative will be rescheduled for a less impactful time of year," Commissioner Martin added. "The timing of this program will be detrimental to various marine species that migrate and breed off the New Jersey coast and will negatively impact the commercial and recreational fishing industries, and related tourism, that relies heavily on these resources.

DEP contends that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration failed to act properly when NOAA denied the DEP’s request to study fisheries impacts. This request was made in addition to comments the DEP provided for a federal permit allowing for incidental harming or killing of marine mammals in the study area.

The NSF’s own environmental study concludes that because of limited knowledge of the effects of seismic surveys on marine fish, this “makes drawing conclusions about impacts to fish problematic.”

Part of the study area includes areas identified as essential fish habitat (EFH), which are important for fish spawning, breeding, and feeding. In approvals for this study, NOAA concedes that “it appears that some level of adverse effect to EFH may occur.”

Rutgers University received funding from the National Science Foundation to conduct seismic ocean blasting tests between 15 and 50 miles east of Barnegat Inlet as part of a climate change study. The process involves the repeated blasts of compressed air by underwater seismic air guns, designed to determine the scientific understanding of changes in sea level rise by examining deep sea sediments. These air-gun blasts can generate up to 250 decibels underwater.

The DEP’s Bureau of Marine Fisheries and Office of Environmental Review have both concluded this seismic activity would likely negatively impact New Jersey’s fish and marine mammal populations, including several endangered species.

NOAA is in the process of updating its Marine Mammal Acoustic Guidance, which set standards on how man-made sounds like seismic testing, sonar tests and ship noise, can affect marine mammals. Currently, the threshold level where underwater noise is considered to pose dangers to marine wildlife is 160 decibels, which is louder than a jet engine.

DEP contends that this proposed seismic research can either directly harm fish or disrupt migration patterns that will have a detrimental impact on our commercial and recreational fishing industry. The study’s one-month time window coincides with the height of fish migrations through the study area. This time window also accounts for nearly 20 percent of the annual catch for many species of fish.

In addition to fisheries impacts, the DEP further contends that the study will have an impact on marine mammals that migrate through the area and into New Jersey’s coastal waters. This concern is further reinforced by NOAA’s permit authorizing some harm to marine mammals, including threatened and endangered species

Feds DENY New Jersey’s Right to Review Rutgers Ocean Blasting off Coast; Use Technicality to Thwart State’s Concerns

For Immediate Release:
June 25, 2014

Seismic Ship Heads North toward New Jersey - Emergency Meeting on LBI on Wednesday, July 2nd at 5pm

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has denied New Jersey’s request to review the Rutgers University led seismic study off Barnegat Inlet for agreement with state regulations. Under the Coastal Zone Management Act, the study could be stopped if the state’s consistency review found foreseeable impacts on state resources. Although the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) submitted strong comments for its right to this review, which detailed threats to coastal resources and the economy, NOAA’s denial argued the “timeliness” of the request and ignored the state’s concerns. NOAA’s response appears baseless given that the NJDEP contacted NOAA on several occasions while evaluating the proposal and was clearly concerned with the potential for harm to coastal resources.

"It is a lame technicality; we were all blindsided by this proposal and the state acted quickly once they were altered to the study. We trust Governor Christie and the NJDEP will use all legal and state means available to stop this study," said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action. "The clock is ticking and this study must not go forward—especially now."

Captain Kevin Wark, from the commercial vessel Dana Christine, said, "No one has given us assurances that this testing isn't going to hurt commercial fishing; there have been no hearings or studies that tell us that this won't be harmful. I also find it hard to understand why there's no accountability about the possibility of damage to marine mammals when the commercial fishing industry is held to such high standards with regard to the health and safety of marine mammals.”

In its correspondence with NOAA, the NJDEP stated, “Based on previous studies examining seismic surveys and fisheries disturbances, it is reasonably foreseeable that the proposed surveys will have an impact from fisheries distribution, movement, migration and spawning perspectives that will lead to direct and indirect negative consequences to NJ’s fishing industries.”

Clean Ocean Action has been tracking the Marcus G. Langseth, the vessel that will be conducting the seismic blasting, by checking its location twice a day on the website marinetraffic.com. Until around Midnight on June 23rd, it was docked in Charleston, SC. Now it is on the move and heading north.

The study will be conducted off Barnegat Light to examine 60 million-year-old sediments for historical sea level changes; however, despite Rutgers’ claims, the study is being conducted during peak migration and/or breeding of whales, dolphins, turtles, fish, and shellfish. Divers are also at risk.

“The study would send seismic blasts of up to 250 decibels into the water every 5 seconds, 24 hours a day for 30 days, interfering with marine animal communication and movement. By way of comparison, impairment of human hearing begins after 30 seconds of exposure at 115 decibels. Marine animals are much more sensitive to sound than people are,” said Cassandra Ornell, Staff Scientist at Clean Ocean Action.

The imminent blasting of the ocean has commercial and recreational fishing leaders, divers, elected officials, marine mammal protectors and citizens who care about the health of New Jersey marine life very concerned. Governor Christie has been invited to attend an emergency town hall meeting at 5pm on Wednesday July 2nd at the Barnegat Light Fire Company on Long Beach Island.

Marine life at risk includes:

- 26 marine mammal species, including 6 endangered whale species and other whales, dolphins, and seals, may be located in or moving through the study area. Seismic blasting can interfere with marine mammal movement, breathing, communication, and feeding, and can even cause hearing damage.

- Nine of the 16 most important offshore commercial fisheries are at their peaks in the summer months. Seismic blasts can cause fish and squid to scatter and impact catch rates.

- New Jersey offshore waters are host to five threatened or endangered sea turtle species. Sea turtles exposed to much lower sound levels than proposed in this study have shown significant behavioral impacts.

****
Clean Ocean Action is a non-profit, broad-based coalition of 135 conservation, environmental, fishing, boating, diving, student, surfing, women’s, business, service, and community groups, with a mission to improve the degraded water quality of the marine waters off the New Jersey/New York coast. COA has a decades-long history of science- and law-based advocacy for a clean, industry-free Atlantic Ocean.

40+ Rutgers Students Storm Administration Building in Protest

The Old Queens administration building, located on Rutgers campus, was locked down for over six hours after roughly 45 protesters took the building by storm yesterday demanding a meeting with RU President Bob Barchi, who was not on campus at the time. The students were protesting the choice of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who was chosen to be the commencement speaker and receive an Honorary Degree of Laws at Rutgers's graduation ceromony on May 18 at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway.



You can read all about yesterday's student protest @ NewBrunswickToday

Buono Statement on Continuing Scandal at Rutgers University, "...the lack of leadership on the part of Governor Christie is simply astounding."

New Brunswick, NJ - In the wake of the ongoing scandal at Rutgers University and Governor Christie’s declaration that he wouldn't "micromanage every hire" at the school, State Senator and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono released the following statement:

“As the situation at Rutgers University continues to unfold, the lack of leadership on the part of Governor Christie is simply astounding. He has failed time and time again to address the clear problems present in President Barchi's office.

“The Governor appears to be picking and choosing where and when he has authority at Rutgers, exhibiting his unique brand of selective leadership, a Christie hallmark the past few years. As the state's chief executive, he does have the authority to step in and demand answers. Just months ago, he was more than eager to step into the fray when the issue was Mike Rice and Tim Pernetti.

“Rutgers is a state taxpayer funded institution and it’s absurd for the governor to claim that he has no authority, especially since he is in the middle of spearheading a higher education merger that will impact nearly every resident in this state.

“Shirking responsibility will not be an acceptable position for me when I am governor, but if Chris Christie says he has no place to weigh in on what is going on at Rutgers, then it is time for the Legislature to hold Committee hearings and call people like President Barchi down to Trenton. New Jersey taxpayers deserve answers.

“Between President Barchi's general lack of clarity about how the higher education merger would be paid for and the ongoing reality show we have come to know as the vetting process at the Rutgers athletic department, this is all simply unacceptable. With the president of Rutgers unable to provide even a hint of leadership and the governor refusing to acknowledge that a New Jersey state university, funded with taxpayer dollars, is somehow not in his purview, the lack of leadership from everyone involved is staggering.

“As an alumnus, and as a New Jersey taxpayer, I have lost all confidence in President Barchi's ability to effectively guide our state university and I think the people of New Jersey deserve some answers. Governor Christie's brand of selective leadership will not suffice in this situation, so I am asking the legislature to convene committee hearings to begin sifting through the multiple issues impacting this jewel of higher education before we continue to fall even further off course."

Pallone Denounces Cuts to Research and Programs on World Autism Awareness Day

New Brunswick, NJ – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) marked World Autism Day by touring the Rutgers University, Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center (DDDC) and speaking out against the across the board budget cuts known as sequestration that slashed critical funding to autism research and programs. Pallone was joined by Linda Brzustowicz, Acting Senior Associate Vice President of Research and Economic Development and Chair of Genetics, Rutgers University; Lara Delmolino, Director, DDDC & Clinical Associate Professor, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University; Bob Titus, Public Policy Director, Autism New Jersey; a parent of an autistic child and other New Jersey autism advocates.

Those with autism and related disorders face a long-term loss of billions of dollars in services and supports as a result of the $85 billion federal spending cut that took effect March 1, 2013. This is the first in a series of annual cuts intended to reduce federal spending by $1.2 trillion by 2021 or until Congress and the President can agree on more targeted cuts.

“The work being done at the DDDC is extraordinary and helping so many families,” said Pallone. “That’s why it is so important that the DDDC has the tools it needs to continue its good work. Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress chose to use funding for programs like these for political maneuvering rather than investing in the futures of those with autism when they allowed extreme across the board spending cuts to go into effect last month. Budgets are about more than numbers and dollars – they are real-life expressions of priorities, choices and values. These choices have an impact on the lives of millions of Americans, and that includes the million families that are currently coping with autism. I voted against these cuts and I will continue to speak out in opposition to this blind, slash and burn approach because New Jersey and the nation deserve better from Congress than a plan that inflicts so much harm to so many people.”

Among the agencies affected are the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which funds autism research, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which monitors the prevalence of autism in America, and the Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which helps fund the Autism Treatment Network.

“The impact of these cuts would affect all people with autism regardless of age or range of ability, reaching into special education, housing, research and even employment support. While none of these impacts will be felt immediately, they will grow more apparent and worse each day that the federal budget crisis goes unresolved,” said Pallone.

Autism spectrum disorder widely affects children in the United States, and a new survey of parents released by the CDC last week suggests that one in 50 school age child has autism. This new report indicates that the prevalence of autism is on the rise. The CDC previously estimated that one in 88 children in the country has autism, and in New Jersey, that number is one in every 48, the second highest prevalence in the nation.

“Families and individuals are overcoming significant challenges on a daily basis,” said Pallone. “We must treat autism as an urgent public health concern and raise awareness of the disorder, which is why World Autism Day is so important, and why Congress must prioritize policies that will help.”

Pallone Calls for Passage of Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act

Visits Women’s Rights Organization, Manavi

New Brunswick, NJ – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) visited Manavi, an organization in New Brunswick, New Jersey that provides critical service to primarily South Asian women who are victims of violence. Pallone was joined by New Jersey State Senator Nia Gill (D-Essex/Passaic), and representatives from the Center on Violence Against Women and Children at Rutgers University.
Senator Gill is a prime sponsor with State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg on the VAWA Bridge Act (S-2490) in the New Jersey State Senate, which would provide bridge funding for programs that receive support from VAWA until Congress reauthorizes the bill.

After the group toured the Manavi facility and spoke with the organization’s staff and representatives of its board of directors, Pallone discussed the urgent need for the House passage of the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA Reauthorization).

Earlier this month, VAWA Reauthorization passed in the U.S. Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 78 to 22. The Senate passed bill includes provisions that significantly expand protections to women from the LGBT, Native American and immigrant communities.

“Protecting all women from violence, assault, and stalking should not be a Democrat or Republican issue, and it is time for House Republicans stop blocking this strong, bipartisan bill,” said Pallone.

 “Among numerous important provisions, the VAWA Reauthorization contains critical improvements to the law for protecting women who are suffering abuse in immigrant communities, and further delay of this bill is not an option. I want to thank everyone at Manavi and the Center on Violence Against Women and Children at Rutgers University for your good work, and also State Senator Gill for your support of this meaningful legislation.”

“The Violence Against Women Act has proven successful in protecting women and children against violence and abuse. I am proud to stand with Congressman Pallone who has continued to advocate for programs that serve victims of domestic violence and has made renewal of VAWA a priority. In the event that House Republicans fail to act on this legislation in a timely manner, we will continue our work in Trenton to ensure we have bridge funding in place for agencies that protect and provide the necessary services to support women against violence,” said State Senator Gill.

The VAWA Reauthorization significantly strengthens the ability of the Federal Government, the States, law enforcement, and service providers to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. As with the previous reauthorizations of VAWA in 2000 and 2005, this bill responds to the realities and needs reported by those who work with victims every day to make VAWA work better for all victims.

Feb. 6 - Technology & Open Government Seminar at Rutgers – FREE

posted by Linda Baum for NJFOG

Four experts in open government will serve as panelists at a free seminar at Rutgers on Wednesday, February 6th. They will discuss how technology has affected issues surrounding open government, such as obtaining state and local government documents and getting access to public meetings.

The panel includes:

• Walter Luers, president of the NJ Foundation for Open Government (NJFOG)
• John Paff, chairman of the Libertarian Party’s Open Government Advocacy Project
• Suzanne Piotrowski, an academic expert on open government
• Sen. Loretta Weinberg, the NJ Senate Majority leader and author of two bills to reform the Open Public Meetings Act and the Open Public Records Act

The session will be held in the 4th floor lecture hall of the Alexander Library, 169 College Ave., New Brunswick, NJ. It begins at 6:30 with light snacks/dinner, and then the discussion gets underway at 7 p.m.

The seminar is sponsored by the Centers for Global Advancement and International Affairs, the Journalism Research Institute, and the Rutgers chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

See flyer here: http://www.jrireports.com/gpage7.html.

For directions: http://rumaps.rutgers.edu/?id=C71819

Congressman Pallone Discusses Student Loans and College Affordability at Rutgers University

For Immediate Release:
May 3rd, 2012

Unless Congress takes action, student loan interest rates will double on July 1^st

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) met with student leaders today at Rutgers University to discuss college affordability and potential student loan interest rate hikes. Unless Congress takes action, Stafford student loan interest rates will rise from 3.4% to 6.8% on July 1, affecting seven million students nationwide, including nearly 144,000 students in New Jersey.

The Republican budget passed in the House allows lower student loan interest rates to expire.  Yielding to public pressure, in a reversal from their previous budget stance, House Republicans passed a bill last week that prompted a veto threat from President Obama, which sustains current student loan interest rates by raiding funds from the Affordable Care Act intended to cover prevention and women’s health programs

“Higher education is the clearest path to the Middle Class, which is why we must prevent student loan interest rates from doubling in July,” said Pallone. “The Republican proposal to raid funds set aside for health programs for women and children in the Affordable Care Act is a political game, not a practical solution to protecting college affordability for millions of students.”

Democrats have proposed ending tax subsidies to large, highly profitable oil and gas companies to keep rates on college student loans from doubling and help pay down the deficit. Congressman Pallone has cosponsored H.R. 3826, the Democrat’s bill to maintain the reduced interest rates for student loans.

The House Republican budget also reduces Pell grants by about $200 billion over the next ten years, which would cause more than one million students to lose Pell grants entirely over the next decade. Today, more than 16,000 Rutgers students rely on Pell Grants, which provide over $65 million annually towards their education.

“College access and affordability should not be a partisan issue,” said Pallone.  “We can help keep college affordable without cutting health care to women and children.  Forcing a choice between the two is wrong and unnecessary.”

NJ Watchdog: $100K Pension Club

For immediate release:

 $100K NEW JERSEY PENSIONS 'CLUB' STATE RETIREMENT FUNDS

Call it the $100K Club – an elite corps of retired public employees that's growing bigger, younger and richer at the expense of the New Jersey retirement system.

The number of retirees collecting more than $100,000 a year from state pensions jumped to 1,244 last year – up 28 percent from 2010, according to New Jersey Watchdog's analysis of state data.  For example:·

• New Brunswick Police Director Anthony Caputo, for example, retired at age 47 to draw a $115,019 annual pension. One year later, the city rehired Caputo as police director – the same position – at a $120,000 salary. For one job, he receives two checks, totaling $235,019 a year.
• Robert Mulcahy hit the jackpot when he was fired as Rutgers University's $341,250-a-year athletic director. He received a severance package that cost the state school more than $600,000.  The next month, Mulcahy started collecting a $162,399 annual pension.·      
•  Joseph Blaettler will rake in more than $4.5 million from the Police and Firemen's Retirement Fund if he reaches age 80, his statistical life expectancy. At age 46, Blaettler began pocketing nearly $135,000 a year in retirement checks when he stepped down as Union City deputy police chief.

For the complete story, go to http://newjersey.watchdog.org/.

NOTE – New Jersey Watchdog will release the full list of 1,244 $100K Club members on its web site tomorrow, April 3.  

Pallone Announces Over $500,000 For Job Safety Training, Pollution Prevention Efforts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. Thursday announced over half a million dollars in federal grants that will help create and maintain jobs, improve worker safety and prevent pollution in the region. The Department of Labor allocated $348,000 to two local organizations that will support in-person, hands-on training and educational programs for workers and employers in industries with especially high injury and fatality rates.

“Employees should not have to worry about their lives while they are on the job,” said Pallone. “Worker safety is the best it has ever been, but that doesn’t mean we can’t always do more to prevent accidents on the job. I’m glad to see this money go toward training that will save lives.”

Rutgers University received $180,000 that will fund hazard prevention training and materials to limited-English, low-literacy, young and hard-to-reach workers employed in the warehouse and light production industries. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey received $168,000 to update training materials and provide training on the use of fall protection in the construction industry.

Additionally, EPA awarded two grants totaling $200,000 to Rutgers to reduce the University’s carbon footprint. The first grant of $50,000 will facilitate the Center for Advanced Energy Systems implementation of a smart electrical metering system on the Busch and Livingston campuses in Piscataway. The second grant for $150,000 will help the university recruit high school students as “Water Champions” to lead water conservation changes throughout their communities. Both grants were part of approximately $4 million in grants EPA awards each year aimed at prevention pollution across the nation.

“As one of the largest universities in the region, it’s significant that Rutgers is working hard to make its carbon footprint small,” said Pallone. “Rutgers is working hard to lead the way on pollution prevention and I hope other educational institutions and localities will follow its lead. Protecting the environment also keeps and creates jobs in the area, which continues to be one of my highest priorities.”

Pallone Renews Commitment to College Affordability, Protecting Pell Grant Loan Funding

Long Branch, N.J. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. Monday will speak with Rutgers students during a roundtable discussion regarding their concerns about federal support for improving college affordability and the ongoing threat the Republican majority poses to funding federal Pell Grant loans. New Jersey students are concerned about college debt and the availability of federal Pell Grants, which for many, are the only way they are able to attend college.

During the recent debate to raise the debt ceiling in July, Republicans offered Pell Grant cuts as a way to cut the budget. These cuts were averted but as the Super Committee convenes to discuss budget cuts, Pell Grant funding may again be on the table.


WHO: Congressman Pallone will host a roundtable discussion soliciting input from Rutgers students and student organizations

WHEN: 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 12, 2011

WHERE: Rutgers Student Center
126 College Avenue, New Brunswick
Main Lounge (Across from Multi-Purpose Room)