Patch: Mike Morris Will Challenge Tony Perry For Middletown Twp. Committee

Shoutout to the Middletown Patch for this very flattering article today Middletown Patch for this very flattering article today. It has definitely set a few tail feathers flying into a tizzy and started the trolls to emerge from under their bridges... I say, 'Bring it on!'

So what was it about today's Patch article that has so many bent out of shape? Probably the fact that Carly Baldwin stated that she has intentions to follow this campaign very closely over the "next six months"!  Chronicling a campaign in Middletown like she plans is unheard of in recent times. There are many Republicans in Middletown (and Monmouth County for that matter) that believe Democrats shouldn't be seen or heard. That's something that I have no intentions of allowing. I will be seen and I will be heard from defending principles that I believe in.

What am I about and what do I believe in? You can read my pitch for yourselves: 

 "My name is Michael Morris, and I am running for Township Committee. As a resident for 34 years, I have championed affordability and transparency in government, and been a strong advocate for our township's working-class taxpayers and families with special needs. Since 2008, I've run a watchdog blog to keep everyone informed about township policies and events. With over 30 years in the Chemical Industry and as a proud alumnus of Brookdale Community College, I am committed to making Middletown a better place. 

 

I am a regular, working-class, blue-collar guy who understands the struggles and aspirations of our community. I staunchly support workers' rights and unions, firmly believing that everyone deserves a fair wage. Additionally, I am a vocal advocate for healthcare as a right, not a privilege. I believe Social Security and Medicare are essential pillars of support for retirees and those in need. I am also pro-choice, believing in a woman's right to make decisions about her own body. Furthermore, I stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, advocating for equal rights and protections for all residents of Middletown. 

Middletown faces a critical challenge: our population growth has remained stagnant for nearly 20 years. We are grappling with an affordability crisis; the average home assessment has increased 47% over the past 5 years township-wide, which is squeezing out younger individuals, working-class families, and seniors. Starter homes are scarce. 

Our governance lacks a coherent strategy for sustainable development. Instead of fostering organic growth, officials rely on outdated strip malls and sprawling developments. Middletown needs a plan for Smart Growth. Currently, our infrastructure neglects crucial elements like walkability, bicycle lanes, and transit connectivity, favoring cars and worsening traffic congestion. 

This status quo is unsustainable. Middletown needs a leader with a comprehensive vision for its future — one who prioritizes safety, sustainability, and the well-being of taxpayers. This November, let's vote for change. Let's vote for me, Mike Morris, the candidate who can unlock Middletown's untapped potential."

How 'bout them Cowboys?

From: Josh Levitt
buonoforgovernor.com

Governor Christie was in Dallas last night to cheer on his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, against the hometown New York Giants and schmooze national conservatives in advance of his 2016 presidential bid. While the Governor's Dallas Cowboys won last night's game, New Jersey workers and families have lost big time over the past three and a half years. In Chris Christie's New Jersey, 400,000 residents are out of work, property taxes have risen by 20 percent and middle class families are struggling to make ends meet. Moreover, a recent report found that 25 percent of New Jersey families are poor, unable to afford the basic necessities. New Jersey needs a Governor who will put the Garden State first and tackle the big issues facing the state. 

Poverty in N.J. reaches 52-year high, new report shows
By Brent Johnson//The Star-Ledger
Poverty in New Jersey continued to grow even as the national recession lifted, reaching a 52-year high in 2011, according to a report released today. The annual survey by Legal Services of New Jersey found 24.7 percent of the state's population — 2.1 million residents — was considered poor in 2011. That's a jump of more than 80,000 people — nearly 1 percent higher than the previous year and 3.8 percent more than pre-recession levels. "This is not just a one-year or five-year or 10-year variation," said Melville D. Miller Jr., the president of LSNJ, which gives free legal help to low-income residents in civil cases. "This is the worst that it's been since the 1960 Census." And it may get worse: The report warned Census figures for 2012 to be released this month may be higher. Those numbers are expected to show some of the impact from Hurricane Sandy, which took a bite out of the state's economy and destroyed a large amount of affordable housing.
… State Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), the Democratic nominee battling Christie in this year's gubernatorial race, said the poverty numbers are an example of how the governor's policies haven't worked. "This report is a damning commentary on his failed conservative economic philosophy that protects millionaires from paying their fair share at the expense of everyone else," she said. "He does not care about the consequences of these decisions for working-class families in New Jersey."

Report: 25 percent of N.J. families are poor
By Dave Sheingold//The Record
Poverty levels in New Jersey are bad and getting worse, as a quarter of the state's households now struggle to afford housing, food, medical care and other necessities, according to a new report by a leading poverty research group. The study, released today by the Legal Services of New Jersey Poverty Research Institute, says that in one of the nation's wealthiest states, 2.1 million people live in households that have a hard time meeting their basic needs. That number grew by about 359,000 during and after the Great Recession and now comprises 24.7 percent of New Jersey residents. Hardest hit is Passaic County, where 37 percent of the residents are poor, followed by Cumberland, Essex and Hudson counties, while Bergen County's rate stands at 18 percent. Even in Morris, Hunterdon and Somerset and other wealthy counties in northern New Jersey, 10 to 14 percent of the residents are poor, according to the report, which is based largely on 2011 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Poverty in New Jersey Hits 52-Year High Under Christie
By Greg Richter//Newsmax
New Jersey's poverty level hit a 52-year-high in 2011 despite the economic recovery on the national level. In a report released Sunday, Legal Services of New Jersey said 24.7 percent of New Jersey residents — at total of 2.1 million— was termed poor in 2011, The Star-Ledger reports. The number is almost 1 percent higher than in 2010 and 3.8 percent above levels from before the Great Recession began. "This is not just a one-year or five-year or 10-year variation," Melville D. Miller Jr., the president of LSNJ, told the Star-Ledger. "This is the worst that it's been since the 1960 Census."
Report: 25 percent in NJ living in poverty
AP
A new report claims one-quarter of New Jerseyans are living in poverty. The study released Sunday by the Legal Services of New Jersey Poverty Research Institute concludes that more than two million people in New Jersey are struggling to meet their basic needs. Their numbers have increased since the beginning of the economic recession by more than 300,000. The poorest county is Passaic, followed by Cumberland, Essex and Hudson, according to the report. Nationally, the poverty line is defined as about $23,000 for a family of four. But the New Jersey study puts the threshold at double that number because it says New Jersey's cost of living is significantly higher than the national average. The report also finds that children and Hispanics have suffered the most from increasing poverty.
Poverty levels rising each year in N.J., Cumberland County second highest
Press of Atlantic City
Despite the recession being over, New Jersey residents continue to live in poverty, according to a report released this month by the Legal Services of New Jersey. "Poverty rates in New Jersey have risen steadily since the beginning of the recession, reaching record highs in 2011," the report said. This is evident in the unemployment rates and food stamp enrollments. The 2011 poverty rate, 10.4 percent, is close to the rates seen about 50 years ago in 1959- the rate then was 11.3 percent, the report said. In Atlantic County, the percent of the population living below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) in 2011 was 32.4 percent, the report said. The highest level since 2006 was in 2010 at 33.4 percent. Cumberland County was the second poorest county in the state and reported 37 percent of residents below the FPL in 2011, which was also the highest rate reported from 2006-2011 in the county, according to the report. Cape May County reached 25.9 percent in 2011, but the highest reported was in 2009 at 28.5 percent. Ocean County saw the highest rate of poverty in 2011 at 27.4 percent. 

Senator Barbara Buono discusses raising the Minimum Wage

New Brunswick, NJ – Today, Democratic gubernatorial candidate and State Senator Barbara Buono delivered remarks at a press conference to call for increasing the minimum wage in New Jersey. At a time when middle and working class families are struggling to make ends meet, New Jersey needs a Governor who will stand up for their economic concerns.