The NJ Blog

Star-Ledger on the Ropes

2008-09-19T12:36:00.004-04:00

Things aren't looking good for the Star-Ledger, New Jersey's largest newspaper.

In July, Publisher George E. Arwady characterized the paper as being "on life support" when he told employees that the newspaper will be sold if management cannot win union concessions and persuade 200 of the 756 non-union, full-time workers to take buyouts by October 1, 2008.

Last week, with less than a month before the October 1 deadline, Arwady stated that the paper has not yet received the 100 news staff buyouts needed.

On Tuesday, in an internal e-mail, Arwady told employees that the Star-Ledger could be sold or closed by January if the Newspaper and Mail Deliverers Union doesn't ratify a labor agreement by October 8. Arwady told employees that the newspaper and union were "far from an agreement" and that "it is doubtful that the Drivers will ratify an agreement by October 8, 2008." As such, formal notices will be sent to all employees this week advising them that the Company will be sold, or, failing that, that it will close operations on January 5, 2009.

NJ Democrats: Woops!

2008-09-14T13:02:00.006-04:00

Wow, it seems that the New Jersey Democrats had some problems obeying the law recently.

First, there was the indictment of the Chairman of the Bergen County Democratic organization and the organization's counsel for public corruption.

Then there is the disclosure by the state Democrats that they forgot to have the legally required meeting to formally select its electors for Barack Obama.

State law requires political parties to hold a meeting to nominate electors within seven days of its national convention. (N.J.S.A. 19:13-15 ("In presidential years the State committee of a political party shall meet at the call of its chairman, within 1 week following the closing of the party's national convention, for the purpose of nominating candidates for electors . . . .").) The parties then have an additional week to file electors' names with the Division of Elections. Democratic Committee Executive Director Rob Angelo said the elector certification process, generally completed at the committee meeting, is now underway, although several weeks late.

Angelo doesn't think it's a big deal given that "[i]n 2004 we didn't do it until early October and that year the convention was in July."

Failing to obey New Jersey's election law doesn't seem to bother the Obama campaign either.

"We're not worried about it," said Andrew Poag, communications director for Obama's New Jersey campaign. "We have confidence that the state committee will have the electors in place in time. It's the state's responsibility and we're just gonna leave it to them."

Laws can be so annoying sometimes.

NJ Democrats caught with their hands in the public kitty. Again.

2008-09-14T12:12:00.004-04:00

The Chairman of the Bergen County Democratic Organization ("BCDO") and the BCDO's counsel were indicted this week. The Indictment charged that in December 2001 Dennis Oury and Joseph Ferrieros conceived of a plan to form a company called Governmental Grants Consulting that would be paid by Bergen County municipalities -- particularly Bergenfield -- to assist these municipalities in obtaining state and local grant monies. According to the Indictment, Ferriero indicated that Governmental Grants would be successful because he could use his "influence" to help the municipalities "get a better result." Throughout the entire time, Oury and Ferriero took steps to conceal their ownership interest and roles in Governmental Grants and prevent their undisclosed conflicts of interest from coming to light.

By late in 2002, Bergen County awarded Bergenfield $800,000 in grant money for the estate and the state Green Acres program awarded Bergenfield a $600,000 grant and loan package. Based on the successful grant applications, Bergenfield issued a check for $128,625 to Governmental Grants, representing its “Consulting Grant Fulfillment Fees.” Oury thereafter received a check in the amount of $25,016.97, and Ferriero a check for $27,538.04.

They both face significant jail time if convicted.

New Poll: Corzine's popularity still low

2008-09-14T10:41:00.003-04:00

A new Farleigh Dickinson University poll shows that New Jersey residents are not too enthused with the job Governor Jon Corzine is doing, with only 41% of those polled approving of his performance and 43% disapproving.

That's not bad considering that two-thirds of New Jersey voters said the state is on the wrong track. Just 23% of registered voters say the state is headed in the right direction, a new low during Governor Corzine's term, while 67% say it's "off on the wrong track," a new high during the governor’s term.

We suspect the Governor's new toll plan won't help his approval ratings.

I remember 9.11.01

2008-09-11T10:58:00.002-04:00

I remember many things about September 11, 2001.

I remember walking to the train station in the morning and thinking what a beautiful day it was, with its clear blue sky and cool temperature.

I remember sitting on the train, listening to the radio and looking out the window just moments after the first plane hit the North Tower and wondering what had just happened.

I remember the train conductor coming on the public address system and, in a light mannered way, saying "ladies and gentleman, if you look out the right side of the train, you'll see the World Trade Center on fire."

I remember, just before losing radio reception going into the tunnel under the Hudson River, hearing that a plane had flown into the North Tower.

I remember getting to Penn Station and walking out to the street just as the second plane hit, hearing about it live on the radio and hearing the DJ say over and over "we're being attacked!"

I remember getting to my office in Times Square and the utter silence of people in the lobby and elevators. I remember turning on the TV in the conference room across from my office and watching the coverage with some of my co-workers.

I remember hearing that the Pentagon was on fire.

I remember looking out the window of a colleague's office and watching live, with my own eyes, not on TV, as each of the towers collapsed.

I remember walking the streets of New York just hours later and I remember the near total silence, aside from emergency vehicles. The other people on the street didn't talk. They just stared blankly forward. Some crying.

I remember finally getting on a train back to New Jersey and sitting next to a woman who just started to cry. I remember holding her hand but not saying anything. I remember not being able to think of anything to say.

I remember watching the fire and smoke from the train, just like I had in the morning when the buildings were still standing.

I remember the days and weeks after and remember seeing the "missing" posters all over the city. On every light post. On every subway. On any surface that someone could post a flyer.

I remember reading as many of those posters as I could, knowing that it was unlikely that any of the people I read about would be found alive.

I remember being scared. I remember being angry. I remember wondering if I could help.

I remember all those things. But most of all, I remember the almost 3000 people who died seven years ago today just because they were Americans and just because they went to work. I remember their families and the loved ones that they left behind.

How low can it go?

2008-07-16T16:08:00.006-04:00

With the current Congress's approval rating at rock bottom 14% approval rating for Congress, one would think that the Republicans would be in a great position to take back a significant number of seats.

That won't happen, for various reasons.

Instead, the same group of do-nothing Democrats will be back in 2009, likely with a few additional faces.

The first page in the Democrats playbook -- blame George Bush -- will, however, be missing.

Let's hope 2010 looks a lot like 1994.

Tired of paying

2008-07-15T12:56:00.004-04:00

Although Governor Jon Corzine has not made any announcement as to whether he will seek a second term in 2009, he's raising money just in case. This past weekend, former U.S. Senator Bob "The Torch" Torricelli held a fundraiser at his Hunterdon County home for about 100 supporters.

One of the reported guests was South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross, who arrived by helicopter.

We guess Corzine doesn't want to foot the entire bill for the next campaign.

Pardon us

2008-03-25T22:01:00.003-04:00

President Bush issued 15 new pardons and commuted one prison sentence today. All 15 pardons were for men who were convicted of non-violent and mostly minor offenses, some dating back decades. Among the convictions were drug possession and distribution, illegal firearms dealing, false housing statements and wildlife infractions.

Two of the pardons issued were to New Jersey residents:

George Francis Bauckham of Oak Ridge was pardoned for the offense of unlawful detention, delay and secretion of mail by a postal employee. He had been sentenced on May 16, 1958, in New Jersey to five years probation and $100 fine.

Robert Michael Milroy of Cinnaminson was pardoned for the offense of importation of heroin. He had been sentenced April 2, 1975, in New Jersey to seven and a half years imprisonment, six years special parole, and three years probation.

Congratulations to the ex-ex-cons.

NJ to drivers: no mor txtz!

2008-03-01T18:57:00.005-05:00

Starting today in New Jersey, driving while talking on your cell phone without a handsfree device, texting or sending an e-mail from your Blackberry is a "primary offense." That means a police officer no longer needs another reason to pull you over.

And it's a $100 ticket. Unless, of course, you use it in a plea agreement:

The offense carries a $250 surcharge but only if a driver pleads guilty to it as part of a plea agreement. A driver who is ticketed for a cell phone violation does will not have to pay a surcharge, but a driver who is ticketed for a more serious offense such as careless driving and pleads down to a cell phone offense does pay the surcharge.

Was the change in the law really meant for safety or is it another way to shake down New Jersey drivers for more cash?

And tomorrow the tolls at the Port Authority bridges and tunnels go from $6 to $8.

"The kick is . . . . good. And the Giants are going to the Superbowl!"

2008-01-20T22:52:00.000-05:00

New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes was a little off towards the end of tonight's game -- missing 2 field goals including a somewhat short kick with just 0:04 left in the game. But his 47-yeard overtime field goal won the game and sent the Giants to the Superbowl.

Remember 9.11.01

2007-09-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

I remember many things about September 11, 2001.

I remember walking to the train in the morning and thinking what a beautiful day it was, with its clear blue sky and cool temperature.

I remember sitting on the train, listening to the radio and looking out the window just moments after the first plane hit the North Tower and wondering what the hell had just happened.

I remember the train conductor coming on the public address system and, in a light mannered way, saying "ladies and gentleman, if you look out the right side of the train, you'll see the World Trade Center on fire."

I remember, just before losing radio reception going into the tunnel under the Hudson River, someone on the radio say that a plane had flown into the North Tower.

I remember getting into Penn Station and walking out on the street as the second plane hit, hearing about it live on the radio and the announcer saying over and over "we're being attacked."

I remember getting to my office in Times Square and the utter silence of people in the lobby and elevators.

I remember turning on the TV in the conference room across from my office and sitting there with my co-workers watching what was going on.

I remember hearing that the Pentagon was on fire.

I remember looking out the window of a colleague's office and wathing live, with my own eyes, not on tv, as the two towers collapsed.

I remember walking the streets in New York the hours after and the total silence, aside from emergency vehicles. The other people walking didn't talk. They just stared blankly forwards. Some crying.

I remember finally getting on a train back to New Jersey and sitting next to a woman who just started to cry. I remember holding her hand but not saying anything. I remember not being able to think of anything to say.

I remember watching the fire and smoke from the train, just like I had in the morning when the buildings were still standing.

I remember over the days and weeks after seeing the "missing" posters all over the city. On every light post. On every subway. On any surface that someone could post a flyer.

I remember being scared.

I remember being angry.

I remember wondering if I could somehow help.

I remember all those things.

But most of all, what I remember on the sixth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks are the almost 3000 people who died five years ago today just because they were Americans and just because they went to work that day. I remember their families and the loved ones that they left behind.

We should endeavor to remember them always.

A new picture for Anne?

2007-08-07T19:01:00.000-04:00

New Jersey's current Attorney General, Anne Milgram, took some time to talk about some of the differences between her current job and her former job as First Assistant Attorney General.

The size of the office. "The office is enormous. The first assistant's office is big. You walk into that Attorney General office and it really is bigger than any apartment I ever had in New York City -- with roommates."
E-mail dates. "I started to get e-mails asking me out on dates. That's the first time that's ever happened to me. I'm sure it's because of all the kind publicity and the pictures in the newspaper, but it's certainly something that never happened.

According to the Attorney General, she has "not accepted any of those offers."

So far we like Anne. But having previously seen her in person, we know that her official picture doesn't do her justice. You've got it going on Anne, so it's time you call the Governor's photographer and have him stop by that big office of yours with a camera!

Oh, and keep up the good work.

Cupid heads back to court

2007-08-04T13:18:00.000-04:00

Malik Cupid, the Corzine administration aide who was caught stealing money from his ex-girlfriend's bank account while she was serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq, will be heading back to court on August 13.
The Westchester County District Attorney's office says that no plea has been reached.
Cupid resigned his $102,350 post as Chief of Staff to New Jersey Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells on July 2.

Missile launcher found in Jersey City

2007-07-20T13:30:00.000-04:00

From CBS 2 News:

A Jersey City woman made a shocking discovery on her lawn this morning when she noticed a military rocket launcher lying in the grass.

Niranjana Besai was leaving her house, located at 88 Nelson Street, to go to work just after 8 this morning when she spotted the launcher on her front lawn. "I read it and it [said] 'missile,'" Besai told CBS 2 HD. "There was little 'missile' [writing] on it."

She immediately called police.

Sources tell CBS 2 HD that the device is the type used to shoot shoulder-fired rockets and is capable of taking down an aircraft.

What's more troubling, sources add, is that Besai's house is located along flight path for Newark Liberty International Airport.

Besai's neighbor, Joe Quinn, saw her pointing at the equipment from her front porch. When he walked over to see what the fuss was about, he was just as shocked to see the six-foot-long weapon.

"She's pointing that there's something in the front," he told CBS 2 HD. "I said, 'Let me come down and take a look,' and I saw a little soldier on it and I said, 'Whoa, that's a missile launcher or something!'"

Quinn says he originally thought the launcher was just a pipe, but after noticing the picture of the soldier, he realized it looked similar to a missile launcher he'd seen on television.

Jersey City Police removed the launcher, and the incident is now being investigated by the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the FBI.

Sources say Besai is not involved in the investigation as a suspect.

Jersey City Police could not confirm whether the device was actually operable.

Excuse my language, but that is some scary sh*t.

Enough with selling the Turnpike already

2007-07-07T17:29:00.000-04:00

We still can't understand why Governor Jon Corzine's administration thinks that increasing the state budget and paying for it by selling, leasing or securitizing toll roads like the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway is a better idea than just controlling state spending.

As we've said previously, controlling state spending is the only way to solve the state's financial problems.

Happy Flag Day

2007-06-14T10:49:00.001-04:00

Today is Flag Day.

The “Stars and Stripes”, the official National symbol of the United States of America was authorized by congress on that Saturday of June 14, 1777 in the fifth item of the days agenda. The entry in the journal of the Continental Congress 1774-1789 Vol. Vlll 1777 reads “Resolved that the flag of the thirteen United States be Thirteen stripes alternate red and white: that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

Fly your Stars and Stripes!

(The tattered Flag shown in the picture above was one found at the World Trade Center site and flown, among other places, in Yankee Stadium during the 2001 World Series.)

"I should be dead"

2007-05-25T08:36:00.001-04:00

Governor Corzine taped a public service announcement for the U.S. Department of Transportation. It's pretty powerful, with Corzine admitting he should be dead, recounting his significant injuries and the mistake he made by not wearing a seatbelt. Take a watch. Wear your seatbelt. And have a great weekend.

Political games = neglect and abuse

2007-05-02T13:04:00.000-04:00

Prior to yesterday's veto by President Bush (who used a very special pen to do so) of a bill that would have funded troops in Iraq but would also have mandated a troop withdrawl on a timetable set by the Democratic Congressional leadership (not the Commander-in-Chief or the members of the military) we were reading an article in the March 5, 2007 U.S. News & World Report entitled "Disrespecting the Nation's Warror Elite."

The article concerned the deplorable conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and noted that the public outrcy after these conditions were exposed "shows that there is also considerable wrath among ordinary Americans when they feel their soldiers are being neglected and abused."

After reading the quote, we immediately thought "shouldn't ordinary Americans be angry that the Congressional Democrats are holding up much-needed money for the troops in Iraq in order to play a political game?"

We think the answer is yes.

Why? Because political games involving troop funding is neglect and abuse.

Bloomberg on Corzine

2007-04-19T11:04:00.000-04:00

We agree with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on this one:

"Let's hope Gov. Corzine recovers and gets back to work," said Bloomberg. "But it is a wake-up call for all of us to make sure you put on the seat belt."
Taking his own advice, the mayor said he had two stickers affixed to the backs of his two front seats reminding passengers to buckle up.
Bloomberg added that cops and firefighters, who must get someplace in a hurry to "make a difference," need to speed and use lights and sirens.
But elected officials almost never need them, he said.
"I don't think [using lights and sirens] for an elected official who wants to get someplace for a photo op is appropriate," Bloomberg said.

Corzine didn't need to be travelling 91 miles per hour with his emergency lights flashing and sirens blaring in order to get to the Governor's Mansion to see Don Imus. Just wasn't necessary.

Update:

Here is a more complete Bloomberg quote (we are still trying to locate a link to the full quote):

"I don't think an elected official that wants to get to someplace for a photo op is appropriate. Legislators having lights and sirens I think is totally inappropriate because there's no reason they would ever have to go to someplace. They can say, "Oh it's my district I have to be there." They aren't going to save lives. They're not first responders. I have a rule with the detectives that drive the car that I use, no lights and sirens unless you check with me and only then if it is a really big."

And Mike isn't kidding -- he ordered sirens and lights removed from cars belonging to 250 city officials in 2004, after one of his deputy mayors was repeatedly caught on camera in her official sedan, flashing its lights and blaring its siren to get home quickly from work.

Ethical McGreevey?

2007-04-19T10:37:00.000-04:00

We had a hearty laugh this morning when we saw this headline: McGreevey's first course as Kean instructor? Ethics.

Yep, scandal-scarred former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey is teaching ethics at Kean University. And getting paid $17,500 to do it.

Who will Kean add to its "ethics" faculty next? Former State Senator John Lynch (when he gets out of jail)? He could teach a course on "Ethics in Public Office." Maybe they could land Jack Abramoff as a visiting professor. He'd be great teaching "Ethics in Lobbying."

David Jones is wrong

2007-04-18T11:25:00.000-04:00

David Jones, president of the New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association, called Governor Corzine's driver, Trooper Robert Rasinski, "professional and heroic" because "[h]e actually spun that vehicle into his side to take the initial impact." Jones said that Rasinski's "concern right from the first thing was how is the governor, protecting the governor."

Question: If Trooper Rasinski's concern was "protecting the governor," why didn't he insist -- as the law requires -- that Governor Corzine wear a seat belt?

Click-it or Ticket

2007-04-18T10:50:00.000-04:00

We hate to kick Governor Corzine while he's down, but we can't imagine a justifiable reason for his motorcade to have been travelling on the Garden State Parkway at 91 miles per hour with emergency lights flashing.

Was the Don Imus/Rutgers meeting so important that he needed to risk his life -- and the lives of other motorists on the road -- to get there? We don't think so.

The rest of us are expected to obey the speed limit. Aside from tending to a state emergency -- which Don Imus is not -- the Governor (and his Trooper escorts) should be expected to obey the speed limit as well. The Superintendant of the State Police, Rick Fuentes, agrees:

"If it's a non-emergency situation, we would ask them to obey the traffic laws and obey the speed laws both for the safety of their occupants and the public," Fuentes said.

Remember, the law applies to everyone. Even the Govenor and members of the State Police.

When will Trooper Robert Rasinski receive his speeding and failure to wear seat belt tickets?

Update:

Eugene O'Donnell hits the nail on the head:

Eugene O’Donnell, a professor of police studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said that speed might be justified for a governor racing to respond to a natural disaster, but that “an elected official trying to get a routine appointment would certainly be out of the scope of an emergency definition.”

Hoboken checks in

2007-04-16T19:04:00.000-04:00

Two members of the Hoboken City Council have answered our question (posed here and here): What legitimate purpose is there for members of the Hobken City Council to carry badges?

Why did we ask the question? Well, it was a Hoboken City Council badge that led a New York City police officer to call the Hoboken Police department to inquire whether City Councilman Chris Campos should receive special treatment when pulled over on the West Side Highway for drunk driving.

So what did we hear?

First, "Terry LaBruno" (who we believe to be the same person as City Councilwoman Theresa Castellano) wrote to us directly and said the following:

"Why the badges? I ran for CIty Counicl in 1988, 1993, 2001 and lost. I did not know than [sic] nor did I know when I was elected in 2005 that I would receive a City Council badge. When I received it I was honored, because it is an honor to serve."

We appreciate hearing from Ms. LaBruno. We in no way think that any member of the City Council sought their office in order to secure a badge. Indeed, we have faith that each member of the City Council had nothing but good and honest intentions when they sought their office. With that said, we don't believe that Ms. LaBruno has answered the question. Is there a legitimate purpose for having the badge?

Second, Councilman Peter Cammarano answered the question as follows (thanks to reader Justin for passing this along):

"The badge is a glorified form of identification. In a word, there is no legitimate purpose for the badges beyond 'identification.' Of course, this doesn’t answer the question of whether the badges should be issued in the first place."

We're not surprised by Mr. Cammarano's answer. But we do think that his response does answer the question of whether the badges should be issued in the first place. If there is no legitimate purpose for them, they shouldn't be issued in the first place. To avoid even the appearance of impropriety, the badges should be returned to the City and the practice of handing them out to members of the City Council should end.

Many thanks to Ms. LaBruno and Mr. Cammarano for answering the question.

The curse of the gubernatorial broken leg

2007-04-12T23:55:00.000-04:00

We just received the news that Governor Jon Corzine was in a motor vehicle accident today on the Garden State Parkway in Atlantic County. He is said to be in stable condition after undergoing sugery at Cooper University Medical Center in Camden. His injuries include 12 broken ribs, a broken sternum, a broken collarbone and a broken leg. We of course wish the Governor well and hope for a speedy recovery.

Hearing this news reminded us of Corzine's two elected precedessors -- Christie Whitman and Jim McGreevey -- both of whom broke their legs while in office.

Whitman's injury came while skiing in Switzerland. It was big enough that the news of her broken leg made it into Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update.

Jim McGreevey's broken leg came during an alleged nightime walk with his soon-to-be-ex-wife Dina Matos McGreevey on the beach in Cape May. Of course many people (including us) didn't believe that he was on the beach with his wife at the time. More people questioned the story after McGreevey resigned. And more recently we learned that the broken leg didn't affect McGreevey's desire to bed down with Golan Cipel (Cipel stating that while McGreevey was bed ridden recovering from a broken leg, McGreevey masturbated in front of him).

Silence

2007-04-10T13:48:00.000-04:00

We're still waiting to hear from any member of the Hoboken City Council regarding the following question:

What legitimate purpose is there for members of the Hobken City Council to carry badges?

Why do we ask? Read here and here.

If you're from Hoboken and curious about the answer to this question like we are, e-mail the members of the City Council and ask them to respond (the following e-mail addresses are all publicly available). Maybe we'll (you'll) finally get an answer.

Rubin Ramos: rramos1973@optonline.net
Mike Russo: msrusso31@aol.com and mike@russoforhoboken.com
Chris Campos: chris@camposlegal.com and campos323@hotmail.com
Michael Cricco: MCricco@aol.com
Nino Giacchi: mgiacchi@juno.com
Theresa Castellano: tclmath@aol.com and theresa@castellanoforhoboken.com
Peter Cammarano: pcammarano@gbvlaw.com and pjciii@gmail.com

In NJ, driving a Zamboni while drunk is OK!

2007-04-04T09:24:00.000-04:00

Zamboni driver John Peragallo, 64, was convicted of drunken driving in 2005 after a fellow employee at the Mennen Sports Arena in Morristown, New Jersey told police the Peragallo was speeding and nearly crashed into the ice rink's boards. A breath test reveled that Peragallo's blood alcohol level was 0.12 percent, well above the 0.08 that is considered legally drunk in New Jersey.

So why did Peragallo, 64 -- who admitted at his trial that he had a shot of Sambuca with his breakfast coffee and two Valium pills before work and that he drank beer and vodka after he cleaned the ice -- get his DWI conviction overtuned this week?

Well, according to Superior Court Judge Joseph Falcone, Zambonis are not motor vehicles because they cannot be used on highways and cannot carry passengers and thus not subject to the state's DWI laws.

We assume Judge Falcone hadn't heard of this incident, where two Boise, Idaho city employees were fired from the city's ice skating rink after making a midnight fast-food run to Burger King in a pair of Zambonis, when he issued his decision on Monday.

McGreeveys in the news

2007-03-28T12:17:00.000-04:00

Mr. and Mrs. McGreevey are both in the news today:

Former Governor James E. McGreevey and his top aides have been subpoenaed to testify in a whistle-blower lawsuit stemming from the 2002 parole of reputed mobster Angelo Prisco. The plaintiff, Kenneth Connolly, filed a whistle-blower suit against the state in July 2003 after he was transferred from his position with the parole board. He argues that he tried to stop Prisco's parole bu that Mario Paparozzi, who was the board's executive director, told him the parole had been ordered by the governor's office.
Oprah Winfrey's production company confirmed yesterday that former New Jersey first lady Dina Matos McGreevey will take a turn on the famous on-stage couch at "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to promote her forthcoming memoir, "Silent Partner." A spokeswoman for the show declined to give a precise air date other than "later this spring."

"She slipped officer, I swear"

2007-03-22T10:22:00.000-04:00

Hudson County Freeholder and West New York Commissioner Gerald Lange Jr. was arrested the morning of March 21, 2007 after giving his wife a bloody nose, police said. Mr. Lange was arrested and charged with aggravated assault at 1:20 a.m. after police responded to his home on a report of a domestic violence incident.

According to reports:

Lange "struck his wife on the nose with his hand" while driving in the car, said Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio, whose office is investigating the case. When police arrived at Lange's waterfront home, he was in the house and his wife Mayra, a teacher in the West New York school system, was in the car.

During Lange's arrest, a police sergeant was bitten on the hand by the family's dog - a maltese.

Mayra Lange was taken to Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen. Hospital officials didn't return calls about her condition; the prosecutor said he was still waiting for a medical report, but it was possible that her nose was fractured.

DeFazio said Lange was charged with aggravated assault because his wife suffered a "significant bodily injury."

Reached by phone yesterday, Lange refused to comment, but later released a statement saying he accidentally struck his wife during a heated argument in their car. He said he and his wife were surprised when the police came to his home yesterday morning.

He accidentally hit his wife during a heated argument? Uh huh.

McGreevey likes Richardson

2007-03-22T10:09:00.000-04:00

But is the feeling mutual?

Former Governor James E. McGreevey, in New Mexico to attend a Human Rights Alliance fundraiser, said that it is "too early in the process" to discuss his endorsement of a 2008 presidential candidate, but praised Governor Bill Richardson as a "progressive voice," according to an Associated Press interview.

Honestly now, is anyone actually seeking an endorsement from McGreevey?

Questions for Hoboken

2007-03-15T18:58:00.000-04:00

A reader in Hoboken pointed us to this interview with Hoboken City Councilman Chris Campos and remarked that maybe the blogger and Campos were buddies given that there wasn't a tough question asked. We read it and it does seem like a bit of a softball game.

As the Hoboken City Council elections approach, we would like to conduct interviews with each of the candidates and post the answers to their questions here on The NJ Blog. However, rather than have us come up with the questions to ask the candidates, we think our readers should submit their questions to us and we'll compile the interview. If you have a question you would like asked, please email us at newjerseyblog@gmail.com. If there is a specific candidate(s) that the question is geared toward (i.e., Chris Campos, Fourth Ward, etc.) let us know that. If we get a good response, we'll try to contact the candidates and get answers.

Speaking of questions, we're still waiting to hear back from Chris Campos about the questions we asked him in this post. We'll make it slightly easier, make the question a little more general and open it up to all members of the Hoboken City Council to answer. Here goes:

What legitimate purpose is there for members of the Hobken City Council to carry badges?

We're looking for an answer because a lot of us are skeptical of the practice and see no reason for the badges -- besides getting out of tickets. We're reserving judgment, however, until we hear from you.

Again, we can be reached at newjerseyblog@gmail.com.

March 20, 2007 Update: (or lack thereof)

It's been 5 days and not a peep from any member of the Hoboken City Council. We figure at least some of them have seen this post, given that reader JG copied us on an e-mail he sent to members of the City Council that contained a link here. So why no response? We can only guess it's because there is no good answer to our question.

In any event, JG provided the following e-mail addresses for members of the City Council, all of which he tells us are available on the Internet. Feel free to e-mail them with a link to this post. Maybe we'll get an answer.

Rubin Ramos: rramos1973@optonline.net,
Mike Russo: msrusso31@aol.com and mike@russoforhoboken.com
Chris Campos: chris@camposlegal.com and campos323@hotmail.com
Michael Cricco: MCricco@aol.com,
Nino Giacchi: mgiacchi@juno.com,
Theresa Castellano: tclmath@aol.com
Peter Cammarano: pcammarano@gbvlaw.com and pjciii@gmail.com

So Carla, what was your LSAT score?

2007-03-14T09:38:00.000-04:00

Although we've been busy, we've been tracking the latest on the Jon Crozine / Carla Katz financial fiasco. One of the more interesting things we've seen is the review that Newark Archbishop John J. Myers, who is also chairman of Seton Hall University's governing board, has ordered into the "presidential" scholarship given to Katz to attend the University's law school.

Why was a review ordered? Well, it seems that Corzine has donated $630,000 to the school over the past 8 years. And he wrote Katz a letter of recommendation for admission to the law school.

We're happy to see that Corzine is supporting Seton Hall, but it does seem odd to us that Katz received a significant scholarship (about half of the $30,000 annual tuition) from the school while she was the Governor's girlfriend, while he was donating so much money to the University and while he was recommending her for admission.

So the question is, did Dean Patrick Hobbs do Carla (and the future Governor) a favor by greasing some scholarship wheels? We guess we'll find out when the review is complete.

In any event, whether the scholarship is proper or not, we're not quite sure what basis Corzine had to recommend her for admission to the law school. Such letters usually come from former professors, employers, etc. Not boyfriends.

McGreevey Divorce: Getting Messy

2007-03-13T09:15:00.000-04:00

It looks like "all issues" in the McGreevey divorce have not been resolved:

Former Gov. James E. McGreevey has revised his divorce lawsuit against his estranged wife and is now seeking sole custody of the couple's 5-year-old daughter -- and child support.
The new documents make no mention of a "matrimonial settlement agreement" that McGreevey's original divorce filing said had resolved all issues of custody and support.

So why the change? Maybe this has something to do with it:

The former governor has said he and O'Donnell plan to enter into a civil union after the divorce is finalized.

Why does this matter? Well . . .

John Eory, a partner at the law firm Stark & Stark in Lawrenceville and an instructor in divorce law, said that if McGreevey continues to push for full custody, the judge likely will ask for detailed parenting plans from both parties.
"If he's claiming he's better fit to be entrusted with the residential care of his child, I'm presuming he's prepared to go to the mat to do that," Eory said. He said McGreevey might argue that he can provide a "stable nuclear two-parent household ... (and) offer benefits to the child that she can't get in a single-parent home."

We know its tawdry to say, but we're dying to know the details!

Belmar goes keg tracking

2007-03-09T16:50:00.000-05:00

Notice to those under 21: Don't have your booze source get you a keg:

Beer kegs sold in the borough would be tagged and their whereabouts tracked under a new borough ordinance expected to be introduced at Wednesday's Borough Council meeting.

The ordinance, which is intended to curb the use of such kegs at underage drinking parties, also would make it illegal for anyone in Belmar to possess a non-tagged keg, said Police Chief Jack Hill.

Under the measure, Hill said, liquor store owners would be required to keep a ledger of all customers who rent kegs.

The names in the ledger would be linked to a serial number affixed to a keg. In the event a keg was recovered at an underage drinking party, authorities would be able to trace it to its source and thus the individual legally responsible for it, Hill said.

What is it, the equivalent of 100 cases of beer fit in a keg?

NJ to Drunks: Have a seat, we'll be with you in a bit

2007-03-09T15:08:00.000-05:00

There has been a lot of chatter lately about the "mini Y2K" problem created by Congress's change in Daylight Savings time this year. It starts 3 weeks earlier (this Sunday morning) and will end a week later. Living in an age where computer software runs just about everything, some changes needed to be made in order to recognize this time shift. Microsoft had to send updates. Our Blackberries needed to be updated as well. ATMs? Sure. Credit card machines? Yup.

These simple everyday items aren't the only things that could be thrown off course. It seems that the new fancy version of the "Breathalyzer" machine used by 17 of New Jersey's 21 counties, called the Alcotest 7110, won't update itself until April 1, 2007 -- the date Daylight Savings would have started had it not been changed for this year.

So what's the solution to the problem? Make suspected drunk drivers wait an hour so the clock on the Alcotest will match the time of arrest.

Is the hour wait a good thing or a bad thing? Well, some say the additional time will allow some people to sober up just enough to get them off. Others think some people will absorb more alcohol and go from barely sober to over-the-line drunk.

Sounds like we need a software patch.

Mega Winner

2007-03-07T12:47:00.000-05:00

One of the two winning tickets sold for last night's $370 million Mega Millions lottery was purchased at Camp Park Liquors in Woodbine (Cape May County), New Jersey.

Congratulations to New Jersey's most recent millionaire.

Campos to Court: Not guilty!

2007-03-07T12:20:00.000-05:00

Hoboken City Councilman Chris Campos appeared in court in New York City yesterday for a hearing on his arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. The Manhattan District Attorney's office offered him a deal to plead guilty to a lesser charge, which Campos rejected. Its seems that Campos is willing to roll the dice and take this case to trial. If convicted, Campos could face a $1000 fine, 1 year in jail and loss of his drivers license for 1 year.

The fallout from Campos's arrest has now hit the New York City police officer that pulled him over. According to the New York Daily News, Police Officer Joseph Liotta, who was recorded allegedly asking a Hoboken police sergeant if he should release Campos or have him spend the night as "a guest of the City," has been transferred to administrative duty and had his gun and badge taken while an Internal Affairs investigation proceeds.

We think its safe to say that no member of the NYPD will make a "courtesy call" on behalf of a New Jersey politician again.

Ka-Ching Karla

2007-03-05T20:20:00.000-05:00

If Governor Corzine's ex-girlfriend Carla Katz, president of the State's largest public employee labor union, gets big gifts like this, we wonder what Sharon Elghanayan, the Governor's current gal-pal, gets for Valentines Day:

Gov. Jon Corzine has acknowledged for the first time that, while a candidate for governor in 2005, he gave state workers union leader Carla Katz, his former girlfriend, substantial gifts beyond what he previously disclosed.
The gifts were made to avoid "ongoing financial connections" after their serious, two-year relationship ended in the summer of 2004, Corzine told The Star-Ledger.
Corzine previously said that he forgave a $470,000 mortgage on Katz's home in Hunterdon County, but he had not spoken publicly of other gifts. In an interview Friday he refused to provide the amounts or any other details, but indicated they were more than tokens.
"If you were -- I'm hypothesizing; I'm not stating anything -- if you were going to pay a tuition bill or something over a period of time ... you pre-funded it," Corzine said. "I could have done that."
Asked if he paid for Katz's children to attend the private school where they are enrolled, Corzine demurred. "I'm not saying that at all," he said. "I'm saying you could have." The school in Pennsylvania lists its day-student tuition at $22,000 a year.

What does Carla know that we don't?

Another bad idea brought to you by Jon Corzine

2007-03-05T19:59:00.000-05:00

Knowing that he can't raise taxes two years in a row (particularly in a legislative election year), and meeting a growing opposition to the sale or long-term lease of the Turnpike, the newest "revenue raising" idea being floated around by Governor Corzine is to borrow against future toll revenue from New Jersey's toll roads.

Here's how it would work: The state would estimate how much money in tolls would be collected along the turnpike and parkway for the next 15 years.

It would then borrow that amount all at once.

It would pay back the money annually with interest, much like a credit card, student or mortgage loan.

The money would help build schools, improve state colleges, preserve open space, and enhance health care, but Humphreys said tolls would have to increase to help pay interest and guarantee that the loan could be repaid if toll traffic did not meet expectations.

This is a stupid idea.

First, why can't the State just live within its means? Seriously. The State's budget is a certain amount. Its taxes and other revenues are a certain amount. If the two amounts don't meet, then either raise taxes (obviously we're against this option) or cut expenses (yippee!). Don't borrow against, lease or sell the State's assets for a quick fix today only to leave a revenue problem for the future.

Second, where will the money come from to maintain the Turnpike and/or Parkway? If the State has a loan it needs to pay back with the toll money it collects, it can't use that money to maintain the highways.

Third, what do we do in the future once this one-time revenue source has dried up? $1.2 billion (what some estimate the State can borrow under this scheme) doesn't last quite as long as it used to, especially when you shave 20% off the top to pay for New Jersey's corruption.

It's time the State -- and those who run it -- become fiscally responsible. Cut expenditures, don't borrow and just make our problems that much worse.

A question for Chris Campos

2007-03-05T18:49:00.000-05:00

Hoboken City Councilman Christopher Campos was arrested for DWI in New York City recently. After being pulled over by the New York City Highway Patrol on the West Side Highway, and after Campos identified himself as a member of the City Council, Officer Liotta placed a "courtesy call" (a/k/a a "get out of jail" call) to the Hoboken Police Department and asked Hoboken Police Sgt. James Peck if Campos should spend the rest of the night "as a guest of the city."

Peck, although digressing slightly by mentioning to Liotta that the Hoboken Police have been working without a contract for two years, did the right thing and told Liotta that he should "do your duty" and enforce the law.

Today Campos was asked if he requested Liotta to make the courtesy call and categorically denied doing so.

Our question for Councilman Campos is if you didn't request the call, and were not seeking any special treatment, then why did you identify yourself as a member of the Hoboken City Council when pulled over?

And our question for the City of Hoboken: Why do members of the City Council carry badges?

Feel free to e-mail us directly at newjerseyblog@gmail.com with your answer.

3/6/07 Update: The Jersey Journal has an article today about Campos's arrest and the now infamous phone call to the Hoboken Police Department. We're still waiting for answers to our questions.

A correct, but somewhat misleading headline?

2007-02-23T11:37:00.000-05:00

As we poked around PoliticsNJ.com this morning, the following headline (the first on the site's "news stories" column) immediately jumped out at us: CORZINE NOMINATES REPUBLICAN CROOK FOR JUDGESHIP.

Our first reaction was "why the hell would the Governor appoint a felon to the bench?"

Then we cliked on the link, which brought us to an article containing the following information (emphasis ours):

Gov. Jon S. Corzine nominated Evan H.C. Crook of Mount Laurel on Thursday for a Superior Court judgeship in Burlington County.
Crook, 48, is the solicitor for the Burlington County Board of Freeholders. His law career since graduation from Rutgers University Law School in 1987 has focused on the public sector employment law, especially municipal and county government law.
Crook, a Republican, will fill a Republican vacancy on the Superior Court.

Although the new judge is in fact a Republican Crook, he's not a Republican crook. We're sorry that, in light of all the political corruption in New Jersey, we immediately thought he was an unsavory criminal.

Mazel tov!

2007-02-19T17:17:00.000-05:00

Today is the first day for same-sex couples in New Jersey to legalize their relationship under the State's new civil union law. The first civil union performed was just after the stroke of midnight between Steven Goldstein and Daniel Gross of Teaneck. (We've mentioned Goldstein before on this blog, he is the head of Garden State Equality, New Jersey's largest gay rights organization).

Asbury Park, which opened their clerk's office at midnight for an hour and then for four additional hours today (despite the holiday), had five couples arive just after midnight.

We're glad to see this day come.

Congratulations!

NJ Democrats: Veterans and Memorial Day are meaningless

2007-02-19T16:29:00.000-05:00

In an effort to curb property taxes by cutting the number of State mandates on New Jersey public schools, Assemblywoman (and Chairwoman of the New Jersey Democratic Party) Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) and State Senator John Adler (D-Camden) proposed a bill that would have would have eliminated the requirement that schools teach about Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Seriously. We're not joking. They really did it. And it passed both houses of the Legislature.

Thankfully Governor Corzine conditionally vetoed the bill and the two days were added back in to the costly government mandates.

Can someone please explain to us how teaching students about Memorial Day and Veterans day is a cost burden on the public school system?

We don't suppose cutting Veterans Day and Memorial Day from the paid holiday list for state workers would go over quite so well either. But think of the cost savings there!

What a way to remember our veterans and pay respect to the memories of those who have died fighting for and protecting this country.

Really quite pathetic.

Cupid is CrAzY

2007-02-14T09:27:00.000-05:00

Malik Cupid, an attorney, Democratic Party activist and current aide in New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine's administration, was arraigned in Westchester County (New York) Supreme Court yesterday (which also happened to be his 31st birthday) after being charged with stealing $1,400 from his ex-girlfriend's bank account and hacking into her e-mail account while she was serving on active duty with the Army in Iraq. All told, the Westchester County district attorney's office charged Cupid with four felonies, including grand larceny, identity theft and eavesdropping. He faces up to 16 years in state prison.

Caryl Lucas, a spokeswoman for New Jersey's Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells, said her office would look into the incident but declined to comment on whether Mr. Cupid would be returning to his State House office and $102,350 salary. If he gets canned, he may be happy . . . given that he commutes from West 150th Street in Manhattan to Trenton each day.

What a touching Valentine's Day story. More here and here.

More:

It looks like Cupid is an Iowa Law grad. Possibly a Colgate undergrad and a basketball player for the Colgate Raiders. If someone can confirm that its the same person, it looks like Cupid didn't leave the team on the best of terms.

(a few stylistic changes made @ 11:33a.m.)

A few Democrats get it

2007-02-06T21:24:00.000-05:00

We sound like a broken record -- property tax credits does not equal property tax reform (and they don't equal property tax cuts either).

We're gald to see that a few Democrats understand that the watered down "credit" proposal doesn't solve anything.

But Sens. John Adler, D-Camden, and Nia Gill, D-Essex, questioned how the state would pay for the $2 billion credit program in the long run. A financial quirk gives the state government extra money to use for this year only. Adler and Gill both said the credit program, which will take the bite out of tax bills but not address root causes of high property taxes, falls short of true reform.
"If we were selling this tax package as a product, we would be in violation of the Consumer Fraud Act," Gill said. She later added, "In plain language: We do not have the money to pay for this."
Adler said the caps had been "gutted" and called for lawmakers to go back to the property tax reform drawing board, rather than pass watered-down bills and declare them "good enough."
"We should step back, take a breath, ask for a do-over," Adler said.

At the end of the day this bad bill will become a bad law.

But at least some Democrats understand that it won't solve anything.

Diane Allen for U.S. Senate

2007-02-06T12:13:00.000-05:00

It's been just a few months since the end of the bitter U.S. Senate race between Senator Robert Menendez and State Senator Thomas Kean Jr., but some are already looking to 2008's Senate election where Senator Frank Lautenberg, now 83-years old, plans to stand for re-election to a fifth term.

We personally think Frank needs to retire (again) or be retired.

But who is up to the challenge to remove him?

Given that the GOP's one big name -- Chris Christie -- has already said he won't run for the GOP nod and Tom Kean Jr.'s poor performance against an ethically-challenged (and fairly unpopular) Menendez, the state GOP isn't left with many high-profile names to toss out to the voters. Mercer County Assemblyman Bill Baroni (a moderate Republican) and Warren County Assemblyman Mike Dougherty (a conservative) have both publicly noted that they would be interested in running. But no one has heard of them and unless they decide to quit their jobs tomorrow and spend the next 18 months campaigning door-to-door, they don't have a chance in knocking Lautenberg off.

What the GOP needs is Diane Allen, the State Senator from Burlington County who ran for the 2002 GOP U.S. Senate nomination (but lost). Since then, she has been content to stick with her State Senate seat (although in 2003 was talked about as a possible candidate for governor against the ever-sinking Jim McGreevey).

Well, we think its time for Senator Allen to think statewide again.

Why? Here are a few reasons:

1) She has name recognition. Although not well known throughout the state, she does have significantly more name recognition north to south than either Baroni or Dougherty. She did run a statewide primary campaign a few years ago -- and some people will remember her name from that. She is also a fairly well-known quantity in South Jersey, one part of the state that the GOP certainly needs to pick up more votes if they ever want to win statewide again. Name recognition will be important here, given that Lautenberg has been in the public eye for the last 25-years and won four statewide elections already. Diane is the best GOP candidate we can think of who can seriously take on Lautenberg's name.

2) She's a moderate. We are big believers that moderate Republicans can win statewide office in New Jersey. Voters are tired of high taxes, corruption, big government, etc. These are issues that the GOP should own in New Jersey. Social issues and softer topics, including abortion, gay rights, the environment, etc., are things that most New Jersey voters take a more moderate stance on. We need a candidate that can take that stance and have the credibility to back it up. That's why we need someone like Diane -- a fiscal conservative and a more socially moderate candidate.

3) She's well spoken, a good debater and has camera appeal. Diane spent many years on camera as a news reporter and anchor. She speaks well. She has a public presence that many state legislators never acquire. She can debate the issues. All of this is important given that Lautenberg is a lousy speaker and can't debate his way out of a paper bag and that we need someone who can really shine against him.

4) She's smart. From what we can tell she has a great grasp of the issues important to New Jersey voters. For those issues she needs to brush up on, we have no doubt she can do so and do so quickly. She runs her own business, has been a successful news anchor and reporter and has been successful in the State Senate. She's got the brains to win this campaign and be a great U.S. Senator.

5) She's a woman. We won't lie -- we think gender is very important for this race, especially if the Democrats have a woman running for president. Republicans usually have a tough time bridging the gender gap. We think Diane can make up serious ground here.

6) She will appeal to younger voters. For many of the reasons listed above, she will appeal to a broad range of voters, including the very important 30-and under group.

So that's our initial opinion. We'll be offering more shortly. But for now, there is just one important question to ask:

Senator Allen, will you please consider running for the U.S. Senate?

We're ready, willing and able to come work for you and make your campaign a success.

Dual officeholder ban might actually happen

2007-02-04T17:13:00.000-05:00

We weren't very optimistic that the proposed ban on dual officeholders would ever come to a vote in the State Legislature, especially since Senate President Richard Codey told us it was being taken off the board this time around.

But a bill banning the practice -- allowing a State Assemblyman/Assemblywoman or Senator to also be an elected mayor, councilman/woman, freeholder -- has already passed the Assembly and is set for a vote in the Senate tomorrow. Governor Jon Corzine has said he will sign the bill into law.
There are some unfortunate parts to the bill -- i.e., the ban won't likely go into effect until this time next year, allowing current elected officials to get in on the grandfather clause (if you hold dual offices before the effective date, you can continue to do so). But overall, we're happy that this practice will soon be a thing of the past.

Update: The Senate Democrats and Assembly Democrats can't get themselves on the same page -- they both want to ban the idea, but can't agree on when the ban should go into effect. We can't believe we're going to say this, but Sharpe James is right:

Sen. Sharpe James, D-Essex, who himself held two elected offices as Newark mayor from 1999 to 2006, said it would be "insincere" and "playing politics" to delay the ban until after November's election.
"Why are you waiting? So people can run, and then they would be grandfathered in? Then you're not sincere. It's not from the heart then. It's not gut. It's a political action," said James. "I don't think we should target the bill for any particular individual or what have you.
"I never wanted to be a dual-office holder. But if I resigned as mayor, it doesn't solve the problem," James said, before claiming that he quit his post to prove a point. "I voluntarily quit one to lead by example. Hello!"

Just get this done already.

You should have named him Penny

2007-02-04T15:58:00.000-05:00

Qualeem has one hell of a birth story. From the AP:

An Atlantic City woman playing the penny slots Saturday morning left the Resorts Atlantic City casino with her own little jackpot — a new baby boy.
Eight-months pregnant Nyree Thompson, 32, went into labor on the casino floor about 9:30 a.m.
Thompson told The Press of Atlantic City for Sunday editions that she mistook labor pains for gas at first, but after going to the restroom told a security guard that she might be giving birth.
Thompson said the guard thought she was joking. Then her water broke. "A guard came over and said, 'Don't push,'" Thompson said. "I said, 'Forget you, this baby is coming right now.'"
Minutes later, a boy weighing less than 5 pounds was born. Thompson named him Qualeem.
Four security guards helped Thompson deliver the baby, wrapping the child in a jacket until paramedics arrived at about 9:40 a.m., said Steve Callender, vice president of operations at Resorts.

Mr. Callender, who has worked at Resorts since it opened in 1978, said the birth was a first for the casino as far as he knew: "We've had people die here," he said, "but we've never had people born here."

Mother and baby are doing fine.

Thanks for the subsidies, but we're outta here

2007-02-04T15:39:00.000-05:00

Cable news station MSNBC is set to ditch New Jersey and move its operations from its current Secaucus, New Jersey home to NBC's home in midtown Manhattan. Not only is New Jersey losing roughly 450 jobs as a result (as well as the tax revenue, economic revenue, etc.), but MSNBC is breaking the promise it made to stay in the state for at least 15 years after receiving millions in subsidies.

Its a lose-lose situation for New Jersey.

Tune into Fox News of CNN instead.

New Jersey's cigarette tax is #1

2007-02-04T15:29:00.000-05:00

The American Lung Association has ranked the 50 states by the tax charged per pack of cigarettes. New Jersey comes in at number one on the list, with an score of A, for its $2.575 tax on each pack sold in the state. If you smoke a pack a day, that's $939.87 of taxes you contribute to the State each year -- in addition to the 7% sales tax added on top of your purchase. And if you don't think the sales tax adds up, ask these guys.

Now, we aren't opposed to the cigarette tax when its used to either deter potential smokers from picking up the habit or encourage current smokers to quit. But with such a high tax on each pack sold, the State is certainly taking in a good deal of money as a result.

Our question: With such a high cigarette tax, did we really need to raise the sales tax?

The Asbury Park Press gets it wrong

2007-02-04T15:21:00.000-05:00

Ok, so its really Tom Hester Jr. of the Associated Press who got it wrong, but the Asbury Park Press is exacerbating the situation by printing Hester's article entitled Senate to vote Monday on property tax cut.

This is all quite simple: A property tax credit is not a property tax cut.

Joe Ryan of the Star-Ledger gets it right by calling the Democrats' plan what it is -- property tax relief.

But remember, property tax relief through tax credits is not property tax reform.

Um, Dina, what were you waiting for?

2007-02-02T18:30:00.000-05:00

Its official, the McGreevey's are getting divorced.

Some tid-bits from the Associated Press:

"Lawyers for James E. McGreevey filed a two-page document in Union County Superior Court in Elizabeth seeking to dissolve his union with Dina Matos McGreevey. A spokeswoman for Union County Superior Court, Sandra Thaler-Gerber, confirmed receiving the filing Friday."
"The two have lived apart since November 2004, when McGreevey resigned following a stunning public announcement that he was 'a gay American' who had had an affair with a male staffer."
"The filing says McGreevey and his wife have lived apart for 26 months. 'This separation has continued to the present time and there exists no reasonable prospect for reconciliation,' according to the divorce complaint."
"The document says the parties entered into a settlement agreement on Jan. 12, 'which resolves all issues pertaining to custody, parenting time, alimony, child support, equitable distribution and counsel fees.'"

Oh, not so fast, Mr. McGreevey:

"I note from news accounts of my husband's filing that he claims we have reached a comprehensive agreement. That is not true," Matos McGreevey said through her lawyer, John N. Post. "We continue to have profound differences about what our daughter should be exposed to, and until they are resolved, there will be no agreement."

Looks like this might not be so neat and clean after all. Maybe Dina will dish some dirt in her upcoming book "Silent Partner," due out in stores on May 1, 2007

More from the victims' families

2007-01-26T13:10:00.000-05:00

"Sixteen months for three lives is not justice," said Michael Giunta, brother John Giunta, one of the victims of the fire set by Joseph LePore and Sean Ryan in Seton Hall University's Boland Hall on January 19, 2000. Ryan and LePore were sentences to 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to arson. They will be eligible for parole after just 16 months.

Frank Caltabilota, Jr.'s dad, shaking with anger as he spoke about his son who also died in the frie: "The two of you will have to live with what your stupid prank did for the rest of your lives." "Eventually your judgement day will come," he said, adding both defendants should rot in hell.

As for the injured, some badly, Alvaro Llanos was in the courtroom and a letter he wrote was read out loud:

He talked of waking up three months after the fire. The burns over 50 percent of his body. Of seeing his severaly scarred face for the first time. Of the more than 30 surgeries he has endured.
And finally, he told of the one question he's always wanted answered.
"Why? What was the reason for this fire?"

Alvaro, we hope you get your questioned answered someday.

Ad we agree that 16 months isn't enough. LePore and Ryan deserved a longer sentence for the crimes they committed, the lives they took and the people they injured.

Aaron Karol's parents speak

2007-01-26T12:59:00.000-05:00

Aaron Karol's parents spoke today at the sentencing of Joseph LePore and Sean Ryan, the two men who started the fire in Seton Hall University's Boland Hall on January 19, 2001 that killed 3 (including Aaron) and injured 58 others.

From the Star-Ledger, Aaron's mother:

“I can’t begin to tell you the devastation his death brought us. I have never been able to relive that day or talk about it. It’s too painful. We no longer have a son."

“I will never again see his smiling face come through the door. I will never again see him sleeping in his bed. I will never again hear him listen to his music. I will never again hold him. I will never again kiss him and tell him good night. I will never again buy him Christmas presents. I will never again hear him and his sister tell us the secrets of things they did growing up together. I will never again hear Aaron and Melissa laughing under some shared joke. I will never again see him holding hands with Melissa and kissing. There are so many never agains.”

Also from the Star-Ledger, Aaron's dad:

"Aaron was fun-loving but also a serious student. He didn't get all As but he made the honor roll most of the time . . . AK was not one-dimensional. He loved music . . . He enjoyed snow-boardng ... He was taking up tennis and he also loved video games."

"My son had a wisdom about him that transcended his age . . . I admired how he had the ablity to look at the big picture and yet he could write about something as small as a bead of sweat. . . ."

"For someone who was only 18 years and three months when he was killed, AK left a remarkable legacy."

He discussed the circumstances of the starting of the fire after the Joseph LePore and Sean Ryan were chased from the lounge by dorm counselor: "By their own admission, they both returned to the lounge and ignited the paper. This was an indication to me that this was a premeditated act."

"These two never regretted what they did . . . they were only worried about their own hides . . . Those are not the actions of pranksters. They are the actions of criminals.''

He said his son had to be identied from dental records, he was burned so badly. "We never had the chance to see him one last time. We had to have a closed casket.'' He said many of his son's friends had to go through therapy after his death.

He said he wanted to see the defenahts serve the full five years. "I promise them both I will muster up an army of victims to appear before the parole board every time they are eligible.''

He said justice will be served when the defenants face the "ultimate judge" after death. "They won't be able to have fancy lawyers represent them."

"They have displayed a total callousness and complete disregard for their victims ... The perpetrators of this hoocaust deserve no mercy whatsoever.''

"No sentence will ever bring us closure. The holes in our hearts will never heal. We will never have Aaron back."

Lame apologies; No forgiveness; Off to jail they go

2007-01-26T12:32:00.000-05:00

Joseph LePore and Sean Ryan walked into a Newark, New Jersey courtroom shortly after 10 a.m. today wearing jeans and casual clothes. They were there for their sentencing, having pleaded guilty to arson (and some smaller charges) for their roles in setting the January 2000 fire at Seton Hall University that killed 3 freshmen and injured more than 50 others. Why jeans and casual clothing? Well, after each were sentenced to 5 years in state prison -- eligible for parole after just 16-months -- the two men left the courtroom in handcuffs and were to be processed and turned over to the Department of Corrections.

We still wish that these two men had taken responsibility for what they did. They still blame the University for the deaths of their victims. But even if Seton Hall should have had sprinklers to combat fires, the facts remains that LePore and Ryan started the fire. End of story.

We wish they had offered something more than a lame apology to the victims and their families. Instead Sean Ryan merely repeated himself: "I am very, very, very sorry for your losses. I'm very, very sorry." And LePore didn't offer much more: "I wish I could do something to take away your pain. I'm sorry." To be forgiven, you need to admit what you did. They still have admitted nothing more than pulling a "prank that got out of hand."

Speaking of forgiveness, there wasn't much of that to go around.

Frank Caltabilota Jr.'s father told LePore and Ryan: "I can't forgive you both for what you have done." He called the pair cowards, and told how they set a banner on fire and ran from the dormitory - not bothering to warn others of the danger. Frank's mom also said that she would never forgive the two.

More to come.

The reform bill that wasn't

2007-01-25T20:44:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wanted to reform a broken pension system by passing a bill that doesn't reform anything? You're in great company then, since the reform bill being pushed (or maybe its being pulled now) through the Legislature essentially does nothing. Or, as Senator William Gormley said, "this is like a slow death to reform. Every day something else comes out. There's not much else left."

He's right. First it was Governor Jon S. Corzine telling the Legislature to scrap all pension reforms that related to state workers under union contract. Then went the ban on dual officeholders and any meat in the office of comptroller. Now the Democrats in Trenton have scrapped "efforts to curb the hefty public pensions that some municipal assessors, building inspectors and other professionals build up by working part-time for multiple towns."

The new version of the bill would stop lawyers and engineers from tacking together taxpayer-funded retirement benefits from various local governments. But it carves out an exception for other professionals including health officers, tax collectors and municipal clerks.

It marks the latest of a host of reforms recommended by a special legislative panel last year to fall by the wayside as lawmakers attempt to reach consensus on pension reform.

* * *

Senate President Richard Codey, D-Essex, sponsor of the reform bill introduced Tuesday, said the professionals affected by the new provisions are distinct from lawyers and engineers, in that they generally are direct municipal employees without income from private firms.

But a list compiled last year by state pension officials showed that assessors and other professionals can rack up hefty combined salaries and retirement benefits from multiple public jobs.

When told that six of the 20 highest total paychecks on the list went to people who would be exempted from the new legislation, Codey said that provision might have to be reviewed.

The most highly paid assessor on that list, Edward L. Kerwin, collected a total of $243,124 in salaries from eight communities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties last year.

This is reform? It sounds like business as usual to us.

Elected, but not really liked

2007-01-25T19:53:00.000-05:00

Another interesting tid-bit in today's Quinnipiac Universtiy poll (discussed here) is that the recently elected Senator Robert Menendez isn't particularly liked by his constituents. In fact, only 36% of New Jersey voters approve of his job performance. And that isn't something new. Since he became a senator in January 2006, his highest job approval rating was a mere 39%.

Amazing that someone who is liked by, at most, 39% of the electorate was able to get 58% of the vote.

Our other U.S. Senator, the 83-year old Frank Lautenberg, isn't exactly burning up the popularity polls. He has a 44% job approval rating.

Toxic squirrels

2007-01-25T19:18:00.000-05:00

We're not sure what bothers us more about this strory -- the toxic contamination of the ground or the facts that people in New Jersey hunt and eat squirrels:

New Jersey has warned squirrel hunters near a toxic waste dump about consuming the critters because they could be contaminated with lead.

It is the first time the state has cautioned Ringwood residents — many who are members of the Ramapough Mountain Indian tribe who hunt and fish in the area — about their squirrel intake, said Tom Slater, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Senior Services.

A lead-contaminated squirrel was found in the area two months ago, prompting the agency, along with the state Department of Environmental Protection, to send out letters advising that adults eat squirrel no more than twice a week and even less for children and pregnant women.

Please don't eat Jersey squirrels.

Red Jersey?

2007-01-25T10:30:00.000-05:00

Our pals at Quinnipiac University have been busy polling New Jersey voters over the last week. Yesterday they released poll results, including approve/disapprove numbers for Governor Corzine and the State Legislature. Today -- in its release entitled New Jersey Voters Don't Adore The Senator Next Door, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Clinton Trails Giuliani, Ties McCain In Garden State -- the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute tells us that former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani leads New York Senator Hillary Clinton 48 - 41 percent. That's not all. Arizona Senator John McCain gets 44 percent to Sen. Clinton's 43 percent (a polling tie).

What's worse for the Democratic front runner is that New Jersey's independent voters back Giuliani 47 - 37 percent over Clinton; Giuliani also gets 86 percent of Republicans and 19 percent of Democrats. In a McCain-Clinton matchup, independents back the Republican 48 - 36 percent; McCain also gets 86 percent of Republicans and 12 percent of Democrats.

We know its early. There hasn't even been a campaign yet. Election day 2008 is almost two full years away.

But this isn't exactly good news for Hillary. She should be running in the lead in New Jersey -- given that it has become a Democrat stronghold over the past few years and she's a pseudo-New York liberal. And the fact that 19% of New Jersey Democrats would vote for Rudy over Hillary isn't great news. If that number was even close to 19% in some other states (i.e., Ohio, Florida, etc.) Hillary could be facing a landslide loss in the Elecoral College:

"It looks like problems with Sen. Hillary Clinton's new presidential campaign are cropping up close to home," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"She has established her front-runner status among Democrats and she enjoys positive favorability ratings, but a big chunk of New Jersey voters have negative feelings about the Senator next door - enough to show two Republicans giving her a run for her money in this traditionally Democratic state," Richards added.

"It's easy to explain why she trails 9/11 hero Rudolph Giuliani; less clear why Sen. John McCain from faraway Arizona is so close. Looking more deeply into the numbers, Sen. Clinton is losing Democratic voters to GOP rivals and she trails among the state's large bloc of independent voters. While it's very early, one has to wonder how Sen. Clinton will play in the rest of the country when she has these numbers right next door."

But it's still very early.

Why the Democrats' property tax "reform" won't work

2007-01-24T17:48:00.000-05:00

We have said many times already that to achieve true property tax reform, the state must first reform the entities that survive on property taxes (counties, municipalities and school districts). Rebates and credits are not reform.

Case in point: As the Democrats in control in the state Legislature and the Governor's office attempt to create a property tax rebate of up to 20%, Union County is, for the seventh year in a row, raising their tax rate. This year the rate is going up 5.7%, with the average homeowner's bill climbing to $1,367, from $1,298. If this proposed increase is approved, the county portion of Union County residents' property tax bills will have jumped 56%, or roughly $490, since 2000.

NJ Transit: The more expensive way to go

2007-01-24T17:26:00.000-05:00

Facing a $60 million shortfall in its $1.5 billion budget, NJ Transit has proposed hiking its bus and train fares by 10%, to take effect on June 1, 2007. The last fare increase, of about 9.9%, went into effect two years ago.

Although we've supported some of NJ Transit's fare increases in years past -- they too need to keep up with inflation -- two 10% increases just two years apart doesn't seem quite right.

Its time for NJ Transit's management to go back to the cutting board and look at what fat they can trim from their budget. And a better plan on collecting ticket revenue -- especially on the weekends when conductors just give up checking and selling tickets when the train is full -- will surely bring more money into its coffers.

In the end, an increase may be necessary. But 10% seems too high.

Frank is 83

2007-01-24T17:13:00.000-05:00

Senator Frank Lautenberg celebrated his 83rd birthday yesterday. He had a little party in his office, where Senator Robert Menendez serenaded him with "Happy Birthday" while eating an extra large piece of cake.

Happy birthday Frank. Watch those calories Bob.

New NJ Quinnipiac poll

2007-01-24T14:01:00.000-05:00

Some interesting bits from a Quinnipiac University poll released today:

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine has an evenly split 42 - 42 percent overall approval and a negative 30 - 51 percent approval on his handling of the property tax issue. The State Legislature gets a negative 27 - 54 percent overall approval and an even bigger negative 16 - 62 percent approval for its handling of the property tax issue.

"New Jersey voters are clearly skeptical that Gov. Corzine and the State Legislature will provide meaningful property tax relief this year. Despite apparent agreement on a plan, only about a third of voters say property tax reform is likely this year and a majority disapprove of the way both the Governor and Legislature are handling the issue," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

There is a 46 - 46 percent split among voters on whether public employees should be required to pay more into their health insurance plans and to accept a reduction in retirement benefits.

Most people asked -- by a 53 - 34 percent margin -- oppose the Governor's proposal to sell or lease the New Jersey Turnpike or the Garden State Parkway as a way to reduce state debt and provide money for property tax relief.

Civil unions for same sex couples are ok, by a 54 - 41 percent margin. But most voters (49 - 45 percent), don't think mayors, county clerks and judges should be legally required to perform civil union ceremonies.

And as for the proposed repeal of the death penalty . . . voters oppose that by a 53 - 41 percent margin.

Cindy Sheean-esque use of dead soldier names may be banned in NJ

2007-01-24T12:44:00.000-05:00

Although there may be some First Amendment implications with such a law, it doesn't sound like such a bad idea. From NJ101.5:

Assemblyman Sean Kean is sponsoring legislation that would make it illegal for someone to use a dead soldiers name or picture for political or commercial purposes without the consent of a family member. Kean says these people have paid the ultimate sacrifice and now someone is using them to make a buck. The Eleventh District Republican's proposal would fine violators up to $10,000 for a first offense and up to $20,000 for any subsequent offense.

Bradley Beach resident Sue Sullivan supports the measure. Her son, Lance Corporal Vincent Sullivan died while fighting in Iraq. She later found out that anti-war t-shirts were being sold on the internet with her son's name on them. She was appalled and angry when she asked the person selling the t-shirts to take her son's name off and he refused. Sullivan then contacted Assemblyman Kean to see if he could help.

The legislation was introduced last month. Kean says two other states have passed similar laws. He says Federal legislation is pending.

But will this ever makes it to a vote in the Assembly?

Corruption and waste safe for another day

2007-01-17T11:36:00.000-05:00

"The legislation introduced has been watered down to the point of being useless." Or so says Senator Diane Allen, Republican of Edgewater Park, about a bill pending in the New Jersey Senate that was supposed to bar dual officeholding (i.e., a state senator cannot hold another elected position such as mayor), establish a state comptroller to review government contracts and budgets, and implement the property tax caps and credits the Democrats have been touting as "reform."

Well, the ban on dual officeholding is out "was removed in the face of political opposition late last week." There are currently 18 lawmakers (both Republicans and Democrats) that hold local or county elected positions. I'm betting its the Democrats members of that group of 18 that successfully go the ban removed from the bill. There is still hope. Senate President Richard J. Codey, Democrat of West Orange, and Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts, Democrat of Camden, both said they expect to bar dual officeholding in the future. We aren't going to hold our breath though.

As for the comptroller, well that isn't out. But it is being watered down.

The comptroller plan now includes language preventing the office from auditing developers' agreements with municipalities. Other changes would eliminate automatic audits of government entities that spend $100 million or more and require the comptroller's office to first review existing local government audits before starting its own investigations.

But some think that's not good enough, including Senator Barbara Buono, Democrat of Metuchen, who has removed herself as a sponsor. "Recalling that the Willingboro school district required a $10 million bailout during the last budget because of poor management, Buono said existing audits aren't doing enough."

We agree with Senator Allen and Senator Buono. The comptroller needs more teeth.

Don't worry though . . . the 20% Property Tax Credits -- the Democrats so-called "property tax reform" -- are going untouched. Once again, rebates and credits are not reform. Does anyone else understand that?

NJ: For Sale!

2007-01-16T18:43:00.000-05:00

About six months ago, in reference to Governor Corzine's party with state workers on the steps of the Statehouse where he said he'd stand and fight for state worker benefits instead of standing up for state taxpayers, we opined that we can't trust the Governor with something as inconsequential as loose change.

Well, its not loose change we're concerned about now. Its New Jersey's assets that aren't safe.

Why aren't they safe, you might ask? Well, it seems that Governor Corzine wants to use New Jersey's assets as a quick fix for his projected budget shortfalls (and likely for tax give backs so that he can assure his re-election in 2009). Sale of the New Jersey Turnpike to a private corporation was the first "asset sale" bandied about (it probably would have been a long term lease deal, but same thing for these purposes). It could fetch a few billion dollars we were told. It didn't turn out to be as popular an idea as some hoped -- one reason is that the private company running the road could raise tolls a lot more often then the Turnpike Authority does. And from what we read, opposition has been growing to the idea.

But that won't stop the asset sales. If the Turnpike sale (or lease) is out, there is still the PNC Bank Art Center. Sell it? Why not. Hell, we already sold the name and spent those millions years ago. Let's see how much more money we can squeeze out of that hut. And while we're at it, why not sell the Turnpike rest stops. We bet Charmin would put their name on one. And maybe Purell (or Dial Soap) on another. Other asset sales being considered are the Atlantic City International Airport, operations of the state Lottery, and approval to construct Class-A office and apartment towers atop Penn Station in Newark, the Secaucus Junction rail hub and the NJ Transit station in downtown New Brunswick. State officials are also looking at selling the rights to build shopping malls on land owned along the Turnpike. Precisely what New Jersey needs . . . more malls and more traffic on the Turnpike.

And this is all to add more money to state coffers so that the state can spend more or offer more tax relief. But once this money runs out, what do we do then? How do we pay for all the new, neat things ten years down the road?

Selling assets is not a meaningful way to achieve tax reform. Period.

Christie says no

2007-01-16T11:11:00.000-05:00

District of New Jersey U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie told the Associated Press that he won't run for the U.S. Senate in 2008 against 82 year oldFrank Lautenberg. Christie, who some consider to be the front runner for the GOP nomination for Governor in 2009, intends to continue as federal prosecutor for at least another year.

If he wants to be Governor, its probably a good idea to stick with his current gig for a little while longer.

[Wally Edge]

Miss New Jersey has a bun in the oven

2007-01-15T12:56:00.000-05:00

Not to be left out of the recent beauty pageant kerfuffle, Miss New Jersey is giving up her crown because she is pregnant:

Ashley Harder, the current Miss New Jersey USA, has resigned from the pageant post because she is pregnant, The Philadelphia Daily News reported in Monday's newspapers.

Harder, 20, told the newspaper she voluntarily stepped down because it's against pageant rules to compete while pregnant. She could not immediately be reached for comment by The Associated Press.

2007 Runner-up for Miss New Jersey, Erin Abrahamson of Essex Fells, will be assuming the title.

Tax caps, reform, rebates and credits

2007-01-12T17:39:00.000-05:00

We support Governor Corzine's idea to put a cap on property tax increases, not because its the best solution to New Jersey's property tax problems, but because it is at least a step in the right direction. We would put the cap at no more than 3% (instead of Corzine's 4%) and also put a cap on budget increases in the same amount.

But this still does not reform the property tax system in New Jersey. And the Democrats' proposals of credits and rebates doesn't help either.

We've said it before and we'll say it again now: Rebates are not reform. Raising state taxes to fund property tax rebates is not a property tax reform. If anything, its part of the problem because our counties, towns and school districts don't get the message that they must be fiscally responsible when the state doles out money to take some of the burden off the taxpayer. The only way to achieve true property tax reform is to reform those entities (i.e., municipalities, counties, school districts) who rely on property taxes for their revenue.

Remember: Rebates (or credits) are not reform.

Rabner to Clergy: No worries on the civil union thing

2007-01-12T17:08:00.000-05:00

In what one newspaper refers to as a "setback" for civil unions (a description we don't agree with), New Jersey Attorney General Stuart Rabner issued an opinion yesterday in which he concluded that members of the clergy with "sincerely held religious beliefs" could refuse to officiate civil unions and not run afoul of the state's antidiscrimination law. Rabner stated:

"If those beliefs preclude recognition of civil unions, a religious figure's refusal to solemnize civil unions, even if that religious figure is regularly available to solemnize marriages, would not violate [the Law Against Discrimination]."

Rabner's full letter is here.

But vocal civil union opponent, Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, isn't covered. He'll either need to perform a civil union if asked or give up his marriage officiating duties. Sorry Steve.

No payday for corrupt public workers

2007-01-12T17:01:00.000-05:00

The Legislature is finally making headway on a bill that would require mandatory jail time and loss of pension for public workers and elected officials convicted of corruption (a bill former Attorney General Zulima Farber was against).

The only way to get rid of corruption is to take a very tough stance with those who commit it.

We fully support this bill.

Connors jumps ship

2007-01-12T13:37:00.000-05:00

New Jersey Republican State Senator Leonard Connors announced that he will not run for re-election this year. Why is he retiring from the State Senate?

"To be frank, I just don't have the stomach for it anymore. New Jersey's course
is set straight for the ice fields, and I no longer have any desire to be a crew
member of the Titanic."

Unfortunately, we tend to agree with Senator Connors.

[PoliticsNJ.com "Quote of the Day"]

It's tough to be a Republican in New Jersey

2007-01-05T12:35:00.000-05:00

"I need to call the landlord [today] and find out what's going on."

Bergen County GOP Chairman Guy Talarico, after being told by a reporter that an eviction notice has been placed on the door of the party's Hackensack, New Jersey headquarters.

Full story here.

Gerald R. Ford: 1913-2006

2006-12-27T00:11:00.000-05:00

Statement from Betty Ford:

My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Gerald Ford, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, has passed away at 93 years of age.

His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country.

Rest in peace, Mr. President.

Statement from the White House:

Laura and I are greatly saddened by the passing of former President Gerald R. Ford.

President Ford was a great American who gave many years of dedicated service to our country. On August 9, 1974, after a long career in the House of Representatives and service as Vice President, he assumed the Presidency in an hour of national turmoil and division. With his quiet integrity, common sense, and kind instincts, President Ford helped heal our land and restore public confidence in the Presidency.

The American people will always admire Gerald Ford's devotion to duty, his personal character, and the honorable conduct of his administration. We mourn the loss of such a leader, and our 38th President will always have a special place in our Nation's memory. On behalf of all Americans, Laura and I offer our deepest sympathies to Betty Ford and all of President Ford's family. Our thoughts and prayers will be with them in the hours and days ahead.

More here.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T20:47:00.000-05:00

We're not sure exactly why this quote, from the movie Love Actually, is appropriate for Christmas. Maybe its because the movie is based on the weeks leading up to Christmas. Maybe its just because the Christmas season is based on love. In any event, we think this says a lot.

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.

Merry Christmas.

What does your bumper sticker say?

2006-12-20T13:25:00.000-05:00

Starting January 22, 2007, New Jersey's courts will begin to ask a new voir dire question to potential jurors: "If you have a bumper sticker that does not pertain to a political candidate, what does it say?" From the New Jersey Lawyer (article not yet available online):

The theory [behind asking potential jurors about their bumper stickers] is that there's a difference between "Question Authority" and "Have You Hugged a Cop Today?"

Of course, a criminal defendant won't want a "Hug a Cop" juror deciding his of her fate and the prosecution sure as hell doesn't want a "Question Authority" juror just itching to screw it to "the man." But what about people who have something like "If You Can Read This, Then You're To Fucking Close" or "My Kid Beat Up Your Honor Student"? Do you want them on your jury?

In any event, if you want to get dismissed from jury duty in New Jersey, just slap a "Fry Them All" sticker on your car.

A French retreat

2006-12-17T18:27:00.000-05:00

No, we're not talking about Versailles or a cute villa in the south of France.

We're talking about France's military retreating from the War on Terror. From the AP:

France is to withdraw its 200-strong special forces from Afghanistan, all of its ground troops engaged in the U.S anti-terror operation there, authorities announced Sunday.

The decision to pull the elite troops, based in the southeastern city of Jalalabad, comes as the Taliban militia are gaining strength despite the strong engagement -- some 32,800 troops -- in NATO's International Security Assistance Force. France has balked at sending its 1,100-strong NATO contingent outside the relatively safe Afghan capital, Kabul.

We're sure if the French could have found Mullah Omar, they would have surrendered to him instead of merely pulling their troops out.

With friends like this . . .

Debbie does jury duty

2006-12-15T11:07:00.000-05:00

Former New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Deborah T. Poritz has had a busy six weeks since leaving the court. She has interviewed, and taken a position, with the Princeton office of Drinker Biddle, been called for jury duty (although was dismissed without being put on a jury) and answered some questions for the Wall Street Journal's Law Blog. A few interesting tid-bits from the Q&A:

She isn't used to using computers. She uses the Internet and knows how to read e-mail. She's just learning to send e-mail.
She's never met Bruce Springstein or anyone from the cast of the Sopranos (easy on the Jersey stereotype questions, Law Blog -- we were afraid you were going to ask her if she ever had "big hair").
She has been to the Pine Barrens. (You should have asked if she believed in the Jersey Devil.)
Although she does think there should be a mandatory retirement age for judges, she thinks 75 is more appropriate than 70: "I stepped off the bench feeling that I had more to contribute and I think it would be a good thing to raise the age to 75, but I think it is good to have an age limit. I think any system is healthier when there’s an opportunity for young people to come in and if there’s a mandatory retirement age you’re going to have young people cycling in and bringing fresh ideas."

We must admit that the Law Blog's last question -- "Did you catch Scarlet Fever? We mean, have you hopped on the Rutgers University football bandwagon?" -- annoyed us slightly, partly because we've been asked the same question by several people. For your information, just because someone lives in New Jersey doesn't mean they follow (or even care about) Rutgers football. We're not that small town.

(But we were excited to see Rutgers do well)

Olivia can sing

2006-12-13T11:17:00.000-05:00

Olivia Turton, a Frenchtown, New Jersey elementary school student, had her First Amendment rights violated when her school district barred her from singing the song "Awesome God" at an after-school talent show, according to a ruling issued Monday by U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson.

In May 2005, the school district denied the then-second-grader's request to sing the song saying that the lyrics amounted to the "musical equivalent of a spoken prayer." Judge Wolfson disagreed and held that the district's actions were inappropriate because Olivia's song was one student's "private speech" and could not legitimately be perceived as a public school's endorsement of religion.

Olivia had some help in her court battle:

The case drew national attention and the backing of strange legal bedfellows: The Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal advocacy group that represented the Turtons, and the American Civil Liberties Union, which intervened as a friend of the court.

Strange bedfellow indeed.

Olivia plans to sing the song in an upcoming talent show.

Poritz to Drinker

2006-12-13T11:14:00.000-05:00

Deborah T. Poritz, former Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, has signed on as "Of Counsel" with the law firm of Drinker Biddle. More about Poritz's new job here.

Steven v. Steven (with a side of Nate)

2006-12-09T19:52:00.000-05:00

This week's debate in New Jersey on gay marriage v. civil unions certainly wasn't short on the rhetoric or ad hominem attacks, including the following exchange between uber-conservative Bogota, New Jersey Mayor Steven Lonegan and Garden State Equality's Chairman Steven Goldstein.

Steve Lonegan started it with the following (from the Record via PoliticsNJ):

"No! I'm not doing it! They're not going to force me to do civil unions. They're going to have to put a gun to my head. Even then it's going to be a challenge." -- Bogota Mayor Steven Lonegan, on performing civil unions. Lonegan " said he performs about two dozen marriages a year, and officiated at one in which the groom 'was so drunk he couldn't stand up.' He said he didn't object to adults who choose a particular lifestyle, but resented that he would have a government-ordered role in their union."

Lonegan has officially left the reservation. To advertise that he's performed a marriage with a groom who was so intoxicated that he couldn't stand up makes us question Steve's judgment. Furthermore, he should know that as a mayor, he won't have a "government-ordered" role in performing civil unions or gay marriages. He certainly isn't required to perform heterosexual marriages today.

So what was Steven Goldstein's reply, you ask? Well:

"So let's get this right: Steve Lonegan, whose stunning political achievement has been to make Bret Schundler look moderate in statewide elections, would not preside over a ceremony between two loving, committed people of the same gender but would preside -- and has -- over a groom too intoxicated and thus not legally capacitated to enter a legal contract? With defenders of marriage like Steve Lonegan, grooms don't even need to show up anymore. On any marriage license, Mayor Lonegan is apparently willing to write the name Johnnie Walker. It's time to let gay couples marry. Not civil union -- but marry. We'll protect the institution from Steve Lonegan."

We give Goldstein a B for effort but a C- for content. He came out with his guns blazing, and was correct in mentioning (and attempting to take Lonegan to task for) the the "drunk groom" wedding. But instead of offering a substantive response to anything that Lonegan said, Goldstein just stuck with his talking points and the nasty rhetoric that is so typical in today's politics. The potential was there, but the execution fell way short.

But not to be disappointed, North Plainfield Council President Nathan Rudy decided that he'd weigh in on Lonegan's comments:

"Not for nothing here, Steve, but no one is gonna put a gun to your head to make you marry anyone. Performing marriage ceremonies -- or civil union ceremonies -- is an optional duty of being a Mayor and you can pick and choose when you want to officiate at a wedding. Your very strong stand is little more than bluster and bullspittle, and what is most pathetic is that you know it. However, your employees will have to issue the licenses for civil unions or same-sex marriages, and if you had real courage in your homophobic convictions you'd risk getting your butt sued off by refusing to let them. Frankly, I'd like to see if you have the guts to do it or if you are just blowing smoke up everyone's ass like usual. I suspect the latter."

Wow, Nate! Let's not pull and punches man. Despite not taking sides in this battle of the Steves, we did like your response (much more than Goldstein's who, in our opinion, blows a lot of smoke as well), even with the nasty.

Jun Choi

2006-12-04T11:47:00.000-05:00

Why is Jun Choi, the mayor of Edison, New Jersey, having a $1,000-per-person fundraising banquet with Governor Jon Corzine, Senate President Richard Codey, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and former Governor James Florio and hiring a high-profile political team to advise him on strategy and media image and to conduct polls?

Is it to help him solidify his position in Edison (despite the size of Edison, does Mr. Choi really need a media consultant and pollsters?) or does he, not even one year on the job, have his sights set on a different elected position?

Well, whatever the reason, Mr. Choi better keep his eye on his current job or a recall effort might just be successful and a future political career in doubt.

“He's a realistic candidate for president of the United States”

2006-11-16T13:55:00.000-05:00

Who?

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine.

Why?

“He's taken on problems that a lot of people have avoided. It will make him a national figure.”

Says who?

Former New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne.

Can someone please give Byrne a clue?

One person, two votes

2006-11-16T13:14:00.000-05:00

Because of some issues with Ocean County's new electronic voting machines, supplied by voting machine maker Sequoia Voting Systems, Superior Court Judge Frank Buczynski Jr. ordered the Ocean County election board to proceed with a recheck of every digital voting machine used in the November 7 general election.

What was the problem?

County election officials suspect a software update from Sequoia came with a fault that doubled the count of about 150 ballots cast on a single Barnegat machine, then added 75 votes from that unit to a vote tally in a Lakewood district.

Yeah, you read that right. The voting machine (and/or its software) double counted 150 votes cast in one district and then added 75 votes to a district located in another town. Amazing technology we've got!

They should check Hudson County's machines next.

"Shame on them"

2006-11-15T18:48:00.000-05:00

At a press conference outside the courthouse after their clients pleaded guilty to the arson that killed three people and injured (some seriously) 58 others, the attorneys for soon-to-be convicted felons Joseph T. LePore and Sean Ryan said their clients set the fire, but did not admit any responsibility for the deaths (of Aaron Karol, John Giunta and Frank Caltabilota, Jr.) and injuries caused by their "prank that got out of hand."

In fact, William DeMarco, Mr. LePore’s lawyer, said that it was Seton Hall University who was to blame because it failed to install sprinklers and had lax fire safety standards in Boland Hall, the dormitory LePore and Ryan set on fire. According to DeMarco: "The intervening cause was Seton Hall's lack of responsibility in monitoring Boland Hall. If they had fire suppression systems the fire never would have spread."

Hey, Mr. DeMarco, if your client didn't set the fire, the fire never would have spread.

Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow's response when she heard that the defense attorneys were blaming Seton Hall instead of their clients: "Shame on them."

You can say that again, Paula.

Delayed, insufficient justice

2006-11-15T18:04:00.000-05:00

The two individuals who set the fire in Seton Hall University's Boland Hall almost 7 years ago copped a plea this morning which will send each of them to jail for 16 months to 5 years. From the Star-Ledger:

Joseph T. LePore and Sean Ryan agreed to the last-minute deal at the Essex County Courthouse in Newark on the day their long-awaited arson and felony murder trial was scheduled to begin.

After years of denying they lit the fire, LePore and Ryan read statements admitting they set fire to a paper banner in a dorm lounge around 4 a.m. on Jan. 19, 2000. That fire spread to a couch and eventually killed three freshmen and injured 58 other students.

According to LePore, he "did not intend to harm anyone. It was a prank that got out of hand.” Ryan read a similar statement.

Under the plea deal, LePore and Ryan, both 26, pleaded guilty to arson and tampering with a witness (which came about when the two attempted to get friends of theirs to lie to investigators). LePore also pleaded guilty to a disorderly persons offense. They will serve a maximum 5-year sentence at a state facility for youthful offenders. They will be eligible for parole after 16 months.

16-months in jail for the murder of 3 people (whose pictures are above) and the serious bodily injury of 58 others. That certainly is a deal. For the defendants.

We understand that the state's case was a tough one. It took prosecutors a long time to gather evidence and convince witnesses to talk. We understand that they would take a chance of a "not guilty" verdict if the case was brought to trial. But we also understand that, prank gone wrong or not, the fire these two men started ended up killing three 18-year old boys. Under the law, that is a homicide. To allow Ryan and LePore to get away with just 16-months in jail without having to admit in open court that they killed three people and injured 58 others is insufficient justice.

Although the families of Aaron Karol (of Green Brook), John Giunta (of Vineland) and Frank Caltabilota, Jr. (of West Long Branch) -- the 3 boys killed by Ryan and LePore's fire -- were disappointed with the terms of the plead deal, we hope that this helps them bring closure to the painful 7 years of not knowing what happened on that day and not knowing who did it. We know they will never be truly healed, but we hope that this ends up a positive step for them.

To the memory of Aaron, John and Frank.

How progressive

2006-11-15T10:10:00.000-05:00

Pakistan moves into the 19th century:

Pakistan's lower house of parliament voted on Wednesday to put the crime of rape under the civil penal code, curtailing the scope of Islamic laws that rights groups have long criticized as unfair to women.

Why is this such a step forward, you ask? Well, Islamic law made a rape victim liable to prosecution for adultery if she could not produce four male witnesses to the assault. Yeah, you read that right . . . unless the rape victim could produce four male witnesses to corroborate her accusations, she was guilty.

If the amendment passes the Pakistani upper house, it will take the crime of rape out of the sphere of the religious law and puts it under the penal code. That will do away with the requirement of four male witnesses and allow convictions to be made on the basis of actual evidence.

The religion on peace, my friends.

Better safe than sorry -- buy your booze tonight

2006-11-06T16:16:00.000-05:00

I spent Saturday night in Wilmington, Delaware and decided to do a little tax-free shopping Sunday before heading back to New Jersey and Jon Corzine's 7% sales tax.

As I roamed through the Costco by the Christiana Mall, I noticed a sign at the entrance to the liquor store. It said something like:

Attention Members:

Per Delaware State Law

The liquor store will be closed on Election Day

I found this government-imposed Election Day temperance to be a little odd and, to be honest, puritanical. Is the state so concerned that people will sit home drinking instead of heading out to the polls that they need to ban the sale of booze on Election Day? Or do they want to prevent drunks from driving to the polls? Or is voting while intoxicated the problem? Come on, Delaware, what gives?!?!

Well, it turns out that Delaware doesn't stand alone. In fact, several states have laws dealing with the sale of alcohol on Election Day. For example

Delaware forces liquor stores to close on Election Day, but does not ban the sale of alcohol at restaurants or bars.
Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota and South Carolina permit local governments to regulate the sale of alcohol while the polls are open (good thing I have a case of beer in the fridge so I can spend my time keeping up with the Election Day chatter at The Corner).
Idaho allows beer and wine to be sold on Election Day, but "spirits" must be "locked and secured" until the polls are closed.
Mississippi seems to be just the opposite -- municipalities may prohibit beer sales, but they have no jurisdiction over "spirits."
Then there's West Virginia -- it prohibits retail licensees from selling liquor on any primary or general election day but permits the sale of beer, wine and "fortified wine."
Indiana and Kentucky say no to all alcohol while the polls are open.

So why do I pass this little bit of legal trivia your way? Well, if you're a Republican living in one of these states, you'll be facing a potentially long night of election results with no alcohol to numb the pain (or -- fingers crossed -- to celebrate with) if you don't get your booze tonight.

"Excuse me, but I don't see 'Bush' on my ballot."

2006-11-06T14:53:00.000-05:00

I saw these signs posted all over (and I mean ALL over) Hoboken, Jersey City and Newark on Saturday.

I wonder how many confused Hudson and Essex county voters we'll have on Tuesday when, going to vote against President Bush, they can't locate his name on the ballot.

Kerry to Rush: You're fat!

2006-10-31T14:22:00.000-05:00

Clearly angry that people were actually paying attention to what was coming out of his mouth, Senator John Kerry has momentarily stopped tossing insults at the U.S. Armed Forces and has taken to insulting Americans who have a few extra pounds around the midsection:

"I'm sick and tired of these despicable Republican attacks that always seem to come from those who never can be found to serve in war, but love to attack those who did," Kerry said. "I'm not going to be lectured by a stuffed suit White House mouthpiece standing behind a podium, or doughy Rush Limbaugh, who no doubt today will take a break from belittling Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's disease to start lying about me just as they have lied about Iraq. It disgusts me."

Was the "doughy" comment needed, Senator Kerry? If you disagree with what he says, does it matter whether he's tall and slim or short and round?

This may sound trivial and, given that I am more or less right about where I should be when I step on the scale, might not be my fight, but the comment was clearly meant to insult Limbaugh by making fun of his weight. Isn't this the sort of thing that parents try to teach their children not to do?

One would think that Mr. Kerry would be able to debate Rush without resorting to childish insults. But since Kerry's comments about the military are indefensible, I guess insults are all he has.

More on all this here and here.

"October Surprise" or "Confirmation Assistance"?

2006-10-26T21:22:00.000-04:00

We noticed one interesting item in the "appearances" list at the front of the New Jersey Supreme Court's "gay marriage" opinion -- Lewis v. Harris. At the top of page 2 it lists who represented the State in this appeal:

Patrick DeAlmeida, Assistant Attorney General argued the cause for respondents (Anne Milgram, Acting Attorney General of New Jersey, attorney; Mr. DeAlmeida and Mary Beth Wood, on the briefs).

Anne Milgram is the First Assistant Attorney General, i.e., she is the second in charge in the Attorney General's office. The Attorney General's right hand woman.

For a very short period of time -- in between Zulima Farber's resignation and Stuart Rabner's confirmation and swearing in -- Ms. Milgram served as Acting Attorney General. That period of time was from August 31, 2006 to September 26, 2006.

Why then does Anne Milgram's name and title as Acting Attorney General appear on the court's opinion released one month after Mr. Rabner assumed the job of Attorney General? Given that the briefs were written when Peter Harvey was Attorney General and the oral argument was held while Ms. Farber held that post, and neither of their names appear on the decision, shouldn't the current AG's name be listed? We think the answer to that question is easy: Yes.

So why doesn't it? Was the opinion written, done, signed off, and ready for filing and release to the public over a month ago when Ms. Milgram was Acting Attorney General? If so, why wasn't it released then? Why did the court wait a month to issue its decision?

That's where the heading to this post comes in: Was this an "October surprise" (as some have mentioned) meant to somehow affect an election? Or was it "confirmation assistance"? What we mean by that is this: was the decision purposefully delayed so that then-Justice Zazzali would not have to face a barrage of questions about the court's opinion -- and his support for full and immediate gay marriage -- during the senate confirmation hearing on his appointment as chief justice held last week?

Or was it just a typographical error?

We aren't big conspiracy theorists, but this one got even us wondering.

Gay marriage re-cap

2006-10-26T19:46:00.000-04:00

Having now read the New Jersey Supreme Court's gay marriage decision -- Lewis v. Harris -- we have a few observations on the decision and the aftermath:

First, we were wrong on our prediction that the decision would not be unanimous. Although there was a 4-3 split, at the end of the day the 7 justices agreed that marriage or the equivalent must be afforded to gay couples. We did think there would be an actual dissent, somewhat in line with the New York Court of Appeals decision a few months ago in which the court left decisions on defining marriage to the legislature.

Second, the split was interesting. The 3 justices who would have ordered full marriage for gay couples are all, essentially, tenured and will never face the appointment and confirmation process again. Under New Jersey's constitution, members of the judiciary are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate for an initial 7-year term. At the end of that term, the governor must reappoint the judge or justice (if he or she so chooses). If reappointed and then confirmed by the senate again, that judge has tenure until the mandatory retirement age of 70. Chief Justice Poritz, who turned 70 today, retired yesterday after the opinion was issued. Justice Zazzali, who was confirmed by the senate as chief justice just two days before this decision was issue, will be 70 this coming July and will not face another confirmation hearing before then. Justice Long was recently reappointed and reconfirmed and now has her job until she turns 70 in 2012.

The four justices in the majority will all face reappointment over the next several years. Justice LaVecchia, who was sworn in to a term beginning on February 1, 2000, is up for reappointment in a few short months. Then comes Justice Albin, who will face reappointment in September 2009, Justice Wallace in September 2010 and Justice Rivera-Soto in September 2011.

Was there a reason for the tenure v. non-tenure split, given the outcome? Who knows, but we thought it was interesting that the four members of the court who will face questioning from the state senate during their reconfirmations over the next few years didn't find that gay marriage was a fundamental right, something that the tenured justices would have found.

Third, the Democrat leaders in the legislature weren't too happy with the 180-day time period given by the court. Considering that New Jersey can't do a damn thing in 6-months, changing the state's entire marriage regime in that time seems a little ambitious. We give props to Senate President Richard J. Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. for telling the court what they thought about the timeframe:

"Given the fact that it took the judicial system nearly four years to come up with a 4-3 split decision, we think the determination by only four justices that the entire Legislature is obligated to respond within 180 days is unreasonable."

So there, justices!

Fourth, the Democrats are looking to kill any debate on alternatives to the court's ruling before they even happen. According to the Asbury Park Press, "Codey and Roberts said they would not post any measure overturning the court's decision to protect same-sex couples." Now, at this time we are taking no position on the substance of the court's decision. But we will take a position on Codey and Roberts' intention to limit debate: Its wrong! If a constitutional amendment were proposed, it should be considered and voted on. That is the democratic process and it should be adhered to. The party leaders of the majority party -- the Democrats here -- should not limit debate to only those issues they deem important or those issues that are in line with their views. Doing so disenfranchises a significant portion of the state by not allowing their elected officials to propose legislation that will be considered by the entire body. Consider an amendment, if one is proposed, (or any other alternatives) and vote it up or down. But consider it.

That's all we have for now.

Gay marriage in New Jersey?

2006-10-24T17:22:00.000-04:00

The New Jersey Supreme Court will be releasing its opinion in Mark Lewis, et al. v. Gwendolyn L. Harris, et al, No. A-68-05 -- the New Jersey gay marriage case -- tomorrow, the second to last day of Chief Justice Deborah T. Poritz's tenure on the court.

It has long been rumored that Chief Justice Poritz would author the main opinion in favor of granting marriage rights to gays. Whether that is the majority opinion or a dissent remains to be seen.

We guess we'll find out tomorrow.

In any event, the skinny from the Trenton streets is that Poritz was unable to get the 4 votes needed in favor of a right to gay marriage under the New Jersey Constitution and is stuck with just 3. How does it break down?

Rumor has it that newly-confirmed Chief Justice James R. Zazzali is a "no" vote and our guess is that Justice John E. Wallace, Jr. and Justice Roberto A. Rivera-Soto are also on the "no" side. Wallace and Rivera-Soto, although appointed by Democrats, are Repbulicans (at least in name) because they replaced Republicans on the court (New Jersey has always kept their Supreme Court at a 4-3 political split). We wouldn't describe them as conservatives, by any means, given that the New Jersey Supreme Court hasn't had a true conservative on it in many years.

With Poritz on the "yes" side is likely Justice Virginia Long, one of the court's more liberal members, and either Justice Barry T. Albin or Justice Jaynee LaVecchia. Albin was put on the court by former governor Jim McGreevey and is a Democrat. We wouldn't necessarily call him a liberal, but he's sure no conservative. LaVecchia is a Republican who was put on the bench by Governor Christie Whitman. She is best described as a moderate, probably slightly more pro-business.

So if its a 4-3 no-marriage split, our guess is that the "no" votes are Zazzali, LaVecchia, Wallace, Rivera-Soto. That leaves dissents by Poritz, Long and Albin.

[Portions cross-posted]

Update:

After reading the comment, we wanted to clarify one thing: By no means are we predicting a 4-3 "no marriage" split. We talked with our people in Trenton and that was the general consensus on why it was taking so long -- Poritz was trying to win another vote (although the opinion might have been delayed so as not to be a center piece to Zazzali's confirmation hearing). This morning's news from New Jersey 101.5, however, noted that it was the "consensus" from both sides of the political aisle that the court would rule in favor of gay marriage. This is an activist court. It has been for 30+ years. We'll just have to wait and see what the decision is. We won't predict the ruling, but we will say that it won't be unanimous.

NY Bomb Threat

2006-10-23T15:59:00.000-04:00

Police are responding to an emotionally disturbed person on a bus claiming to have a bomb near the Port Authority Bus Terminal on 8th Ave and W 40th St.

The terminal has been closed and bus and subway traffic is being diverted.

Officials have shut down 8th and 9th Avenues and 40th and 41st Streets.

Update:

From NY 1:

A portion of the Port Authority Bus Terminal remains closed this afternoon due to a police investigation.

NY1 was told the situation involves a passenger who is refusing to get off a bus, and the Port Authority says the partial shutdown is just a precaution.

The streets outside the terminal are more crowded than usual, as buses are picking up and discharging passengers along 9th Avenue between 37th and 39th Streets.

Buses currently are not being allowed to enter or leave the south wing of the terminal.

Update 2:

NBC 4 is reporting that the bomb scare is over:

Things around Port Authority are getting back to normal after police activity shut off the streets surrounding the station.
The south wing of the Port Authority bus terminal in midtown had to be closed - due to a police situation involving an emotionally disturbed person.
Traffic was halted on both 8th and 9th avenues, and on 40th and 41st streets.
For those who are familiar with Port Authority grounds, 41st Street is the street that runs inside the building.
The partial closure of the terminal began shortly after 1 p.m.

I hope this guy wasn't from New Jersey. ;-)

Welcome to New Jersey, Mayor Mike

2006-10-19T23:57:00.000-04:00

An errand boy for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was carjacked while driving Bloomberg's 2001 Lexus in Hackensack:

A personal employee of Mayor Michael Bloomberg was beaten by thieves who then carjacked the billionaire's car yesterday morning in New Jersey, authorities said.
The employee was driving the 2001 Lexus in Hackensack on an errand for the mayor shortly be fore 9 a.m. when he was approached by a woman who came to the window to ask for money, police said. As he declined and began to roll up the window, a man got into the passenger seat and punched him in the face.
"They force him out and take off," said Hackensack police Capt. Frank Lomia.
The car was found about two hours later, abandoned on the side of the road in Fair Lawn. Police were looking for the two suspects.
Bloomberg's employee was not seriously injured and his name was not released. He is one of many staffers who take care of Bloomberg's personal business and his homes, including his townhouse in Manhattan and country house in upstate New York.

Sorry, Mr. Mayor.

What's in a name, anyway?

2006-10-17T11:21:00.000-04:00

After years of claiming that she was named after Sir Edmund Hillary, the conqueror of Mount Everest, Senator Hillary Clinton has come clean:

For more than a decade, one piece of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s informal biography has been that she was named for Sir Edmund Hillary, the conqueror of Mount Everest. The story was even recounted in Bill Clinton’s autobiography.
But yesterday, Mrs. Clinton’s campaign said she was not named for Sir Edmund after all.

This wasn't exactly the toughest claim to debunk given that Sir Edmund didn't climb Mount Everest until 1953. Hillary Clinton was born in 1947.

Of course, when reading Mrs. Clinton's confession this morning, we immediately remembered the lullabies that Al Gore's mother used to sing to him. When he was 27.

[Michelle Malkin]

Lucky us

2006-10-04T18:20:00.001-04:00

Is Robert Byrd going to be the next to visit?

Ted Kennedy will be in New Jersey on Thursday to campaign for Bob Menendez. He will speak at a noon rally at the Bergen County Democratic Headquarters in Hackensack.

Is it just us, or are other people confused as to why Kennedy has always been seen as an asset instead of a liability?

[Wally Edge]

A switch, just in time?

2006-09-29T16:57:00.000-04:00

With ethical questions slowing Bob Menendez's campaign down slightly, there is talk -- maybe rumor is the more appropriate word -- that the Democrats will pull another late election switch, like the one in the 2002 Senate race that ensured the seat now held by Senator Lautenberg remained in left column.

You remember what we're talking about, right? Less than 6 weeks before the election, down in the polls and facing some harsh harsh criticism from every direction, Bob Toricelli was convinced by the Democrat party elders (who, interestingly, included the ethically-challenged former Governor Jim McGreevey and Menendez himself) to leave the race. The Democrats then replaced Toricelli on the ballot with Senator Lautenberg.

Anyway, there is some talk (rumor) that if things don't look up for Menendez, he too will have a sit-down with the party elders and be told to drop out. To a degree its a likely scenario, given that the Democrats are likely going to pick up several seats in the Senate this November. If they cannot hold New Jersey, it may cost them control of the upper house. Imagine if the GOP controls the Senate 51-49 (or even 50-50) and Tom Kean Jr. is the junior senator from New Jersey.

The differences between the 2002 Toricelli-Lautenberg switch and a potential 2006 Menendez-Codey switch (yeah, former Governor Richard Codey's name is being thrown around as the replacement candidate) are significant and, we think, weigh against any sort of switch. First, it is later in the election cycle now than when Toricelli dropped out in 2002. Although the New Jersey Supreme Court allowed the 2002 switch about 5 weeks before election day, the court will be forced to impose some sort of limit so that the election can be conducted in an orderly fashion. We think once the first week in October rolls around, the potential to successfully pull off a switch will be gone. Second, Menendez was hand-picked for this seat, and this election, by Governor Corzine. To get Menendez out, Corzine is going to have to admit that he was wrong and that he picked a replacement for himself who was not up to the task and lacks the ethics to represent the state in Washington. Coming close on the heals of Menendez-backed Zulima Farber's exit from the Attorney General's office, this may not be something he wants to admit, especially with his own poll ratings pretty low. He may be more comfortable with Menendez just losing the election. Third, and similar, is that Corzine (1) won't want to piss off the Hispanic community by ousting Menendez right after Farber and (2) may need Bob the Boss's help to win his own re-election in 2009. Menendez is powerful and can bring a lot of Hudson County votes to whomever he chooses to endorse. Corzine may not want to chance that by asking him to step aside. Finally, will the New Jersey electorate really reward the Democrats with a win when they have pulled the same switching game to rid themselves of an ethically-challenged candidate in the last minutes of an election? We think to most fair-minded independent voters, of which there may just be enough in New Jersey to turn it an ever-so-slight-light-shade-of-red, would see this game for what it is and send a message to the Democrats that they need to do their candidate vetting early on and that switching candidates at the end is not a viable alternative any time they choose.

We may be wrong. Maybe they will do the switch if Menendez's troubles continue over the next week. But since he is close in the polls, this is blue state and he's a political boss, we think a switch is unlikely.

Question for Oliver

2006-09-29T16:13:00.000-04:00

Conspiracy theorist and filmmaker Oliver Stone blasted President Bush today complaining that the President has "set America back 10 years."

I'm a bit confused by the comment. If, according to most liberals, and certainly most Democrats (if those two "groups" could be separated at all), the United States was much better off between January 20, 1993 and January 19, 2001 (i.e., finger-waving President Clinton's term of office), isn't Stone's comment actually a compliment? Wasn't September of 1996 just blissfully happy with Clinton coasting towards re-election by under 50% of the popular vote?

Supreme switcharoo

2006-09-21T14:07:00.000-04:00

As expected, Governor Jon Corzine today nominated New Jersey Supreme Court Justice James Zazzali to replace the retiring Deborah Poritz as Chief Justice of the state's top court. The governor also nominated Appellate Division Judge Helen Hoens as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, filling the vacancy created by Poritz's upcoming retirement:

Under the state constitution, Poritz must retire by the time she turns 70 on Oct. 26. Poritz today said she will serve until that date. The first woman to hold the position, Poritz was named to the bench by then-Gov. Christie Whitman in 1996. Poritz is a Republican. Like Corzine, Zazzali is a Democrat.
The opening created by Poritz's departure and a Zazzali promotion is considered a Republican seat because of New Jersey's nonbinding tradition of having at least three justices from each party on the seven-member court.Zazzali will turn 70 next June, setting the stage for a second chief justice nomination for Corzine next year.

Although we initially thought that making Justice Zazzali the chief for less than a year was silly, we do respect the governor's right to select the court's chief justice and his willingness to abide by tradition of keeping the 4-3 political split is wise. Also, Justice Zazzali is a well-respected jurist and was a well-respected lawyer. He is an excellent choice to replace the retiring Poritz. Even if its just for a year.

The only remaining Supreme Court hot-button issue now is how the court will rule on its gay marriage case -- a ruling that is expected to come down right before Poritz retires.

The NJ Democrat corruption mill keeps churning

2006-09-18T17:19:00.000-04:00

Does this sort of thing surprise anyone in New Jersey anymore?

Gov. Jon Corzine today called for Sen. Wayne Bryant to step down as head of the powerful Budget and Appropriations Committee, amid charges the South Jersey legislator steered millions in funding to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey after he was given a no-show job.

Of course, Corzine's "call for" Bryant to to step aside wasn't exactly a "call." More like a vague reference to what he should maybe do if he sorta thought it was a good enough idea:

“Sometimes in other legislative situations, people step aside until due process follows its course. There are many precedents where people step aside while an investigation goes on,” Corzine said during a news conference in Newark. “I think I’m making a clear enough suggestion.”

Come on, Governor, this is an easy one. Its okay, you can come right out and say that you think the guy should step down from his committee post or, for that matter, from the state senate altogether. But alas, Mr. Corzine wants to make sure he doesn't tread on the Constitution:

“As you well know, there is a legal principle of separation of powers between the executive and the legislative branch, so I think whatever actions should be taken, if they’re appropriate, I think they need to be done on that basis,” he remarked. “It shouldn’t be the executive branch indicating to legislators how they should be running their operations.”

That's an interesting statement, given that back in his U.S. Senate days Corzine had no problem suggesting to the executive branch how they should be running their operations: "Sen. John Corzine D-N.J., actually has called on Rumsfeld to resign."