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Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 10:48:00 AM EST
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heh...heh...heh... promoted by Rosi
Reading that Gov. Christie wants to start charging state workers for parking (By the way, how many private businesses charge their employees for parking in suburban Jersey? None in the area where I live), here are some other money raising ideas for New Jersey:
1. Charge state workers for the costs of providing water, electricity, heat, and clean air in their work places.
2. Charge state workers for the costs of their telephones, desks, computer equipment.
3. Charge state workers for the costs of the educational training they get to use various computer software programs (it's education that the state is providing free right now).
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Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 12:15:00 PM EST
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Today, we're one month away from the April 12th Filing Deadline for Petitions to run for County Committee seats, which are up for election in many counties across the state this year - my own Passaic County included. And anyone spending time here on Blue Jersey railing about corruption, or a need for more progressive elected officials, or an end to the old-boys-network of politics should really put down the mouse, get out of the house, and run for county committee.
You can do it alone, with the goal of adding your voice to the process. Or you can do it together with others in your town, with the goal of re-energizing your local democratic party. Either way, it really is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3:
1- Pick up a petition at your municipal clerk's office, along with a list of voters in your electoral district;
2- Get a few signatures from your neighbors ahead of the April 12 filing deadline; and
3- Go meet some neighbors between now and the June 8 primary, and ask them to support your effort to build the Democratic party.
That really is all it takes (with a few exceptions) to go from complaining outsider to engaged insider within the Democratic Party. It is the single most important first step you can take to strengthen the party. And in the many places where the county committee slots are currently vacant (your municipal clerk can tell you when you pick up the petition if your seat is vacant), it could not be easier. In fact, you'll be greeted with open arms by party leaders for doing your civic duty.
What few dare suggest, however, is the value of running for county committee even where there is not a vacancy. This situation is more difficult, to be sure, as the open arms mentioned above will, um, maybe not be so open at first. I can tell you first-hand as part of a team of democrats in Hawthorne who are running for county committee this year (one local paper calls us "the faction"), some people won't be happy about it. And some will falsely accuse you of "dividing" the party.
But, guess what? A funny thing happened in our historically republican borough when word got out that a rival county committee slate was running this year. Suddenly, democratic county committee members - many of whom had been unseen during past election cycles, and hadn't done any organizing in years - are now going door-to-door, making phone calls, and pulling out all the stops to hold their seats in June. So, instead of "dividing" anything, our team is multiplying the democratic organizing in Hawthorne like we've never seen before.
An energized, stronger party ready to unite for the fall elections. That's the consequence of engaging with your local party - and it's totally worth a few bruised egos. You will spur your fellow democrats to start organizing like we should be doing all along. And, you'll be responsible for re-energizing the party at a time when democrats need all the energy they can get.
So, go for it! The one-month clock is ticking.
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Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 11:00:00 AM EST
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As I've written in the recent past, the BCDO has been hesitant (to say the least) in endorsing anyone to run for Congress against radical right winger Scott Garrett. And it wasn't too long ago that State Senator Paul Sarlo said that it was time for a change - to let a candidate from Warren or Sussex County emerge to take on Garrett.
That time is now, as Warren County resident Tod Theise has answered the call and announced his candidacy against Garrett. In his statement to the press, Thiese noted the following contrast between him and Garrett: "I don't think he represents working families in the district," Theise said. "He voted against extending unemployment benefits ... he voted for every [George W.] Bush budget."
A former Republican, Theise became an independent in the early part of the last decade and then migrated to the Democratic Party. He said his reasons for the leaving the Republicans were the spending policies and lack of Wall Street regulation under Bush.
His criticisms of Garrett are similar.
"What I find lacking is that he gives the people on Wall Street a complete and utter pass," Theise said. "He is basically bought and sold by Wall Street."
Now, I've met Tod and spoken to him numerous times over the past few months as he has been moving towards a run at Garrett. There are a few things about this candidacy that I like personally - for starters, it will be interesting to see how a non-Bergen County challenger plays out - especially in the current climate where being associated with the BCDO isn't the best of associations right around now. Additionally, I've always thought that lowering the 60%+ of the vote that Garrett routinely gets in Warren and Sussex counties is imperative - that this race cannot be won in Bergen alone. I also like the views and approach that Tod is taking on a number of issues - but this will come out over the next few months as the campaign gets under way.
Of course, this is one of the most uphill battles in general, as Garrett has never gotten less than 55% of the vote in his 4 previous races. But you never know what can happen in an election, and there has been unprecedented focus on Garrett by a number of grassroots organizations in the District (ahem....).
Garrett himself didn't have any comments on Theise's candidacy, but "FakeGarrettNJ5" on Twitter had the following to say: A challenger? I will crush him like I crush the souls of hardworking struggling families in the District.
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Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 09:50:00 AM EST
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The Burlington County Republican Freeholder Board has chosen a new administrator to manage the county's finances and workforce, but apparently he can't manage his own finances, is behind on his child support and did not inform them about prior lawsuits.
In the latest example of don't lie to the media, he initially said everything was up to date on his child support when asked, but then admitted he still owed money and was finding ways to catch up. That led the paper to his ex-wife who had this harsh observation about the man and the position: "I think it's interesting that he can get a job overseeing 2,000 employees and a budget of more than $200 million when he can't even handle paying child support on time," Johnson said Thursday. "He's just a liar. I hate to say that." Divorces can be ugly, but that's rough. The Republican Freeholder board denied a Courier Post request to get the other applicants that were in the running for the position, so the Post kept digging and found that Drayton was not forthcoming with the Freeholders about other issues he has faced including legal actions against two former employers: A judge in Burlington County last year issued a judgment of almost $200,000 against Paul Drayton Jr. and two partners for failing to repay a bank loan for their firm, Capital Consulting LLC of Mount Laurel.
And in 2005, Drayton sued a former employer in federal court, claiming racial and age bias were behind his termination a year earlier. Drayton last week had said he left his job rather than accept a transfer to Texas. The bias lawsuit was dismissed in July 2006, according to court records. This isn't the first time that Drayton has found himself making headlines in the papers. As head of the DRPA, he had an ugly split:He left in 2003 -- with a $198,000 cash severance package labeled as a settlement -- after a power struggle with Jeffrey Nash, a Camden County freeholder who was then the authority's vice chairman.
At the time, Nash called Drayton's settlement "the most blatant circumvention of DRPA policy I've ever heard of." The two Democrats on the board were critical of the selection process all along, but those criticisms have taken on a new life in light of the revelations since the hiring. Only two of the Republican freeholders conducted the final seven interviews before choosing. The Republicans have continued to defend their selection as additional news comes out daily. Even if they still believe he's the most qualified for the job, which has to be questionable at this point, what does it say about their interview process that the newspaper in four days has been able to get more than the board did throughout their "extensive search and interview process?"
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Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 10:38:06 AM EST
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This, posted early this week, is promoted by Rosi
Those of us in the medical field know that without the right diagnosis, you can't cure the real problem.
Right now, New Jersey is facing trying economic times. Our deficits are running high and most of our citizens feel overtaxed. Governor Christie was elected on this wave of economic anxiety. But this doesn't mean reducing or eliminating vital services and the people who provide those services is the right fix. In fact, it's the wrong fix for our communities and for our economy.
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Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 06:58:00 AM EST
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A not-so-gentle reminder for the political folks
Who the health care reform debate is actually about.
Scott Garrett gets a Democratic challenger
Tod Theise is in the race.
The bear people to sue the fish and game people
Claiming a violation of the Open Public Meeting Act.
Silly, trivial and for show
N.J. employees would have to pay for parking as part of Gov. Christie's privatization plan.
February snows
Both New Jersey's United States senators are asking Barack Obama to declare 8 southern NJ counties disaster areas.
New lawyers for Hal Turner
Hate blogger Turner of Bergen County, his second mistrial on charges of threatening 3 federal judges behind him, will switch out his lawyers and start fresh with new defenders if he goes to trial a third time.
State Senate confirms Bret Schundler Education Commish & James Simpson to head up Transportation.
Voting no on Schundler, Sen. John Girgenti cited Schundler's "dogmatic approach" and Sen. Nia Gill found his experience foundimg a charter school "interesting" but not "substantive".
Families are angry
Budget cuts slow effort to move mentally disabled from institutions to a place in a supervised group home, frustrating them - and their families, and in some cases costing the state more money.
Senate votes to allow transfer of Highlands development rights statewide.
Authorized a program to benefit property owners in the state's Highlands region whose property values have been limited by development restrictions.
Ground Zero workers suit is settled
For some of the thousands of rescue and cleanup workers who rushed to the scene of disaster at the World Trade Center, a settlement has been reached of up to $657.5 million. This will cover payouts to about 10,000 plaintiffs according to the severity of their illnesses and the level of their exposure to contaminants at Ground Zero.
Don't disrupt families and keep your eye on the ball
Star Ledger is cool on a bill supported by both Gov. Christie and Sen. Steve Sweeney, requiring NJ public employees to live in the state.
Christie says he's going to do what needs to be done
The governor talks budget.
Weinberg: history is going to defend Jon Corzine's legacy
Chris Christie slams Jon Corzine routinely for budget problems he pins on the former governor, and through spokesman Josh Zeitz, Corzine responds. Loretta Weinberg and Dick Codey have different opinions about whether Zeitz needs to pipe down.
GOP vows tools to cut expenses, tighter tax caps
I wonder what they mean by "tools" to control labor costs contributing to New Jerseyans' $7,300/year average property tax bill.
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Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 11:18:58 PM EST
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You probably remember how the New Jersey pension fund invested in Lehman in early 2008: Our Juan Melli thought it was a big mistake, I said "might be a bargain, who knows?" and within months New Jersey lost over a hundred million dollars as Lehman went bankrupt.
When you take that kind of gamble and lose, it's really no one else's fault, unless the leaders at Lehman who convinced the pension fund were somehow committing fraud. The New York Times reports that a new report says it was fraud and there is evidence to support a lawsuit:
But the examiner, Anton R. Valukas, also for the first time laid out what the report characterized as "materially misleading" accounting gimmicks that Lehman used to mask the perilous state of its finances...
Mr. Valukas writes in the report that "colorable claims" could be made against some former Lehman executives and Ernst & Young, meaning that enough evidence existed that could lead to the awarding of damages in a trial. He added that Lehman's directors were not aware of the accounting engineering.
By his reckoning, Lehman managed to "shed" about $39 billion from its balance sheet at the end of the fourth quarter of 2007, $49 billion in the first quarter of 2008 and $50 billion in the second quarter. At that time, Lehman sought to reassure the public that its finances were fine - despite pressure from short-sellers.
There's a lot more in the article. Obviously the money is not going to be recovered, but both for the sake of justice and to discourage future Wall Street trickery I hope New Jersey vigorously sues everyone who knew.
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Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 10:47:04 PM EST
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This really pisses me off if it's true:
GLAAD has learned from a source that wishes to remain anonymous that sponsors of the Stars on Ice Tour, which include Smuckers and IMG Entertainment, have refused to allow 3-time US National Champion and 2-time Olympian Johnny Weir to participate because they claim that he is "not family friendly."
To say that Weir is "not family friendly" would be a clear jab at his perceived sexual orientation. Weir is extremely involved with his family. He is putting his younger brother through college, and supports the family financially because his father's disability prohibits him from working. Weir's dedication to his family can be clearly documented in the Sundance series, Be Good Johnny Weir, which follows him and his family and friends through his life and career as a championship skater.
I don't know if he still lives in New Jersey or not, but Weir should know he has lots of fans here, gay and straight, male and female. (Hattip: I saw the story at Dailykos.)
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Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 04:54:01 PM EST
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Last night, Ed Potosnak won the endorsement of the Union County Democrats in his bid to be the Democratic nominee in NJ-7, and the chance to oppose Rep. Leonard Lance in his first re-election campaign.
And Zenon Christodoulou ended his bid for the nomination last night, swinging his support to Potosnak. Union County Dems' decision marks the second county party endorsement Potosnak won, after he took the Hunterdon County Democratic Committee's endorsement almost two weeks ago.
The other counties comprising NJ-7 are Middlesex (with only part of Edison, part of Woodbridge Twp, and South Plainfield in the District) and Somerset, mostly in NJ-7. The fact that not only Potosnak, but Christodoulou hail from Somerset County is important. The Obama surge in late 2008 flipped the historically Republican county to majority Democrat. If there are opportunities in this uphill race, they may come there.
Hunterdon County saw its number of Democrats nearly double from 2005-2009, but the total still hovers under 18,000. And Lance, a lifetime resident from a political legacy family, will count on Hunterdon - which delivered the highest percentage victory for Christie 4 months ago - as base support. Middlesex and Union are Democratic.
Somerset's in flux. Potosnak has roots there. He was a chemistry teacher at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional HS, then won an Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship which took him to work as an aide for DNC Vice-Chair Rep. Mike Honda on education policy, among other issues. He was born and raised in New Jersey, was an adjunct professor at his alma mater Rutgers, and now lives in North Plainfield.
Christodoulou is in a great position to be a key player in Potosnak's race. Christodoulou is Vice-Chair of the Somerset Democratic Committee, and under Chair Peg Schaffer, the Somerset organization has been building much needed infrastructure. And both Christodoulou and Schaffer are members of a bunch of Democrats known as "The Group," who raise big money for Democratic candidates, and recently tried to clear the field for Hillary Clinton. At Blue Jersey, we have often been critical of "The Group" but they sure as hell get their calls answered. Christodoulou can be a key player in attracting financial support for a NJ-7 Democrat, if he makes the choice to be. I called Zenon today to tell him I hope he does.
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Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 03:30:00 PM EST
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As the days of Republicans obstructing legislation in the Senate continue to pass, momentum has built to change the rules of the filibuster. Talking Points memo has a story up talking about how Harry Reid is suggesting it's time to make a change and our Senator had this take:Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) added in his remarks that Democrats need to "crystallize" obstruction and showcase incidents like the Bunning blockade to highlight the real effects parliamentary tactics have on voters. At the very least if they don't change the rules, they should make Republicans actually stand up and filibuster. Not play the games that they are. And Democrats need to clearly spell out what is going like the Senator says, because they can't continue to lose the messaging battle and expect to win at the ballot box. I would hope Senator Menendez, in his role leading the DSCC can push other members to make sure they are highlighting the obstruction on a more regular basis until permanent changes are made.
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