New Jersey
updated
6:49 a.m.
Zack Fink has a story about Lou Manzo , who has announced he will hold a press conference next week to accuse federal prosecutors of misconduct in building a case against him. Toward the end of Fink's story, which he titled "Jack Shaw's last words," he has this exchange that occured after Manzo and Jersey City Political consultant were waiting in jail: When asked about the nature of the interro...
Blue Jersey - Sat 5:02 p.m. - 4 clicks 
In the leaked DCCC (Chris Van Hollen) memo I posted earlier today there's a mention of Slide #14. Time's Swampland Blog has posted the PowerPoint in question ( link to .ppt file ), a 14-slide presentation of "Talking Points on Health Reform. Here's Slide #14 on immediate benefits of reform: I've taken enough shots here at how the new health insurance exchanges don't start until years fro...
Blue Jersey - Sat 4:22 p.m.
Very courious development in the issue over the Lincroft Sports Complex, CMX Engineering, the firm that Middeltown hired to do the engineeering work and develope bidding specs for the turf field projects at West Front Street Park in Lincroft and Croydon Hall in Belford is going out of business as of May 11th this year and it has left many that oppose the field project scratching their heads. ...
MiddletownMike - Sat 2:08 p.m.
Youtube user ctrimarchi has just posted a fragment of John Adler townhall which is labeled as being from March 13 in Toms River. He is facing a crowd that sounds hostile to health care reform. An audience member asks him about the Senate health care reform bill, correctly pointing out that if the bill is approved by the House it can be signed by the President and become law. There's no need f...
Blue Jersey - Sat 11:01 a.m.
Redistricting is increasingly in the news. Next week we should begin receiving the 2010 Census forms that ultimately may lead to New Jersey dropping to only 12 seats in the House of Representatives. 2010 elections of governors and legislatures in many states will decide who controls redistricting, and as Blue Jersey user tabbycat31 just reminded us, "He who controls redistricting can control Con...
Blue Jersey - Sat 11:01 a.m. - 3 clicks
The financial system continues to work through the difficulties and many smaller banks just haven't been able to survive: Park Avenue Bank had $520.1 million in assets and $494.5 million in deposits as of Dec. 31. The FDIC said the bank's deposits will be assumed by Valley National Bank, based in Wayne, N.J. Valley National agreed to pay a small premium to assume all of the deposits. It also a...
Blue Jersey - Sat 8:42 a.m. - 3 clicks
Aww Maw.... It's raining out today, just pass me the porridge and make it hot because I have some cartoons to catch up on! ...
MiddletownMike - Sat 7:44 a.m.
The President discusses his blueprint for an updated Elementary and Secondary Education Act to overhaul No Child Left Behind, the latest step from his Administration to encourage change and success in America’s schools at the local level. ...
MiddletownMike - Sat 5:49 a.m.
The latest news on Sharif Mobley , the 26 year old American from New Jersey who is accused of being an Al-Qaeda terrorist by Yemen, is that from 2002-2008 he worked at a number of nuclear plants, including Salem-Hope Creek, New Jersey. CNN quotes an anonymous source: Another source, a U.S. law enforcement official familiar with the case, said authorities have been aware of Mobley for some time....
Blue Jersey - Fri 6:07 p.m. - 3 clicks
Marc Ambinder of The Atlantic has a major story on Republican Senate candidates and Birtherism : Et tu, Rob Portman? Ye of sensibility and rectitude? Ye of maturity and political resolve? Despite inquires from the Cincinnati Enquirer and Plain Dealer, Portman's campaign won't directly answer the question of whether the candidate believes that President Obama is a citizen. (Obama is.) So n...
Blue Jersey - Fri 3:40 p.m. - 5 clicks
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...
Blue Jersey - Fri 12:40 p.m. - 2 clicks
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 pu...
Blue Jersey - Fri 9:20 a.m. - 4 clicks
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 T...
Blue Jersey - Fri 8:21 a.m. - 3 clicks
So what's the latest news swirling around the proposed Lincroft Sports Complex? In each of this weeks editions of the Independent and the Two River Times are articles dedicated to the happens at the most recent Middletown Workshop Meeting that took place on March 1st. Both articles are well written and represents what took place pretty well. The Independent focus was on the on going negotiati...
MiddletownMike - Fri 6:26 a.m. - 3 clicks
Jon Steward discusses Glenn Beck's interview with Eric Massa and learns that it wasn't a total waste of time -- he got a new sign-off phrase! The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c Sour Gropes www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Reform ...
MiddletownMike - Thu 5:01 p.m.
From Kevin Drum @ Mother Jones Rep. Paul Ryan's tax and spending "roadmap" is a fascinating critter: conservatives all praise it to the skies but none of them want to actually commit to supporting it. The reason for their hesitation is obvious: Ryan's plan would cut spending dramatically, and supporting it would mean having to explain what, exactly, they'd cut. That would be electoral su...
MiddletownMike - Thu 3:59 p.m.
Vincent Solomeno, Candidate For Monmouth County Freeholder, attended the March 9th 2010 public hearing on the proposed Monmouth County Budget at the Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library in Shrewsbury. Solomeno read into the record the following statement as to why he opposes the proposed budget that the Freeholders have offer-up. The statement can also be found at his facebook ...
MiddletownMike - Thu 8:23 a.m. - 3 clicks
I received this from Rev. Petero Sabune, the Protestant pastor at Sing-Sing Prison and the leader of Pax Christi NJ’s most recent retreat, regarding an upcoming action we are planning for the people who are being detained for immigration violations in the Hudson County Jail. But it was so meaningful and beautiful that I wanted to share it with you. This is for all of you who have stood alone ...
Pax Christi Summit - Thu 6:46 a.m.
Has anyone noticed the signs popping up all over Middletown like the one posted to the right? The signs are from a group calling themselves the Middeltown Budget Awareness Committee. I wasn't familiar with this group until I saw these signs spring up along the roadside and decided to ask around to see if anyone could enlighten me. I was informed by a friend who just happens to kn...
MiddletownMike - Wed 3:26 p.m. - 8 clicks
At last week's March 4th "Community Forum on State Aid Cuts" held by the Middeltown Board of Education, School Board President Laura Agin read the following statement. The statement was frank, to the point and said exactly what many need to say and what others need to hear: "On behalf of the Middletown Board of Education, I would like to tell you all: We Get It. We understand New Jersey's fisca...
MiddletownMike - Wed 10:03 a.m. - 8 clicks
Back on Reorganization day in January, one of the many things that Gerry Scharfenberger addressed during is speech after being re-appointed as Mayor of Middeltown, was the upcoming budget process. He told the crowd in attendance that the Township was facing a huge budget shortfall of nearly $7 million but not to worry because there was a plan on how to deal with it. He state that even th...
MiddletownMike - Wed 9:26 a.m. - 3 clicks
It has come to my attention that on Thursday, March 4, 2010 a meeting took place between representatives of the League of Municipalities, the Department of Community Affairs, the Division of Local Government Services and various Business Administrators and CFOs of local governments at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. The primary speakers were Marc Pfieffer, Department of Community Affairs, Ti...
MiddletownMike - Wed 8:40 a.m. - 3 clicks
During last week's Middletown Board Of Education public forum on how the Christie budget cuts will effect the upcoming school budget, Governor Christies' personal confidant, buddy and Middeltown resident NJ State Senator Joe Kyrillos, made a rather striking comment when answering a question. " ...That's right, the kids are paying a price, the taxpayer is paying a price, society is paying t...
MiddletownMike - Wed 8:08 a.m. - 5 clicks
What happened to Homestar Runner ? The site hasn't been updated since December, and there wasn't even a Decemberween cartoon this year. I couldn't find any news, either. Anyone know? ...
The Center of NJ Life - Tue 8:07 a.m.
The latest issue of "It's Your Town" Newsletter is now available and believe it or not, it's the largest yet at 22 pages! This issue details the happenings at the March 1st Middletown Township Workshop Meeting. Due the size of the crowd in attendance the Mayor moved the meeting to the courtroom to accommodate the large number of people that showed up to express their mostly displeasure with t...
MiddletownMike - Mon 8:00 p.m. - 6 clicks
This is one more set of facts showing that New Jersey is not a high tax state as assumed by many: New Jersey's sales tax is the state's second largest revenue source, raising over $8 billion a year. New Jersey is 32nd nationwide for sales tax collections per capita. New Jersey's 7 percent state sales tax rate is 31st in the nation. New Jersey's local governments are not allowed by law to ...
MiddletownMike - Mon 6:27 p.m. - 6 clicks
Posted from Common Dreams.org by Michael Moore Dear President Obama, I understand you may be looking to replace Rahm Emanuel as your chief of staff. I would like to humbly offer myself, yours truly, as his replacement. I will come to D.C. and clean up the mess that's been created around you. I will work for $1 a year. I will help the Dems on Capitol Hill find their spines and I w...
MiddletownMike - Sun 8:49 a.m. - 2 clicks
Who needs spuds when you can breakout the Lucky Charms, all we need is a little pot filled with gold to pay for it. ...
MiddletownMike - Mar 6
In this week’s address, President Obama describes how American families will have more control over their health care this year, after health reform passes. Here are a few more points about how health insurance reform measures will benefit Americans this year: Hold Insurance Companies Accountable: Eliminate lifetime limits and restrictive annual limits on benefits in all new plans;...
MiddletownMike - Mar 6 - 3 clicks
Vincent Solomeno, Democratic Candidate for Monmouth County Freeholder, sent me the following note attacked with a video from a pancake breakfast fundraiser that he held last Saturday. He asked me if I would post it here on the blog and I was more than happy to do so. Since deciding to run for Monmouth County Freeholder, I’ve visited with elected officials, party leaders, and private citizen...
MiddletownMike - Mar 5 - 7 clicks
President Obama calls on supporters to help finish the fight for health reform. Giving Peace of Mind Back to the American People Posted by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on March 04, 2010 at 05:53 PM EST The urgency of health reform couldn’t be more clear. Across the country, working families have been saddled with huge rate increase in their health insurance premiums. In California, ...
MiddletownMike - Mar 5
I wasn't able to attend last night's community forum that was presented by the Middletown Board of Education to discuss the effects that planned State budget cuts will have on the school district because I had to work last night. I was pleasantly surprise though to see that the Asbury Park Press wasted no time in posting the below article last night after the meeting. I want to commend the Boar...
MiddletownMike - Mar 5 - 6 clicks
I never put much thought into the validity of various conspiracy theories; for the most part these theories are generally not based on facts or have only a loose affiliation with them. One such theory has recently developed around the controversial Lincroft Sports Complex issue thanks to members of the River Plaza/Lincroft Chargers Pop Warner football organization. The theory revolves aroun...
MiddletownMike - Mar 5
The following letter was sent to me by Lincroft resident Barbara Thorpe who wishes to express her opinion on how irresponsible the Republican majority is when it comes to managing the Townships finances: The Republican majority of Middletown's Township Committee is financially irresponsible.. big time. They exhibit insensitivity to current economic conditions as they relentlessly pursue the in...
MiddletownMike - Mar 4 - 4 clicks
Pax Christi NJ's annual assembly is shaping up nicely. So far over 50 people have RSVP'd and the final details are all coming together. Schedule 1:00 PM Welcome - Fr. Tom Sheridan Prayer & Reflection – Fr. Jack Martin – co-founder Haiti Solidarity Network of the Northeast Haitian Choir of St. Patrick’s Church, Jersey City, NJ 1:30 “When I think of Haiti…” small group sharing and activity – Geo...
Pax Christi Summit - Mar 3 - 4 clicks
The following letter was presented to the Mayor and the Township committee at Monday nights Workshop meeting. The letter was written by SONIC (Save Our Neighborhood's Integrity & Character) member Jeff Blumengold. It questions why a letter to the Middletown Board of Education was not written expressing a desire to reopen negotiations between the Township and the Board of Ed. concerning the use of...
MiddletownMike - Mar 3 - 3 clicks
The issue of the proposed Lincroft Sports Complex has become a ticking time bomb that is getting closer to detonation and based on the outcome of this past Monday nights' Workshop meeting in Middletown, the Township committee did nothing to defuse the situation in he minds of many who attended. I arrived late to the meeting Monday night because I attended the wake of a dear family friend. When I...
MiddletownMike - Mar 3 - 2 clicks
On February 23, 2010 the Central Falls, Rhode Island school trustees fired over 90 teachers, the entire teaching staff. The decision was done supposedly because of declining test scores. Central Falls is near Providence, the smallest city in the state and also the poorest. In the greatest jobs crises since the Great Depression the city put out of work the entire school. In all 93 people were...
the subversive garden - Mar 3
I received news a short while ago that Judith Stanley-Coleman, President of the Visiting Nurses Association Of Central NJ and long time Chairwoman of the Middletown Planning Board, suffered a stroke last week. The news of Stanley-Coleman's stroke came from Middeltown Democratic Chairman Joe Caliendo. Mr. Caliendo did not know the severity of Mrs. Stanley-Coleman's stroke or what her current ...
MiddletownMike - Mar 2 - 11 clicks
This year's film class (as opposed to last year) was so viably good I needed to include a 2+ category and thought an extra two films deserved acclaim. Last year I could have done a top five and ended it at that. Not this year. The films were plentiful, full of wonder in some cases. I think film, in the end represents the times in which we live and at their best hold a mirror up to us. These 12 fil...
the subversive garden - Mar 1
Far be it from me to be quoting CNN for a study, but I found this and thought it quite interesting. Political, religious and sexual behaviors may be reflections of intelligence . Now, this isn't news to us, the northeast, liberal, elitist, commie, terror loving, gay bastards. The study finds, however on average that people who identified as liberal and atheist had higher IQ's . And men (not...
the subversive garden - Mar 1 - 2 clicks
I have long tried to argue the merits of not enacting Medical Malpractice reform the way the nasty Republicans want to do it. They act like it is a savior to our system when what it is - is actually a giveaway to Doctors and hospitals who screw up. Dick Durbin makes the case dramatically and beautifully. ...
the subversive garden - Feb 26 - 2 clicks
"Until [Haiti] spoke no Christian nation had given to the world an organized effort to abolish slavery. Until she spoke, the slave trade was sanctioned by all the Christian nations of the world, and our land of liberty and light included." From Lecture on Haiti The Haitian Pavilion Dedication Ceremonies Delivered at the World's Fair, in Jackson Park, Chicago. By the Hon. Frederick Douglass, E...
Pax Christi Summit - Feb 24
An interesting article on Washington Monthly this morning (that I found on Firedoglake ) is asking where did all the jobs go? Many believe that unemployment is the greatest threat to our economy and that job growth will be weak for up to a decade. Job growth fell off at the end of the Bush administration and now is non-existent. Why? Why are there no jobs to be created? This Washington M...
the subversive garden - Feb 22
So, when Republicans say the stimulus didn't work, what the f are they talking about? This is pretty obvious. It is true, the stimulus should have been bigger, should have focused on infrastructure more, re-building a green economy and our transportation system. But, to say this thing didn't create one job defies credibility. And then these morons actually take credit for it, when it suit...
the subversive garden - Feb 17
