New Jersey
updated
9:29 p.m.
If you watch only one Blue Jersey video on the marriage equality debate, this is the one to watch. This video presents the testimony of three generations of the Galluccio Family. Adolph, the grandfather, has four children. Three of them are straight and one is gay. Adolph's son Michael and Michael's husband Jon have been in a long term relationship and are one of the first set of gay parents in Ne...
Blue Jersey - 6:21 p.m.
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora is one of the sponsors of A1, the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption bill. Here is his testimony from yesterday's hearing at the Assembly Judiciary Committee. His remarks completely negate the arguments of the opponents of marriage equality. ...
Blue Jersey - 2:08 p.m.
The first person giving testimony at yesterday's Assembly Judiciary Committee hearings on marriage equality was Speaker Sheila Oliver. If the results of the last civil rights referendum in New Jersey were allowed to stand, she would not today have the right to vote, let alone run the lower house of the legislature. ...
Blue Jersey - 12:48 p.m. - 7 clicks 
Newark West Ward councilman Ron C. Rice makes it official with the release of the video below on his website , issuing a primary challenge to Rep. Donald Payne - first African-American ever elected to Congress from New Jersey - for the seat that's been his since 1989. Payne is 77. Our Congress is broken. We need new ideas and new leadership to finally tackle age-old problems that have persis...
Blue Jersey - 10:20 a.m. - 7 clicks
Only Blue Jersey has gavel-to-gavel video coverage of yesterday's marriage equality hearings at the Assembly Judiciary Committee. I'll be editing and uploading the more relevant material over the next few days. Some will be frontpaged, some will appear on the sidebar, so be sure to check there, too. I felt like a witness to history, and someday I'll be able to tell my grandson that Grampa was the...
Blue Jersey - 8:24 a.m.
Let's support the vets - promoted by Rosi Governor Chris Christie called for the NJ Giants to have a parade in New Jersey in the event of a Super Bowl victory on Sunday. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America are asking, If the NJ Giants deserve a parade, how about our Iraq War vets? Sign the petition here . ...
Blue Jersey - 6:49 a.m. - 10 clicks
Here's a little good news that should brighten your weekend from the New York Times . The U.S. Economy Added 243,000 Jobs in January; Unemployment Dips to 8.3% The United States economy gained momentum in January, adding 243,000 jobs, the second straight month of better-than-expected gains, the Labor Department reported on Friday. The unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent. The promising jobs n...
MiddletownMike - 6:05 a.m.
Fortunately, former Monmouth County Freeholder Amy Mallet is still on the job as a outspoken member of the public. The Middletown Patch reported on 1/31/12 that this year’s all-GOP Freeholder Board voted unanimously last week to loosen the County’s pay-to-play rules, and Amy was there to call them on it! In a vote on Jan. 26th, the Board chose to abandon the tougher County pay-to-play ru...
MiddletownMike - 6:05 a.m. - 7 clicks
Christie endorsement brought Romney big NJ bucks Governor who says "The rich are already paying their fair share" endorses candidate who says he's "not very concerned about the very poor" and that's going to look good to NJ's wealthiest Republicans. After 7 hours of testimony, Assembly Judiciary votes 5-2 - party-line vote - to send marriage equality bill to the full Assembly Read ...
Blue Jersey - 4:46 a.m.
Once upon a time, a Prince asked a beautiful Princess, "Will you marry me?" The Princess said, No!!! And the Prince lived happily ever after and rode motorcycles and dated skinny long-legged big-boobed broads and hunted and fished and raced cars and went to strip bars and dated women half his age and drank whiskey, beer and Captain Morgan and never heard bitching and never paid child support or...
MiddletownMike - 3:08 a.m.
It's been a long, long day. And this post, as noted, isn't strictly political, but it sure is New Jersey. And it's cool as hell - promoted by Rosi Let's take a break from politics. The New York Public Library's "Stereogranimator" creates 3-D effects from 19th century stereographs converted into animated gifs. I find them fascinating. Here's a bridge at Passaic Falls, Paterson, New Jersey ab...
Blue Jersey - Thu 8:21 p.m. - 10 clicks
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 2, 2012 First Responders to Receive Funds for Improved Equipment and Training Opportunities WASHINGTON D.C.—Today, Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06) announced the Atlantic Highlands First Aid and Safety Squad will be awarded a $13,381 grant under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. “Thanks ...
MiddletownMike - Thu 7:00 p.m. - 11 clicks
promoted by Rosi It's Groundhog Day, again in Trenton. And this year is no different as the news media eagerly awaited whether Governor Chris Christie would see his shadow, as he emerged from the State House. "This is a very exciting time of year. The Occupy Trenton folks have made it through a cold winter. The State Street lobbyists are in full bloom,"'observed Jeff Tittel, Executive Directo...
Blue Jersey - Thu 5:23 p.m. - 8 clicks
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 2, 2012 Senator Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) released the following statement in response to Governor Chris Christie’s latest "YouTube" town hall moment during which he called bills passed at the end of the legislative session a "pile of crap": “Governor Christie talks about the need for a competitive business environment and job creation in New Jersey, bu...
MiddletownMike - Thu 1:08 p.m. - 11 clicks
UPDATE 7:25: Full Assembly will take A-1 up Feb. 16. UPDATE 5:10pm: After nearly 7 hours of testimony, the Assembly Judiciary Committee voted 5-2 to send A-1 to the full Assembly for consideration. The vote: YES: Johnson, Gusciora, Caputo, Quijano, Barnes. NO: Carroll, Schepisi. Straight party-line vote. Garden State Equality's Steven Goldstein in a rare moment of calm If this post l...
Blue Jersey - Thu 7:27 a.m.
Written by Middletown Township Police Department Wednesday, 1 February 2012 -Arrests do not indicate convictions On January 31, 2012 Detectives Laurence Schachtel, Adam Finck and William Strohkirch arrested Christopher Martin, age 26, from West Washington Avenue in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, and Trevor Pituk, age 23, from Center Avenue in Leonardo, NJ, for committing an armed robbery that took...
MiddletownMike - Wed 2:49 p.m. - 13 clicks
While campaigning for Township Committee back in 2006, then Democratic Candidate Patrick Short sent a letter to Mayor Tom Hall and the rest of the Middletown Township Committee expressing his concerns over the inappropriate public contract that was handed to Sodon Electric Inc. and it's owner Republican candidate for Township Committee Tim Sodon. In his letter that you can read below, Short...
MiddletownMike - Wed 9:24 a.m. - 10 clicks
According to tonights article posted online at the Asbury Park Press, Middletown mayor wants library chief to resign for selling his own books to library , board treasurer Sherry Miloscia has resigned her position as Treasurer of the Middletown Library. According to the APP, Miloscia resigned shortly after Tony Fiore sent his letter of wrong doing to the library board accusing Board Presi...
MiddletownMike - Tue 8:08 p.m. - 13 clicks
When Middletown helps its own, it's not in reference to helping needy families get through the holidays. It's in reference to taking care of those most politically connected to the local Republican Party. Tim Sodon, who was a candidate for Township Committee in 2007 but lost the election to Patrick Short, has for the past few of years been a member of the Middletown Planning Board . Sodon ...
MiddletownMike - Tue 11:26 a.m. - 16 clicks
Middletown's acting Mayor Tony Fiore has asked the President of the Middletown Library Board to resign his position as Board President according to an article posted on Middletown-Patch this morning. According to Middletown-Patch, a letter was sent to Library Board President Randal Gabrielan last Wednesday requesting his resignation for questionable inappropriate and unethical behavior...
MiddletownMike - Tue 10:24 a.m. - 14 clicks
Here is another edition of the It's Your Town newsletter , it covers the January 17th, 2012 Middletown Township Committee meeting. As readers of the blog know from listening to audio clips posted last week, this meeting was very eventful. A a late notice stating that the Township will not open the Swim & Tennis Club this year was posted to the Township's website on Friday 13th, hea...
MiddletownMike - Mon 3:09 p.m. - 12 clicks
By Ben Silverman | Plugged In @ Yahoo Games The New England Patriots might be the odds-on favorite to win Super Bowl XLVI, but the New York Giants have proven an uncanny knack for making odds-makers look ridiculous. And according to Madden, they're about to do it again. EA Sports has simulated Sunday's Big Game in Madden NFL 12 on the Xbox 360, and in another insane playoff nail-biter, the Gi...
MiddletownMike - Mon 12:42 p.m.
Media Matters has a terrific post about the myth that tax cuts generate revenues and that bigger tax cuts generate larger revenues. Media Matters shows how these claims are debunked by not only by those on the Left, like Paul Krugman but also by those on the Right, who actually proposed the claim and sold it to Ronald Reagan and George w. Bush. Martin Feldstein, a Harvard economist who ...
MiddletownMike - Sun 9:05 a.m.
January 25th, 2012, by Jon Whiten Published in NJPP Blog: As a Matter of Fact ... While it’s a well-worn cliché that “nobody likes to pay taxes,” one question isn’t asked often enough: what do those taxes pay for? According to a new national study, they pay for a higher quality of life for our children. Investing in Public Programs Matters: How State Policies Impact C...
MiddletownMike - Sun 8:07 a.m.
WASHINGTON, DC— In his weekly address, President Obama discusses the blueprint he put forward this week in the State of the Union Address for creating an economy built to last. After focusing on American manufacturing, American energy, and skills for American workers during each of the last three days, he used his weekly address to highlight his commitment to a renewal of American values. The Pr...
MiddletownMike - Sat 4:20 a.m.
Written by Middletown Township Police Department Friday, 27 January 2012 -Arrests do not indicate convictions Alexander Haegney, age 18, from Clay Court in Navesink, NJ, arrested on January 24, 2012 by Patrolman Brian McGrogan for Possession of under 50 Grams of Marijuana. He was released pending a court date. Justin Grover, age 19, from Washington Avenue in Leonardo, NJ, arrested on Janua...
MiddletownMike - Jan 27 - 13 clicks
Dog License Renewal Reminder Please be aware that all dog license renewals are due (with rabies vaccination that is valid until October or later) by January 31, 2012. Any renewals received in the office on February 1, 2012 or sent in with a post mark of February 1, 2012 or later will incur a $5.00 late fee. - Application Seasonal Job Expo Coming Feb 4 Middletown's ...
MiddletownMike - Jan 27 - 10 clicks
Princess the Camel is all over the news today, it seem that the only time anyone pays much attention to her is when she is making a Super Bowl prediction that involves our beloved NY Giants, which is not the case here. I've been covering Princess and her picks all season long on this blog! As you all know Princess has an outstanding record this season that currently stands at 14-6. Myself and...
MiddletownMike - Jan 27
It's nice to see that one of our locally elected officials is hard at work at the job he was appointed to by our "Rockstar" governor. For a hint at who that individual might be, take a look at the email address below. Keep up the good work there Scharfy! The Monmouth County Planning Board, under the chairmanship of Vincent Domidion, will discuss the Proposed final d...
MiddletownMike - Jan 27 - 20 clicks
Kevin Penton of the Asbury Park Press had a small article posted online last night about the future of Middletown's Department of Parks and Recreation . The article didn't contain anything that we didn't already know about how the department will be restructured. Middletown's Department of Public Works headed by Ted Maloney, will take over the maintance of the township's parks and Janet Adams,...
MiddletownMike - Jan 25
In case you missed it, the NJ Legislature recently passed legislation (Bill A4394) that allows school board elections to be moved to the general election in November. The new law also stipulates that the school budget does not need to be approved by the public if the budget increase is within the 2% cap. However, referendums and supplemental budget items would still require public approval. A...
MiddletownMike - Jan 24
Written by Middletown Township Police Department Tuesday, 17 January 2012 -Arrests do not indicate convictions Thomas Burgos, age 24, from Piave Avenue in Staten Island, NY, arrested on January 20, 2012 by Patrolman Richard Fulham on Contempt of Court warrants issued by the Middletown and Parsippany Municipal Courts. He was held on $1,215.00 bail. Christopher Hartman, age 26, from Fairview ...
MiddletownMike - Jan 24 - 3 clicks
By guest blogger Linda Baum Last Wednesday’s Library Board meeting (1/18/12) started at 7:00 p.m. and ran over four and a half hours. This was the first meeting of the new 9-member Board, five of whom are new appointees. Sixteen members of the public attended the meeting, in whole or in part, and it was a veritable “who’s who” of the Republican Party. Among others, there were Committeeman an...
MiddletownMike - Jan 24 - 3 clicks
There were no flashing lights or red flags that let 4,000 women across this country know that cervical cancer was coming. Most of these women – mothers, sisters, daughters, and aunts – felt no pain and lived normally unaware of the disease that in a matter of time would take their lives. Most of these women – the majority of whom were under the age of 65 – are survived by friends and family, nei...
MiddletownMike - Jan 23
