Assembly panel approves ban on credit card direct marketing on college campuses
Assembly does nothing about warning students about similar risks with student loans
Credit card companies are “preying” on college students, according to some members of the state Assembly.
Under a bill advanced unanimously by the Assembly higher education committee today, state colleges and universities would be barred from allowing credit card companies to promote their products directly to students on campus.
“This bill would protect many unsuspecting college students from the predatory practices often employed by credit card companies,” Assemblywoman Celeste Riley, D-Cumberland, one of the bill’s sponsors, said in a statement. “College students are often unaware of the consequences of bad credit and many more don’t realize the exorbitant interest rates they’re charged.” (Linhorst, The Record)
“This bill will permit local officials to make sure taxpayers don’t get ‘Snook’-ered”
Bill would let towns regulate reality TV shows
As if “Jim” McGreevey didn’t make New Jersey dumb enough ?
A bill introduced Monday would give towns where are filmed more control over the Situation. (Not to mention Snooki and JWoww, too.)
Assemblyman Ronald Dancer (R., Ocean) introduced the legislation for the “Snookiville Law,” which would let towns license and regulate the filming of reality shows and impose conditions, including requiring crews to pay for additional police officers.
Dancer said in a statement that New Jersey has a tradition of being a desirable setting for reality shows such as Jersey Shore, The Real Housewives of New Jersey, and Cake Boss.
“These shows can attract crowds, which can benefit local businesses and challenge a community’s resources,” said Dancer, whose district includes parts of Ocean, Burlington, Middlesex and Monmouth Counties. “This bill will permit local officials to make sure taxpayers don’t get ‘Snook’-ered or public safety is compromised when reality stars such as Snooki or JWoww come to town.” (Parry, Associated Press)
Ridgewood Firefighters Quickly Knock Down Stubborn Kitchen Fire
September 26,2012
Boyd A. Loving
12:28 PM
Ridgewood NJ, A stubborn 3-alarm kitchen fire at a single family Cape Cod style home in the 600 block of Grove Street was quickly knocked down by Ridgewood firefighters shortly after 10:30 AM on Wednesday. Although the home was occupied at the time, all residents escaped safely and no injuries to emergency responders were reported. However, a Ridgewood ambulance responding to the scene was involved in a minor motor vehicle accident that caused damage to its rear bumper. Paramus PD assisted Ridgewood PD with traffic control; Glen Rock EMS also responded to the scene.
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving
Ridgewood Police Department Lieutenant William Amoruso (white shirt) comforts an occupant of the home (woman with no shoes) who had safely escaped the fire.
With surging NJ unemployment and lagging personnel income growth NJ State Senate President Stephen Sweeney wants to ban NFL games with replacement refs
Monday morning quarterback?
EDITORS NOTE: Delays in the state senate and assembly have stalled tax-reform for 79 days, ethics reform for 742 days , ending sick leave payouts 650 days and action on property tax cap loopholes 128 days .
Sick of the replacement referees in the NFL this season? So is one powerful New Jersey legislator, who wants to put an end to indecisiveness, missed calls, and other cringe-worthy officiating – at least at Giants and Jets games.
State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester) said Tuesday that he planned to introduce a bill banning professional sports events in New Jersey if they are officiated by fill-ins.
Replacement officials have been working games since the beginning of the season when the league locked out its referees because they resisted pension changes.
Sweeney said his motivation isn’t that he is a fan of the Green Bay Packers, who lost in the last seconds Monday when the Seattle Seahawks scored a touchdown that appeared to be an interception. (Katz, Tamari and Farrell, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Giants spokesman balks at Sen. Sweeney’s move to block replacement refs in N.J.
A Giants spokesman said the organization welcomes Senate President Stephen Sweeney’s interest in football, but suggested that his idea of banning replacement referees from working in New Jersey may be a step too far.
“We appreciate Senator Sweeney’s interest in our game, but officiating controversies have always been part of sports,” Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon said. “Our league office staff, including Commissioner Goodell, has been in negotiations with the referees union for the past week. We hope to reach an agreement as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the league and the clubs are committed to do all we can to help the current officials improve and we are confident they will do so. Our position against expanded legalized gambling has not changed.” (Renshaw, The Star-Ledger)
Income growth in N.J. lagging behind most of country
EDITORS NOTE: Delays in the state senate and assembly have stalled tax-reform for 79 days, ethics reform for 742 days , ending sick leave payouts 650 days and action on property tax cap loopholes 128 days .
New Jerseyans made more money in the second quarter of the year than in the first, but the 0.8 percent jump in personal income was one of the smallest in the country, according to federal estimates released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis today.
Income growth clocked in at 45th of the 50 states, a sign that the nascent economic recovery in the Garden State is losing some steam while other states are gaining ground. In the first quarter, New Jersey’s 1.8 percent income spike was the 18th largest of all the states.
Personal income is a leading economic barometer that tallies wages and any earnings from rental properties, stocks and interest. Another key indicator, the state’s unemployment rate, has been rising this year and hit 9.9 percent in August. (Rizzo, The Star-Ledger)
NJ Schools Cutting Back On Homework
By: Stacy Proebstle
Are kids getting too much homework these days? A new study by NJ Monthly magazine finds that some New Jersey towns are cutting back and trying new ideas to reduce stress.
Schools across the state are looking to change their approach to homework.
According to NJ Monthly, Galloway Township has banned written assignments on weekends, Ridgewood High introduced a homework free holiday break and Sleep In Wednesday, where kids can come to school an hour later than normal and teachers in Red Oaks in Morristown have the freedom to choose what assignments their students get based on the kids’ capabilities.
Rutgers psychology professor Maurice Elias talked to parents in a number of schools that are navigating away from traditional homework.
“Parents in many cases are working two jobs, both full-time, kids are involved in activities like sports, dance, and there is just not enough hours in the day for students to be doing 5 or 6 hours of homework after being at school all day.”
Ridgewood council selects a Graydon ramp design option
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2012, 1:36 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Presented with three different options for the first time in 18 months, the Village Council has penciled in its choice for a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant concrete ramp at Graydon Pool.
The village professional staff expects to present formal details, including cross-section drawings and renderings, at the Oct. 3 work session. If all goes according to schedule, officials believe they can have the ramp installed and ready for use by pool patrons in time for the 2013 swimming season.
Months of criticism and debate – mostly among the governing body, members of the public and longtime pool users – over the ramp’s initial design that was presented in 2011 finally slowed after last week’s site visit by ADA expert Jennifer Perry.
A compliance specialist with the United Spinal Association, Perry was retained by the village at an hourly rate of $150 on the advisement of Preserve Graydon Coalition Co-Chair Marcia Ringel. Speaking at previous council meetings, Ringel had said the original ramp plan was never “evaluated in the way that the ADA requires.”
Perry’s evaluation of Ridgewood’s historic swimming facility, which was conducted last week with members of the village recreation and engineering departments, spawned three new ramp proposals by village staff.
According to Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser, Perry was “very helpful and educational,” and her advice was considered when he drew up the new plans. He added that the engineering staff submitted their three designs to Perry, who offered favorable comments on each.
At Wednesday’s council work session, Rutishauser presented the new ramp proposals to the governing body. Though council members identified positives and negatives for each, they ultimately selected one that they believe will benefit Graydon patrons.
Romney Urges More Reliance on Free Enterprise to Aid Nations
By John McCormick – Sep 25, 2012 9:43 AM ET
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney today urged more accountability for U.S. aid to other nations and greater reliance on free enterprise to lift the world’s poor toward prosperity.
“The aim of a much larger share of our aid must be the promotion of work and the fostering of free enterprise,” he said in a speech at the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York. “Nothing we can do as a nation will change lives and nations more effectively and permanently than sharing the insight that lies at the foundation of America’s own economy– and that is that free people pursuing happiness in their own ways build a strong and prosperous nation.”
The appearance marked a moment of bipartisanship, considering that the event is hosted by former President Bill Clinton, one of the top prosecutors against Romney at the Democratic National Convention and someone aggressively campaigning for President Barack Obama’s re-election.
Port Authority rating cut one level by Moody’s on debt load
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s credit rating was cut one level by Moody’s Investors Service, which said the agency needs $2 billion in additional funds through 2016, primarily for the World Trade Center, and faces “significant growth” in capital needs.
Moody’s lowered the ratings for the agency that runs the New York City region’s three major airports, two Hudson River tunnels, four bridges and six marine-cargo terminals to Aa3, its fourth-highest rating, from Aa2. The action, which affected $18.2 billion in bonds, comes as the authority prepares to issue $2 billion in taxable debt this week.
“The increasingly back-loaded amortization of debt with this issue, while providing more debt capacity and stable financial metrics in the near and medium term, increases longer- term risks,” Moody’s said in a news release. The company gives the authority’s credit a stable outlook. (Braun, Bloomberg)
Tatuaje 2012 TAA Limited Edition in stock now at the Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood
The 2012 Tatuaje TAA is now available!
The Tatuaje TAA 2012 is a limited release for Tobacconists’ Association of America shops.
This year it comes in a toro format of 6¼ x 50
which is a slight size change from last year.
This allows for more concentrated flavor from the previous 2011 release.
Stock is limited so they won’t last long!
*Shipping is available for this item, please call to place an order
~Gary, Barbara and Collin
The Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood | 10 Chestnut Street | Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450 Phone: 201-447-2204 | Email: info@tobaccoshop.com
Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:00AM – 5:30PM and Thursday Night 6:30PM – 8:30PM
The official, head-to-head debates begin next week, but Sunday’s “60 Minutes” appearances by President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) provided a contrast in the ideas offered on the nation’s entitlements and spending crisis.
For his part, the President punted on a serious question about the nation’s concern over spending—blaming everything on President George W. Bush. Instead of addressing the spending question, he waited for the next question about the national debt, which has increased more than 50 percent since he took office. Then came the familiar refrain of why he’s not responsible for Washington’s overspending or the country’s abysmal fiscal situation:
When I came into office, I inherited the biggest deficit in our history. And over the last four years, the deficit has gone up, but 90 percent of that is as a consequence of two wars that weren’t paid for, as a consequence of tax cuts that weren’t paid for, a prescription drug plan that was not paid for, and then the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
These continued excuses ignore the massive increases since the President took office. According to Heritage expert Emily Goff: By fiscal year 2008, the deficit had reached $458.6 billion. The deficit was increasing as Obama came into office, mainly driven by the recession and the first wave of TARP bailouts. But his Administration’s massive stimulus bill sent spending into overdrive and led to a record $1.4 trillion deficit for fiscal year 2009. Deficits have stayed at more than $1 trillion each year since then.
America’s entitlement programs are the major driver of out-of-control spending. Without reform, they would push federal spending to nearly 36 percent of the economy within a generation. Debt held by the public would explode to nearly 200 percent. Serious structural reforms are inevitable—it is merely a question of how we change what we are doing.
In his “60 Minutes” interview, Obama glossed over Obamacare’s cuts to Medicare and the resulting costs for seniors.
Romney, when asked how he would change Social Security, first made clear there should be no changes to benefits for those in or near retirement.
But he went on:
What I’d do with Social Security is say this: that again, people with higher incomes won’t get the same high growth rate in their benefits as people with lower incomes. People who rely on Social Security should see the same kind of growth rate they’ve had in the past. But higher income folks would receive a little less.
As Heritage expert Alison Fraser explains, Social Security is already income-adjusted today. This is called means testing. Benefits are capped for high-income earners, and the calculation of initial benefits a new retiree receives is based on his or her past income. Upper-income retirees pay a much higher tax than those with lower incomes. Romney proposes to extend this income adjusting so that upper-income retirees receive a bit less than they do now.
While many politicians claim that the only way to address entitlements is to raise taxes or cut benefits, expanding means testing is a serious and sound way to pursue reform.
These kinds of solutions can be found in Saving the American Dream, Heritage’s blueprint for solving our spending and debt crises. Saving the American Dream lays out solutions like slowly moving to a flat Social Security benefit that keeps seniors out of poverty, means testing Social Security so that very affluent seniors have a reduced benefit, and moving to a more robust means-tested premium support mechanism for Medicare that offers seniors choice and control over their health dollars and better health outcomes.
Without reforms, entitlement programs will push spending to untenable levels and put undue pressure on vital areas of government such as national defense. The Obama Administration’s comments about reform, like “now is not the time” for fixing Social Security and the need for a “balanced approach,” have been proven hollow by its push for tax hikes on job creators. We have a spending problem, not a revenue problem, and the longer Washington wastes time, the harsher the changes will have to be.
This debate is vital. To save the American economy and sustain the safety net for those who need it, spending must be reined in and entitlement programs must be reformed.
Christie: Plan to put minimum wage hike on ballot ‘ridiculous’
Governor Christie called a plan to raise the minimum wage through a voter-approved Constitutional amendment a “truly ridiculous idea.”
Christie’s comment, made during a press availability at a school groundbreaking ceremony in Long Branch Monday morning, was in response to Senate President Stephen Sweeney’s plans to introduce a resolution next week that would send the minimum wage issue to voters. Sweeney, D-Gloucester, wants to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.25 beginning in 2014. After that, it would increase based on the annual consumer price index.
Because it’s a resolution and not a bill, the issue would go directly to voters in 2013 if it gets enough legislative support. (Hayes, The Record)
Kean, NJBIA oppose Sweeney’s call for constitutional amendment on minimum wage
The New Jersey Business and Industry Association, along with Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, (R-21), of Westfield, came out against Senate President Steve Sweeney’s proposal to increase the minimum wage, saying it will hurt the state’s economy.
“Rigid automatic increases in the minimum wage will make it almost impossible for the state to respond flexibly to future economic conditions,” NJBIA President Phil Kirschner said in a statement. (Hassan, State Street Wire)
Ridgewood native and RHS Grad Willie Geist tapped as ‘Today’ show co-host
September 25,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ , The New York Times is reporting that Ridgewood native and Ridgewood High School graduate Willie Geist has been tapped as the “Today” show’s next host.
Willie Geist,is currently a co-host of MSNBC’s morning show “Morning Joe,” ,this move puts Geist on NBC’s flagship “Today” show as a co-host of the franchise’s 9 a.m. hour. ”
Morning Joe” was invented by Joe Scarborough and Geist has been a regular since 2007.
According to sources the new job would also put him on a shortlist of potential successors to Lauer should he decide to leave “Today”. Since 2010 Geist has been a regular fill-in for Lauer on the show.
At “Today” , Giest will co-host the 9 a.m. hour alongside Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Natalie Morales. According to the Times’, Geist is likely to remain at “Morning Joe” in some capacity, but would not continue to be involved with “Way Too Early”.
2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals Manager, Tony LaRussa tonight 7pm at Bookends
2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals Manager, Tony LaRussa, Tuesday, September 25th @ 7:00pm
Tony LaRussa, will sign his new book: One Last Strike.Book available Sept. 25th.
Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.
While we try to insure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed. We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely.
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
