Dozens of convicted criminals are collecting more than a million dollars in taxpayer-funded retirement checks, including at least one who is still behind bars, an Asbury Park Press investigation found. Andrew Ford, Asbury Park Press Read more
July 25, 2016
Earlier this year, Valley installed five electric vehicle charging stations at its main campus, and is considering installing charging stations at satellite locations as well. Valley became a DOE Workplace Charging Challenge partner in June of this year. The hospital is now among the more than 350 national partners who have made a pledge to participate in the Challenge. The DOE is on track to meet its goal of having 500 United States Challenge partners by 2018. This is crucial, according to a White House press release, because “vehicles are parked at homes and workplaces most of the time, making the Workplace Charging Challenge a significant opportunity to expand our nation’s charging infrastructure. In fact, charging at work can potentially double an EV driver’s all-electric daily commuting range.”
The use of electric vehicles is a key component the Obama Administration’s goal “to combat climate change, increase access to clean energy technologies, and reduce our dependence on oil,” according to the release.
State public-employee pension systems across the country are facing a combined $1 trillion in debt, and many states, including New Jersey, aren’t getting much help on the investment side these days thanks to stubbornly low interest rates. Medical breakthroughs are also testing the math of pension systems as retired workers are now living much longer. John Reitmeyer, NJSpotlight Read more
Governor Christie plans to promote his school funding formula at a forum in Fair Lawn Thursday. John C. Ensslin, The Record Read more
Ridgewood NJ, A new study for the Mercatus Center at George Mason University ranks each US state’s financial health based on short- and long-term debt and other key fiscal obligations, such as unfunded pensions and healthcare benefits. This 2016 edition updates theversion the Mercatus Center published in 2015. Using the approach pioneered in 2015, the 2016 edition presents information from each state’s audited financial report in an easily accessible format, this time including Puerto Rico to provide a benchmark of poor fiscal performance.
Growing long-term obligations for pensions and healthcare benefits continue to strain the finances of state governments, highlighting the fact that state policymakers must be vigilant to consider both the short-term and the long-term consequences of their decisions. Understanding how each state is performing in regard to a variety of fiscal indicators can help policymakers as they consider the consequences of policy decisions.
The study also highlights some of the limits of the financial data reported by state governments. States release these data years after they are most relevant, and because the information is highly aggregated, analysts and the public have difficulty discerning the true fiscal position of any state.
The financial health of each state can be analyzed through the states’ own audited financial reports. By looking at states’ basic financial statistics on revenues, expenditures, cash, assets, liabilities, and debt, states may be ranked according to how easily they will be able to cover short-term and long-term bills, including pension obligations.
And of coarse New Jersey ranked in the bottom 5 along with Kentucky, Illinois,Massachusetts, and Connecticut ranked in the bottom five states, largely owing to the low amounts of cash they have on hand and their large debt obligations.
Each state has massive debt obligations. Each of the bottom five states exhibits serious signs of fiscal distress. Though their economies may be stronger than Puerto Rico’s, allowing them to better navigate fiscal crises, their large liabilities still raise serious concerns.
Unfunded liabilities continue to be a problem. High deficits and debt obligations in the forms of unfunded pensions and healthcare benefits continue to drive each state into fiscal peril. Each holds tens, if not hundreds, of billions of dollars in unfunded liabilities—constituting a significant risk to taxpayers in both the short and the long term.
The bottom five states have changed since last year. Kentucky’s position has declined, placing it in the bottom five this year. New York is no longer in the bottom five. New Jersey and Illinois improved slightly, but remain in the bottom five. Connecticut and Massachusetts also remain in the bottom five, in slightly worse positions than last year.
Your pension and health benefits are better than the private sector. That’s always been the trade-off. Teachers make less than comparable professionals in the private sector, but get an incredible retirement deal. Now your union and the NJEA are telling you that you deserve equivalent wages, too? You are getting the wrong advice. Prorate your salary for 187 days a year, add in all of your excessive benefits, and remember there are 1,100 applicants to replace you if you decide there’s a better deal elsewhere. Stop holding us hostage.
file photo by Boyd Loving
July 28th ,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, After a federal court judge in Newark denied the dismissal of a freedom of speech violation lawsuit filed by a political operative against the City of Hoboken after he was ejected from the October 21 city council meeting.
Its seems that speech can not restricted during public comment at a council meeting . The previous mayor Paul Aronsohn and his administration tried many times either through rules, ordinances ,intimidation or silly anti free speech committees like the “Civility Committee”.
While readers best describe the new council ,”it’s amazing to watch the new council meetings. Respect for all those who ask questions. Even questions that are asked are answered or will be researched and followed up on. Keep up the good work.”
A reader suggests that some Section’s of the Village Code may violate an individual’s right to Freedom of Speech , we are not so sure :
“Except upon consent of the Council, by the majority vote of those present, each person addressing the Council pursuant to this section shall be required to limit his remarks to five minutes and shall at no time engage in any personally offensive or abusive remarks. On a hearing on ordinances on second reading, a person who has previously addressed the Council on the issue may be permitted a period of no more than an additional five minutes, after all others desirous of speaking on the issue have had an opportunity to do so, provided the comments of the speaker are not repetitive. The Chair shall call any speaker to order who violates any provision of this section.”
As does this one:
“Any person who shall disturb the peace of the Council, make impertinent or slanderous remarks or conduct himself in a boisterous manner while addressing the Council shall be forthwith barred by the presiding officer from further audience before the Council, except that if the speaker shall submit to proper order under these rules, permission for him to continue may be granted by a majority vote of the Council.”
Matt Rogers: Are you on this?
Douglas Murray
How is your Merkelsommer going? For now, Britain seems to be missing the worst. True, a couple of men of Middle Eastern appearance tried to abduct a soldier near his base in Norfolk for what was unlikely to have been an interfaith dialogue session. But Britain’s geographical good fortune, relative success in limiting weapons and our justified scepticism of the undiscriminating ‘open borders’ brigade mean that we have so far been spared the delights of what Angela Merkel’s growing army of critics refer to as her summer of terror.
It is now a fortnight since Mohammed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ploughed a truck along the Nice seafront, killing 84 people. The following Monday Mohammed Riyad, who said he was from Afghanistan but almost certainly came from Pakistan, screamed ‘Allahu Akbar’ while hacking with an axe at his fellow passengers on a Bavarian train. The next day another Mohammed, this time Mohamed Boufarkouch, shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ and stabbed a Frenchwoman and her three daughters (aged eight, 12 and 14) near Montpelier. Mixing things up a little, that Friday’s shooter in Munich was a child of Iranians called Ali David Sonboly. Skip forward a couple of days and a ‘-Syrian asylum seeker’ with a machete was hacking a pregnant woman to death in Stuttgart. The next day another ‘Syrian asylum seeker’, Mohammad Daleel, carried out a suicide bombing outside a bar in Ansbach, Bavaria. And a little over 24 hours later two men shouting the name of Isis entered a church in Rouen during Mass, took the nuns and congregation hostage and slaughtered the priest with a knife.
https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/07/will-politicians-accept-reality-islamic-terrorism/
July 27,2016
Ridgewood NJ, The Democratic National Convention has been the talk of the week and has dominated the news cycle. Top Democrats from around the nation have assembled to fall in line with their party and unite behind their nominee.
But where is Mr. Gottheimer?
For someone so active on social media, you would think that he would post something about the convention. Why is it such a mystery if he is there or not? He has never shied away from a good photo opportunity with Democrat officials. People deserve to know his reasoning for either being there or not.
The Convention has been the center of a great deal of controversy – from protests to the recent emails that show that the Democrat Party made sure that Hillary Clinton was chosen as their nominee. Perhaps Mr. Gottheimer does not want to be associated with that or maybe he does not want to speak out against his friend Hillary.
Trying to distance himself from his relations to the Clintons could be the driving force in this. Warren and Sussex Counties were the only places in the entire state that Hillary did not win in the New Jersey Primary. He could be using his relationship only when it benefits him, like at fundraisers, and avoid them when it hurts.
Mr. Gottheimer needs to address whether he is in Philadelphia or not. It is important for the people of the 5th District to know where he stands. Is he a part of a convention that has gravitated to the far left in adopting socialist policies, has failed to address the issue of Radical Islamic Terror, or has protested the very existence of Israel?
If Mr. Gottheimer is not currently in Philadelphia, or if he is not planning on attending at all, then he should clarify that point. Is it that he does not want to support his mentors Bill and Hillary? Are there parts of his own party that he is avoiding?
Confronted with a Tweet by Donald Trump implying he had dirt on Sen. Cory Booker, the New Jersey senator responded Tuesday the way he has to other haters on social media, promising “keep on loving” Trump. Herb Jackson, The Record Read more
July 27,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The music shell on Veteran’s Field was erected and donated as a gift to the Village in member of Frank Kasschau, a widely recognized choral conductor, organist and teacher. The shell is dedicated to and accepted for use by the citizens of the Village of Ridgewood as a place where summer programs of fine music and related artistic and cultural endeavors may be presented to the community in a setting of natural beauty.
Bring your chair and blanket starts at 8:30pm.
Only three performances left ; July 28th TREBLE – Popular Rock , August 2nd Bishop of Jazz and His Abbotts (Rio Clemente) and August 4th Mack Brandon & The Connection – Popular Gospel .
New Jersey vacation rentals booked through online services such as Airbnb would be subject to the same state and local occupancy taxes as hotel and motel rooms under a bill introduced in state Assembly. John C. Ensslin, The Record Read more
Senator hopes TTF debate Boosts Efforts to Tighten Business-tax Rules
As New Jersey leaders debate a gas-tax increase and tax cuts designed to offset it, a veteran Democrat wants them to take a new look at legislation that would bring new money into the budget by tightening corporate-tax regulations. While new revenue from the gas tax would be dedicated to the off-budget Transportation Trust Fund, Sen. Ray Lesniak’s proposal would fatten the general fund. John Reitmeyer, NJSpotlightRead more
Just a few miles from the Democratic National Convention, party leaders — including Senate President Stephen Sweeney and one of the campaign’s early presidential candidates — put the big New Jersey problem of public employee pensions center stage. Samantha Marcus, NJ.com Read more
The uproar from supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) continued on Tuesdayas demonstrators took to the streets in Center City. Though the crowds had thinned after Monday’s mob outside of City Hall, the heat was still scorching and some protestors were still holding out for Sanders delegates at the Democratic National Convention to walk out in support of Green Party candidate Jill Stein rather than vote for Hillary Clinton. JT Aregood, PolitickerNJ Read more
