US median income lowest since 1995
By James Politi in Washington
The median income of American households dropped to its lowest level since 1995 last year, extending its decline during President Barack Obama’s tenure and highlighting the depth of the damage to the middle class inflicted by the recession and weak recovery.
According to annual data from the Census Bureau, median income adjusted for inflation – a closely watched measure of the financial health of average Americans – fell to $50,054 in 2011, or 1.5 per cent below its 2010 level and 4.1 per cent below its score when Mr Obama took office in 2009.
Representing the United States abroad has been a dangerous job since the beginning of the Republic, but that was never truer than during the Carter Administration. In the wake of a successful revolution by Islamic fundamentalists against the pro-American Shah of Iran, the United States became an object of virulent criticism and the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was a visible target. On November 4, 1979, Iranian students seized the embassy and detained more than 50 Americans, ranging from the Chargé d’Affaires to the most junior members of the staff, as hostages. The Iranians held the American diplomats hostage for 444 days. While the courage of the American hostages in Tehran and of their families at home reflected the best tradition of the Department of State, the Iran hostage crisis undermined Carter’s conduct of foreign policy. The crisis dominated the headlines and news broadcasts and made the Administration look weak and ineffectual. Although patient diplomacy conducted by Deputy Secretary Warren Christopher eventually resolved the crisis, Carter’s foreign policy team often seemed weak and vacillating.
U.S. hostage being paraded in front of the public
The Administration’s vitality was sapped, and the Soviet Union took advantage of America’s weakness to win strategic advantage for itself. In 1979, Soviet-supported Marxist rebels made strong gains in Ethiopia, Angola, and Mozambique. Vietnam fought a successful border war with China and took over Cambodia from the murderous Khmer Rouge. And, in late 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to support its shaky Marxist government.
In light of these challenges to global stability, President Carter significantly altered his view of both the Soviet Union and the advice of his own advisers. Carter initially favored Secretary Vance’s policy of negotiation, but by 1980 was more receptive National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski’s more confrontational stance. Once again the National Security Council and the Department of State were in open conflict. The issue came to a head when Secretary Vance opposed a mission to rescue the hostages in Iran—a move championed by Brzezinski. Vance had been correct—the 1980 mission was a debacle. But Vance was frustrated and he resigned in protest in April 1980. Cyrus Vance was the first Secretary of State clearly and publicly to tie his resignation to a difference of opinion over policy since William Jennings Bryan in 1915. Carter chose Senator Edmund Muskie as his new Secretary.
Obama on track to have worst job record since World War II
It’s time to let him go
August’s abysmally weak job growth proved yet again that President Obama’s economic policies are a miserable failure that will continue to undermine our country until he leaves office.
The government’s report that the economy added just a minuscule 96,000 jobs last month came at the end of the Democrats’ defensive national convention, where the president, Bill Clinton and other party luminaries made extravagant claims that things will get better if Mr. Obama is re-elected to a second term.
But analysts at the Federal Reserve Board, economists and business leaders say Mr. Obama’s declining economy is not going to get significantly better this year, next year or the year after that, until there are dramatic changes in the nation’s fiscal policies. Changes Obama Democrats refuse to make.
The deepening weaknesses in the employment picture also were underscored by revisions in the June and July job numbers, which found 41,000 fewer jobs were created than was reported previously.
Not only is the rate of job growth shrinking fast in the fourth year of Mr. Obama’s presidency; the economy’s growth rate also is slowing this year to a snail’s pace: 1.7 percent in the third quarter.
But he didn’t say anything about the weak job-creation rate or declining economic growth in his speech last week. Instead, he rattled off a long list of specious claims, taking credit for things for that were not true
Read more: LAMBRO: Obama on track to have worst job record since World War II – Washington Times https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/sep/11/obama-on-track-to-have-worst-job-record-since-worl/#ixzz26G7Va4MW
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Romney assails Obama on response to embassy attacks, death
By Justin Sink – 09/11/12 10:35 PM ET
After nearly a daylong campaign hiatus in commemoration of 9/11, the fight for the White House resumed as Republican hopeful Mitt Romney issued a strong condemnation of the Obama administration’s response to attacks on the American embassy in Egypt and the American consulate in Libya that left a staff member dead.
“I’m outraged by the attacks on American diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt and by the death of an American consulate worker in Benghazi,” Romney said in a statement. “It’s disgraceful that the Obama Administration’s first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.”
The attacks were sparked by anger over an anti-Islam video posted to YouTube in July. The Wall Street Journal reported the film, titled “Innocence of Muslims,” was directed by an Israeli-American real estate developer and promoted by Terry Jones, the Florida pastor who had controversially burned copies of the Quaran, resulting in violent protests.
FW Post 192 Youth Contests, Teacher, and Civil Servant Recognition
LOCAL K through 12th GRADE TEACHERS COULD WIN CASH AWARDS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES IN VFW’S CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION TEACHER AWARD
VFW Post Commander Stanley A. Kober of the Washington Elm Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #192 (Ho-Ho-Kus—Ridgewood), announces the kick-off of this year’s National VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary “National Citizenship Education Teacher Award” contest. One teacher in each grade category of grades K-5, 6-8, AND 9-12 will have the opportunity to compete in the VFW’s annual teacher recognition competition to win $1,000 cash, a plaque, and an all expenses paid trip to Washington, DC, to be honored at the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary Community Service Conference. In addition, $1,000 cash and a plaque will be awarded to the teacher’s school.
VFW’s Citizenship Education program stimulates interest in America’s history, traditions, institutions, civic responsibility, flag etiquette, and patriotism.
All current classroom teachers (teaching at least half the school day in a classroom environment) in grades K-12 are eligible. Previous state and national VFW winners are ineligible. Nominations may be submitted by fellow teachers, supervisors, or other interested individuals (not relatives). Self-nominees are not eligible. Deadline for the nominations to arrive at VFW Post #192 is November 1, 2012. Post awardees advance to District. District awardees compete in the NJ State VFW competition. The NJ State VFW awardees compete with all the other state awardees for the National cash awards, commemorative plaques, and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C.
Interested people from Ho-Ho-Kus, Ridgewood, Saddle River, or Upper Saddle River who want to nominate teachers who care deeply about America and our children, must contact the Washington Elm VFW Post #192 (Ho-Ho-Kus—Ridgewood) by telephone at 201-445-1121 or immediately write to the Washington Elm VFW Post #192 (Ho-Ho-Kus—Ridgewood) at 620 Cliff Street, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423 for an application that has the specific requirements.
Applications are also available on the Post 192 website at www.vfwpost192-nj.com ABOUT VFW>CONTESTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS.
May God continue to Bless America!
/s/ Stanley A. Kober
Stanley A. Kober
Commander,
Washington Elm VFW Post #192
Ho-Ho-Kus—Ridgewood
620 Cliff Street
Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423
Report slams Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit program as ‘a corporate giveaway’
New Jersey is one of four states whose attempts to reduce workers’ travel time by providing economic development subsidies has had little effect on transit ridership, land use patterns or site location decisions, according to a nonprofit agency report.
Good Jobs First, based in Washington, D.C., said attempts by officials in California, Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey to make job subsidies location-efficient have failed. (Hassan, State Street Wire)
Radio Host Carol Miller at Bookends September 13 @ 7:00pm
Carol Miller , Thursday, September 13 @ 7:00pm
Host of Get the Led Out on Q104.3 and Satellite Radio, Carol Miller, will sign her new book: Up All Night .Books available August 28th
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
NJ schools prepare to implement new teacher evaluations
New Jersey’s plans for having a statewide teacher evaluation system in place by 2013-2014 goes full throttle this year, with every school district in the state being required to start putting the key pieces in place.
Much of the attention has been on the more than two dozen districts that have signed on to be pilots of the new program, 11 last year and another 10 this year. An additional 14 districts are also piloting a new principal evaluation system.
But the balance of the state’s nearly 600 districts are hardly off the hook, as the state has begun rolling out timelines and regulations that they will need to follow in preparation for having the statewide system ready by next year.
It will start with every district and school putting together the teams of administrators and teachers who will decide on the process for their districts, as well as the choice of the eventual evaluation models to be used to judge their teachers’ performances. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
Cleanup After the Recent Storm Event : Branch Debris
Ridgewood NJ, For Branch debris, please follow the Village ordinance. All yard waste will be picked up on the normal schedule if the material meets the requirements of the ordinance.
Branches must be bundled and tied, not to exceed three feet in length, not more than two inches in diameter, ad must be placed behind the curb, off the sidewalk. You may also place debris in a barrel, with the barrel not placed in the street.
The only exception to this ordinance will be branches which have fallen from a tree located within the Village of Ridgewood “right of way”, only in that case may the branch remain intact.
“Cake Boss” Valastro planning bakery in Ridgewood
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
Bergen County fans of TLC’s “Cake Boss”: Are you sitting down?
Buddy Valastro says he has signed a lease to open a bakery in Ridgewood.
It would be a second location of his Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken and is designed as an interactive experience with an open kitchen, where customers can order birthday cakes, watch them being made on the spot at a “cake bar” and celebrate birthdays in a party room.
Construction has not yet begun at 12 Wilsey Square – on the west side of downtown, in the former site of Mona Lisa Pastry Shop and Café – but Valastro says he is aiming to open the 3,300-square-foot bakery in November. He expects that “Cake Boss” will do some filming in town.
“I want to make it an experience. I want families to come to the bakery and take a peek at bakers making pastries and goodies,” says Valastro, who grew up in Little Ferry. “I want to bring back Old World quality bakeries, and I want to do it where people are going to appreciate it.”
He says he had long wanted to open a bakery in Bergen County because of his ties to the area, and chose Ridgewood because “it’s got a great little downtown” area.
Ridgewood is a Village, not a shopping mecca. Access to our downtown is through residential areas, on roads ill-equiped to handle a great deal of traffic without significantly devaluing the housing on those roads.
So, in terms of vision, we need to make a choice between remaining a Village where people live, or becomming the next local mall.
Big box chain stores rely on heavy foot traffic. That’s is why they are all located in a central location such as the Mall.
Why would any large chain store come to Ridgewood and pay the kind of rent that the landlords are asking.
This plan is only going to help a certain few with all the residents pay for the bill.
Gov. Chris Christie paid a visit to the high school here – one of the ten districts in the state’s teacher evaluation pilot program – to highlight the ongoing education initiatives of his administration.
He pointed out that Haddonfield is an example of what he is trying to accomplish statewide. (Mooney, State Street Wire)
Agenda 21 : Angry critics call New Jersey’ blueprint for growth too radical
The Christie administration’s draft strategic investment plan is touted by officials as a blueprint for spurring economic development in New Jersey, a goal seemingly embraced by many.
But critics say it represents a much more radical plan, and a very unlikely GOP agenda at that. It’s a proposal they say redistributes wealth, usurps individual property rights, and reflects a decade-old United Nations resolution that aims to promote so-called sustainable environmental growth around the globe.
In the seventh public hearing on the draft plan in Toms River yesterday, more than 50 people showed up, mostly to denounce the proposal. Often they shouted down a Christie administration official who sought to answer questions, loudly applauded those who criticized the proposal, and frequently interrupted the official when he sought to address those concerns. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
The week that could make or break the eurozone Looming decisions could put the single currency back on track – or speed its ruin
TONY PATERSON
Europe stands on the threshold of a series of dramatic make-or-break decisions this week that will determine whether the eurozone can finally move towards resolving its long-running economic crisis or shift alarmingly towards the abyss of European disintegration.
Tomorrow judges at Germany’s constitutional court will decide if a hotly contested permanent rescue fund can be set up to help bail out ailing eurozone countries. A No verdict or even restrictive conditions could cause chaos on the markets and signal the beginning of a possible demise of the euro.
Their ruling will be followed by a general election in the Netherlands. The result could hand power to the Eurosceptic Labour party of Emile Roemer, which is riding on a wave of popular frustration over Europe. Such an outcome could sow disarray within Europe and seriously undermine the EU’s strategy for helping ailing eurozone countries.
