Category: Trenton

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Three Women File Governor Murphy Recall Petition

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, According to a report from the Shore News Network, three women have filed an official petition to recall Governor Murphy.

Representing the official recall committee, according to the report, are Hackensack resident and former gubernatorial candidate Monica Brinson, Patty Hoch, and Terry Beck.  They told the Shore News Network that the Governor’s ‘actions will not be tolerated.  We are a very strong and powerful committee. We bring lots of knowledge, skills and contacts to make a difference’.

The Asbury Park Press notes in their report on the filing that the petition would need 4 million signatures for a successful recall.

A Facebook page associated with the effort, Stop Phil Murphy, has over 1,000 members, and states that it was created as an ‘effort to help New Jersey residents organize an effort to keep Governor Phil Murphy accountable for his actions’.

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Report: Murphy Out Of State Twice As Much As Christie In First Year

Tax and Spend Democrat Phil Murphy for Governor

the staff of the Ridgewod blog

Trenton NJ, According to a NJ.com report, Governor Murphy spent twice as many days out of the state than his predecessor in his first year in office.

Murphy spent all or part of 100 days out of NJ in 2018, according to the report.  Former Governor Christie spent 49 days out of NJ in 2010, the first year of his governorship.  He spent 261 days (72%) out of state in 2015, the year of his failed presidential bid.

Murphy’s Press Secretary Dan Bryan told NJ.com that approximately half of the travel was on weekends, and about a third of the weekday travel involved state business, such as the October economic mission trip to Germany and Israel.

NJ.com breaks down the Governor’s travel here.

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Senator Mike Doherty says, “While millions of New Jersey residents were struggling to cope with the highest property taxes in the country, the State was handing out millions in tax breaks, and getting little in return”

Senator Mike Doherty

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, Senator Mike Doherty (R-23) is calling for legislative action following the release of a report by the State Comptroller that proved that the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) has failed to ensure companies that received corporate tax subsidies were using those funds to create jobs.

“While millions of New Jersey residents were struggling to cope with the highest property taxes in the country, the State was handing out millions in tax breaks, and getting little in return,” Senator Doherty said. “As far as I’m concerned, any company that claimed tax breaks and failed to keep their promise to use that money to create jobs has committed tax fraud. The lack of oversight at the EDA is appalling. I am exploring all legislative options to ensure every subsidy that was wasted in this corporate welfare scheme is returned to our taxpayers.”

The comptroller audit released on Jan. 9, 2019, showed that New Jersey companies that were given tax incentives to create in-state jobs sometimes failed to do so. The report also revealed that there is insufficient oversight of the tax incentive programs managed by the EDA.

“Our state’s egregious corporate tax breaks continue to have a mediocre return on investment,” Doherty added. “Instead of picking winners or losers, let’s focus on cutting taxes for everyone, so businesses and homeowners alike can afford to stay in New Jersey. As a good steward of taxpayer dollars, I will not rest until all misused corporate subsidies are recaptured.”

https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/nj-comptrollers-nj-economic-development-authority-audit-pdf/

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Sexually Harassment Runs Rampant in the Murphy Administration

Phill Murphy -Sara Medina del Castillo

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, seems sexually harassment along with criminal convictions is the norm in the Murphy Administration . As we previously reported Katie Brennan has filed a tort claim against the State of New Jersey, the Murphy for Governor campaign, and former Murphy administration official Al Alvarez, whom she has accused of rape. Brennan is seeking damages and an emergent application to change state policies and procedures regarding workplace investigations. Brennan’s attorney Katy McClure said ‘Ms. Brennan is pursuing justice through this lawsuit because I couldn’t get it any other way. She pursued every avenue she could, but waved every red flag she could access, and she was ignored’. The Legislative Select Oversight Committee will continue its hearings this morning at 10:30am, with testimony resuming for Chief of Staff Pete Cammarano and others.

Politico NJ now reports that NJEDA Vice President of Policy and Planning Allison Kopicki has resigned, saying she faced retaliation from members of the administration after speaking to the press regarding claims of a hostile work environment within the Murphy campaign and an incident in which Joe Kelley allegedly threw a chair at Julia Fahl.  

https://theridgewoodblog.net/murphy-administration-in-full-cover-up-mode-on-alvarez-rape-allegations/
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MS-13 killers Use New Jersey Sanctuary Status to hide from the law

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photo by RH

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

TRENTON NJ,  Fulfilling its statutory mandate to keep the public informed about the operations of organized crime in New Jersey, the State Commission of Investigation today introduced a new project, “Organized Crime Spotlight,” that will periodically provide up‐to‐date profiles of significant criminal groups impacting the State and region. The inaugural report focuses on La Mara Salvatrucha, commonly referred to as MS‐13, a criminal street gang known for extreme violence.  

The State Commission of Investigation is an independent New Jersey watchdog agency  established in 1968 to investigate organized crime and corruption, waste of tax money and  other abuses of the public trust. Copies of public reports are available at the Commission’s  offices or via its Web site at www.state.nj.us/sci.index.shtm  

The Commission found that while aggressive law enforcement efforts and prosecutions at the state and federal levels have been somewhat effective in suppressing MS‐13, it remains a persistent threat in New Jersey, preying primarily on immigrant communities through extortion, robbery and street‐level drug sales.  With a ceaseless thirst to command respect through fear, its trademark ideology of advancing in rank through violence and its rivalries with other groups, murder is always just a spark away for MS‐13 members, the SCI found.  

The most infamous example of MS‐13’s savagery in New Jersey was the slaying of three individuals – and the grave wounding of a fourth – in a Newark schoolyard on the night of Aug. 4, 2007. Six of the gang’s members, including the leader of the Newark clique, are serving long prison sentences for the grisly attack. Such vicious incidents of violence have been less frequent in recent years, and some policing experts believe elements of MS‐13 may be intentionally lying low to avoid law enforcement scrutiny.  

Further, the Commission learned that New Jersey is a central command post for the gang’s operations on the East Coast.  Over the past decade, an effort by MS‐13 leaders in El Salvador to exert greater control over U.S.‐based cliques, or sets, has taken root. These cliques take orders directly from compatriots in El Salvador for killings and pay tribute by wiring cash to leaders in the Central American nation.  New Jersey has played a prominent role in this movement with leaders in Monmouth and Hudson counties directing operations along the East Coast.  

Founded by immigrants fleeing war‐torn El Salvador in the 1980s, MS‐13 originated on the streets of Los Angeles. New Jersey law enforcement officials identified the first MS‐13 members in Elizabeth, Union County, in the mid‐1990s. Today, MS‐13 members are scattered throughout the state from Union City to Morristown, Trenton to Red Bank, and Lindenwold to
Lakewood.

Along with outlining the gang’s origins, expansion, structure and activities, the report also highlights some of the obstacles facing law enforcement as well as approaches some officials have used to tamp down violence and to prevent vulnerable teenagers from bolstering MS‐13’s ranks.  

Combating MS‐13 presents unique challenges to law enforcement due to the insular nature of the gang, which often targets immigrants from El Salvador as both victims and as potential recruits. In some municipalities, outreach is hampered by a lack of Spanish‐speaking officers. Law enforcement officials across the State told the Commission efforts are ongoing to build relationships with these communities but that many people, principally those who are undocumented, are fearful of deportation or of retaliation by the gang.  

Notwithstanding these challenges, law enforcement in some jurisdictions, particularly in Hudson County, have adopted strategies that have successfully headed off potential violence and muted the gang’s predatory behavior. Most notably, law enforcement officials in Union City, Hudson County, told the Commission that while many MS‐13 members are present in the city, the gang does not conduct overt criminal activity there because of a zero‐tolerance approach that involves multiple city departments and the school system.  Some measures taken in Union City include a midnight curfew on those under 18 and a requirement that building owners swiftly remove graffiti, such as gang‐related tags, or face significant financial penalties.  

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Volcker Alliance : New Jersey has funded Only 36% of its pension debt with an unfunded liability of $143.2 billion

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the state of New Jersey received a report card for managing its pension debts . The non-partisan Volcker Alliance, founded by former Federal Reserve Chair Paul Volcker, rated the state a D- for its failure to have properly “provided adequate funding, as defined by retirement system actuaries, for pensions and other promised retirement benefits for public workers.”New Jersey was one of six states to receive the lowest possible grade in the analysis, along with Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Texas and Wyoming.

As of June 2017, the Garden State has funded a mere 36% of its pension debt with an unfunded liability of $143.2 billion, 2nd worst in the nation behind Kentucky’s 34% funding.

The 2018 Volcker Alliance report, Truth and Integrity in State Budgeting: Preventing the Next Fiscal Crisis, which, in addition to legacy costs, grades and proposes a set of best practices for policymakers on issues including: budget forecasting, budget maneuvers, reserve funds and transparency.

The report adds fuel to the fire of support for New Jersey pension and benefits reforms proposed in the recent “Path to Progress” report issued by State Senate President Steve Sweeney’s bi-partisan New Jersey fiscal policy working group.

· Shift new state and local government employees and those with less than five years of service in the Public Employees’ Retirement System and the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund from the current defined benefit pension system to a sustainable hybrid system and preserve the current system for employees with over five years of service who have vested contractual pension rights.

· Shift all state and local government employees and retiree’s health care coverage from Platinum to Gold.

· Require all new state and local government retirees to pay the same percent of premium costs they paid when working.

· Merge the School Employees Health Benefits Program into the larger State Health Benefits Plan and make the plans identical in coverage.While formal legislation has yet to be introduced regarding Senator Sweeney’s proposals, reports indicate that bills will be introduced by the end of the year or early 2019.

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Activist from Both Left and Right Rally to Oppose NJ Democrat Gerrymandering Plan

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, Activists Gather Outside Legislative Caucus Meetings to Urge Legislators to Oppose Redistricting Proposals

East Brunswick-Activists from grassroots, good-government, and progressive groups gathered today at the East Brunswick Hilton to silently protest legislative efforts to move a ballot question aimed at changing the state constitution to grant legislators increased power in the redistricting process and enact changes experts have decried as exacerbating gerrymandering.

Members of New Jersey Working Families Alliance, League of Women Voters of New Jersey, NJ11th for Change, NJ7 Forward, New Jersey Citizen Action, Our Revolution New Jersey, and UU FaithAction NJ, all convened in their expressed opposition to the amendment as proposed.

“Since 2015, NJ Working Families has stood firm in its opposition to a process that places elected officials at the helm of a process to create their own districts. We stand in solidarity with those who also express concerns for varying reasons and urge legislators to pause in order to make the entire process more transparent, fair, and garner broader support.” said Analilia Mejia, Executive Director of New Jersey Working Families Alliance, which withdrew support for a similar proposal in 2015 in part because of its failure to ban legislators from serving on the commission.

Leaders of organizations who played an integral part in the 2018 midterm victories across the state joined the action to demand legislators pull support from the resolutions.

Saily Avelenda, Executive Director of NJ11th for Change said, “It should not shock our legislators that organizers from around the state are united in opposition to these proposals. We stand for good government and transparency– not for granting a select few legislators broader powers that they have already claimed for themselves. We showed up today to remind our legislators that there will be a political price to pay if they vote in favor for these terrible amendments. Voters are paying attention and so are we.”

“We are here to put our representatives on notice, said Margaret Illis, co-founder of NJ7Forward. This isn’t an electorate of years past. We have become an engaged and activated electorate and demand better from our representatives. This isn’t about partisanship or parties, this is about our voice and vote.”

“When a legislator is on the redistricting commission, their sole mission is to create a safe district for themselves. No one is going to say “Give me a less safe district to ensure a fairer map for everyone,” said Barry Brendel, Chair of Our Revolution New Jersey, the Sanders-inspired grassroots organization.

Activists from faith organizations also joined the call to oppose the redistricting proposal. “Good governance, in congregations as well as in the statehouse, depends on an open and fair process that doesn’t impact the bedrock principle of ‘One person, one vote,’ said Rev. Rob Gregson, Executive Director of the Public Policy and Social Justice Office of the 21 Unitarian Universalist congregations in NJ. “Unitarian Universalists and many of our faith partners unequivocally oppose carving up the state in ways that give an unfair advantage to either party, Democrats or Republicans. It’s bad for religious institutions and it’s bad for democracy in New Jersey.”

Actions against the redistricting proposal by grassroots organizations will continue in Trenton today as public hearings on SCR 43/ACR60 are scheduled.

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Third Circuit Panel split decision upheld a NJ statute banning gun magazines over 10 rounds

Guns
Heather Darling

Heather is a Lawyer from Morris County 

A Third Circuit Panel split decision upheld a statute banning gun magazines over 10 rounds. In a 2 to 1 decision, along the same lines as pre-bench political party contributions, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected a challenge by the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, an NRA affiliated organization, to the ban of ‘large-capacity’ gun magazines holding over 10 rounds.

The statute arose following a rise in mass shooting incidents in the United States, although little to no attention has been given to the enactment of mental health legislation designed to treat the cause, not the symptoms.

Judges Joseph Greenaway Jr. and Patty Shwartz, both having pre-bench ties to Democrats, decided in favor of upholding the ban. Judge Setphanos Bibas, with pre-bench ties to Republicans, wrote a dissenting opinion seeking to enjoin the ban until the state could show that the ban could actually prevent harm by mass shooters rather than simply being a knee-jerk reaction without evidence of actual effectiveness.

Greenaway and Shwartz found the ban ‘reasonably fits’ the State’s interest in public safety without causing under burden on the Second Amendment rights of citizens. Shwartz, writing the opinion of the majority, noted an increase in mass shootings from 2006 to 2015 as supporting evidence for the ban but did not cite statistics bearing on mental health, addiction, social or economic pressures or other factors which may trigger a mass shooter to act.

U.S. District Judge Peter Sheridan, also with pre-bench ties to Democrats, initially refused to enjoin the large-capacity magazine ban. Judge Sheridan also cited to evidence from a mass shooting at an all-night arts festival in Trenton in June 2018 relating to the opportunity created when the shooter has to stop and reload but nothing about the mental state or other issues of mass shooters.

Without methods and programs to treat underlying issues of those who commit acts of mass violence, this ban seems to be more along a party line concept of decreasing or eliminating gun ownership among private individuals than preventing mass injury as the decision not only fails to address underlying issues but also fails to address the reality that other mass violence has occurred through the use of bombs, motor vehicles and other means.

A Third Citcuit Panel split decision upheld a statute banning gun magazines over 10 rounds. In a 2 to 1 decision, along the same lines as pre-bench political party contributions, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected a challenge by the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, an NRA affiliated organization, to the ban of ‘large-capacity’ gun magazines holding over 10 rounds.

The statute arose following a rise in mass shooting incidents in the United States, although little to no attention has been given to the enactment of mental health legislation designed to treat the cause, not the symptoms.

Judges Joseph Greenaway Jr. and Patty Shwartz, both having pre-bench ties to Democrats, decided in favor of upholding the ban. Judge Setphanos Bibas, with pre-bench ties to Republicans, wrote a dissenting opinion seeking to enjoin the ban until the state could show that the ban could actually prevent harm by mass shooters rather than simply being a knee-jerk reaction without evidence of actual effectiveness.

Greenaway and Shwartz found the ban ‘reasonably fits’ the State’s interest in public safety without causing under burden on the Second Amendment rights of citizens. Shwartz, writing the opinion of the majority, noted an increase in mass shootings from 2006 to 2015 as supporting evidence for the ban but did not cite statistics bearing on mental health, addiction, social or economic pressures or other factors which may trigger a mass shooter to act.

U.S. District Judge Peter Sheridan, also with pre-bench ties to Democrats, initially refused to enjoin the large-capacity magazine ban. Judge Sheridan also cited to evidence from a mass shooting at an all-night arts festival in Trenton in June 2018 relating to the opportunity created when the shooter has to stop and reload but nothing about the mental state or other issues of mass shooters.

Without methods and programs to treat underlying issues of those who commit acts of mass violence, this ban seems to be more along a party line concept of decreasing or eliminating gun ownership among private individuals than preventing mass injury as the decision not only fails to address underlying issues but also fails to address the reality that other mass violence has occurred through the use of bombs, motor vehicles and other means.

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Opposition to Dems’ Redistricting Scheme to Rig Elections Holds Strong

Phill Murphy -Sara Medina del Castillo

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, TOMORROW, Thursday, Dec. 13, New Jersey Democrats will hold public hearings on a constitutional amendment that would disenfranchise millions of voters. The legislation, SCR-43, would make cataclysmic changes to New Jersey’s legislative redistricting process. 

The Assembly and State Senate hearings will both be held at 11 a.m. in Committee Room 11 and Committee Room 4, respectively, in the Statehouse Annex, making it cumbersome for the many who are opposed to testify on the record.

Not a single expert witness or group testified in favor of SCR-43 during a Nov. 26, 2018 committee hearing on the constitutional amendment.

In the weeks that have followed, dozens of nonpartisan election experts, editorial writers, and advocates from across the political spectrum have joined the chorus of opposition to this effort to disenfranchise our democracy.

Here’s what else they’re saying….

“This has been a classic throw something out in the proverbial backrooms. It’s completely unacceptable,” Governor Phil Murphy (Insider NJ, Nov. 27, 2018)

“It’s the most undemocratic solution possible,” he said. “It’s bizarre. You have supporters of the bill being incredibly disingenuous about giving voters greater choice.” – Patrick Murray Monmouth University Polling Institute (NJ Spotlight, Dec. 12, 2018)

“This has the potential to undermine our voting rights. The result could favor one party over the other.” – Jeanne LoCicero, ACLU of New Jersey. (NJ Spotlight, Dec. 12, 2018)

“What Democrats in Trenton really want is a permanent majority, and they’re trying to rig the state Constitution to provide it,” Wall Street Journal Editorial Board (Dec. 3, 2018)

“This is undemocratic. Voters should be choosing their politicians — not the other way around.” – Helen Kioukis, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey (Nov. 26, 2018)

“Such a map would create an artificial, evenly-distributed advantage for the majority party. This would drastically reduce the number of seats for the minority party in a way most New Jerseyans would consider to be unfair,” Brian Williams, Princeton University Gerrymandering Project (Nov. 26, 2018)

“By focusing on partisanship and treating communities of interest, and communities of color in particular, as an afterthought, the proposed constitutional amendment is an unacceptable step backwards for New Jersey. We will not go back. Passage of this proposal will virtually ensure the voting power of communities of color will be diluted for decades to come. We successfully opposed this ill-conceived measure before, and we are doing so again today,” Richard Smith, the New Jersey Chapter of the NAACP. (Joint Statement, Nov. 27, 2018)

“It is at best an unproved assumption, and at worst a mistaken one, that voters always vote for the same party’s candidate whether for President or for State Assemblyman. Especially in New Jersey, where state legislative elections are not held in the same year as federal elections, uncritically imposing the results of one election on the process for an entirely different election is ‘mixing apples and oranges.’ As a general matter, requiring that districts be drawn on order to favor one political party, or even both major political parties, is contrary to sound redistricting practice, and enables partisan gerrymandering.” – Ronald K. Chen, Center for Law and Justice (Letter to Sen. Paul Sarlo, Nov. 23, 2018)

“SCR43 would constitutionalize a redistricting process for New Jersey that elevates partisanship over people, and prioritizes ‘competition’ over protecting the ability of communities of color to elect their candidates of choice. We cannot support this proposal. And we urge everyone who cares about the protection of our democracy’s ability to put people first—not partisanship—to join us in opposing SCR43.” – Ryan P. Haygood, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice Institute (Joint Statement, Nov. 27, 2018)

“Attempting to mandate political outcomes is not the best way to reform redistricting—and, in fact, could open the door to gerrymandering.” Yurij Rudensky, Brennan Center for Justice at the NYU School of Law (Joint Statement, Nov. 27, 2018)

“It is very difficult to see this as anything but a naked power grab by Democrats… This is not what Democracy is supposed to look like. The process is fatally flawed.. This doesn’t help create faith in government; it creates more distrust. ” – David Pringle, Clean Water Action (Nov. 26, 2018)

“So, what are state Senate Democrats doing now? They want voters to amend the state Constitution so that the independent commission would have to follow new rules that clearly favor Democrats. It’s a shameless stunt, and like all shameless stunts, they are rushing this through the Legislature at the last minute to short-circuit any discussion of the merits. On Monday, with Senate President Steve Sweeney cracking the whip, the budget committee approved the maneuver after a brief and superficial hearing before a mostly empty chamber. It was one of those Trenton moments that make you want to take a hot shower to wash away the stink.” Columnist Tom Moran as published in The Star-Ledger op-ed: “Stop the shameless power grab by N.J. Democrats” (Nov. 28, 2018)

“Promoting competition shouldn’t start with a virtual guarantee that 75 percent of the districts will be noncompetitive,” Asbury Park Press Editorial Board (Nov. 25, 2018)

“The way most people use the word “competitive” — if they are at all conversant in conversational English — and the way the sponsors of the proposed changes define the word “competitive” are worlds apart. Heck, they aren’t even in the same dictionary. […] They know you wouldn’t vote for the type of system they want if they described it honestly.” Patrick Murray, Monmouth University Polling Institute, as published in his Nov. 25 NJ.com op-ed, “Top N.J. pollster: Beware, Dems want you to vote for their redistricting scheme.”

“The constitutional amendment is worded in such a way as to pull the wool over voters’ eyes. This is Democrats being overly greedy for no good reason. It’s almost certain that they will do well with the next map and there are less egregious ways to prioritize the fairness metric. This just further erodes public trust in government for little actual gain.” – Patrick Murray, Monmouth University Polling Institute Director (Politico, Nov. 19, 2018)

Recently in the News…

12/12/2018 on NJ Spotlight: “Opposition Lines Up as NJ Dems Keep Going With Vexed Redistricting Measure”“New Jersey Democrats are going ahead with two public hearings tomorrow on a measure to change the way the state draws its legislative district boundaries, a proposal that to date no independent group — and even some that typically back Democrats — considers better or fairer than the current system.”

12/12/2018 in New Jersey Globe: “47 Groups Sign Letter Opposing Redistricting Amendment”
“The New Jersey League of Women Voters and 46 other groups, including a large number of liberal ones, on Wednesday sent New Jersey legislators a letter asking them to vote against the redistricting constitutional amendment being pushed by Democratic leaders in the legislature. “We urge you to stand up for democracy and for the people of New Jersey and vote “no” on these proposals that would lay the foundation for the extreme gerrymandering of New Jersey’s 40 legislative districts,” the groups said in the letter. “The manipulation of district boundary lines to favor one political party over another has no place in our State Constitution. New Jersey voters deserve a fair process and fair maps.”

12/9/2018 on NJ.com: “All you need to know about that controversial, fast-tracked plan that could give N.J. Dems even more power”
“Many liberal-leaning groups have spoken out. About a dozen activists held a news conference in Newark on Wednesday to lobby against the proposal — many of whom helped flip four Republican U.S. House seats last month. “We refuse to sit by and watch the Democratic party bosses further consolidate their power to have the ultimate leverage when it comes time to whip important votes,” said Sue Altman of South Jersey Progressive Women for Change. Yurji Rudensky of the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law suggested this could “open the door to gerrymandering.”

12/1/2018 in The Philadelphia Inquirer: “To combat gerrymandering, N.J. Democrats propose drawing maps to entrench their power”
“Bucking a national trend toward fighting gerrymandering by removing partisan politics from the process of drawing political maps, New Jersey Democrats are seeking to amend the state constitution in a way that would entrench their power in Trenton. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from good-government groups, civil rights groups, and redistricting experts who warn it would allow Democrats to unfairly draw the state’s legislative districts in their favor. A group led by prominent national Democratic figures called it ‘a major step in the wrong direction.’”

11/27/2018 on NJ.com: “After the legal weed drama came a classic Jersey power fight featuring, yes, backroom deals”
“Critics warn it would ensure Democrats keep control of the state Legislature for decades. A slightly watered-down version of the proposal advanced out of a state Senate committee Monday night, fast-tracked on the first day after Thanksgiving weekend. But not before Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy defied members of his own party by voicing opposition to it earlier in the day. Not before lawmakers made multiple changes in backroom meetings (yep, there really is a back room) and continued to make alterations even after some votes were tallied. Not before Republicans, academics, and advocates continued to cry foul. And not before a woman in the crowd yelled that Democrats should be “ashamed” of themselves. In other words, it was one of those classic nights for Jersey power politics.”

11/27/2018 in Politico NJ Playbook:
“After a five-hour hearing and a two-hour break — when the once-packed committee room was nearly empty — the Senate budget committee took up and passed a redistricting amendment that would virtually ensure Democratic dominance for decades to come… Note that even though Democratic legislative leadership is pushing this , a vast array of groups — from Republicans to academics to even liberal organization like the Working Families Alliance, which three years ago pushed for a redistricting amendment — are against it. And even the way Democrats advanced it through committee was controversial.”

11/27/2018 on NJ Spotlight: “DEMOCRATS PUSH CONTROVERSIAL REDISTRICTING OVERHAUL, CRITICS PUSH BACK”“The proposal was approved at the end of a marathon hearing during which critics wondered at the wisdom of such a proposal, particularly at this time. Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, questioned whether it was wise for lawmakers to advance the proposal in an era when the public is already deeply divided along partisan lines and as public trust in government is ‘pretty fragile at this point in time.’ But the strongest criticism came from Helen Kioukis, a program associate with the League of Women Voters, who labeled the proposed changes “undemocratic.” The hearing also contained a bizarre moment when some lawmakers’ votes were allowed to be recorded ahead of time despite a series of last-minute amendments being made; the lawmakers had apparently already left the State House.”

11/26/2018 on NJ.com: “N.J. Democrats have all kinds of power these days. This new plan of theirs could give them more.”
“Two sources with knowledge of the situation said top Democratic lawmakers are trying to diminish the role of Democratic State Committee Chairman John Currie, a Murphy ally. State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, has frequently locked horns with both the chairman and the governor. The sources — who asked for anonymity to discuss sensitive matters — said a plan to displace Currie as chairman went nowhere and the restricting proposal surfaced as another avenue to kneecap him.”

Additionally, on Dec. 11, 2018, the following 50 groups submitted letters to State legislators announcing their united opposition:

Action Together New Jersey
Allied for the American Promise
American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey
American Promise
Better Angels – Summit Chapter
BlueWaveNJ
Clean Water Action
Democracy for America, Essex County
Environment New Jersey
Faith in New Jersey
Food & Water Watch
Good Government Coalition of New Jersey (GGCNJ)
Housing and Community Development Network of NJ
Indivisible Cranbury
Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope
JOLT Ridgewood
League of Women Voters of New Jersey
Lutheran Episcopal Advocacy Ministry NJ
MomsRising
National Association of Social Workers – NJ Chapter
National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section
National Organization for Women of New Jersey
National Organization for Women – Northern New Jersey
Network for Responsible Public Policy
New Jersey Citizen Action
New Jersey Highlands American Promise Association
New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
New Jersey State Industrial Union Council
New Jersey Policy Perspective
New Jersey Work Environment Council
New Jersey Working Families Alliance
NJ Badass Teachers Association
NJ7 Forward
Our Revolution Essex County NJ
Our United Revolution New Jersey
Pinelands Preservation Alliance
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey
Reform Jewish Voice of New Jersey
RepresentUs/Central New Jersey
Salvation and Social Justice
Seniors for a Democratic Society
South Jersey Women for Progressive Change
STAND Central New Jersey
TriCounty NJ Chapter of American Promise
Unitarian Universalist FaithAction NJ
Westfield 20/20
Women for Progress

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Conagra Brands Moves Jobs Out of New Jersey

for sale Ridgewood_Real_Estate_theRodgewopodblog

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Parsippany NJ, Conagra Brands, the food giant that purchased Parsippany-based Pinnacle Foods for nearly $11 billion in October, is the second company in as many weeks looking for greener pastures . The company is closing a pair of Pinnacle facilities, according to a federal WARN notice — potentially costing 500 people their jobs.

Conagra, Chicago-based maker of products such as Healthy Choice and Orville Redenbacher’s, said in two separate notifications that it is closing office facilities at 399 Jefferson Road in Parsippany and 121 Woodcrest Road in Cherry Hill. The Parsippany property had served as headquarters for Pinnacle, maker of brands such as Duncan Hines, Vlasic and Birds Eye.

WARN Notice :  offers protection to workers, their families and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of covered plant closings and covered mass layoffs. This notice must be provided to either affected workers or their representatives (e.g., a labor union); to the State dislocated worker unit; and to the appropriate unit of local government.

Conagra Brands, Inc.  Parsippany  Date 03/22/2019   layoffs 308
Conagra Brands, Inc.  Cherry Hill  Date 05/24/2019    layoffs 196

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Census confirms: 63 percent of ‘non-citizens’ on welfare, 4.6 million households

illegal immigration and undocumented immigrants1

Ridgewood NJ, Census confirms: 63 percent of ‘non-citizens’ on welfare, 4.6 million households. A majority of “non-citizens,” including those with legal green card rights, are tapping into welfare programs set up to help poor and ailing Americans, a Census Bureau finding that bolsters President Trump’s concern about illegal immigrants costing the nation.

In a new analysis of the latest numbers, from 2014, 63 percent of non-citizens are using a welfare program, and it grows to 70 percent for those here 10 years or more, confirming another concern that once immigrants tap into welfare, they don’t get off it.

The numbers are huge. The report said that there are 4,684,784 million non-citizen households receiving welfare.

The above scenario is unsustainable . Some would call it an economic time bomb that will cripple local, state, and federal agencies as the numbers of illegals on welfare inevitably grows unless the country’s political leaders follow President Trump’s lead and help to create a safe, sound, and far more reasonable immigration policy that must first and foremost start with securing America’s borders.

According to the American Immigration Council , New Jersey hosts 500,000 undocumented immigrants comprised 24 percent of the immigrant population and 5.4 percent of the total state population in 2014.
604,615 people in New Jersey, including 204,946 born in the United States, lived with at least one undocumented family member between 2010 and 2014.
During the same period, 1 in 11 children in the state was a U.S. citizen living with at least one undocumented family member (180,580 children in total).

The crux of the argument on immigration is the significance of legal vs Illegal immigrants .  The media and most politicians continue to ignore this very vital fact . Unfortunately much of the data is comingled .

Undocumented immigrants comprised 7.9 percent of the New Jersey’s workforce in 2014.

Undocumented immigrants in New Jersey paid an estimated $587.4 million in state and local taxes in 2014. Their contribution would rise to $661.1 million if they could receive legal status. In 2012 New Jersey total Tax Revenue: $27,456,175,000. 


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The real winner of the presidential election in N.J.? Apathy

VOTE_theridgewoodblog

By Erin Petenko | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on February 25, 2017 at 7:15 AM

In New Jersey, something beat both Trump and Clinton in the 2016 election: voter apathy.

Nearly 2.2 million New Jersey residents were eligible to vote but didn’t turn out, edging out the 2.1 million votes for Hillary Clinton, according to data from the New Jersey Division of Elections and the United States Elections Project.

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2017/02/the_real_winner_of_the_presidential_election_in_nj_apathy.html

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President-Elect Donald J. Trump Names New Jersey Native Kellyanne Conway Counselor to the President

President-Elect Donald J
December 23,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ,  President-elect Donald J. Trump today announced his selection of Kellyanne Conway to serve as Counselor to the President. Conway has been serving as a senior member of the President-elect’s transition team and previously served as the campaign manager of his successful run for the presidency.

In her position, Conway will continue her role as a close advisor to the president and will work with senior leadership to effectively message and execute the Administration’s legislative priorities and actions.

“Kellyanne Conway has been a trusted advisor and strategist who played a crucial role in my victory.  She is a tireless and tenacious advocate of my agenda and has amazing insights on how to effectively communicate our message. I am pleased that she will be part of my senior team in the West Wing,” said President-elect Trump.

President-elect Trump’s victory on November 8th also shattered the glass ceiling for women. Conway is the first female campaign manager of either major party to win a presidential general election.

“I want to thank the President-elect for this amazing opportunity.  A Trump presidency will bring real change to Washington and to Americans across this great nation. I am humbled and honored to play a role in helping transform the movement he has led into a real agenda of action and results,’ said Conway.

Conway graduated magna cum laude from Trinity College (Washington, DC) and holds a J.D. with honors from George Washington University Law School.  She is the founder and owner of The Polling Company, inc./WomanTrend, a polling and research firm that for 21 years has served leading political figures, nonprofits and companies.

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State faces triple energy challenge in New Year

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DonQuiote theridgewoodblog.net

State faces triple energy challenge in New Year

Even with a revamped Energy Master Plan in place, the Christie administration faces tough challenges and tougher decisions in the New Year, ones that could affect the future of solar energy in the state and determine if offshore wind farms get built along the Jersey coast.

tate also faces an uphill battle in its efforts to develop new power plants here, a strategy that has suffered setbacks in the federal courts, as well as from a federal regulatory agency and the PJM Interconnection, the regional operator of the nation’s largest power grid.  (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0103/0311/