>State opposes increasing retirement age for state troopers
Gov. Chris Christie wants to reform the state’s under-funded pension system, but the state continues to fight an effort by some 200 state troopers to increase the mandatory retirement age. (Method, Courier-Post)
https://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20110104/NEWS02/110104002/State-opposes-increasing-retirement-age-for-state-troopers
>Christie summarily dismisses seven county superintendents of schools
For decades, New Jersey’s county superintendents of schools were hardly headline-making jobs. They were often filled by career educators or state department veterans whose tasks included things like technical assistance on local budgets or tracking school bus routes. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0103/2319/
>Christie says he is preparing to reduce health benefits for public employees, raise their coverage contributions
Gov. Chris Christie said Monday that he is preparing to propose changes in health care coverage for public employees in New Jersey and he indicated the changes would include reducing benefits and requiring them to pay a share of the coverage. (Hester, New Jersey Newsroom)
https://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/christie-says-he-is-preparing-to-reduce-health-benefits-for-public-employees-raise-their-coverage-contributions
>Rivera-Soto won’t seek reappointment
State Supreme Court Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto will not be seeking reappointment to the Supreme Court of New Jersey, according to a letter the judge sent the governor today. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
https://www.politickernj.com/43818/rivera-soto-wont-seek-reappointment
>Europe starts confiscating private pension funds
The U.S. isn’t the only place that’s facing a major pension fund crisis. The Christian Science Monitor has this alarming report:
People’s retirement savings are a convenient source of revenue for governments that don’t want to reduce spending or make privatizations. As most pension schemes in Europe are organised by the state, European ministers of finance have a facilitated access to the savings accumulated there, and it is only logical that they try to get a hold of this money for their own ends. In recent weeks I have noted five such attempts: Three situations concern private personal savings; two others refer to national funds
Read more at the Washington Examiner: https://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/01/europe-starts-confiscating-private-pension-funds#ixzz1A44HOvGW
>Drilling Is Stalled Even After Ban Is Lifted
By BEN CASSELMAN And DANIEL GILBERT
More than two months after the Obama administration lifted its ban on drilling in the deep-water Gulf of Mexico, oil companies are still waiting for approval to drill the first new oil well there. Experts now expect the wait to continue until the second half of 2011, and perhaps into 2012
MORE: https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204204004576050451696859780.html?ru=yahoo&mod=yahoo_hs
>UPDATE 1-US House Republicans move to repeal Obama healthcare
By Thomas Ferraro
WASHINGTON, Jan 3 (Reuters) – Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives plan to pass a bill next week to repeal President Barack Obama’s overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system, a senior party aide said on Monday, but the effort is widely expected to fail in the Senate.
MORE: https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0314683520110103
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In case you missed it, the owner of 257 East Ridgewood Avenue (former Sealfons building), has proposed construction of a massive six (6) story commercial/residential/parking garage structure
In case you missed it, the owner of 257 East Ridgewood Avenue (former Sealfons building), has proposed construction of a massive six (6) story commercial/residential/parking garage structure to occupy the entire eastern portion of the Village block between East Ridgewood Avenue and Franklin Avenue.
Take a look at the attached photo to see how massive this structure will be! All labeled buildings would be demolished if this plan is approved by Ridgewood’s Planning Board. The proposed structure will be the same height as the existing apartment building on the northeast corner of Franklin Avenue and North Maple Avenue.
The Fly wonders why Planning Board members Nancy Bigos, Bernadette Walsh, and Albert Pucciarelli think this is such a good idea (all were quoted in a recent edition of The Ridgewood News as having a positive view of the plan).
Am I missing something besides the fact that this would be a large tax ratable? Is the Village now for sale?
>Village Manager Announces Key Departmental Promotions
Village Manager Dr. Kenneth Gabbert has announced the following key departmental promotions:
Jacqueline Luthecke from Patrol Lieutenant to Captain of Ridgewood Police Department
Stephen P. Sanzari from Treasurer to Village CFO
>Congressional redistricting, budget gap could make this a crucial year in N.J. politics
The race for control of Congress is over for now. Gov. Chris Christie is not up for re-election until 2013. But 2011 is going to be a huge year in New Jersey politics. (Friedman, The Star-Ledger)
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/01/congressional_redistricting_bu.html
>FEMA to check blizzard damage in N.J. to determine federal aid
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was hoping to get federal aid to cover the cost of cleanup from the post-Christmas blizzard. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was to survey the damage in the Garden State Monday, Jay Dow reports. (CBS New York)
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/01/03/fema-to-survey-blizzard-damage-to-n-j/
>Center to fight for ‘Abbott’ restoration
The Christie administration violated the New Jersey Constitution and a court order when it cut more than $1 billion in state aid to public schools in the spring, education advocates will argue before the New Jersey Supreme Court this week. (Giordano, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
https://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20110103_Center_to_fight_for__Abbott__restoration.html#ixzz19y3QtBaU
>GOP agrees: Toback should not get $175G
The state Department of Education’s rejection of a proposed contract with the newly-appointed superintendent in the city is receiving praise from a likely constituency: Local GOPers. (Colaneri, The Jersey Journal)
https://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/hoboken/index.ssf?/base/news-2/129403950770230.xml&coll=3
>About those conflicted school board members
The governor, thankfully, reads the Daily Record.
We know that because at a town hall meeting in Hackettstown last week, Chris Christie referenced a Daily Record story about school board members having ties to the teachers’ union — the New Jersey Education Association. (Snowflack, Daily Record)
>DiGaetano starts 36th District comeback
DiGaetano starts 36th District comeback facing GOP connective tissue challenges
A fundraiser at the Brownstone in Paterson last night yielded handfuls of supporters intent on re-electing former Assembly Majority Leader Paul DiGaetano to public office, this time to the state senate. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
https://www.politickernj.com/43106/digaetano-starts-36th-district-comeback-facing-gop-connective-tissue-challenges
