Washington Twp NJ, For the second time in less than one (1) week, an inexperienced tractor trailer driver was unable to safely negotiate a steep hill on Washington Avenue in Washington Township, requiring Washington Township Police to close a portion of the busy roadway on Thursday morning, 12/14, until the rig could be removed. Following consultation with an officer from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Police Services, Traffic Division, Washington Township PD issued two (2) summonses to the rig’s driver. After issuing the summonses, patrol officers directed the truck’s driver to turn around in a nearby cul-de-sac in order to safely re-enter Washington Avenue. However, the driver was unable to successfully complete the turn around maneuver and the rig became stuck in a pile of snow covered leaves. A heavy duty wrecker was then summoned to free the truck from its predicament.
Mahwah NJ, Multiple injuries were reported in late Thursday afternoon, 12/14, three (3) vehicle crash on Route 17 northbound in Mahwah. The accident occurred at a highway work site being guarded by NJSP Troopers. Mahwah Fire Department resources were required to free an individual who was trapped in the rear of a utility vehicle working at the guarded job site. A loaded passenger van and a 4-door sedan were also involved in the crash Several ambulances were called to the scene. Occupants of the passenger van sought shelter in the lobby of a nearby office building A flatbed tow truck was standing by at the site to begin removing the wreckage. Mahwah Police and Mahwah EMS also responded, along with mutual aid ambulances from commercial providers.
Fair Lawn NJ, A Fair Lawn Police uniformed patrol officer was injured in a motor vehicle crash while responding to an emergency call early Wednesday afternoon, 12/14. The crash, involving the officer’s marked police cruiser and a black, 4-door passenger vehicle, occurred at the intersection of Saddle River Road and Van Duren Avenue, Fair Lawn. The officer’s injuries were reported to be non life threatening. The other driver was apparently uninjured. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. Two (2) persons were said to be in custody in connection with the road rage incident/physical assault that the injured officer was responding to.
Wayne NJ, the Goal Is To Promote Economic Growth & Candidates Who Will Improve Economy. Citing the need for immediate improvement of state and regional economies, more pro-business policies and effective tax policies, New Jersey businessman Joseph Caruso has launched a new Political Action Committee- – The Organization for Economic Growth (OEG ) https://www.NJOEG.com).
The NJOEG will serve as an advocate for economic policies that create jobs and spur investment, as well as a supporter of candidates for elected office who back pro-growth policies, says Caruso, who will serve as chairman of the organization.
Caruso, who will serve as chairman of the organization said, “The birth of the PAC comes from the large number of people I meet in and out of business who are completely frustrated by the state’s failed taxation and economic policies. There is a need for an organization that can turn that frustration into action that will change the economic climate of New Jersey.”
Caruso said that many elected officials from both parties seem oblivious to the economic peril that New Jersey is in and they fail to comprehend the burden that both homeowners and business owners live under and what will happen unless drastic changes are made.
“It is shocking to me and many other business people that there are legislators and other elected officials who continue to advocate for higher taxes and more regulations while ignoring the state’s lousy business reputation, its existing tax burden and its monstrous debt problems,” said Caruso, a partner in a corporate consulting firm.
“Our goals is to work with well intentioned officials on both sides of the aisle to help create a path to economic prosperity that both Democrats and Republicans can support,” added Caruso
ATTRACTING MILLENIALS
The OEG has attracted bright, young and energetic talent like: John DePinto of Bloomfield, who will serve as Vice Chairman, Ray Cottiers of New Milford will be the Director of Strategic Services and Alex Cucciniello of Mahwah will run the day to day operations as the Executive Director.
“If New Jersey doesn’t alter course soon, the jobs of the future economy – the jobs that will employ our Millennials — will be gone, followed by catastrophic economic consequences for the state,” added DePinto. “I’m a young professional and I would like to raise a family New Jersey, but currently that does not seem practical– or possible.”
Cucciniello said the OEG will serve as a information center to help educate the public and elected officials on economic and tax issues and to be a voice against the state’s bad economic policies.
“Much of the readily available economic information that is published or broadcast about our state and region is politically charged and often misleading. Our goal is to distill information from people actually working in business and interact with the media in a constructive way that will lead economic change,” said Cucciniello, who formerly worked in Washington D.C. as an intern in the White House Office of Political Affairs.
“I also believe people need to fully understand the consequences of New Jersey’s continued bad economic policies,” added Cucciniello.
Cottiers stated, “many public officials who want to improve the economy lack the information or the forum to persuade their constituents or colleagues about the best course to follow. Part of our mission will be to provide data to officials who are seriously committed to breaking down the barriers to economic growth. And part of our mission will be to be a the voice — across various media platforms — that argues against policies that harm businesses.”
The new Organization will host its initial fundraising event in January; details will be available shortly. For more information visit NJOEG.com and follow and like us on Facebook at Organization for Economic Growth (@StrengthThroughIndustry).
Dumont NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrest of HECTOR O. TEJADA (DOB: 01/05/1967; married; a US Postal Service employee) of 518 New York Avenue, Union City, New Jersey on Theft by Deception and Forgery charges. The arrest is result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”) Financial Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, the Allendale Police Department under the direction of Chief George Scherb and the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”).
In September 2017, a resident of Allendale responded to the Allendale Police Department to complain that a New Jersey State issued check that was to be delivered to the resident’s home had been stolen. During the course of a cooperative investigation conducted by members of the BCPO Financial Crimes Unit and the Allendale Police Department with the assistance of agents of the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, it was determined that Hector O. TEJADA, a United States Postal Service mail carrier stationed out of the U.S. Post Office in Dumont, New Jersey, had stolen the check and had negotiated it through his personal bank account. An investigation of Mr. TEJADA’s activities revealed that between March 2017 and October 2017, he had stolen, from his mail route, approximately nine checks worth in excess of $8,000.00. After stealing the checks, Mr. TEJADA forged the names of the victims (check receivers) on the back of each check and deposited them into his personal checking account through the use of automated teller machines and cellular telephone, electronic deposits.
On December 11, 2017, Mr. TEJADA was arrested in Dumont, New Jersey by members of the BCPO Financial Crimes Unit, the Allendale and Dumont Police Departments, and U.S. Postal OIG agents.
Hector O. TEJADA was charged with one count of violating N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4A, Theft by Deception, a 3rd degree crime and one count of violating N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1A(2), Forgery, a 3rd degree crime. Mr. TEJADA was issued a summons and released pending his first appearance in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court at 9:00 a.m. on December 27, 2017.
This is an ongoing investigation and members of the public, particularly in the Dumont area, who suspect they may have been the victim of mail theft are encouraged to contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-201-226-5532 or the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General at 1-888-877-7644.
Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and would like to thank the Allendale and Dumont Police Departments and the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General for their assistance in this investigation.
Washington Twp NJ, An inexperienced tractor trailer driver was unable to negotiate a steep portion of Washington Avenue west of Van Emburgh Avenue in Washington Township on Tuesday afternoon, 12/12 and lost control of the rig while trying to back down the hill. Washington Township Police responded and issued multiple summonses to the driver and impounded the rig for being unregistered and uninsured. A heavy duty tow truck driver freed the rig from its predicament before towing it to the impound yard. No one was injured in the incident.
Trenton NJ, In an historic moment for the Garden State, Governor-elect Phil Murphy this morning formally nominated Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal, a Sikh American to serve as the state’s next attorney general.
“Our state needs someone with a steel backbone who will stand up to President Trump to protect the values of our state and all 9 million of our residents,” Murphy told reporters at a Statehouse press conference, standing beside Grewal, who is poised to become the first South Asian attorney general in New Jersey history and the first Sikh to serve as an attorney general in American history.
Grewal is a Georgetown University grad, who attended law school at the College of William and Mary, and built his career in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and as Bergen County Prosecutor, where he oversees 3,000 law enforcement officers and 70 municipalities.
“We are turning the page in New Jersey and I am honored to have Gurbir. There should be no mistake. He is a proud son of immigrants. His story is the American story,” said the Governor-elect.
Murphy is clearly trying to make a point based on the race , the Ridgewood blog thinks Murphy blinded by politics may have gotten more than he bargained for . Grewal a Democrat who was appointed by Republican Chris Christie . The Democrats delayed the confirmation of Grewal for some time . It seems Grewal is pretty much a straight shooter unlike his political motivated predecessor and would not play ball for the usual Democrat talking points .
While Murphy bills Grewal as the point man against President Donald Trump , most experts think Trump policies are the lest of the Governor elect’s list of things to be worrying about . The states apocalyptic financial situation, depleted tax base , massive unfunded pension liabilities and a huge level of illegal aliens living in the state have most Trenton watchers placing bets as to date for the total collapse of New Jersey finances
photo courtesy of the Bergen County Prosecutors Office and the Glen Rock Police
December 12,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Glen Rock NJ,Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal discussed the sharp rise in drug related deaths in the U.S. since the 1990s at a town hall meeting in Glen Rock last week.
“Last year, hardly a day went by in Bergen County without a heroin arrest, an overdose, or a Narcan save…there’s just more work to do.” – Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal
The presentation is available here: https://vimeo.com/246359764
Overprescribing of opioids causing unintentional overdoses and early death:
91 Americans die each day from an opioid overdose. US providers wrote nearly 250,000,000 million opioid prescriptions in 2013—enough for every adult to have their own bottle of pills. The majority of drug overdose deaths (more 60%) involve an opioid. Since 1999, the number of overdose deaths involving opioids (including prescription opioids and heroin) quadrupled. From 2000 to 2015, 500,000+ people died from drug overdoses. Prescription opioids are used to treat moderate-to-severe pain; in recent years, their use has increased dramatically, despite serious risks and lack of evidence of their long-term effectiveness.
You’ll see remarks from County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal and two survivors of opioid addiction …a recovering addict and his mother. Prosecutor Grewal provided detailed remarks and information about the heroin crisis in Bergen County to citizens from Glen Rock who assembled at the town hall last week.
From the distribution of this dangerous narcotic, to warning signs, and to the county’s unique plan of prevention, enforcement, and treatment, Prosecutor Grewal left attendees with lots of food for thought.
In conjunction with Glen Rock, New Jersey officials, the Glen Rock Police Department – NJ, The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources, and others, this event was one of many public education initiatives conducted by the BCPO. #StopTheODs
Fair lawn NJ, Fair Lawn Police, Fire, EMS, and Heavy Rescue Squad units all responded to a rollover truck crash in front of 12-15 Saddle River Road, Fair Lawn on Monday morning, 12/11. Two (2) occupants of the truck were transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital with non life threatening injuries. At least one (1) utility pole was destroyed in connection with the incident.
Linden NJ, A New Jersey state trooper was sentenced today on charges that he tampered with evidence and falsified records to cover up the fact that he conducted improper stops of female drivers in order to view the private contents of their cell phones and proposition them to meet him socially.
Marquice Prather, 38, of Linden, N.J., was sentenced to three years of probation by Superior Court Judge Benjamin S. Bucca in Middlesex County. He was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and pay a $5,000 fine. The judge also ordered that Prather have no contact with his victims. Prather pleaded guilty on Sept. 11 to charges of third-degree invasion of privacy, fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence, and fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records. He forfeited his job as a state trooper and is permanently barred from public office and employment.
Deputy Attorneys General Brian Faulk, Jonathan Gilmore and Charles Wright prosecuted the case for the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau.
The New Jersey State Police Office of Professional Standards investigated numerous incidents involving Prather that reflected a pattern of pulling over women, ranging in age from 18 to 42, and soliciting them to go on a date with him or give him their phone numbers. The investigation revealed the following conduct, for which he pleaded guilty to the three charges:
Prather requested and searched the cell phones of numerous female drivers without justification, after asking the women to unlock the phones. He looked through personal information and images on the phones and, in some cases, reproduced intimate photos and videos of the women.
Prather disposed of suspected marijuana that he seized from the vehicle of a female motorist.
Prather falsely reported the gender of drivers he pulled over to disguise the fact that he stopped a high number of females.
Several women initially came forward to file complaints against Prather about improper conduct. A number of other women subsequently gave statements outlining similar conduct after they were contacted by investigators who were auditing Prather’s patrol activities. Prather was suspended without pay by the State Police after his arrest on Dec. 9, 2016.
Paramus NJ, on Thursday night Paramus officials rejected a proposal to build a mutifamily housing development near New Bridge Medical Center. The Paramus Zoning Board of Adjustment unanimously denied Highview Homes’ application to build a 35-unit development on a nearly 2-acre lot on Sorbello Road. The Red Bank-based applicant sought multiple variances, including for multifamily use and height.
According to the “We Are Paramus ” Facebook page , “Great job by the zoning board for hearing the voice of 3,711 residents that voted to stop high density housing in our borough. Thank you for putting the residents first and not the over developing machine!” Others argued that , “This vote is a direct result of the master plan which was passed well before this years election.”
Lodi NJ, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Division of Alcohol Beverage Control have ordered the liquor licenses of two North Jersey “gentleman’s clubs” to be sold or transferred to a bona fide third party by January 3, 2018, because of alleged noncompliance with a previous Consent Order.
The two clubs, Satin Dolls in Lodi and A.J.’s Gentleman’s Club in Secaucus, have until December 17, 2017 to cease providing live entertainment. The Satin Dolls club served as the fictional “Bada Bing” in the HBO television series “The Sopranos.” If live entertainment is provided after that date, the licenses will be suspended immediately and the owners will be subject to potential disciplinary charges.
The two clubs and their owners have been the subject of investigation and legal proceedings initiated by the Division for more than six years, during which the owners, various members of the Cardinalle family, sought to retain ownership of the licenses and continue to operate the businesses.
The Division has alleged that Anthony Cardinalle, who was criminally disqualified from maintaining involvement with the clubs’ operations, nonetheless continued to run the businesses. The Division also alleges that the owners failed to account for large amounts of cash flowing in and out of the businesses.
Under an order signed by Director David P. Rible on November 20, 2017, the Cardinalles’ involvement with the clubs must end.
“The Cardinalles may have wanted to keep the business in the family, but that’s not how it works. Their continued flouting of Alcoholic Beverage Control laws cannot and will not be tolerated,” said Attorney General Porrino. “Illegal activity was glorified at the ‘Bada Bing’ in the fictional world of Tony Soprano, but it has no place in modern-day New Jersey It’s time to shut it down.”
In 2011, a Consent Order with the companies Route 17 Entertainment Inc. (Satin Dolls) and Sea-Card Enterprises Inc. (A.J’s Gentleman’s Club) mandated that Luceen Cardinalle, the wife of Anthony who was listed as the sole shareholder of both corporations, turn over the licenses to her daughter, Loren Cardinalle. The Cardinalles were ordered to pay $1.25 million in penalties as a compromise in lieu of revocation of both licenses, and Loren Cardinalle was ordered to transfer both licenses to a bona fide third party by December 31, 2015.
“The holding of licenses to sell and serve alcohol is contingent upon the owners’ behaving in a reputable manner,” said Director Rible. “The Cardinalles, quite simply, have not played by the rules despite many opportunities to correct their behavior, and it’s time to get them out of the alcohol business once and for all.”
Anthony Cardinalle pled guilty in 1995 to federal income tax evasion for not reporting cash payments from “gentleman’s clubs” in which he held undisclosed interests. During the Division’s investigation, evidence was uncovered that Anthony Cardinalle was still actively involved with running the clubs.
Anthony Cardinalle was subsequently indicted by the federal government in January 2013 for participating in a conspiracy by the Genovese crime family related to the waste-disposal industry in New Jersey and New York. He pled guilty in December 2013 to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit extortion and was ordered to spend 30 days in jail and pay a fine and restitution.
As the 2015 Consent Order deadline approached, Loren Cardinalle asked the Division for permission to continue to hold the licenses. A series of extensions were granted, with the latest deadline set for September 28, 2017. After further investigation, the Division issued a Notice of Charges for criminal solicitation for prostitution and lewd activity on the licensed premises in May 2017. Those charges remain pending.
The Division continues to allege that Anthony Cardinalle is involved with the operation of the clubs, citing the following as evidence:
The Lodi Police Department advised the Division that Anthony Cardinalle has been the contact person for issues with the Satin Dolls license.
When police were called to the club because of a report of an attempted burglary, Anthony Cardinalle was the club representative dealing with the matter.
The Attorney General thanked the Division’s Investigation Unit for its work on this matter.
Ridgewood NJ, UPDATE: Beginning January 1, 2018, Ho-Ho-Kus Police will undertake an enforcement campaign at the Glenwood Road grade crossing that targets unlawful truck traffic and drivers executing illegal U-turns. The enforcement campaign is expected to last six (6) months. After completion of the targeted enforcement campaign, there will be a three (3) month review period. NJDOT will render a decision as to the future of the Glenwood Road grade crossing following the review period.
Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrest of MOHAMAD KHALAIFEH (DOB: 8/13/1981; single; and unemployed) of 386 Getty Avenue, Apt 3, Paterson, New Jersey on Identity Theft and Tampering with Public Records charges. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti.
In September 2017, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received information from New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission representatives who had identified KHALAIFEH as an individual who had provided the personal identifying information and documents of another person to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in order to obtain a New Jersey driver’s license. The fraud was identified as a result of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s ongoing anti-fraud initiative.
Upon receipt of the information, detectives conducted an investigation which revealed that KHALAIFEH had, in fact, received a New Jersey driver’s license as a result of fraud.
On December 4, 2017, KHALAIFEH was arrested at his residence in Paterson, New Jersey, and charged with one count of Obtaining a New Jersey Driver’s License/ Identification by Knowingly Displaying or Uttering the Personal Identifying Information and Documents of Another, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-17.2a, a 2nd degree crime; and one count of Tampering with Public Records with the Intent to Defraud, N.J.S.A. 2C:28-7a(2), a 3rd degree crime. KHALAIFEH was charged by way of a criminal complaint summons and was released pending his first appearance in Bergen County Central Judicial Court on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 8:30 a.m.
Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey continues to suffer long term brain drain . Millennials it seems can’t get out of New Jersey fast enough. From 2000 to 2013, the number of 22-to-34-year-olds living in New Jersey fell by 2.3 percent, according to Census data, even while the number of people in this age bracket increased by 6.8 percent nationally during the same timeframe. According to a calculation by Governing using Census estimates, New Jersey now ranks 47th out of 50 states and Washington, D.C., for its percentage of Millennials in 2012.
Why do so many young people flee the Garden State? The smart-growth nonprofit New Jersey Future considered this demographic trend in a report released in September. The report measured New Jersey’s municipalities on three smart growth metrics: walkability and street connectivity; the presence of a mixed-use center; and net activity density (defined as population plus employment, divided by developed square miles).
Unsurprisingly, New Jersey’s Millennials are just like Millennials everywhere else: They gravitate toward dense, mixed-use, walkable areas. Across the 118 places that scored well on all three smart-growth metrics, Millennials are 25 percent more prevalent than they are statewide. Conversely, they are 19 percent less likely than the general New Jersey population to live in the places that scored badly on all three metrics.
S it appears the lack of Millennial-friendly environments. Of the state’s 565 municipalities, only 183 scored well on two or all three smart-growth metrics, and according to the study, only 111 of those places are popular with Millennials. This imbalance may increase competition for housing in those high-scoring municipalities, pushing rent prices higher and Millennials out of those neighborhoods where they want to live most.
There are a number of other indicators that New Jersey’s Millennials are struggling with as well and like other generations its finding affordable housing . 47 percent of Millennials now live with their parents. Giving New Jersey the highest rate in the country of 18-to-34-year-olds living with their parents. Nationally, the number is just 33 percent, and in nearby Pennsylvania, it’s 37 percent.
