There are a few ways to look at the “2017’s Most Patriotic States in America” study released by WalletHub on Tuesday.
One would be to frame it as an edict that the “least patriotic states voted for Hillary Clinton” as a conservative outlet did a few hours ago.
That’s all well and good, I suppose.
I choose, however, to see how Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey fared.
This isn’t to make a point about a Pennsylvania that voted for Donald Trump or a New Jersey that’s led by highly unpopular Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
It’s all about proximity. And, quite frankly, the results are disappointing.
Not only are all three in the bottom 10 states when “13 key indicators of patriotism” were tabulated. But, for the second consecutive year, New Jersey is the least patriotic state in all the land.
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey Senate Democrats blocked the consideration of legislation sponsored by Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) that would offer financial protections to the victims of gender-based wage discrimination.
Senate Democrats voted to table Sen. Jennifer Beck’s legislation offering financial protections to the victims of gender-based wage discrimination. (SenateNJ.com)
Beck attempted to move her legislation, S-2458, that would protect from taxation any awards or settlements related to claims of unlawful gender-based wage discrimination.
“New Jersey has one of the most aggressive, progressive wage discrimination statutes in the nation,” said Beck. “When such discrimination has been resolved, either through a trial or settlement agreement, our State furthers the victim’s mistreatment through aggressive income taxation of damages that have been awarded. I’m disappointed that Senate Democrats voted against the interests of women today.”
Beck’s motion to relieve S-2458 from the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee where it has languished without hearing was immediately tabled by the Senate Democrats in a party-line 21-16 vote.
“It doesn’t help New Jersey women to have strong pay equity laws on the books if we simply allow the compensation for their mistreatment to be taxed away,” added Beck. “Victims deserve every penny they are awarded for their suffering. Senate Democrats should be ashamed for putting the financial interests of the State over the needs of women who have been victimized.”
Paramus NJ, The adult male driver of a Honda CRV was transported by ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center’s main campus following a crash on the Paramus campus of Bergen Community College Monday evening, 06/26. The driver apparently lost control of his vehicle exiting the campus onto Paramus Road, hitting a guard rail, curb, and tree along the way. No other vehicles were involved. Paramus Police, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Paramus EMS, Bergen Community College Public Safety, and a paramedic team from The Valley Hospital all responded to the incident.
Glen Rock NJ, An early Monday afternoon, 06/26, two (2) vehicle crash on Prospect Street in Glen Rock, resulted in both cars being towed from the scene. No injuries were reported when a Honda Accord struck a parked Toyota Corolla. Glen Rock PD handled the investigation and documentation.
Washington Twp NJ, An elderly adult female occupant of a home on Taylor Street in Washington Township was rescued by three (3) neighbors after a large tree toppled onto her home on Monday afternoon, 06/26. The resident was uninjured in the incident. Washington Township Police and Fire Department personnel responded to the scene. A municipal building sub code official was also requested to respond.
Updated on June 25, 2017 at 11:25 AMPosted on June 25, 2017 at 11:23 AM
BY JOSEPH ATMONAVAGE
NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
EDGEWATER — The bed is on an elevated bunk. Below the bed is a desk, dressed with items from college: clothes, books and accessories. The floor is barely visible beneath a slew of still-stuffed bags of clothes.
In 2016, Dina Bardakh, 23, uprooted her life from Hunter College, along with the degree in political science she received, and plopped down inside the 273-square-foot room of her mother’s two-bedroom modest apartment alongside the Hudson River.
A year later Bardakh is still there, in the room she shares with her two teenage sisters.
“I never unpacked,” Bardakh explains. “I never imagined myself back here for as long as I have been. So, what do you do then?”
ROXBURY, NJ – Thanks to the Internet, print newspapers have been declining for a decade. There’s at least one Roxbury resident who won’t miss a method used by the struggling industry to stay afloat: The free sample paper thrown on front yards.
That person is Emil Ruesch of Landing. He came last week to a Roxbury Mayor and Council meeting and spoke his mind.
“I’m here to get support in banning these free publications that are ruining our community,” Ruesch told the town officials.
ASSEMBLY CLEARS BUCCO BILL HELPING DISABLED PEOPLE RETAIN RETIRED SERVICE DOGS AS PETS
June 26,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A disabled person who has relied on the loyalty of a service dog will not have to choose between a place to live and their beloved canine companion under legislation by Assemblyman Anthony Bucco that was approved today by the Assembly. The bill (S1359/A4096) exempts retired service or guide dogs from housing contracts that restrict pets.
Assemblyman Anthony Bucco, “There is a saying that a man’s best friend is his dog. That is never as true as when the dog is a service dog,” and continues , “A person who depends on their dog every day develops a bond that should never be broken by a legal technicality.”
Once an aging service dog is no longer able to work, it is considered a pet. Some leases prohibit pets, while others limit renters to only one dog. In some cases, when the retired dog is replaced with another trained dog, a housing contract provision may be violated.
“After years of loyal service, a guide dog becomes a beloved part of the family,” said Bucco. “There may be a need for a younger, more capable service dog, but the retired animal has earned the right to remain in a loving home.”
The legislation passed the Senate in August 2016, and now moves to Gov. Christie’s desk for approval.
New Jersey’s almost 9 million residents make this state denser than India or Japan. And the population is projected to grow to 10.2 to 10.4 million by 2040. Will we have enough water for our residents, farmers, businesses, industries — and the environment — now and in the future?
That question is front and center following the release of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s draft 2017-2022 update of the New Jersey Statewide Water Supply Plan — the first update in 21 years.
Lyndhurst NJ, A Lyndhurst, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 46 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining over $1.5 million from approximately 100 victims prior to high-profile initial public offerings (IPOs), Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Omar Hafez, 25, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls to an information charging him one count of wire fraud. Judge Walls imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From July 2014 through December 2015, Hafez operated an investment fraud scheme in which he and others created a number of entities, including Lotus Global. Several of these entities had websites and social media pages listing Hafez as the CEO and advertising themselves as successful wealth management companies.
In order to deceive victim investors, Hafez represented that he had access to shares of various companies prior to their initial public offerings and could use that access to provide significant profits to investors. However, bank records for accounts controlled by Hafez and certain Lotus Global entities revealed that none of the money provided by victim investors was used to purchase shares or invest in any of the pre-IPO companies.
Instead, Hafez used the funds for his own benefit, including several large purchases at luxury car dealerships, including an approximately $87,000 purchase at Prestige Motors, an approximately $24,160 purchase at Signature Car Collections, and an approximately $8,690 purchase at Dream Cars National LLC. In addition, Hafez purchased numerous luxury goods, including an approximately $17,250 purchase at Tourneau Inc., an approximately $5,613 purchase at Louis Vuitton, and an approximately $3,000 purchase at Tiffany & Co., as well as airplane tickets and hotel stays for a single trip to Chicago totaling approximately $10,000.
Hafez employed numerous strategies to maintain the victims’ confidence and induce further investments. For example, bank records showed that Hafez occasionally used money from earlier victim investors in order to pay future victims “lulling” payments. In classic Ponzi scheme fashion, Hafez lied to investors and told them that these payments were returns on their investments.
As funds began to run out and investors demanded their money with increasing frequency, Hafez provided certain victim investors with checks for thousands of dollars, claiming that they represented investment returns or a refund of initial investments. When victim investors attempted to deposit or cash these checks, the checks were rejected due to insufficient funds because Hafez and others had already spent the victims’ money.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Walls sentenced Hafez to three years of supervised release. Hafez must also pay restitution of $1.5 million.
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey residents could soon be able to legally light fireworks in their backyards. Currently, only New Jersey, Delaware and Massachusetts have a blanket ban on the sale of fireworks.
In a 35-1 vote, state senators agreed that outlawing fireworks doesn’t mean people don’t buy them. Many just travel across state lines to purchase their products, leaving thousands of dollars of tax revenue behind.
Lawmakers have sent a bill to Gov. Chris Christie’s office to legalize the sale of certain types of fireworks for people 16 and older.The bill would only allow the purchase of fireworks that are “non-exploding”, “non-aerial fireworks”, like sparklers and glow worms.
Republican Measures Would Address Nearly $2 Billion Property Tax Liability
June 22, 2017
the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Democrats in the New Jersey Senate blocked the consideration of sick leave reforms sponsored by Senator Jennifer Beck (R-11) and Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) that would address a nearly $2 billion liability for property taxpayers.
Senate Democrats tabled Sen. Jennifer Beck’s sick leave reform effort during the Senate session on June 22, 2017. (SenateNJ.com)
Senators Beck and Doherty made motions to relieve S-2947 and S-572 from the committee process for consideration by the full New Jersey Senate.
“We’ve tried repeatedly to put an end to the outrageous six-figure payouts that drive up property tax bills statewide,” said Beck. “Democrats, however, continue to block our reforms that would end this abusive practice and make New Jersey more affordable. To be clear, this is more than a billion dollars of property tax relief that New Jersey Democrats have denied.”
In one recent example of abuse, the retiring police chief of Jersey City was paid $512,620 for 450 unused days.
“No public employee should get a half-million dollar check at taxpayer expense simply because they were blessed with health,” said Doherty. “It’s inexplicable that New Jersey Democrats continue to defend this blatant abuse of property taxpayers.”
Senator Doherty’s S-572 would end the practice known as “terminal leave” when a public employee, in anticipation of retirement, is permitted to use up accumulated days of sick leave. The bill requires a verified medical necessity to use six of more consecutive accumulated sick days in the 12 months prior to retirement.
Senate Democrats blocked consideration of sick leave reform legislation sponsored by Sen. Mike Doherty on June 22, 2017. (SenateNJ.com)
Senator Beck’s S-2947 would limit payouts at retirement to $10,000 for accumulated unused sick leave for all public employees, and limit the carrying forward of vacation leave for one year only.
Previous Senate Republican efforts to move sick leave reform legislation were blocked on February 13th and March 13th.
Glen Rock NJ, Glen Rock FD and Hawthorne Fire Department Engine Company #4 personnel were dispatched to 84 Rutland Road, Glen Rock on Friday afternoon, 06/23, in response to a 911 telephone call reporting a possible hazardous materials spill near a storm drain. The spilled liquid was identified as latex paint and was washed off the roadway into the storm drain (which was subsequently flushed with HFD E4’s tank water) based on directions from the County of Bergen HazMat Unit provided via telephone. No injuries were reported in the incident. Glen Rock Police also responded.
Former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement Leads Battle Against Christie Administration
June 23,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The case of Holland v. Porrino, et al concerns a Dallas Cowboys football fan involved in a bar fight, who claims he was denied his constitutional right to bail by a New Jersey judge.
32-year-old Brittan Holland was arrested and charged following an argument and fight with a Philadelphia Eagles fan in Winslow Township. He was subsequently ordered to be released wearing a GPS ankle monitor pending his trial. However, the suit contends that this action reflects the unlawfulness of New Jersey’s bail reform laws, which took effect on January 1. Intended to make things more fair for defendants who lack the financial resources to be bailed out, the new system calls for judges to utilize a risk assessment tool to determine whether to hold defendants in jail or release them on a simple promise to appear.
Filed by former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement on behalf of Holland and Lexington National Insurance Corporation, which represents others in Holland’s situation, the suit maintains that New Jersey’s current bail reform laws are illegal. Clement, widely regarded as one of the greatest constitutional litigators of our time, contends that bail is guaranteed in the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.
The defense is led by Attorney General Christopher Porrino, representing Governor Chris Christie’s administration, to which he reports. Christie was strongly behind the push for New Jersey bail reform when it passed in 2014.
By ordering Holland’s release on the condition that he wear an ankle monitor, Clement’s suit states that he was thus denied the option of bail, to which he should have been legally entitled.
Since taking effect, the state’s new bail laws have been highly controversial, with both law enforcement and victims groups criticizing it as creating a threat to public safety. Under the former system, which used money bail to create accountability, potentially dangerous defendants were carefully monitored by bail agents after being released. With the new system, there is little incentive for a person who has been freed from jail to show up for court.
As for Brittan Holland, Clement’s suit claims that under the previous law, he would have very likely “paid a nonexcessive amount of bail to secure his future appearance, likely with the help of a surety company like Plaintiff Lexington National. He then would have enjoyed his full pre-trial liberty, just like any other presumptively innocent member of society.” However, because the court never had the option to set bail, Holland’s release was secured through non-monetary conditions, which included the use of an ankle monitor, through which his “liberty is sharply curtailed.” The suit adds, “he cannot shop for food or basic necessities and cannot take his son to baseball practice”
The plaintiff in this case is bringing three claims against New Jersey bail reform: (1) deprivation of his Eighth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment right to bail by denying his right to bail as an option in the first instance; (2) deprivation of his rights of due process; (3) violation of his Fourth Amendment rights to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, as a result of being required to be placed on GPS and other monitoring.
A preliminary injunction motion has been filed, with the court being asked to hear the matter by July 17 – and rule on it in an expedited fashion. Practically speaking, New Jersey’s bail reform laws could face a court injunction within the next four weeks. If that occurs, it would entirely derail the new laws and once again, restore monetary bail, within the discretion of a judge, as a required consideration as a first option when it comes to setting bail.
About the American Bail Coalition
The American Bail Coalition is dedicated protecting the Constitutional right to bail and the promotion, protection and advancement of the surety bail profession in the United States. Comprised of the nation’s largest surety insurance companies, ABC works with local communities, law enforcement, legislators and other criminal justice stakeholders to utilizes its expertise and knowledge of the surety bail industry to develop more effective and efficient criminal justice solutions.
Updated June 20, 2017
Posted June 20, 2017
By Samantha Marcus | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Property taxes are consistently one of New Jerseyans’ top concerns, with good reason. At $8,549, they’re the highest in the country. No surprise they’re also a hot topic on the gubernatorial campaign trail.
Republican nominee Kim Guadagno has said she wouldn’t run for re-election in 2021 if she doesn’t deliver property tax relief. Democratic nominee Phil Murphy also thinks he can bring relief.
It’s an especially big problem for many because Jersey’s sky high real estate taxes can claim a good chunk of a homeowners’ income.
The property tax burden hits some towns much harder than others. Here are the 30 towns that feel the most pain from property taxes, based on what their residents earn.
(Some of the state’s 565 municipalities were excluded from our analysis, as the median income margin of error in small towns was too high because of the American Community Survey’s small sample size.)
