Mahwah NJ, A Monday afternoon, 04/17, brush fire at the Ramapo County Reservation on Ramapo Valley Road in Mahwah required the services of mini pumpers and fire personnel from Mahwah, Ramsey, Hillburn NY, and the NJDEP’s Forest Fire Service. Mahwah EMS and PD also responded to the incident. Hiking trails throughout the Reservation’s “upper area” were closed as crews fought the smokey blaze. A Forest Fire Service helicopter was also called in to assist in the fire suppression efforts.
Complexity and confusion about the law may have discouraged contractors from contributing directly to candidates and parties last year
For more than a decade, New Jersey’s pay-to-play laws have provided a check on businesses’ ability to contribute money to politicians in the hope of getting a government contract in return.
Last year, political contributions by public contractors dropped to the second-lowest level since restrictions took effect, according to a report released by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission earlier this month. The $8.1 million in contributions from businesses was 11 percent lower than in 2015 and less than half the high of $16.4 million reported in 2007.
Jeff Brindle, ELEC’s executive director, said the lack of gubernatorial or legislative elections in 2016 may account for some of the decline, but the complexity of the law is also discouraging contractors from contributing directly to candidates and parties.
Under pay-to-play laws, all businesses that have $50,000 or more in public contracts and have made political contributions must disclose both contract and contribution details to ELEC by March 30th of the previous year. There are some exceptions, but most firms with state contracts totaling $17,500 or more cannot give more than $300 to candidates, political parties, and legislative leadership committees. A business that violates the prohibitions must either ask for a refund of any excess contribution promptly or relinquish its contracts for four years.
Sick pay is for those who get sick. If you don’t get sick, you shouldn’t get sick pay. Period.
The same goes for all fringe benefits. If you’re not disabled, you don’t get disability. If you’re not unemployed, you don’t get unemployment. This is not complicated.
Until you put politics into the mix.
New Jersey, the state with the highest property taxes in the nation, still allows public workers to collect big payouts for their unused absences. It’s a perk unheard of in the private sector, but we’re all paying dearly for it.
New Jersey taxpayers will be filing their taxes this year in the midst of pitched primary fights to succeed Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
Tax Day on Tuesday comes just as voters are expected to get a closer look at the personal financial information of the Democratic and Republican candidates who are vying to become one of the country’s most powerful chief executives, with the power to appoint prosecutors, judges, Cabinet officers and a host of other officials. New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states with governor’s races this year.
New Jersey election officials are scheduled to release the candidates’ personal financial information Monday.
Read more here: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article144813394.html#storylink=cpy
By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
All 12 U.S. House members from New Jersey have one thing in common: They raised more money than their opponents last year.
Eleven incumbents were re-elected in November. The 12th, Rep. Scott Garrett (R-5th Dist.) was outraised by his Democratic challenger, former White House speechwriter Josh Gottheimer, and lost his bid for an eighth term.
The lawmakers will tell the Federal Election Commission this weekend how much they’ve raised during the first three months of 2017 for their upcoming re-election campaigns. Here’s where they got their money from to run their last races. Data is from the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group, and covers the period Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2016.
By S.P. Sullivan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on April 14, 2017 at 10:23 AM, updated April 14, 2017 at 4:51 PM
TRENTON — The New Jersey State Police does not have to reimburse state troopers for toll fares during their commute to and from work, an appeals court has ruled in a dispute between the state and the troopers’ union.
The two-judge panel found on Thursday that an arbitrator was mistaken in declaring the practice “an established term and condition of employment.”
For years, the operators of the state’s major toll roads, the New Jersey
Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority, allowed troopers and other state employees to pass through their toll booths in personal vehicles free of charge.
But in 2010, Gov. Chris Christie called for an end to free rides for non-emergency vehicles. Soon after, a report from the state comptroller also flagged the practice in a report identifying $43 million in waste within the Turnpike Authority.
Waldwick NJ, Waldwick PD and EMS responded to multiple 911 telephone calls of a reported motor vehicle crash on Route 17 northbound near East Prospect Street late Friday afternoon, 04/14. Responding units located a 4-door Honda Accord sedan off the right side of the roadway. The vehicle appeared to have struck a tree and a concrete barrier after leaving the travel lanes. The adult male driver was evaluated by Waldwick EMS personnel. It is not known whether he was transported to a hospital. The heavily damaged vehicle was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. There was no visible indication that another vehicle was involved in the crash. Ho-Ho-Kus PD units assisted with traffic control.
Ridgewood NJ, Steve Rogers, a township commissioner in Nutley has been after outsider Joseph Rudy Rullo from the start of his campaign . Yesterday Rullo turned up the heat accusing Rogers of simply posturing for the Lt Governor job.
In a Facebook post Joseph Rudy Rullo said ,”I believe the rumor Rogers is in race to take away votes from our campaign and posturing for Lt Governor was validated today. Between him announcing one year late into our campaign using much of our platform as a guide and targeting our support and last few months of defending Guadagno. I challenge Rogers to pledge not to accept Lt Governor position if offered by any of the establishment candidates! Like my other two opponents he has been in office for over a decade and ladder climbing is unacceptable at the expense of Draining The Swamp In Trenton and fixing NJ. This is another reason his campaign hasn’t resonated with non establishment voters who don’t trust career politicians and their calculated political motives!!!!”
Glen Rock NJ, according to Glen Rock mayor Bruce Packer who announced at Monday’s Borough Council meeting former Glen Rock police officer Matthew Stanislao, who was fired by the borough in October, 2014 and later sued the borough claiming he was the victim of discrimination because he is gay, has now been reinstated to his former position after he and the borough reached an out-of-court settlement that will give him two-and-a-half years’ worth of back pay and $750,000 in damages.
Officer Stanislao sued the borough in October 2014, one week after he was notified that he had been fired. In his suit he alleged that several officers had sexually harassed him for being gay.
Packer said “In the spirit of moving forward, the Borough pursued, and has now achieved, a full and final settlement, which will reinstate Mr. Stanislao to the Glen Rock Police Department.’
Packer stated the Stanislao will return to work on or before May 5, and the mayor added that the borough’s insurance company will cover $600,000 of the settlement. He also said the portion of the settlement that the borough will pay has already been figured into the annual budget for this year.
Where : 650 American Legion Drive, Teaneck N J
When : April 18 – 7pm
(Don’t forget to bring a pantry item for the American Legion food drive-support our veterans’ good works)
Teaneck NJ, We are pleased and fortunate to have as our guest speaker Robert J. Auth, Assemblyman for NJ D39. Assemblyman Auth received his B.A. from New York University with majors in History and Philosophy. He serves in the Assembly on the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee, Commerce and Economic Development Committee and the Education Committee. He is also the Chief Executive Officer at Plaza Travel and Insurance Services Ltd., a company he founded in 1985. In the past, he was a teacher for the North Bergen School District from 2004 to 2006. He is an aircraft pilot having flown since 1982.
We look forward to hearing Assemblyman Auth’s input and information on the following bills, which he is sponsoring on subjects and issues that affect us all:
A4884 “Empower the Principal Act”; eliminates local school superintendents and prohibits schools from having more than one assistant or vice-principal A4481 Decreases petroleum products gross receipts tax rate on certain petroleum products; dissolves Transportation Trust Fund Authority; establishes “New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Account Commission.” ACR28 Proposes constitutional amendment to establish revenue responsibility through annual State appropriations cap limiting spending growth to one percent per year over six years and a permanent revenue responsibly fund reserved for reducing State pension benefit liabilities. A376 Concerns county government dissolution
Remember…….Assembly representatives may not be in your district but can do good work which will benefit us in all districts, so come and hear what is being said and know who the Assembly representatives are that are working to make NJ a better state and a less ‘taxing’ state.
New Jersey towns are on the hook for 280,000 affordable housing units through 2025, according to a new study by the Fair Share Housing Center.
To put the number in context, it averages out to 496 new units for each of the state’s 565 municipalities, although not all towns face the same requirements.
The affordable housing debate is as wonky as it is politically fraught in New Jersey, pitting Democrats against Republicans and local officials against judges. A small army of lawyers always seems to be in court somewhere fighting over how many units to build.
Senate President rejects Republican senator’s claim that new commission could politicize how projects are selected
Senate President Stephen Sweeney speaks during a news conference in Linden yesterday to announce state funding for a long-planned road project.
After last year’s renewal of the Transportation Trust Fund, there’s now $2 billion in state dollars to spend on infrastructure improvements every year in New Jersey. But that has also raised the question of exactly who decides which projects deserve top priority — the governor and his administration’s transportation officials or a special four-person commission that’s been championed by lawmakers?
A measure that’s expected to make it out of the Legislature in the coming weeks will ensure the new capital-project approval commission has the final say, though not until a year from now.
The passage of what’s being called the “TTF cleanup bill” will also make sure that a planned $2 billion in spending on infrastructure improvements during the state fiscal year that begins in early July can go forward even though the new commission has yet to be assembled.
And despite complaints from some lawmakers that the new commission could politicize New Jersey’s transportation-funding process and even be unconstitutional, Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said he remains committed to establishing the new format. He also disputed claims that the new selection method could be unconstitutional.
Fair Lawn NJ, A crash between a 4-door Honda Civic and a multi-axle dump truck resulted in two (2) injuries, a hazmat incident, and the temporary closure of a portion of Route 208 northbound in Fair Lawn on Wednesday morning, 04/12. 65 gallons of diesel fuel that originated from a ruptured fuel tank on the dump truck were spilled on crash impact. A large portion of the spilled fuel remained on the roadway, but some entered a nearby storm drain. Fair Lawn PD, FD, EMS, and Heavy Rescue units responded to the incident. NJDOT and the Bergen County HazMat unit were also on the scene. Tow trucks removed both damaged vehicles from the highway. Northbound traffic was diverted onto Saddle River Road, Fair Lawn. There was minor rubbernecking southbound. The crash victims sustained non life threatening injuries and were transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital.
TRENTON NJ, Following months of sufficient precipitation, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin today lifted a drought warning for 12 of 14 counties in the northern, central and northern coastal regions of New Jersey and removed a drought watch for four counties in the southwestern part of the state.
Commissioner Martin signed an Administrative Order removing, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Sussex, Union and Warren counties from drought warning status and removing Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties from drought watch. These advisories had been in place since October.
Round Valley and Spruce Run reservoirs in central New Jersey both remain below normal capacity. Round Valley is at about 72 percent capacity and Spruce Run is at about 69 capacity, due in large part to less precipitation in this area over the winter.
As a result, Hunterdon County and Somerset County, which are primarily served by these reservoirs, will remain under a drought warning. This allows for continued modified passing flows designed to conserve storage.
“The return of soaking and well-timed precipitation over the winter and early spring has resulted in steady improvements in our drought indicators for most of the state,” Commissioner Martin said. “In particular, storage levels in the major reservoir systems that serve the densely populated portions of northern New Jersey are at full capacity entering the time of year when water demand peaks.”
“Water levels are increasing across the state in response to recent rains,” said State Geologist Jeffrey L. Hoffman. “Reservoirs, with the exception of Round Valley and Spruce Run, are more than 90 percent full. Stream flows and groundwater levels are trending upward, which is a good sign. We will continue to closely monitor indicators in all parts of the state.”
The Round Valley and Spruce Run reservoirs, operated by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, is typically at 94 percent this time of year.
“By maintaining the reduced passing flow requirement, the authority would expect to save anywhere between seven to ten billion gallons in the reservoirs over the upcoming summer months, which will allow the reservoirs to continue to improve,” said Beth Gates, executive director for the authority.
While most regions of the state are now under normal water supply conditions, Commissioner Martin reminds the public to always practice water conservation, especially when watering lawns and landscaping, which accounts for a significant portion of water use in the spring and summer.
“I want to thank water suppliers and residents in the affected areas of the state for working with us to conserve water,” Commissioner Martin said. “I urge everyone to always be mindful of not wasting water. We should not forget the images from last fall of the muddy slopes of receding reservoirs as we turn our attention to maintaining our lawns and landscaping this spring.”
Some suggested lawn and garden water conservation tips include:
Do not over-water lawns and landscaping. Two times per week for 30 minutes in the morning or late afternoon during drier periods is typically sufficient.
Use a hose with a hand-nozzle to water flowers and shrubs.
Do not mow your grass too short. Set mowing height to at least three inches. Longer grass blades help retain soil moisture, improve root growth and encourage a healthier lawn.
Avoid watering lawns and plants during the heat of the day, since much of this water will evaporate without helping your lawn.
Reduce the size of your lawn by establishing gardens that use native, drought-tolerant vegetation.
Apply mulch around shrubs and flower beds to reduce evaporation, promote plant growth and reduce weeds.
Use barrels or other containers to capture rainfall for use in watering. Cover the openings with fine screens to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in the collected water.
Use a broom to sweep sidewalks and driveways rather than a hose.
To save water in the home:
Fix leaky faucets and pipes.
Turn off the faucet while shaving and brushing teeth.
Install faucet aerators.
Run washing machines and dishwashers when full, or make sure to select the appropriate wash cycle for the load size.
Take shorter showers.
Install a low-flow toilet.
For more state water supply status information, visit: www.njdrought.org
New Jersey politicians just can’t seem to leave Jon Corzine alone.
The former Democratic governor and U.S. senator, bounced out of office by Republican Gov. Chris Christie in 2009, has tried to keep a low profile in recent years, even as the GOP has portrayed him as the boogeyman. Christie used him to explain away the slow growth of the state’s economy and Republican lawmakers sought to tie their “Corzine Democrat” opponents to a governor viewed as hapless, uncharismatic and ineffective.
