Updated: DECEMBER 28, 2016 — 3:38 AM EST
by The Associated Press
SOMERVILLE, N.J. (AP) – The sentencing of a former New Jersey lawmaker who admitted to stealing more than $5.3 million from creditors for a business venture has been delayed until mid-January.
NJ.com reports (https://bit.ly/2icVBZ6 ) the sentencing of former Assemblyman Robert Schroeder was initially set for Dec. 22, but state prosecutors confirmed Tuesday that it’s been rescheduled for Jan. 13.
Updated: DECEMBER 29, 2016 — 1:08 AM EST
by Andrew Seidman, TRENTON BUREAU @AndrewSeidman
Ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft have been operating in New Jersey for years, but the state doesn’t regulate how they contract with drivers, insure, or provide other protections to consumers.
That could change soon, pending Gov. Christie’s approval.
During a marathon session before the holidays, the Democratic-controlled Legislature voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill that specifies how much insurance ride-hailing companies must maintain, and establishes requirements for conducting background checks on drivers.
So-called transportation network companies would be prohibited from discriminating against riders based on their destination, race, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, among other things.
MICHAEL L. DIAMOND, @mdiamondapp4 p.m. EST December 28, 2016
Three hospitals — two in Bergen County — sued after they were left out of a leading insurer’s preferred network.
Three hospitals – two in Bergen County – that were left out of the preferred network of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey’s Omnia plan can continue their lawsuit, a state judge has ruled.
Superior Court Judge Robert Contillo in Bergen County dismissed three of the hospitals’ claims. But he said three other claims – including one in which the hospitals take exception to Horizon’s marketing campaign – should be left on the table.
file photo by Boyd Loving Village Council Meeting
Matt Kadosh , Staff Writer, @MattKadosh6:30 p.m. EST December 25, 2016
Belleville BOE may ditch ‘Gong Show’ clock
Beep!
Such is the sound heard by residents who speak longer than the permitted times during Belleville Board of Education meetings.
In Essex County, time lmiits are imposed by some municipal councils and boards of education, and not by others.
Updated: DECEMBER 25, 2016 — 10:17 AM EST
by LARRY HIGGS, The Associated Press
WOODBRIDGE, N.J. (AP) – About two years ago, red light cameras in New Jersey went dark, and opponents and supporters began the wait to see if the state Department of Transportation would scuttle or keep the program.
Two years later, they’re still waiting.
The DOT has yet to render a final report and make recommendations to lawmakers on the ultimate fate of camera enforcement in the state. The cameras, which capture images of vehicles at intersections, were turned off on Dec. 16, 2014.
Last year, NJDOT officials said they were still crunching numbers, but gave no timetable when they planned to release the findings, based on 2014 data and five years of numbers from 73 red light camera monitoring intersections in 25 towns. A spokesman said it would be “several months” before the report was finalized.
December 26,2016
Ridgewood NJ, Representatives from the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association recently accompanied Santa Claus to The Valley Hospital Pediatric Unit and Pediatric Emergency Room to give holiday gifts to hospitalized children. Pictured here are (standing back row, from left to right): Aleyamma Varghese, R.N., Bergenfield; Heather Evers, APN, Ocean Grove; Chief Frank Regino, Westwood; Lori Check, Fair Lawn; Chief Daniel Maye, Bogota; Christine Trent, Kinnelon; Chief William Skidmore, Edgewater; Retired Chief Fred Stahman, Glen Rock; Janine Cook, Saddle Brook; Tom Hauck, FBI; and Chief Michael Cioffi, Englewood Cliffs. Front row (from left to right): Nadine Morton, Waldwick; Santa; and Kristin Harmon, R.N.
photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
December 26,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ho Ho Kus NJ, Train traffic on NJ Transit’s Main and Bergen Lines was halted in both directions through Ho-Ho-Kus on Sunday evening, 12/25 after the adult female driver of a 4-door Acura sedan became disoriented and drove her vehicle onto the tracks just north of the Ho-Ho-Kus train station platform. The vehicle was removed from the tracks by a flatbed tow truck. There was no damage to the tracks and following removal, the vehicle was able to be driven away on its own power. Ho-Ho-Kus PD, Ridgewood PD, and NJ Transit PD officers responded to the incident.
file photo
Tom Nobile , Staff Writer, @TomNobile5:16 p.m. EST December 23, 2016
The tribe has also been charged with moving soil without permission.
MAHWAH — The Ramapough Lenape Nation must go to court to fight summonses issued by the township alleging that the Native American tribe erected teepees and tents on a property off Halifax Road without permission.
December 22, 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEWOOD, NJ, The American Water Works Association New Jersey Section (AWWA NJ) has continued its mission as the authoritative resource on safe water by delivering testimony on two issues critical to New Jersey’s safe drinking water. On November 3, 2016, AWWA NJ Chair Michael Furrey provided written and oral testimony for the NJ Senate Environment and Energy Committee in Trenton regarding Hexavalent Chromium. Senator Bob Smith, Chair for the Committee, made a request to the drinking water industry for technical testimony on this emerging contaminant. Hexavalent Chromium (also known as ‘chromium-6’ or ‘Cr(VI)’) was the contaminant depicted in the film “Erin Brockovich.”
Cr(VI) is currently regulated under a US drinking water standard for total chromium of 0.1 mg/L, set in 1991. EPA is currently revising its risk assessment for Cr(VI). The AWWA NJ recommends that the NJ Water Quality Institute reconvene and examine a science-based strategy to address Hexavalent Chromium.
On November 30, 2016, members of the AWWA NJ Infrastructure Management Committee provided testimony to the Joint Task Force on Water Infrastructure in Trenton NJ. AWWA NJ leaders joined former Governor James Florio in providing critical testimony to the Committee for developing a comprehensive strategy to address water infrastructure and lead contamination issues. AWWA NJ will be partnering with NJDEP, USEPA, NJ Water Works, AEA (Public) and the NJUA (Private) to help the NJ legislature address this important issue.
AWWA published a report in 2014 called “Buried No Longer,” which concluded that restoring existing water systems as they reach the end of their useful lives and expanding them to serve a growing population will cost at least $1 trillion over the next 25 years, if we are to maintain current levels of water service.
On September 16, 2016, the U.S. Senate approved S. 2848, the Water Resources Development Act or WRDA. The House is still working on its own version of a WRDA bill. A key water infrastructure element in S. 2848 is a provision for $70 million so the new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan program, or WIFIA, can start making actual loans. In the two previous fiscal years, Congress has provided funds for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set up WIFIA administration. Another important element is $100 million to the state revolving loan fund program to assist communities where there has been a drinking water emergency, such as Flint, Mich.
Information about Hexavalent Chromium and Water Infrastructure, along with copies of AWWA NJ’s written testimonies on these issues, are available at www.njawwa.org.
About AWWA NJ
AWWA New Jersey Section is part of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the world’s largest association of water professionals with over 50,000 members. The AWWA New Jersey Section represents over 1,300 members united in a mission to provide New Jersey residents with a safe and reliable supply of drinking water. Members include most of New Jersey’s public and investor-owned water utilities along with engineering and environmental professionals and allied industry businesses. AWWA works to make advances in public health, safety and welfare by uniting the efforts of the full spectrum of drinking water professionals.
By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on December 22, 2016 at 2:24 PM, updated December 23, 2016 at 8:43 AM
WASHINGTON — Social Security recipients who owe student loans have found their payments garnished to pay off their debt and some have been forced into poverty as a result, according to a report released Thursday by the investigative arm of Congress.
The Government Accountability Office said 114,000 Americans receiving Social Security payments either because of their age or disability have had their payments cut because of outstanding debt, an increase of 540 percent over a decade. More than two-thirds of recipients in default, 69 percent, were on disability.
Most of the money collected, 70 percent, went to pay interests and fees, not to reduce the outstanding balance. Among those over 65, the number receiving Social Security benefits below the poverty grew to 67,300, up from 8,300 in 2004, the GAO said.
Sarah Nolan , Staff Writer, @sarnolan5:59 p.m. EST December 22, 2016
The borough’s affordable housing obligation would be cut from 278 units to 30 under the proposed agreement.
HO-HO-KUS — The borough will build 13 homes for low- to moderate-income residents and a developer will reduce the number of houses it builds in town as part of proposed settlement agreements announced by borough officials this week.
Borough Administrator William Jones shared overviews of the proposed agreements with the Fair Share Housing Center and Chamberlain Developers at a Borough Council meeting Tuesday “in the hopes of ending what has been a year of speculation and wild rumors that have carried on,” he said.
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
Tractor Trailer Rollover Impacts Christmas Shoppers Using Route 17 and Route 4
December 22,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, A flatbed tractor trailer carrying building materials rolled over on Route 4 Westbound after exiting the ramp from Route 17 Southbound on Thursday morning, 12/22. The truck driver was uninjured in the mishap. Local lanes of Route 4 Westbound were closed between Route 17 Southbound and the Garden State Parkway until the scene was cleared of the wrecked vehicle and debris. Response by Paramus PD, Paramus EMS, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division, NJ State Police, and NJDOT.
Paramus Police :The ramp from route 17 south to route 4 west is closed. Local lanes of Route 4 westbound will be closed, at route 17.Local lanes of Route 4 westbound will be closed until further 3:30 pm.
December 20,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrest of FRANCIS TATTOLI (DOB: 06/07/1992) of 258 Summer Street, Apartment 1B, East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday, December 18, 2016, on charges of attempted murder and possession of a weapon. The arrest is the result of a joint investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Squad under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department under the direction of Sheriff Michael Saudino, and the East Rutherford Police Department under the direction of Chief Lawrence Minda.
On Saturday December 17, 2016, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received information from the East Rutherford Police Department that a 25-year-old female was attacked inside of 258 Summer Street, a multi-unit dwelling. The victim, identified as MONET THOMAS (DOB: 02/14/1991) of 184 Devon Street, Kearney, New Jersey, was found unresponsive and was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ, where she remains in critical condition.
An investigation by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Squad and the East Rutherford Police Department revealed that on Saturday, December 17, 2016, MONET THOMAS visited an acquaintance in a different apartment at 258 Summer Street. Shortly after 9:00 p.m., THOMAS left the dwelling at 258 Summer Street. Upon her return a short time later, TATTOLI attacked her, including with a knife; her body was later discovered just inside the doorway of TATTOLI’s first floor apartment. TATTOLI subsequently fled his apartment, but was soon apprehended by East Rutherford Police a short distance from the home.
As a result of the investigation, TATTOLI was arrested and charged with one count of Attempted Murder, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1), a first degree crime, and one count of possession of a weapon, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C: 39-4D, a second degree crime. The Honorable Bonnie Mizdol, A.J.S.C. of Bergen County set bail at $2,000,000.00 with no ten percent option. TATTOLI appeared today before the Honorable James J. Guida, J.S.C., for a first appearance and entered a not guilty plea, and his bail was continued.
Bergen County 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. Prosecutor Grewal would also like to thank the East Rutherford Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance in this investigation.
John Petrick , Staff Writer, @johnpetrick854:39 p.m. EST December 19, 2016
Dr. Harris Sterman is all for young people expressing their individuality. But just how many piercings can you put into one ear, anyway?
“Some people get really carried away,” says Sterman, chief of plastic surgery at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck.
By Claude Brodesser-Akner | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on December 15, 2016 at 3:23 PM, updated December 15, 2016 at 3:25 PM
TRENTON — A bipartisan bill that would add 20 new judges to New Jersey’s courts to help reduce the number of people in jail only because they can’t afford to post bail cleared the budget committees in the Senate and Assembly on Thursday.
The reform “will help make the state’s judicial system fairer and more effective with standards based on public safety rather than the ability to pay” for bail, said Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), one of its co-sponsors.
Currently, the average criminal defendant in New Jersey spends more than 10 months in jail awaiting trial, but in 40 percent of the cases, it’s only because they cannot afford to post bail.
