By Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on February 10, 2016 at 11:58 AM, updated February 11, 2016 at 7:50 AM
Rail unions officials said today that their members have authorized a strikeagainst NJ Transit, but are hoping the agency returns to the bargaining table.
“We are certainly hopeful that NJ Transit gets back to the negotiating table,” said Stephen Burkert, general chairman of the SMART Union transportation division, which represents conductors. “We have no official date.”
Members of 17 rail unions have taken a vote and the result was “100 percent” to strike.
An increase in medical premiums that would negate a wage increase, recommended by a federal labor board, is among the major hurdles, he said.
Another negotiating session has been scheduled, said Dennis Martin, interim NJ Transit executive director. Burkert said the unions haven’t been notified of a date for new talks.
The unions have been working without a contract for five years. The unions are looking at a proposal that calls for an 800 percent increase in health insurance premiums and an overall 6 percent pay raise, which Burkert said means workers would pay between $400 and $700 a month.
“We’ve done everything in our power to avert a strike,” Burkert said. “Half of our coalition members would take a pay cut on day one (of a new contract).”
NJ Transit insiders said earlier this month that there was a 75 to 85 percent likelihood of a “soft strike” over the weekend of March 12.
N.J. Assembly committee advances resolution to give voters a say on North Jersey casino expansion
An Assembly committee on Monday approved a resolution that would allow voters statewide to decide in November whether to permit two new casino licenses to be issued in the northern half of the state. John Brennan, The Record Read more
FEBRUARY 8, 2016, 2:17 PM LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2016, 4:56 PM
BY PETER J. SAMPSON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
A judge on Monday denied the government’s request to revoke the bail of a Glen Rock man who prosecutors alleged had begun to scam new investors while awaiting sentencing for bilking more than $3 million from 15 victims.
Without conducting a hearing, U.S. District Judge William J. Martini issued an order rejecting the government’s bid to detain Paul Mancuso, 49. The judge also set a new sentencing date of March 8.
Last week, lawyers for the government and Mancuso gathered in Martini’s Newark courtroom for a hearing on the bail revocation request when the hearing was abruptly canceled. An aide to the judge said Monday that he based his ruling on the papers that had been previously filed with the court.
Why mandatory pension payment would be worst idea ever for N.J.
Through a ballot question in November, voters are expected to decide whether New Jersey’s constitution should require the state to make regular payments to its $80 billion public pension debt. Paul Brubaker, NJ.com Read more
Wyckoff NJ, Former White House speechwriter officially will seek to oust U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett (R-5th Dist.) with an announcement Monday afternoon in Northvale. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) is scheduled to be there as well.
The Wyckoff Democrat Gottheimer is a former speech writer for President Bill Clinton and worked in corporate strategy for Microsoft. He grew up in North Caldwell and has lived for the past four years in Wyckoff with his wife and two children.
“Scott Garrett isn’t pro-family,” Gottheimer said. “He’s not pro-business. He’s Dr. No. Dr. No to everything, and that hurts families here in New Jersey.”
So what is Josh Gottheimer for ? In one word BAILOUTS!
At a September possible Democratic candidate Gottheimer fundraiser that came less than a week after James Cicconi, the RINO Republican head of external affairs at AT&T Inc., and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Peter Scher hosted another one for the Democrat.Attendees included executives from Blackstone, Comcast, Verizon, McGraw Hill, U.S. Telecom Association, Tribune Media, United Health, Ogilvy & Mather, Raben Group and Akin Group. The invitation for the event had said it was “an excellent opportunity to oust one of the most conservative members of the House of Representatives.”
Bloomberg News, which was the first to report plans for the Cicconi fundraiser, said some business executives had already been growing tired of Garrett. They were apparently bothered by his vote against big spending former Speaker John Boehner,and were troubled that he has opposed the crony driven , taxpayer funded corporate welfare, Export-Import Bank.
Garret also strongly opposes bailouts and in 2010 said , “The American people are tired of the safety net that has been provided to Wall Street. They want to put an end to the continued bailouts, and the bill currently under consideration in the Senate fails to accomplish this task. Wall Street is not afraid of this bill – as a matter of fact, Goldman Sachs, the same bank that has been charged by the SEC with fraud — and which also happens to have been President Obama’s single largest corporate donor in 2008 — has endorsed much of it. Goldman supports the bill because they know that it gives them and others an advantage in the marketplace by allowing their shareholders and creditors to be bailed out if they get into trouble because of the risks they take. …. We must end the era of bailouts and stop rewarding banks like Goldman Sachs with regulation that fails to protect American taxpayers.”
This stand against corporate bailouts and industry sponsored Dodd Frank has made Garrett unpopular in certian parts of the business community . In 2011 Garrett issued a strongly worded statement on Dodd Frank and the institutionalized “too big to fail policy” , “In the wake of the financial crisis of 2008, Democrats insisted that more regulation was the answer to our problems and that they had the right prescription to address the ailments of our financial system. As it turns out, the 2,000 page bill they produced was not the right solution. One year after it was signed into law, Dodd-Frank has done little to prevent another financial collapse, it has failed to streamline and simplify regulation, and it has actually codified ‘too big to fail’ and taxpayer bailouts into statute. When the American people asked for limited government, less burdensome regulation, debt reduction and, most importantly, job creation, this was hardly the solution they had in mind.”
FEBRUARY 7, 2016 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2016, 12:18 PM
BY JEAN RIMBACH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
It’s been a year since federal prosecutors quietly dropped a bombshell in the corruption trial of Joseph Ferriero, one that raised troubling questions about the justice system in Bergen County.
Without offering details, they alleged that a decade ago the onetime Democratic Party leader, since convicted on racketeering and fraud charges, had secretly received nearly $500,000 to influence the case of a Teaneck dermatologist accused of sexually assaulting two women patients. In a prosecution that still is surrounded by many questions, the doctor, Gangaram Ragi, was allowed to enter a program that spared him a trial on charges that could have yielded a prison sentence and lifetime registration as a sex offender. And while fining him and barring him from treating women, state licensing officials allowed him to continue his practice.
Since news broke of the government’s assertion — contained in court filings and court transcripts — and in the wake of a series of articles by The Record, the state has toughened its disciplinary process for doctors accused of sexual misconduct with patients.
The quintessential New York grocery chain said Friday it needs to raise more capital by April to meet its debt obligations with its 15 stores in the metro area experiencing “significant losses.”
The company — whose stock is also in danger of being delisted from the Nasdaq — lost $35.7 million in the quarter ended Dec. 27 after losing more than $300 million over the past five years.
Revenue declined by 7 percent to $191.6 million from a year earlier, a regulatory filing revealed on Friday.
Fairway is counting on new stores to drive its growth, but conceded in the filing that “our current limited cash resources and significant leverage will adversely affect our ability to open new stores.”
The company went public in 2013 after decades of being owned and managed by the Glickberg family. Former CEO Howard Glickberg remains on the board.
The IPO was meant to jump-start an ambitious expansion plan led by Sterling Investment Partners, which wanted to expand into other regions of the country. Instead, the business, known for its fresh produce and high-quality prepared foods, is facing a possible bankruptcy.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) issued the following statement after voting for H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, Objections of the President Notwithstanding:
“Today I voted to override the president’s veto of the ObamaCare repeal bill because Washington bureaucrats have no place standing between hardworking families and their health care choices. ObamaCare forces American families out of their insurance, skyrockets the cost of care, and stifles the ability of businesses to create jobs. I will continue to fight for families and their right to make their own health care decisions.”
In October Garrett pushed for the Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act , “The last thing New Jersey families need is an unaccountable Washington bureaucrat driving a wedge between them and their doctors or limiting their access to quality health care. Today I supported the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act because Americans deserve the repeal of ObamaCare’s most onerous and costly mandates, and they deserve to be put back in charge of their own health care choices.”
Despite the media hype the disaster that is Obamacare has been well documented . Here are just a few real examples off of social media posts .
“A gentlemen Im friends with was paying 300 a month for insurance on a family of 4. Now because of Obamacare It went to 700 a month and now cant afford it and dropped it and doesnt have it, when he filed taxes was fined 900 dollars because he was unable to provide for his family paying a total of 8400 a year for insurance, kinda seems that they want working people to pay for their family , as well as another family that wont work , an if they dont they pay a fine. Does anybody remember what our great politicians said about this program ? All lies ” David H”I said it two years ago and I will say it again, Obamacare is an epic fail for this country. I couldn’t afford insurance 2 years ago and things have increased since then. My girls insurance premiums have doubled and their deductibles have tripled. Not only that this plan that is supposed to be “AFFORDABLE” covers NOTHING…NOTHING until my deductible is met. I pay full price for doctors visits, x-rays, medication, specialist until the deductible is met. So basically I am required to pay the premium and pay for everything on top of it. Honestly I just need to quit working, reduce my income by 1/2 and get all this stuff for free. Health care is affordable if your rich or if your poor. The people in the middle that are grinding it out every day get screwed….again.” Jake C
” I was getting FREE MEDS from Johnson & Johnson because I have a life threatening Pancreas Condition. As soon as ObamaCare kicked in first my Doctor was changed to one I dont know and who does not even have my medical records. I had to fight and 3 times they tried to change my Doctor to one who is 25 miles away. I REFUSED EACH TIME! Then Obamacare stopped me from getting my Pancreas pills and I was told I had to take different pills which did not work causing me great stomach pain. With Obamacare you dont get the best meds you get the cheapest ones possible and many times they have side effects or dont work. I have had to fight the effects of ObamaCare many times. I went to the Senior Citizen Center when I became 65 and they helped me find a Health Care provider who will supply my Pancreas pills. Out of 50 available only 1 would pay for my meds. I READ OBAMACAREBEFORE IT WAS MADE A ILLEGAL LAW. I knew what is contained. I tried to tell others and they would not listen. I had to wait 3 years for the people to find out themselves. ObamaCare is CRAP! The only ones being helped are those who had previous medical conditions and those who could not afford health care coverage. So 20 % are being helped by ObamaCareand 80% are paying the huge price.” Mary M
see more real feedback : https://mychal-massie.com/premium/speak-out-your-obamacare/
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
721 AM EST MON FEB 8 2016
…HEAVY SNOW ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN SECTIONS OF LONG ISLAND
AND SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT TODAY…
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS
EVENING…
* LOCATIONS…NEW YORK CITY AND THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN SUBURBS.
* HAZARD TYPES…ACCUMULATING SNOW.
* ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 2 TO 3 INCHES.
* WINDS…NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.
* TEMPERATURES…IN THE LOWER 30S.
* TIMING…LIGHT SNOW WILL DEVELOP THIS MORNING…AND CONTINUE
INTO THE AFTERNOON.
* IMPACTS…HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS DUE TO SNOW COVERED
ROADS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS
AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
Ridgewood NJ, the purpose of the garage from the very beginning seems to have been to build a commuter garage for NJT and Bergen County in Ridgewood ,moving to make the Village a transit hub
The Village of Ridgewood (the “Village”) is undertaking the construction of an $11.7M parking deck on Hudson Street (the “Project”). There are two ways the Village can finance this Project over a 25 year period. First, the Village can issue its own General Obligation Bonds (the “Village Bonds”). Second, the Village can finance the project through the Bergen County Improvement Authority (the “BCIA”), which would issue County of Bergen Guaranteed Lease Revenue Bonds (the “BCIA Bonds”). In either event, the Village will be responsible to pay 100% of the debt service on whichever bonds are issued. (https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/hudson/20160129BCIAFin.pdf )
the choice :
Transaction Costs: The model includes up-front fixed costs of issuance of $162,500 for the BCIA Bonds vs. $92,500 for the Village Bonds. These costs include typical municipal bond transaction fees such as bond counsel, financial advisor, auditor, credit rating agency, printing, etc. In addition, the analysis assumes the underwriter’s discount would be essentially the same under either scenario. The BCIA Bonds also include the upfront authority financing fee of 12.5 basis points (“bps”) of total par amount of BCIA Bonds, the annual authority administration fee of 5 bps based on the annual outstanding par amount of the BCIA Bonds and an annual trustee fee of $1,000. (https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/hudson/20160129BCIAFin.pdf )
as per usually the most expensive for Village Taxpayers is the best choice .
Going to the BCIA , once the money is approved, it tends to appear almost instantaneously, accruing interest long before the project can even get started. That is a significant reason to reconsider this plan or ploy and an excellent reason, if it does happen, not to ask for a cent more than is needed. But losing control over the way commuter spaces are priced is a huge problem and there are undoubtedly more.
There will be approximately 320 car garage. 4 levels. The mayor said in the last meeting that 2 levels may be dedicated to commuters. That’s about 160 cars for commuters. We currently already have one level, which is mostly used by Ridgewood commuters. Lets say the second level is used by Bergen County commuters at no extra money compared to Ridgewood commuters. So, 2 levels are either used by out of Ridgewood commuters or commuters who are already using this lot today without the garage.
With remaining 2 levels, we will get 160 new spot, presumably for non commuters. Cost – 12.3 million in new bond, 500K bond has been already spent + 450k already spent on environmental studies in 2014 & 2015 on this lot. = 13.25M.
That’s 82,800 for every new parking spot created for CBD. This assumes that the project will not go over the budget. With the way this council and village manager are spending the money, this is highly unlikely to stay in the budget.
Ridgewood NJ, Not a single question about the reason why the Transportation Trust Fund needs more funding, not one. When it costs the state over $2 million per mile of state road, 3 TIMES more than the next highest state, then something is wrong. And the NJ gas tax is only part of the story. Add in toll road, bridge & tunnel charges, and commuter pass costs and NJ residents already pay some of the highest transportation-related taxes in the country. There’s no support for this until state road work is opened up to non-union labor, and a full review of administrative & excess costs is complete.
Before Trenton thinks about raising the Gas Tax we also need :
1) We need a full audit and full accounting of the Transportation Trust Fund 2) We need a full Audit and full accounting of all the “Stimulus ” spending in New Jersey 3) A guarantee that any money raise will ONLY GO TO ROAD TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS ! 4) A Full Audit of all the current sources of Financing the Transportation Trust Fund TTF
As if common knowledge that keeping more money in American’s pockets will pump more money into the economy isn’t enough, here are 5 more reasons not to raise the gas tax:
1. An increase in gas taxes will hurt middle-income Americans the most.Middle-income families make up roughly one-third of Americans. By increasing the gas tax, not only are you lessening the amount of money in their pockets, but the amount of money being pumped into the economy is being lessened too. It’s estimated that a 1 percent increase in gas prices takes $1 billion out of consumers’ pockets. That’s $1 billion dollars that could be spent on eating out, clothes, and leisure activities.
2. Raising the gas tax will likely encourage more non-highway related spending. Revenue from the tax would go to the HTF. One would think money from the HTF would be funding highways but instead, HTF funds have supported squirrel sanctuaries, landscaping, trail hikers and trolley riders. In fact spending on side projects has increased 38% since 2008 while spending on core highway projects has remained flat.
3. Raising the gas tax will not solve the real problem. The problem is that there is a funding deficit because the HTF is spending more money than they are bringing in. Currently the gas tax brings in around $34 billion annually, yet the federal government is spending roughly $50 billion each year. There is no solution in the “raise gas taxes” method. Tax proponents claim raising the tax would close the deficit and cover future, necessary funding from the HTF. However there is no guarantee for either of these things. More likely than not, this solution would only support and encourage more wasteful spending.
4. A gas tax hike will increase the price of consumer goods. The transportation of goods is primarily done via highways. Cars drive on highways and gas fuels cars. It’s a no-brainer that raising the gas tax will cost drivers more to fuel their way to deliver goods. Higher gas taxes, leading to higher gas prices will mean a higher cost on goods. This means increased financial pressure on middle to lower-income families if tax advocates get their way with this regressive increase in the gas tax.
5. Tax hikes have a negative impact on economic growth. As discussed, higher gas taxes mean higher gas prices which reduce the discretionary income of millions of Americans. Reductions in discretionary income often correspond with diminished economic growth. In fact, analysts at Goldman Sachs predict “lower gas prices could add as much as half a percentage point to GDP growth this year.” (https://www.atr.org/top-five-reasons-not-raise-gas-tax )
FEBRUARY 5, 2016, 7:00 PM LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016, 12:34 AM
BY CHRISTOPHER MAAG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Both NJ Transit and its unions are preparing for a train shutdown on March 13 that would cripple the region’s transportation network, the sides confirmed on Friday. Threat of a strike by the unions or a lockout by NJ Transit is the latest escalation in a five-year dispute that leaves the two sides far apart on workers’ pay and health insurance benefits.
“Prepare yourself economically,” the New Jersey Transit Rail Coalition told its 4,200 members in a newsletter issued Friday. “At 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, March 13, every union on New Jersey Transit will strike if no agreement is reached.”
“NJ Transit is actively involved in developing a robust alternative service plan in the event the unions call a strike,” said Dennis Martin, NJ Transit’s interim executive director. “We are working with our regional partners, including NJDOT, to provide as much service as possible to our customers.”
A shutdown would make it incredibly difficult for people in New Jersey and New York City to travel and get to work, said David Peter Alan, chairman of the Lackawanna Coalition, a transit advocacy group.
“I think it’s very likely” that a strike will happen, Alan said. “It would be a disaster.”
FEBRUARY 3, 2016, 5:20 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016, 6:12 PM
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STATE HOUSE BUREAU |
THE RECORD
New Jersey’s Democratic legislative leaders said Wednesday they are close to working out a proposal to fix the state’s dwindling Transportation Trust Fund.
Senate President Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, D-Secaucus, each said they just have a few details to work out on a proposal to replenish the fund – which pays for improvements to the state’s roads and bridges – runs out of money by June 30. Neither offered details of their plan.
But the two Democrats sparred with their Republican counterparts before an audience of several dozen mayors over the timing of such legislation.
Sweeney and Prieto said first they want to hash out a deal with Governor Christie – something they said has not yet happened – rather that pass a measure that he will veto.
“I don’t think anybody is going to go for something knowing the governor is not going to sign it,” Sweeney said during a panel discussion during the New Jersey League of Municipalities’ annual Mayors’ Legislative Day.
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
341 AM EST FRI FEB 5 2016
…COASTAL LOW BRINGING SNOW TO REGION INTO THIS AFTERNOON…
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST
TODAY…
* LOCATIONS…NORTHEASTERN NEW JERSEY…THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY…AND
NEW YORK CITY.
* HAZARD TYPES…MODERATE SNOW AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES.
* ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 3 TO 5 INCHES.
* WINDS…NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.
* VISIBILITIES…ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES.
* TEMPERATURES…IN THE MID 30S.
* TIMING…RAIN AND SNOW WILL CHANGE TO ALL SNOW BY DAYBREAK. SNOW
WILL CONTINUES INTO EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
* IMPACTS…HAZARDOUS TRAVEL DUE TO SNOW AND REDUCED
VISIBILITIES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE
TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED
VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
Ridgewood draws county financing support for downtown parking garage construction
FEBRUARY 4, 2016, 7:26 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016, 9:15 PM
BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Plans to have county money fund construction of a municipal parking garage on Hudson Street took a step forward Thursday after the Bergen County Improvement Authority agreed to bond for the project.
The unanimous vote was taken after nearly two hours of commentary from village residents that, at times, mirrored those at recent Village Council meetings — business owners and local officials spoke in favor of the 325-car garage, while various residents concerned with its size, scope and aesthetics spoke against it.
But BCIA commissioners reiterated that the board provides financing, not judgment, on an individual project’s merits. That, they said, was best handled at the local level.
“We offer conduit financing,” Commissioner Philip Wilson said afterwards. “They need to go back and talk some more — but it doesn’t have to do with this board.”
The five-member BCIA now will apply to have the state Local Finance Board consider the project of about $11.9 million in cost and give an opinion on its finances. That hearing is set for March 9.
Meanwhile, the Village Council will vote next Wednesday on whether to adopt its agreement with the BCIA.
Discussions about building a parking garage in Ridgewood goes back decades. Local officials hope its construction will ease longstanding parking concerns in the village’s often-cramped downtown.
The BCIA’s action likely will be seen as a victory for Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn, who has moved the parking deck proposal forward despite vocal opposition from some residents. After Thursday’s meeting, Aronsohn said it was a “good moment for the village.”
