The District 40 State Assembly Candidates forum will be held on October 26th 7:30pm -9:30 pm in the Village Hall Courtroom.
The ILO of Bergen County ( LWV’s of Glen Rock, Ridgewood, Fairlawn, Teaneck and Northern Valley) is holding a District 40 Candidates Night for The State Assembly at The Ridgewood Court Room in the Municipal Complex.
We have Paul Vagianos a Democrat and an Incumbent David Russo Republican who both live in Ridgewood who are running. The State Assembly is currently dealing with property taxes, funding for The Transportation Trust Fund, Pension reform and Economic climate of Atlantic City.
OCTOBER 24, 2015, 4:28 PM LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2015, 11:53 PM
BY NICOLE WINFIELD AND DANIELA PETROFF
ASSOCIATED PRESS
VATICAN CITY — Catholic bishops called Saturday for a more welcoming church for cohabitating couples and Catholics who have divorced and civilly remarried, endorsing Pope Francis’ call for a more merciful and less judgmental church.
Bishops from around the world adopted a final document at the end of a divisive, three-week synod that exposed the split in the church between conservatives and progressives over how to better minister to Catholic families today.
In a win for the progressive camp, the document emphasized the role of discernment and individual conscience in dealing with difficult family situations, especially the vexing issue of whether civilly remarried Catholics can receive Communion.
Conservatives had resisted offering any wiggle room on the issue, since church teaching holds that such Catholics are committing adultery and are therefore barred from receiving the sacraments. While the document doesn’t chart any specific path to receiving Communion as originally sought by the liberals, it opens the door to case-by-case exceptions.
“We are so happy that we could give this to the pope,” said German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, who spearheaded the progressive camp on the issue. He called the document a “historic step.”
Through a spokesman, Newark Archbishop John J. Myers declined to comment on the synod document, saying he had not yet read it Saturday evening. The final report was released by the Vatican in Italian and will be translated later into other languages.
“When bishops have had a chance to look at it, he’s going to give it a lot of thought,” said Jim Goodness, an archdiocese spokesman.
Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno Joins Republican Freeholder Campaign focusing on Reducing Property Taxes
October 25,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Park Ridgewood NJ, John Mitchell and the Republican Bergen County Freeholder team was joined by Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno at our District 39 headquarters. Her straightforward message was this: Stay on point about reducing property taxes and continue to work hard until the polls close on November 3rd.
As for reducing property taxes ,it’s interesting that the Democrats claim to have saved The Bergen County Taxpayers $200 Million on the Police Merger when it was then Freeholder John Mitchell who started the wheels moving on that project.
The 4.3% Budget Passed yes at 7-0 but if not for the efforts of Republicans John Felice and Maura McMahon DeNicola that number would have been closer to 6%. Easy to call it a Bi-partisan Budget Solution when you outnumber 5-2.
OCTOBER 22, 2015, 5:36 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015, 11:34 PM
BY STEFANIE DAZIO AND ABBOTT KOLOFF
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RECORD
A former New York City police officer who fatally stabbed his former girlfriend with a machete at her Midland Park home previously threatened her with scissors, violated a restraining order at least twice and was the subject of two massive manhunts this month, authorities said Friday.
Arthur J. Lomando, 44, was charged with murder and related offenses Friday and remained in a New York City hospital where both of his feet had been amputated after he jumped in front of a Manhattan subway train Thursday night. Hours earlier, Suzanne Bardzell, a 48-year-old mother of two, had been found dead in her SUV in the driveway of her Midland Park home, the vehicle’s engine still running.
The killing culminated a monthlong series of events that included police showing up at Lomando’s Centereach, N.Y., home in the early morning of Oct. 10, only to leave when he refused to turn himself in to authorities for violating a temporary restraining order, said Midland Park Police Chief Michael Powderley. Police launched a manhunt hours later after a borough police officer on patrol saw Lomando’s unoccupied car near Bardzell’s home, Powderly said.
OCTOBER 23, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY ALFRED P. DOBLIN
THE RECORD
THERE MUST be something in the soil, some remnant of the days of celery farms that affects politics in the 38th Legislative District, making state Assembly races toxic. In 2009, Democrats running for the Assembly in the 38th went ugly. This year, the Assembly race is ugly in so many ways it may redefine ugly.
Republican challengers Mark DiPisa and Anthony Cappola were hoping to unseat Democratic incumbents Tim Eustace and Joseph Lagana . The 38th is considered one of only a few competitive districts in New Jersey where neither Republicans nor Democrats have a gerrymandered advantage.
Things started going south when it became common knowledge that Cappola had written a book called “Outrageous” a decade ago. Cappola calls the book raunchy. That is not a fair description. Even calling it a book is a stretch. “Outrageous” is a badly spelled rant against almost every form of humanity.
Cappola says that he regrets the book and that it is not who he is today. He also claims his core campaign team knew all about the book before he became an official candidate. Meeting with The Record’s editorial board Tuesday, Cappola said his then-running mate knew about the book and its general content. He also said Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, the ranking Republican in the Assembly, knew about it as well. According to Cappola, Bergen County Republican Organization Chairman Bob Yudin was not informed at all.
Once the book and its contents became public knowledge, there was an outcry for Cappola to drop out of the race. Cappola says he called DiPisa, who almost hung up on him in disgust. DiPisa has a different recollection of events. He says that he never knew about the book and that he called Cappola and said either Cappola drops out of the race or he would.
To make this long story longer, there was a legal effort to replace Cappola on the ballot. Bramnick determined the costs of reprinting and resending already mailed ballots could be as high as $200,000 and there was no money for such an effort in one legislative district.
Scott Garrett with Franklin Lakes residents at their annual town fair.
Oct 22, 2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, today introduced H.R. 3798, the Due Process Restoration Act. This legislation will rein-in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) controversial overuse of in-house administrative law judges (ALJs) and ensure that all Americans are given due process by allowing defendants the option of having their case heard before a federal court.
“Strong enforcement of the securities laws is an essential part of the SEC’s mission to protect investors and maintain a fair and efficient marketplace, but in recent years the agency has transformed into a veritable judge, jury, and executioner with its blatant overuse of their in-house courts,” said Garrett. “Every American has the constitutional right to defend themselves before a fair and impartial court, and the Due Process Restoration Act will go a long way towards protecting the rights of the innocent while maintaining the ability of the SEC to punish wrongdoers.”
The Due Process Restoration Act will:
Provide a mandatory right of removal allowing the defendant to request that the case be moved to a district court
Grant a right of removal to defendants who are subject to a cease and desist order and monetary penalty that the commission is seeking
Raise the burden of proof for cases that remain in the ALJ to a higher “clear and convincing evidence” standard
Background:
In the wake of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, which granted the SEC expanded administrative enforcement powers, the SEC started trying an increasing number of alleged wrongdoers before its in-house administrative panels rather than in the federal courts established by Article III of the Constitution.
The Wall Street Journal reported that from October 2010 through March of this year, the SEC won 90 percent of cases that came before SEC judges. In contrast, the SEC achieved less than a 70 percent outcome when the case is held in federal court. In addition to its success rate, the overall number of cases before the Commission’s in-house panels has increased nearly 75 percent over the past ten years.
The SEC has heard repeated criticism of these in-house panels from defendants who feel they weren’t given due process, former SEC judges who felt pressure to rule in favor of the Commission, and U.S. District Judges who find the panels unconstitutional.
The Commission recently announced that it will be giving more legal safeguards to defendants that come before its in-house administrative panels. Unfortunately, the SEC’s proposed changes fall well short of addressing many of these concerns and its enforcement practices continue to violate the separation of powers guaranteed by the Constitution.
file photo Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli
OCTOBER 22, 2015, 5:36 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015, 12:19 AM
BY STEVE JANOSKI AND JIM NORMAN
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RECORD
MIDLAND PARK – A 48-year-old woman was fatally stabbed by her estranged boyfriend when she pulled into her driveway on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli identified the woman as Suzanne Bardzell, who owns the home, a Cape Cod-style house in the 700 block of Godwin Avenue.
Molinelli said the attacker, identified as Arthur J. Lomando of Centerreach, N.Y., escaped to New York City, where he threw himself in front of a subway train at Amsterdam and St. Nicholas avenues. Lomando was rushed to Harlem Hospital, where he was treated for head and leg injuries, the prosecutor said.
Lomando is a former employee of the New York City Police Department who had been “separated” from the department for “quite a few” years for “physical and/or mental reasons,” Molinelli said.
Molinelli said Lomando left the machete-like knife that was used in the attack at the scene of the killing.
When police arrived at the scene, Bardzell was already dead inside the vehicle, and the engine was still running, Molinelli said
At debate, Assembly candidates focus on issues, avoid discussing controversy
The first and only debate among Assembly candidates in the key 38th Legislative District focused on the issues and mostly skirted the ruckus that has surrounded the race. John C. Ensslin, The Record
With the November 3 election expected to draw low voter turnout, some local races seem to be the best hope for driving people to cast their ballots. Here is a list of ten races that have the potential to influence the election. Alyana Alfaro, PolitickerNJRead more
Ridgewood NJ, Freeholder and Assembly races heat up while the Republican team is out listening to the public the Democrat Majority is out name calling.
FACT : In the last 13 years taxes have been raised 115 times by nj state legislators. Yet career politicians like Tim Eustace and Joe Lagana believe that they are doing a good job. Are you kidding me? On November 3rd it’s time to make a change. The old way just doesn’t work. Lets get rid of these two career politicians and bring an outsider in to hold the democratic led Assembly accountable and improve transparency. On November 3rd elect Mark DiPisa for Assembly along with your Bergen County Freeholder candidates John Mitchell Daisy Ortiz Berger and Ken Tyburczy along with the rest of Column one. They will work to reduce taxes bring jobs back to New Jersey and eliminate wasteful spending.
How do you learn what would be best to spur business growth and create good paying private sector jobs in Bergen County?…
…You meet with business people that are in the trenches. My Freeholder running mates and I took advantage of this opportunity at an event set up by my buddy and fellow Rotarian, Matt Libien. Thanks so much Matt! — with Norma Wellington, Del McLennonand Sabra Waxman at Solaia Restaurant.
FACT : In the last 13 years taxes have been raised 115 times by nj state legislators. Yet career politicians like Tim Eustace and Joe Lagana believe that they are doing a good job. Are you kidding me? On November 3rd it’s time to make a change. The old way just doesn’t work.
Is this childish rhetoric from the author of this piece of drivel or from these excuses of public servants themselves ? Threatening political violence on groups of patriotic senior Americans by a failed economically socially and morally corrupt political party is way beyond the pale in any election cycle.Paul A. Duggan
Everyone who is paying attention knows that the Dems control the Freeholder Board 5-2 ,so how is it possible that the Repubs are responsible for these terrible situations portrayed in this contrived Political piece?John Criscione
Bergen Dems Go for What they Hope is Coup De Grace with Tea Party Tag
The intense portion of the least intense campaign season in years has the two parties reaching for the heavy ammo. Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more
“Jaws of Life” deployed to extricate a driver and three (3) dogs from Oradell Avenue Crash Sight
October 17 ,2015\
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Oradell NJ, Oradell and Paramus Fire Department and Rescue Squad personnel worked side-by-side using the “Jaws of Life” to extricate a driver and three (3) dogs from a wrecked 4-door BMW sedan that had collided with a pickup truck at the intersection of Forest and Oradell Avenues in Oradell late (11:15 PM) Friday (10/16) night.
The BMW’s driver was seriously injured and transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital; the occupants of the pickup truck were uninjured. All of the dogs in the BMW escaped injury. They were taken to a shelter in Midland Park operated by Tyco Animal Control Services. Both vehicles were heavily damaged and removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. Oradell PD is investigating the crash, which, surprisingly, did not result in a full closure of the Forest Avenue/Oradell Avenue intersection.
Posted by Matt Rooney On October 16, 2015 11 Comments
By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
It’s been a weird year for politics, Save Jerseyans. But as much as some things change, others things definitely do not. At all.
Let’s reflect briefly on the respective trajectories of two politicians: Bernie Sanders and Anthony Cappola.
Bernie is leading the Democrat field in New Hampshire and threatening Hillary Clinton in the other early states. The Left is fawning over him and treating the badly-worn and awkward New England socialist as some species sage for having regurgitated decades-old discredited ideas. “Incredibly charming” is just one of the many descriptions you’ll find on the liberal net.
Cappola (left) and Sanders (right)
Less charming? His 1972 essay for theVermont Freeman on the subject of gang rape fantasies. “A man goes home and masturbates his typical fantasy. A woman on her knees, a woman tied up, a woman abused,” Sanders opined. “A woman enjoys intercourse with her man — as she fantasizes being raped by 3 men simultaneously.”
Yikes! Yet Democrat reactions have ranged from total disinterest to verbal shrugs.
At least New Jersey Assembly candidate Cappola was trying to be funny in his online published book Outrageous, a tome chock full of allegedly racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and objectively strange “satire.” But his youthful incident of presumably isolated idiocy ended in a resignation from the LD38 ticket reportedly at the prompting of GOP officials, not a liberal blogger story complimenting his “charming” novel, and the collapse of what should’ve been the GOP’s top 2015 target based on the 2013 results has reopened Republican wounded inside and outside of Bergen County.
By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
WASHINGTON — If U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett faced a backlash from his comments earlier this yearabout not supporting gay candidates, it didn’t come from the financial industry.
Political action committees representing banks, insurers, investors and other industries regulated by the House Financial Services Committee accounted for more than $8 of every $10 in PAC money Garrett raised during the last three months, Federal Election Commission filings show.
Garrett (R-5th Dist.) raised $63,500 in PAC money from July 1 to Sept. 30, with $52,000, or 82 percent, coming from the financial industry. Overall, he took in $179,486 during the three-month period, bringing his 2015 total to $574,164.
That trailed his expected Democratic opponent, former White House speechwriter Josh Gottheimer, who brought in more than $1 million, including $400,232 in the last three months.
OCTOBER 15, 2015, 6:14 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015, 9:41 PM
BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
GLEN ROCK — A long-awaited report by a former judge that called the state of the borough Police Department “good to excellent” — despite several recent high-profile suspensions — came under fire from residents on Wednesday night, even though elements of the probe were referred to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
Commissioned by the Borough Council in May, the report was done by retired state Superior Court Judge Alexander H. Carver III and was intended to “take the pulse” of the department.
Also, Carver was to provide an explanation of how disciplinary charges came to be brought against Sgt. Christopher McInerney and Bryan Scott for the deletion of photographs from a 2005 retirement party.
