Category: Trenton

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Former New Jersey Financial Advisor Charged With Fraud In Alleged Ponzi Scheme Targeting Elderly Investors

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August 5,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hillsborough NJ,  A former registered investment advisor was arrested today on charges stemming from an investment fraud targeting elderly investors, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Daniel Rivera, 48, of Hillsborough, New Jersey, was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 31, 2018, on three counts of wire fraud. He is scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson in Newark federal court.

According to the indictment:
From 2008 through 2017, Rivera allegedly engaged in an investment fraud where he solicited primarily elderly investors to invest their money in a company called Robbins Lane Properties Inc. Rivera told investors the company was staffed by experienced real estate professionals who used investor funds to invest in real estate ventures. Rivera allegedly told investors that by investing in Robbins Lane, senior investors would share in the company’s investment portfolio by lending it money to invest in real estate. Rivera further promised investors that they would receive a guaranteed monthly income, and that the company’s rate of return was based on secure real estate investments in the company’s portfolio. In reality, Robbins Lane had no employees, no real estate portfolio, and the monies used to pay investors as a purported return on their investments was from funds he received from other investors. Rivera allegedly also used funds sourced from investors to pay his personal and unrelated business expenses, including paying his child’s college tuition and sorority fees.The counts of wire fraud with which Rivera is charged each carry a maximum potential punishment of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross loss or gain caused by the offense.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, and special agents of the IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson, with the investigation leading to the indictment.

 

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Teen Fashion Website, “i-Dressup” Shut Down for Violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act

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August 4,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs today announced that a California company agreed to shut down its fashion-themed social website for teens and reform its business practices to resolve allegations that the company violated state and federal laws by improperly collecting personal information from more than 2,500 New Jersey children and by failing to appropriately safeguard its users’ account information which was compromised in a 2016 data breach.

The Division alleged that Unixiz, Inc., the company that owned and operated the online social website “i-Dressup”, violated the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, by, among other things, failing to adequately safeguard user information and failing to obtain verifiable parental consent prior to collecting and processing children’s personal information.
“Children are extremely vulnerable on the internet and we must do all we can to protect them from being exploited by advertisers or tracked by internet predators,” said Attorney General Grewal. “We are committed to vigorously enforcing state and federal privacy protections and we will do everything we can to ensure that website operators comply with their duty to provide an extra layer of security on sites catering to young children.”
The allegations against Unixiz stem from an investigation initiated by the Division after media outlets began reporting that the i-Dressup website had been breached by an unknown hacker and that user accounts were vulnerable.
The Division learned through its investigation that more than 24,000 of the compromised i-Dressup accounts belonged to New Jersey residents, 10,101 of whom were under the age of 18. The Division confirmed that 2,519 accounts belonged to children under the age of 13.

The Division also alleged that Unixiz had improperly collected personal information from the 2,519 children – including first and last names, email addresses, birthdates, and gender – without prior verifiable consent from their parents, as required by law.

“As a result of our investigation, Unixiz agreed to shut down the i-Dressup website and to reform its practices to comply with all laws protecting the privacy of children and others online, said Paul R. Rodríguez, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “Our cyber fraud unit will continue to monitor the internet for reports of data breaches that affect New Jersey residents and take swift action to hold companies accountable.”
In a Consent Order entered with the Division, Unixiz agreed to put in place measures to obtain verifiable parental consent on all company-operated websites that collect children’s information, as well as measures to provide parents with the ability to review the information that the company is collecting from their child, and to revoke the right of that company to collect or maintain their child’s information. Unixiz also agreed to implement policies and procedures to safeguard users’ account information.

The company also agreed to civil penalties in the amount of $98,618, $34,000 of which has been paid and $64,618 of which will be suspended and automatically vacated after two years, provided that the company complies with the terms of the Consent Order.

The i-Dressup website, which billed itself as a “social hangout website” for teens, offered its users access to fashion and fantasy-based games, and a feature which allowed certain approved users to exchange messages.
The Division, through its investigation, confirmed that the website had actual knowledge that many of its members were under the age of 13, which triggered obligations to comply with COPPA.
COPPA and its regulations apply to operators of commercial websites and online services, including mobile apps, directed to children under 13, and operators of general audience websites or online services with actual knowledge that they are collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children under 13.

The primary goal of COPPA is to provide parents with control over what information is collected from their young children online, including first and last names, home addresses, screen names and other online contact information, telephone numbers, social security numbers, photographs, and IP addresses and other persistent identifiers that can be used to recognize a user over time and across different web sites or online services.

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NJGOP Director Theresa Winegar: Women Standing With Menendez Suddenly Very Silent ?

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file photo by Boyd Loving

August 3,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ , Following a press conference where the Democrat female delegation of the New Jersey Senate caucus held a press conference in support of Senator Bob Menendez, the NJGOP questioned where they stood on the issue of Menedez’s record with women. NJGOP Executive Director Theresa Winegar issued the following statement on their silence:

“It’s been a week since Senators Cunningham, Weinberg, Ruiz and Pou have recoiled into the shelter of their golden dome after being pressed on Senator Menendez’s offensive history with women. New Jersey’s voters deserve a clear position from them on his record of using his official office to import and exploit young foreign women for his married criminal donor and friend Soliman Melgen. A bi-partisan panel of U.S. Senators recognized Menendez’s abuse of power, but it seems the female delegation of Democrats in New Jersey’s Senate find his behavior to be totally acceptable.”

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Pennacchio Highlights Dangers of Sex Tourism in Dominican Republic

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August 3,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montville NJ  , Due to an increase in human trafficking violations in the Dominican Republic (DR,) Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) has introduced a Senate Resolution that would urge New Jersey residents to immediately cease travel to the Dominican Republic, unless the country takes action to combat the epidemic of sex tourism within the nation’s borders.

“Human trafficking is modern-day enslavement in which innocent people, particularly young children, are abducted, sold, and forced into the heartbreaking sex-trade and forced labor industry,” Pennacchio said. “The Dominican Republic’s beautiful beaches and mountains cannot cover-up the fact that it’s also the world’s most dangerous tourist destination for at-risk children. Ending human trafficking is not a partisan issue. This is about human rights.”
Six million tourists visit the Dominican Republic (DR) every year. The DR is frequently cited as a world capital for sex tourism. Victims of the sex-trade industry are frequently found on street corners, beaches, parks, and other popular tourist destinations throughout the Dominican Republic.

One in four of these women were forced into sexual exploitation before their 18th birthday, according to the International Justice Mission.

Sen. Joe Pennacchio’s new resolution, SR-91, aims to expose the Dominican Republic’s failure to implement protocols that would identify and assist human trafficking victims, raise awareness, and encourage the people of New Jersey to take a stand by refusing to travel to the nation. The resolution was officially introduced in the State Senate on July 1, 2018.
Over the past five years, the Dominican Republic has grown into a global source for women and children who are forced into sex trafficking; as well as young men who are sold into forced labor. In 2017, children represented more than 50 percent of the human trafficking population in the Dominican Republic.

Every year, more than a million children are exploited in the global sex-trade industry. This commercial sex-tourism market includes tourists from the United States and other countries, who travel to destinations commonly known for legal prostitution, such as the Dominican Republic. In addition to tourist destinations, the international sex-trade is fueled by weak law enforcement and dark corners of the internet.
Senator Pennacchio has sponsored a number of bills to protect children from violence.

In addition to SR-91, Senator Pennacchio also co-sponsors the “Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act,” which would require manufactures and sellers of internet-connected devices to block websites known to facilitate human trafficking. The bill would establish a reporting website or call center, this tool would allow consumers to report unblocked obscene material.

“We cannot in good faith encourage our residents to visit the Dominican Republic,” Pennacchio added. “The DR has repeatedly failed to fully comply with the minimum global standards for eliminating human trafficking. I strongly believe that this legislation could be a critical step in our fight to end the cycle of sex tourism. 20 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking. We must stand up and fight on their behalf in any way we can. I call on my colleagues in the Legislature to join me in this bold effort to stop these atrocities, once and for all.”

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Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean: Murphy’s “Free” Community College Pilot Program to Cost NJ Taxpayers $20 Million

Tom Kean - High Quality

Kean States the Obvious “Free” Community College is not “Free ” at all 

August 3,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Westfield NJ, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean said that a pilot program announced by the Murphy Administration that would shift the cost of tuition and fees for some community college students to New Jersey taxpayers is misguided and unaffordable.

“Free community college sounds great, but nothing is really free,” said Kean. “The Governor’s plan simply shifts $20 million of tuition costs for a handful of students to New Jersey taxpayers who are already overburdened. It’s a huge and unnecessary expense that the State cannot afford to assume.”

Kean warned that the $20 million cost of the Pilot program could become an annual expense of $200 million to $400 million if the program is fully implemented statewide.

“The Governor just told taxpayers that New Jersey is in such dire financial straits that he had to raise taxes by nearly $1.5 billion,” said Kean. “The truth is that the higher taxes Governor Murphy implemented this year on families and businesses were only necessary to fund new spending on unnecessary programs like ‘free’ community college. He hasn’t told us yet which taxes he’ll propose raising next to pay for the full cost of this scheme.”
To support the State’s FY 2019 budget plan, which included funding for the pilot program, the Governor and legislative Democrats raised both personal income and corporate business taxes. They also implemented a new Internet sales tax and taxes on sharing services, including Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb.

Kean noted that the Governor’s misguided tuition plan fails to address the underlying problem of escalating costs at our community colleges that have driven tuition to levels that are unaffordable for many students.
“Our community colleges should be an affordable option for every student who chooses to continue their education,” said Kean. “Unfortunately, the Governor’s tuition scheme merely papers over the problems that have led to tuition growth without fixing them. That virtually ensures that the cost to taxpayers for ‘free’ community college will grow well beyond the already expensive estimates.”

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Menendez’s co-defendant, “best friend,” and biggest campaign donor, Melgen Motion for a New Trial Denied

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file photo by Boyd Loving

July 31,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Mountainside Nj,  Hugin campaign chimed in upon hearing the news that Senator Bob Menendez’s co-defendant, “best friend,” and biggest campaign donor, Sal Melgen, had his motion for a new trial denied today, U.S. Senate candidate Bob Hugin’s campaign released the following statement:

“We applaud Judge Marra’s decision to ensure that Sal Melgen is held accountable for his crimes,” said Hugin Communications Director Megan Piwowar. “Now it’s time for Bob Menendez to be held accountable, too. Menendez violated federal law by taking $1 million in illegal gifts and abused his office to intervene in the Obama Justice Department’s investigation into Melgen’s Medicare fraud scheme. Menendez is refusing to amend his financial disclosure and pay back Melgen’s dirty money as ordered by the bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee. When is Menendez going to comply? It’s time for him to come clean and pay up.”

  • “The Court finds that Defendant has not demonstrated, by clear and convincing evidence, that he is not a flight risk,” Marra wrote. “Although Defendant complied with the conditions of pretrial release before the verdict was rendered, circumstances have changed significantly with his conviction. In view of the length of Defendant’s sentence and his age, there is great incentive for Defendant to flee.”(Matt Friedman, Politico, Judge denies Melgen bail, new trial as he awaits appeal, 07/30/2018)

  • Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, the friend of Sen. Bob Menendez who was his co-defendant in the federal government’s unsuccessful corruption case, will stay locked up as he appeals a separate conviction for Medicaid fraud. (Matt Friedman, Politico, Judge denies Melgen bail, new trial as he awaits appeal, 07/30/2018)

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Reader says NJ Politicians should Stop Yelling about Trump and Clean their Own House

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New Jersey State Assembly and Senate has been controlled by the Democrats for decades. Never mind who is the Governor, there lies the root of all of the state’s problems. All of the political payback to supporters has left New Jersey in this condition. So clean your own house Congressman Pascrell.

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SENATE CANDIDATE HUGIN MEETS WITH LOCAL LEADERS ON OPIOID EPIDEMIC

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July 30th ,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

MENDHAM NJ, With more than eight people dying from drug overdoses in N.J. everyday, according to a recent article by the Star-Ledger, U.S. Senate candidate Hugin met with leaders of Daytop New Jersey and Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon at the Daytop New Jersey Academy in Mendham to tour and discuss what can be done to fight this epidemic.

Daytop New Jersey is a treatment program for individuals of all ages suffering from substance use disorders. Daytop was the final stop for Hugin in what was a busy week that includes visits to the Morris CARES program and Narcan training, and the Robbinsville Senior Center.

“We need to reverse the stigma around mental illness and substance abuse,” said Bob Hugin. “My time with the residents and leadership of Daytop New Jersey was truly an eye-opening experience to the phenomenal work being done not only by the administrators, but by the residents as well. The progress they are making is truly remarkable.”

Daytop Academy is the only program in New Jersey with a specialty substance use disorder facility with a special education high school that could meet all the needs of the students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP). Daytop New Jersey provides a continuum of treatment services which include residential treatment for adolescents, outpatient treatment for adolescents and adults, recovery-based day school for students in grades 6-12, and a halfway house for adult women.

“This is a disease that does not discriminate; Daytop is committed to addressing the needs of everyone battling a substance use disorder in New Jersey no matter what their age, socio-economic status, or race,” said James Curtin, who serves as the President & CEO. “It is encouraging to see Mr. Hugin tour our facility, listen to what our needs are, and discuss how Washington can be a partner in this local fight.”

“Today’s discussion needs to be one that happens every day around every dinner table,” said Sheriff Gannon. “For too long I have seen too many families go from broken teeth and broken bones to broken families.”

“Treatment for substance disorders has evolved as the science and psychology communities provide evidence of the benefits of things like our music therapy program for ‘re-wiring’ the brain as it recovers from a substance use disorder,” said Kim O’Connor VP of Clinical Services at Daytop.

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Organization For Economic Growth: Ciattarelli Offers Prescription For New Jersey’s Ills As He Moves Closer to Declaring Gubernatorial Run

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July 28,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Mountain Lakes NJ,  Jack Ciattarelli sounded very much like a man running for governor Wednesday night as he addressed the first “Brotherhood of Business and Labor” reception hosted by the New Jersey Organization for Economic Growth in Morris County.

Ciattarelli, who ran for the Republican nomination for governor last year, presented his ideas to cure New Jersey’s economic and tax ills, which included the elimination of the state tax on capital gains, phasing out the corporate business tax, and ending the practice of raising property taxes on people who update their homes without increasing the size of the house.

Ciattarelli’s philosophical approach is to not punish people who take risks or who invest in projects that create value and jobs. That philosophy was enthusiastically received by NJOEG Chairman Joseph Caruso, who said he welcomed Ciattarelli’s bold candor.

When Caruso asked the keynote speaker of the event if he was running for governor, Ciattarelli smiled and reeled off the exact number of months and days until the next gubernatorial election before admitting that he would run.
Ciattarelli was warmly received at the Brotherhood event, which included a number of elected and appointed officials including New Jersey State Republican Party Chairman Doug Steinhardt; State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio; Business Manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 102 Patrick Delle Cava; and NJOEG Labor Liaison Christian Barranco
“I think Jack will be a great candidate and will make a tremendous governor. He understands economics and investment and he is willing to tackle tough issues without pandering to the special interests that are largely responsible for New Jersey’s horrid economic condition,” said Caruso, a business executive from Wayne.

Ciattarelli, a former assemblyman from the 16th Legislative District, stepped into the quagmire that is the state’s ongoing property tax crisis; saying bluntly, “You can’t fix the property tax problem in New Jersey without fixing the state’s school funding formula.”

Ciattarelli’s fix entails providing the same amount of per student funding for every child regardless of where they live.

He also waded into the pension crisis saying: “The state pension plan is busted. It was not designed to pay lifetime health benefits to people who live into their 90’s,” he said.

Ciattarelli took a few jabs at Gov. Phil Murphy and his progressive policies and tax increases, saying: “Murphy lights the fires of socialism.”

Della Cave, representing labor at the event, pointed out how his union is backing incentives for business investment because “businesses are not expanding in New Jersey without them.”

Delle Cave, who represents 2,500 electricians and has $1 million budget for political activity, said there are two main issues important to his members besides creating a robust economy. “Don’t do away with prevailing wage laws and don’t make this a right to work state,” he said.

Steinhardt said state officials need to address New Jersey’s problems by “resisting the temptation to do what is easy and what feels good.”

The State GOP chairman offered a few reforms he would like to see including a 2 percent cap on state spending (which now applies to municipal and county governments), public sector pension reform and a reduction in regulation that is killing business investment.

Barranco, who served as master of ceremonies for the event called it highly successful in furthering the dialogue among government, labor and business.

“New Jersey’s present economy is imbalanced with the few good things going to relatively few people, while everyone else – including private sector workers, homeowners, young people and business all getting squeezed to the breaking point. Through more events like this and more honest dialogue we can fix what’s wrong with New Jersey,” said Barranco.

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Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal Prime beneficiary of European Trade concessions with the Trump Administration

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July 26,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ, after immense pressure by the Trump administration ,the European Union says that it has agreed to a series of concessions that would avoid a costly trade war with the US. The EU has agreed to:

• Increase liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from the United States;
• Lower tariffs;
• Align regulatory standards on medical products;
• Import more US soy beans.

The European Union delegation, led by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and his top trade officials, met with President Donald Trump in a bid to level the field on trade. The official said the EU has agreed to work with the Trump administration to lower tariffs on both sides of the Atlantic .The delegations are still fine tuning language in a common statement on car tariffs. There will be no further tariffs as the details are worked out.

Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal in New Jersey could be the prime beneficiary or any trade agreement lowering tariffs and promoting trade .The Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal, a major component of the Port of New York and New Jersey and perhaps the most successful component . Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal is the principal container ship facility for goods entering and leaving New York metropolitan area and the northeastern quadrant of North America and is one of the few areas of job creation success in New Jersey .

The port is located on Newark Bay, the facility is run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Its two components—Port Newark and the Elizabeth Marine Terminal (sometimes called “Port Newark” and “Port Elizabeth”)—sit side by side within the cities of Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, just east of the New Jersey Turnpike and Newark Airport

As of 2004,Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal was the largest container port in the eastern United States and the third-largest in the country.Since 1998, the port has seen a 65% increase in traffic. In 2003, the port moved over $100 billion in goods. In 2006, it handled more than 20% of all US imports from Germany a major European trading partner .

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High density housing is not good planning and will lead to rampant over-development, lower quality of life, and higher costs. The only people that benefit from these affordable housing mandates are the developers.

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Here’s a copy of the email I sent to Assemblyman Benjie E. Wimberly this morning regarding today’s hearing about high density housing.

July 25, 2018

Assemblyman Benjie E. Wimberly
Chair Housing and Community Development
Via [email protected],

RE: Committee Hearing on High Density Housing July 25th

Honorable committee members, invitees, public and Chair Wimberly;

I unfortunately cannot attend the July 25th, 2018 Committee Hearing on High-Density Housing and would appreciate it if you could please read this into the record.

I am a resident of 50 years in West Windsor, NJ, in Mercer County.

The NJ courts have ruled that towns must meet fair housing needs totaling more than 150,000 units, statewide. Specifically, West Windsor must build 1,500 affordable housing units by 2025.

West Windsor has acted in good faith in providing affordable housing over the years, and so we have credit for about 1,000 affordable units, which means we must build an additional 500 units. However, since developers build 4 market rate units for every 1 affordable unit (if we’re lucky), we’re actually looking at 2,500 units, or an increase of 25 percent to the township’s current inventory of some 10,000 units.

This is a huge increase that will pose a hardship to our residents. In addition to increasing existing residents’ property taxes (to subsidize the lower property taxes that will be paid by these high-density housing units), West Windsor Township will also be burdened with:

· Increased traffic on roads and railways
· Increased stress on aging infrastructure such as water supply, sewers, electrical grids, telecommunications (including internet connectivity and broadband speeds)
· General overpopulation and overcrowding, including overcrowding of schools and/or the need to build additional schools

We need to address the unrealistic process the court is using to micromanage how many units a community needs to build. We need to stop court-mandated high-density housing. Obligations should be determined by the State Council on Affordable Housing, which needs to set uniform rules and create predictability. Municipalities should have the right to reject any development that increases housing by more than 5% in 10 years.

It’s important to note, West Windsor has already started making an effort to satisfy their obligation, by recently agreeing to build 800 new homes (including 132 affordable units) next to the Princeton Junction Train Station.

High density housing is not good planning and will lead to rampant over-development, lower quality of life, and higher costs. The only people that benefit from these affordable housing mandates are the developers. The existing residents are the biggest losers and the affordable housing isn’t even that affordable!

As a resident of West Windsor Township, I thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Tracy Sinatra

Republican Candidate for New Jersey General Assembly District 15, Election November 6, 2018

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Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal : Jersey City’s decriminalization memorandum was an improper exercise of a municipal prosecutor’s authority

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July 25,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Jersey City NJ, Yesterday, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez met with officials from Jersey City to discuss last week’s memorandum issued by the city’s Chief Municipal Prosecutor purporting to decriminalize marijuana. During that meeting, the Attorney General made clear that Jersey City’s decriminalization memorandum was an improper exercise of a municipal prosecutor’s authority and reiterated that it was void.

The Attorney General also expressed his concern that Jersey City had acted without consulting state and county law enforcement officials before issuing the memorandum. He was particularly concerned that the rushed issuance of the memorandum – which placed officers in a position of enforcing valid laws that some may mistakenly believe had been rescinded – could undermine the community trust that law enforcement officers in Jersey City and elsewhere have worked so hard to build and could jeopardize officer safety.

At the conclusion of yesterday’s meeting, the Attorney General stated that he wanted to work with criminal justice stakeholders – including County Prosecutor Suarez and the Jersey City Chief Municipal Prosecutor – to clarify the scope and appropriate use of prosecutorial discretion in marijuana-related offenses in municipal court. The Attorney General decided to convene a working group that would study these issues and advise him on a statewide directive that he would issue in August and that would provide clarification about municipal prosecutors’ authority in these cases. He also agreed to ask that municipal prosecutors statewide adjourn all marijuana-related offenses in municipal court until September 4, 2018, in order to provide time to develop the guidance. During yesterday’s meeting, the Attorney General did not commit to the final outcome of the working group or the content of the forthcoming directive. The Attorney General also reiterated that municipal prosecutors do not have the authority to unilaterally decriminalize marijuana-related offenses.

This morning, the Office of the Mayor of Jersey City issued a press release that did not accurately describe yesterday’s meeting and made it appear as if the Attorney General had already agreed to the outcome of the working group and the content of the directive. The Mayor of Jersey City did not participate in yesterday’s meeting and the Attorney General regrets the inaccuracy of the city’s press statements. The Attorney General remains deeply committed to social justice issues and looks forward to working with other criminal justice stakeholders as the state examines over the coming month the appropriate scope of municipal prosecutors’ discretion in marijuana-related cases.

As with all policy initiatives he has spearheaded during his tenure, the Attorney General believes that the best way to develop progressive solutions is through a collaborative approach that involves multiple stakeholders across law enforcement, civil rights organizations, and community leaders. Later this week, the Attorney General will announce the names of those participating in the working group described today.

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Syrian refugees are now fleeing New Jersey because of high cost of living, low quality housing, high taxes and safety concerns

illegal-immigrants

July 25,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Syrian refugees recently placed in New Jersey Democrat run strongholds , are now fleeing the state because of high cost of living, low quality housing, high taxes and safety concerns, NorthJersey.com reports.

At Ktuf is a Syrian refugee who arrived in the United States in the summer of 2016, and planning on leaving New Jersey for Michigan next month. Ktuf told NorthJersey.com the reason she is leaving New Jersey for Michigan: “Over there, you can dream of buying a house, but here you can’t. Costs are so high, and taxes are so high.”

Ktuf’s brother in law moved to Dearborn last month, and was able to find a home with four bedrooms, a backyard and a garage for $1,200 a month.
Mohammad Hial is one of seven Syrian refugees telling the paper they are leaving or planning on leaving New Jersey this summer. Hial left New Jersey for Michigan last week. “This state (New Jersey) is very expensive,” Hial stated

The sanctuary state of New Jersey also presents other disadvantages .Sikander Khan, who head’s Global Emergency Response and Assistance said in addition to economic reasons, “Syrians are leaving Patterson because of safety concerns.”

Nour, a Syrian refugee who left the country after civil war broke out, was interviewed by The Bergen Record, but asked to only be identified by his first name for “safety concerns.” Last month Nour was hit over the head with a metal pipe and robbed of $2,800. Nour told caseworkers, he was “considering moving to Turkey because of crime.” Nour added his two daughters, 14 and 16, “no longer want to leave the apartment.”

Of the seven families interviewed, five are headed to Michigan. As refugees, where many Syrians are eligible for rent assistance for up to 24 months. It looks like after the rent assistance runs out, many Syrians are not happy with Democratic stronghold New Jersey, and fleeing to other states with better opportunities.

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New Jersey Revenue Certification Reform is Long Overdue

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July 24,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, This afternoon the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee held a hearing on SCR132, a constitutional amendment to overhaul New Jersey’s revenue certification process. SCR132 would take away the governor’s constitutional authority to certify revenues and create a joint legislative and executive branch panel to provide consensus revenue certification. New Jersey would become the 29th state in the nation to adopt this budget forecasting framework.

NEW JEREY POLICY PERSPECTIVE PRESIDENT GORDON MacINNES:

“This change to the budgeting process is long overdue and will bring more clarity, collaboration, and credibility to the state’s revenue projections. Consensus forecasting follows best practices from across the country and ensures economic factors – not political ones – set the parameters of the budget debate.

For the state to fully realize the benefits of this reform, the legislature should also pursue multi-year budgeting practices to better prepare New Jersey for the future. These changes could lead to a healthier, more democratic budget debate, boost public trust, and produce better results for a state budget that has suffered from years of politically convenient decisions.

However, while consensus revenue forecasting is an important change to the constitution, it should not be made with the same swift action that defines the last-minute budget practices the state seeks to reform.”

Full testimony by NJPP President Gordon MacInnes: https://www.njpp.org/budget/njpp-testimony-revenue-certification-reform-is-long-overdue

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Top Law Enforcement Officials Call On Sherrill To End The Witch Hunt On ICE Agents

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July 34,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Whippany NJ,  Following a week where nearly 200 Democrats in the House refused to vote for a resolution in support of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Morris County Sheriff Jim Gannon and Sussex County Sheriff Michael Strada are joining Jay Webber in calling on Congressional candidate Mikie Sherrill to reject her party’s effort to disband and tarnish the organization.

“I stand with the women and men who serve and sacrifice as ICE agents and employees,” said Webber. “It is important that our elected representatives support the law enforcement community, especially as we all work together to try and solve the opioid crisis. It is unconscionable that Mikie Sherrill actually organized a rally that called for the abolition of ICE, and refuses to back down from that indefensible position.”
Sheriff Gannon added, “Every branch of law enforcement is intertwined and reinforces one another’s responsibilities. In addition to identifying, investigating and prosecuting dangerous illegal immigrants, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) also plays an especially critical role in keeping drugs off of our streets, seizing hundreds of thousands of pounds of illegal narcotics every year. We need a Congressional representative who will protect the mission of ICE as we continue to battle the opioid crisis. Jay Webber has proven time and again that law enforcement can count on him, which is why I give him my full support. ”
“Mikie Sherrill is adding fuel to a very dangerous fire by sharing the stage with her radical supporters as they call for the abolishment of ICE,” said Sheriff Strada. “Every Sheriff’s office and local police department would be in a tough spot if we did not have Immigration and Customs Enforcement supporting us, and vice versa. If people want to send someone to Washington who will be tough on crime and have the backs of the law enforcement community, then they need to get out and support Jay Webber.”