Category: Trenton

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CDC : Autism Prevalence Highest in New Jersey

CDC

April 28,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Washington DC, according to the CDC ,about 1 in 59 eight -year-old children in 11 communities across the United States were identified as having autism in 2014, according to a report published today in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Surveillance Summary.

The data in this report come from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network – a tracking system that provides estimates of the prevalence and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder among more than 300,000 8-year-old children. ADDM is the largest population-based program to monitor autism and the only autism tracking system that examines health and education records.

The latest estimate of 1.7 percent (1 in 59) is higher than the previous ADDM estimate released in 2016, which found a prevalence of 1.5 percent or 1 in 68 children. Some of the change in prevalence could be due to improved autism identification in minority populations – although autism is still more likely to be identified in white children than in black or Hispanic children. This identification is important, because children identified early with autism and connected to services are more likely to reach their fullest potential.

“Autism prevalence among black and Hispanic children is approaching that of white children,” said Stuart Shapira, M.D., Ph.D., associate director for science at CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. “The higher number of black and Hispanic children now being identified with autism could be due to more effective outreach in minority communities and increased efforts to have all children screened for autism so they can get the services they need.”

The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network estimates are combined from 11 communities within Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. The 11 communities surveyed in this report represent about 8 percent of 8-year-old children in the United States.

Estimates of autism varied widely among the 11 communities in this report, although five reported similar estimates of 1.3 percent to 1.4 percent. The highest prevalence estimate of 2.9 percent came from a community in New Jersey. Some of the regional differences in autism prevalence estimates among the 11 communities might be due to differences in how autism is being diagnosed and documented.

More work needed to identify autism early in life

The data demonstrate that more work needs to be done to identify children with autism at a younger age and refer them to early intervention:
Fewer than half of the children identified in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network received their first autism diagnosis by the time they were 4 years old.

Although 85 percent of children with autism had concerns about their development noted in their health records by the time they were 3 years old, only 42 percent received a developmental evaluation by that age.
This lag between first concern and first evaluation may affect when children with autism can begin getting the services they need.

“Parents can track their child’s development and act early if there is a concern. Healthcare providers can acknowledge and help parents act on those concerns. And those who work with or on behalf of children can join forces to ensure that all children with autism get identified and connected to the services they need as early as possible,” said Dr. Shapira. “Together we can improve a child’s future.”

CDC’s efforts to track autism and promote early identification

The next ADDM report will add data for children who were 8 years old in 2016 and help us better understand whether autism prevalence is changing and whether improvements are being made in early identification of autism. The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network is not a representative sample of the United States, but is a detailed look at autism in these specific communities. For more information about CDC’s autism activities visit www.cdc.gov/Autism.

CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early program provides parents, childcare professionals, and healthcare providers free resources, in English and Spanish, for monitoring children’s development. The program offers parent-friendly, research-based milestone checklists for children as young as 2 months of age. CDC’s Milestone Tracker Mobile App can help parents track their child’s development and share the information with their healthcare providers. For more information visit www.cdc.gov/ActEarly.

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ICE arrests 60 during public safety operation in New Jersey

ICE : U

April 28,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ,  Officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 60 individuals throughout New Jersey during a 5-day public safety operation ending April 20.
The operation focused on individuals illegally present in the U.S. that had been convicted of serious criminal activity, to include sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, and Driving Under the Influence (DUI). Of those arrested, 80 percent were convicted criminals, more than 20 had been issued a final order of removal and failed to depart the United States, or had been previously removed from the United States and returned illegally. Several had prior felony convictions for serious or violent offenses, such as aggravated assault, child abuse, child sex crimes, and assault, or had past convictions for significant or multiple misdemeanors. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Marshals Service assisted ICE during this operation.

“The success of this operation is a direct result of the full commitment of the dedicated men and women of ICE.” said John Tsoukaris, field office director for ERO Newark. “We will continue to devote the full efforts of our agency to protecting citizens and enforcing federal immigration law despite challenges being pursued by politically motivated individuals.”
Arrests include:
In Passaic, a 24 year-old Mexican national, who has convictions of aggravated assault with bodily injury and domestic violence assault;
In Edgewater, a 32 year-old, Colombian national, who has convictions of domestic violence/aggravated assault, contempt – violate domestic violence restraining order, and possession of controlled dangerous substance;
In South Bound Brook, a 47 year-old previously removed Honduran national, who has convictions of felony forgery and hindering apprehension;
In Rockaway, a 38 year-old Jamaican national, who has convictions of child abuse and domestic violence assault;
In East Orange, a 51 year-old previously removed Guatemalan national, who has convictions of distribution of controlled substance and multiple domestic violence assaults;
In Lodi, a 54 year-old Italian national, and registered sexual offender, who has convictions of sexual assault of a minor, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, burglary and resisting arrest by force;
In West Long Branch, a 32 year-old El Salvadorian national with a warrant of removal, who has convictions of evading law enforcement officer causing serious bodily injury and pending charges of possession of marijuana;
Criminal histories of those arrested during the operation are as follows: DUI, domestic violence assault & abuse, child abuse, distribution of cds, sexual assault on a minor, harassment, burglary, possession of a weapon, aggravated assault, shoplifting, theft, forgery, larceny, eluding and illegal entry.
The arrestees include nationals from Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, and Ukraine.
ERO deportation officers made arrests throughout New Jersey, specifically in the counties of Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Union.

ICE focuses its enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security. However, ICE no longer exempts classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States.
Some of the individuals arrested during this operation may face federal criminal prosecution for illegal re-entry after deportation. The arrestees who are not being federally prosecuted will be processed administratively for removal from the United States. Those who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal from the country. The remaining individuals are in ICE custody awaiting a hearing before an immigration judge.

Despite politically driven challenges that certain local jurisdictions have created, ICE remains committed to its public safety mission and will continue to seek out dangerous criminal aliens and other immigration violators. ICE seeks cooperation with all local law enforcement and elected officials when carrying out the enforcement of federal immigration law.
ICE deportation officers carry out targeted enforcement operations every day in locations around the country as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to protect the nation, uphold public safety, and protect the integrity of our immigration laws and border controls. These operations involve existing, established Fugitive Operations Teams.

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How High Are Recreational Marijuana Taxes in Your State?

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April 26, 2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

According to Katherine Loughead and Morgan Scarboro of the Tax Foundation public opinion increasingly favors the legalization of recreational marijuana, a growing number of states must determine how to tax legal sales of cannabis.

Will New Jersey Be next? One of the biggest signals of change has been the election of Democrat Phil Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs executive, and the incumbent Governor of New Jersey. He’s has already instilled a belief that New Jersey will embrace the plant recreationally.

To date, nine states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington) and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana, but only eight of these jurisdictions have legal markets. The table below highlights the states that have implemented legal markets and levy taxes on recreational marijuana.

Of the states with legal markets, Alaska is the only state that does not impose some form of sales tax on end-users. In each of the other states, taxes levied on the sale of marijuana far exceed the general sales tax rate levied by that state:

In Alaska, which has no states sales tax, marijuana growers pay a tax of $50 per ounce when selling the product to marijuana dispensaries or retailers. While the cost of taxes paid is passed on to customers in the form of higher prices, end-users do not pay a sales tax when purchasing marijuana.

In California, cultivators pay a per ounce of product tax at a rate of $9.25 per ounce of marijuana flowers and $2.75 per ounce of leaves. In addition, retailers collect from customers a 15 percent excise tax on the average market price of the product.

Colorado imposes a 15 percent excise tax on the sale of marijuana from a cultivator to a retailer. In addition, the state levies a 15 percent sales tax (up from 10 percent in 2017) on retail sales to customers.

Maine legalized recreational marijuana in 2016 by ballot initiative but has not yet established a legal market. Pending legislation would tax sales of marijuana at a rate of 10 percent and levy an excise tax on cultivators at a rate of $335 per pound of flower, $94 per pound of marijuana trim, $1.50 per immature plant or seedling, and $0.30 per seed. Governor LePage, however, has vowed to veto the legislation.

Massachusetts, concerned its previous ballot initiative approved rate of 3.75 percent was too low, raised the excise tax rate to 10.75 percent in 2017.

Nevada imposes an excise tax on the sale of marijuana by a cultivator to a distributor. This rate is set at 15 percent of the Fair Market Value as determined by the Nevada Department of Taxation. In 2017, Nevada created a new 10 percent sales tax paid by consumers.

Oregon, which does not have a general sales tax, levies a 17 percent sales tax on marijuana.
Washington levies a 37 percent sales tax on recreational marijuana.

Vermont legalized the possession of marijuana this year but did not create a legal market. D.C. also allows for possessing and growing of marijuana but does not allow for sales in a legal market.

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Sierra Club: Murphy Admin Steals Half of Volkswagen Settlement for Budget

Phill Murphy -Sara Medina del Castillo

April 23, 2018, 11:48 am | in

Trenton NJ, The Murphy Administration is taking $69 million of the $141 million the state will receive from settlements with Volkswagen involving air-pollution violations and cheating on emissions tests will go into the general fund for the state budget. This is funding that is supposed to be going to clean air initiatives, including electric vehicles programs.

“New Jersey is supposed to move forward with electric vehicles. Instead of helping to jumpstart our goals, the Murphy Administration is stealing $69 million, the entire state portion, of the Volkswagen settlement to balance the budget. Volkswagen is paying for the damage they did to communities by increasing and failing to report on air pollution. We received the settlement money because of Volkswagen’s pollution and it should all go toward mitigating those affects and cleaning New Jersey’s air. Instead, Murphy is letting the air our of our tired by taking the money for the general fund,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “The Governor campaigned against taking environmental settlement monies for plugging budget holes the way Christie did. Now, he’s doing so. This goes against the spirit of the constitutional amendment.”

New Jersey accepted $72 million settlement from the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust on top of the $69 million previously awarded by the Volkswagen Group of America. The funds settle allegations that Volkswagen “violated New Jersey’s clean air statutes and defrauded consumers by selling diesel vehicles equipped with “cheat” software that deactivated their on-board emission controls except during emissions testing.” The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been named lead agency in administering the funds. The state must submit a “Beneficiary Mitigation Plan” that explains how the funds will be used.

“We desperately need the $69 million that they want to divert to make our economy greener with electric vehicles. This could jumpstart our clean transportation system. We need to make sure that that funds go to the right places including to plug-ins and helping urban areas where air pollution is worst. This will help create jobs and move our state forward with an automobile that has zero emissions and decrease fossil fuels. The biggest source of air pollution and greenhouse gases in our state comes from automobiles, which is why we need to increase electric vehicles to clean our air. We need to install plug-in stations along with providing things like zip cars, ride shares, and taxis to encourage EV’s that everyone can afford,” said Jeff Tittel. “We should be using the entirety of the $141 million to move New Jersey forward on electric vehicles.”

Last Fall, New Jersey voters approved Ballot Question #2 to dedicate environmental settlement funds to environmental clean-ups. This will block future administrations from robbing the money meant for repairing, preserving, or restoring natural resources. In NJ, these resources are held in the Public Trust. If you spill chemicals and destroy them, you not only have to clean-up your mess, but also compensate the public for their loss. The ballot language is as follows:

9. There shall be credited annually to a special account in the General Fund an amount equivalent to the revenue annually derived from all settlements and judicial and administrative awards relating to natural resource damages collected by the State in connection with claims based on environmental contamination.

“The voters overwhelmingly decided that environmental settlement money such as that from the Volkswagen settlement should be used only for non-environmental purposes. Isn’t air pollution an environmental contaminate as well? The Murphy Administration is going against these wishes by taking half of the funds for plugging budget holes. Volkswagen illegally added air pollution, creating increased health impacts and climate impacts. The entirety of the settlement funds should be used to mitigate those affects by improving our air quality and reducing greenhouse gasses,” said Jeff Tittel. “Even if it we believed it was legal to take the funds, we would recommend against doing so because it hurts the people and environment of New Jersey.”

The Clean Energy Fund is being raided once again; this time by $136 million or even higher. This includes $80 million for NJ Transit, $50 million for lights in government buildings, $2 million to the BPU and $5 million to implement RGGI. This Fund is meant to support projects that make our homes more resilient such as weatherization, along with energy efficiency and green jobs. The DEP is also suffering from budget raids and money being redirected.

“The Clean Energy Fund has become the state’s ATM. Christie consistently used the money to balance the budget and the Murphy Administration is continuing that pattern. This has become a hidden energy tax on consumers. Instead of using this money for the environment and creating jobs, it is used to plug budget holes. On top of the clean energy fund raids, $80 million dollars are being diverted from the DEP. This is funding for important programs that would go towards cleaning up toxic sites, brownfield redevelopment, and watershed protection. This will have a real impact on the agency because by diverting those funds, they are not hiring enough staff for DEP to do its job,” said Jeff Tittel.

We should be using these funds for things such as promoting electric vehicles in New Jersey. We can electrify our ports, especially in urban areas, with electric busses to reduce air pollution in areas already highly affected. We can use electric vehicles for transportation in and around the ports including moving goods and containers. We can implement clean transportation programs so that our school children can ride in cleaner, quieter, and healthier school buses that are powered by electricity. This is especially important for children who live in urban areas already overburdened by air pollution. Electric busses will benefit all mass transit riders, as well as anyone living in the city where they run without released air toxins.

“Stealing half of the Volkswagen funds for plugging budget holes is wrong and unfair to the people of New Jersey. We need to take advantage of the full $141 million to create more in-state jobs, better vehicles, less carbon pollution, and cleaner, healthier air. We believe that these funds can ideally be used to move New Jersey forward with electric vehicles. We can see the benefits of clean air and clean jobs if we put this money to good use. We can build a state-wide network of charging stations, create green jobs, save people money on gas, and reduce air pollution,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

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The Organization For Economic Development Urges Paterson Voters to Support Pedro Rodriguez In May Mayoral Election

Organization For Economic Growth

April 24,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paterson NJ, The Organization for Economic Growth endorses Pedro Rodriguez for mayor and his at large council team of Mohammed Akhtaruzzaman and Mitch Santiago in the May 8th election, announced OEG Chairman Joseph Caruso

“We believe the Rodriguez team has the most well rounded and realistic approach to economic revitalization to one of New Jersey’s most impoverished, but important cities,” said Caruso. The endorsement is based on responses to a questionnaire on economic issues given to all the Paterson candidates

“The Rodriguez Team responded with a sensible and detailed approach to restoring the city’s economic vitality rather than the general pie-in-the sky objectives that lead nowhere,” added Caruso. “His willingness to embrace public/private partnerships and tax incentives was a major factor for our support of Mr. Rodriguez.”

The city’s next mayor will inherit a city with many economic problems, including a 7.5 percent unemployment rate, a severe lacking of economic investment in the central city and significant problems in housing and crime. Previous administrations, dating back decades have failed to attract notable development to the city.

Caruso said Rodriquez is on the right track saying he will overhaul the building department to insure that it is business friendly; hire a professional to oversee economic development and will employ the use of PILOTs (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) and encourage public private partnerships.

“The city desperately needs to be more cooperative with those willing to invest in Paterson and it needs an outside economic development professional – not a political patron – with real world experience to guide the next administration in developing a vision for where the city wants to be in a decade.” said Caruso.

Noting that PILOTs are sometimes criticized as sops to businesses, Caruso said they are a necessary tool to incentivize developers to invest in areas that offer marginal return and significant risk. Rodriguez also said he wants to develop a grant application program to help spur redevelopment and embrace incentives for mixed use development to encourage construction of new housing. Paterson’s housing conditions, particularly in the North and Central wards, are in bad shape and must be addressed, says the OEG executive.

In his responses to the OEG questionnaire, Rodriguez said: “I have a comprehensive plan to place vacant and dilapidated properties into the hands of Patersonians. I vow to reduce the number of abandoned properties by introducing programs such as the 203K loan which will ease the ability for our residents to not only purchase a home but also renovate it. We must provide easier pathways for our residents to achieve the American dream of owning a home which has been statistically proven to ensure proper maintenance and upkeep.”

Rodriguez also recognized the city’s crime problem as a major stumbling block to investment and to attracting people to shop in and visit the city. To help combat crime, Rodriguez said he will commission an independent audit of the city’s budget to identify wasteful spending and redirect those resources into hiring more police officers and to take more cops from behind desks and put them out on the street. He also said he wants to invest in repairing existing — and installing — new surveillance cameras to protect the city’s residents.

“Mr. Rodriguez and his running mates Mohammed Akhtaruzzaman and Mitch Santiago provided thoughtful, well rounded responses to our questionnaire, showing that they have put in the time to consider the problems Paterson must overcome and formulated a way to overcome them,” said Caruso.

“Paterson doesn’t need a cheerleader for mayor; it needs someone who will roll up his sleeves and provide the hands on, serious leadership that will lead to investments, jobs and better housing. We are hopeful that Mr. Rodriguez may be that person.” added Caruso.

The NJOEG was founded to support candidates and policies that improve the state and regional economies. To learn more about the NJ OEG visit our website www.NJOEG.com; or visit us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/StrengthThroughIndustry/

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Jersey Super trooper has all the Wrong Moves

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April 23,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ,  A New Jersey state trooper was indicted today for allegedly conducting improper stops of two female drivers for the purpose of pressuring them to begin a personal relationship with him. The trooper allegedly falsified records to cover up his actions.

The Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau today obtained a six-count state grand jury indictment charging Trooper Eric Richardson, 32, of Camden, N.J., with the following offenses:
Official Misconduct (2nd degree),
Criminal Coercion (3rd degree),
Tampering with Public Records or Information (3rd degree),
Falsifying or Tampering with Records (4th degree),
Wrongful Access/Disclosure of Information (2nd degree), and
Obtaining Information from a Motor Vehicle Record (4th degree).

Richardson was investigated by the New Jersey State Police Office of Professional Standards, which uncovered incidents involving two women whom Richardson allegedly pulled over and harassed about initiating an intimate relationship. He allegedly stopped each woman repeatedly and deactivated the dashboard camera in his car during some of the stops.

Richardson initially pulled over the first woman on Nov. 22, 2016, warning her that her windows were illegally tinted. Although her registration was expired, Richardson allegedly attempted to win favor with her by not towing the vehicle and letting her drive away. He allegedly followed her, however, and activated his lights to stop her a second time. He then allegedly pressured her to give him a phone number, persisting even after she said she was in a relationship. Later, Richardson sent numerous texts to the woman using the number he obtained. On Jan. 3, 2017, Richardson allegedly pulled the woman over again in Atlantic City. He allegedly falsely reported in the official computer dispatch log that he stopped to aid a motorist, when in fact he allegedly stopped the woman to ask if she still had the same number and was receiving his texts.

On Dec. 23, 2016, Richardson allegedly pulled over the second woman in Gloucester Township and threatened to arrest her if she did not give him her phone number. This is the basis for the criminal coercion charge. He allegedly pulled out his handcuffs and threatened to handcuff her. The woman’s license and registration were suspended, and there was a warrant for her arrest. After obtaining her phone number, Richardson released her, despite the active warrant. He allegedly told dispatchers and reported in the dispatch log that the driver he stopped on that occasion was a man. He allegedly communicated with the second woman via texts using the phone number he obtained.
The charges of wrongful access/disclosure of information and obtaining information from a motor vehicle record relate to an incident on May 8, 2017 when Richardson allegedly illegally accessed the FBI—Criminal Justice Information Services database on behalf of a male friend to do a “driver inquiry” on a woman the friend employed to determine if her driver history reflected any warrants or drug activity. Richardson allegedly photographed her driver history and texted it to his friend.

“Police are given great authority and are rightly held to the highest standards of integrity,” said Attorney General Grewal. “When officers abuse their authority, as alleged in this case, they must be held accountable. Public trust and public safety demand it.”

“We allege that the defendant used his authority as a police officer to harass two women and he then falsified official records to cover up his misconduct,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “These are serious charges.”

Richardson was suspended by the New Jersey State Police after being charged by complaint in this case on May 31, 2017. He remains suspended.

Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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New Report Ranks New Jersey Bottom Five in Economic Outlook

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file photo by Boyd Loving

Apr 17, 2018

by AFP

Trenton NJ, Americans for Prosperity-New Jersey (AFP-NJ) on Tuesday responded to a report released by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) that ranks New Jersey as having the fifth-worst economic outlook in the country. The 11th Edition of Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index ranks every states’ economic outlook based on fifteen policy variables like tax rates and labor policies; New Jersey is ranked 46.

“This report reaffirms what we’re reminded of every Tax Day – New Jersey residents are taxed too much and have nothing to show for it except an economy in dire straits with one of the highest out-migrations in the country,” said AFP-NJ State Director Erica Jedynak, who also serves as ALEC’s Private Sector Chair for the Garden State. “The economic situation will only worsen as more beleaguered New Jersey families scramble for the exit. If state and local leaders hope to reverse these trends we must begin to implement policies that provide tax relief and expand worker freedoms.”

“As states compete with each other for much-needed human and financial capital, there is generally a clear trend in favor of taxpayer-friendly, market-oriented reforms across the United States,” said Jonathan Williams, Chief Economist and Vice President for the Center for State Fiscal Reform at ALEC. “Unfortunately for the hardworking taxpayers of New Jersey, the Garden State is once again heading in the wrong direction with the discussion of tax increases. The new rankings show New Jersey is stuck in the bottom five in economic outlook because of high taxes, overwhelming government regulation and cronyism.”

“New Jersey’s poor ranking was well earned and is much deserved. It continues to tax and spend itself into obscurity,” said Senator Joe Pennacchio, who also serves as ALEC’s Public Sector Chair for New Jersey. “Governor Murphy’s first budget raises taxes 2 billion dollars and increased spending by 8 percent. People are fleeing our State leaving behind their families and communities. Whoever is left must shoulder an even higher tax burden. Not fair.”

 

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New Jersey is currently ranked 49th in the United States for its economic performance

Phill Murphy -Sara Medina del Castillo

April 18,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Arlington VA , The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) today released the much anticipated 2018 edition of Rich States, Poor States. Utah again earns the top spot for states with the best economic outlook, followed by Idaho, Indiana, North Dakota and Arizona. Several states’ success in increased rankings can be tied directly to the success of federal tax reform and the resources it gave to lawmakers to cut taxes at the state level.

The 11th edition of Rich States, Poor States is characterized by great movement in state economic performance and outlook as a result of federal tax reform and the resulting actions of certain states.

Biggest movement in rankings: 

Biggest Gainers
Spots Gained
Biggest Losers
Spots Fell
Idaho
8
Tennessee
7
Georgia
6
South Carolina
6
Connecticut
6
Pennsylvania
5
Nebraska
4
Texas
5
Arizona
3
Illinois
6

The 15 economic policy variables used by the authors—top economist Jonathan Williams, White House Advisors Art Laffer and Stephen Moore—to  rank the economic outlook of states have shown over time to be among the most influential variables for state growth. The top ten and bottom ten states for 2018 are:

Overall Economic Outlook for 2018

Top Ten
Bottom Ten
1. Utah
2. Idaho
3. Indiana
4. North Dakota
5. Arizona
6. Florida
7. North Carolina
8. Wyoming
9. South Dakota
10. Virginia
41. Oregon
42. Maine
43. Montana
44. Minnesota
45. Hawaii
46. New Jersey
47. California
48. Illinois
49. Vermont
50. New York

“The untold story of federal tax reform is its impact at the state level, where the vast majority of states are now enjoying unexpected revenue gains,” said Jonathan Williams, Chief Economist and Vice President of the ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform. “This trend is empowering additional pro-growth tax reform efforts that will provide an added level of benefits for hard-working taxpayers. As states compete with each other for much-needed human and financial capital, there is a clear trend in favor of taxpayer-friendly, market-oriented reforms.”

“The shakeup in rankings is exciting and a testament to how states are always competing to offer the most pro-growth tax climate. When states compete on the merits of good public policy, ultimately the taxpayer ends up being the real winner,” said North Carolina State Rep. and National Chairman Jason Saine.

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In the past five years alone, 30 states have significantly reduced their tax burdens. Those that fail to adapt to this competitive environment can fall behind by simply standing still. The facts remain clear that pro-growth policies are working and there is a clear trend in favor of market-oriented reforms.

Rich States, Poor States examines the latest trends in state economic growth. The data ranks the 2018 economic outlook of states using 15 equally weighted policy variables, including various tax rates, regulatory burdens and labor policies. The 11th edition examines trends over the last few decades that have helped or hurt states’ economies.

Used by state lawmakers across America since 2008, Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index, is authored by White House Advisor and economist Dr. Arthur B. Laffer, White House Advisor and Economist Stephen Moore, and Jonathan Williams, Vice President of the American Legislative Exchange Council Center for State Fiscal Reform.

To download a copy of Rich States, Poor States and to see individual state data, visitrichstatespoorstates.org

      Overview (2018 Edition)
METRIC VALUE RANK
Cumulative GDP Growth, 2006 – 2016 23.7% 41st
Cumulative Domestic Migration, 2007 – 2016 -516,326 46th
Non-Farm Employment Growth, 2006 – 2016 0.54% 42nd
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Governor Murphy Signs “Motor Voter” Legislation ,ending Graveyard Shifts

VOTE_theridgewoodblog

April 18,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, Right on the heels of a former New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission clerk pleading guilty to operating a scheme in which he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in payments in return for allowing over 200 people to obtain permits and licenses without passing required exams.
https://theridgewoodblog.net/ex-motor-vehicle-commission-clerk-pleads-guilty-and-faces-prison-for-selling-drivers-licenses-from-lodi-mvc/

Governor Phil Murphy signed into law one of the most expansive Automatic Voter Registration policies in the nation, claiming to be strengthening and enhancing voting rights for eligible New Jersey residents, illegal aliens ,criminals and con artists.

In a press release Murphy claimed , “Today, New Jersey proudly joins a select group of states – 11 plus the District of Columbia – that have enacted automatic voter registration to expand and protect the voting rights of their citizens,” said Governor Murphy. “This stands in stark contrast to those whose only interest lays in restricting voting rights and suppressing voters’ voices. In New Jersey, we recognize our democracy is stronger when more people are given the opportunity to participate and when the residents of our state are empowered to be part of the democratic process.”

The irony is that no ID is required to vote , but getting and ID now makes you eligible to vote.

The legislation, A2014, or Motor Voter ,requires the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to automatically register to vote any eligible person who applies for a permit, license, or ID card unless the applicant declines the automatic voter registration. The MVC’s chief administrator is required to ensure that all information necessary for voter registration is collected and promptly transmitted electronically to the Secretary of State, with an exception if a person declined to register to vote.

Additionally, the bill expands automatic voter registration to any other state agency that collects proof of voter eligibility, as verified by the Secretary of State. Upon the Secretary’s approval, the agency may implement automatic voter registration for eligible individuals. The agency must comply to the extent applicable, as determined by the Secretary, with the procedures for automatic voter registration established in the bill for the MVC. New Jersey is now only the fourth state to take this additional step.

So no more hanging around grave yards and cemeteries to register voters in New Jersey.

old parmaus church

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They Are Running for the Doors, Geber Foods Plans Exit from New Jersey

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April 17,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Florham Park NJ, in what looks like the first of many, baby food giant Gerber food said Monday that it will be closing its headquarters in Florham Park and moving to Arlington, Virginia, beginning the transition in January 2019.

Gerber will move operations to the same building as its sister company Nestle USA, which also recently relocated to the Washington D.C. area, the company said in a statement.

This leaves close to 180 New Jerseyans will be out of a job mostly in corporate positions such as marketing, finance and HR. The company will offer a chance to relocate, as well as severance and outpatient support for those that can’t make the move.

A congratulations to Governor Murphy , who’s policies seem destine to produce the final mass exodus of companies and labor from the state of New Jersey.

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This is Not A Joke , Governor Phil Murphy Proposes raising taxes to take the state’s economy off “life support” lol

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April 11,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, , no this is not from the Onion ,and it a little late for April fools, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s administration on Tuesday made the case to skeptical legislators that nearly $1.6 billion in new taxes is necessary to take the state’s economy off “life support” . Is this a joke the reason the state’s economy is on “life support” because of high taxes , have driven out private investment and massive fiscal mismanagement .

Poll after poll shows that most New Jerseyians feel high taxes are the biggest issue and the primary reason for leaving the state ,yet Phil Murphy running on a platform of raising everyone’s taxes won election .

Republican Sen. Declan O’Scanlon warned against taxing millionaires for fear they might move to states with friendlier tax climates.“You can squeeze the golden goose to get it to lay more golden eggs faster but at some point you either crush the goose or it gets pissed off enough and it flies to Florida, and either way you have no more golden eggs,” Bad news Senator its already happened , the “golden goose ” is long dead and the ship is sinking fast.

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NJ State Trooper Roadside Strip Search Draws Concerns

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April 9,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Southampton N.J , New Jersey State Trooper Joseph Drew reached inside a young man’s underwear to conduct a body search after he said he smelled marijuana during a motor vehicle stop in Southampton, N.J. The search, conducted along a highway, was captured by dashcam and body cameras of the trooper and his back-up officer. The footage was obtained by the New Jersey Libertarians Open Government Advocacy Project.

New Jersey Libertarian Party’s Open Government Advocacy Project , “I did not realize that the odor of marijuana, without more, justified a roadside, under-clothes search of a motorist’s genitals and anus by a State Trooper clad in latex gloves. I received this video in response to an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request made to the New Jersey State Police.”

 

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New Jersey State Troopers use Makeshift Tourniquet to Save Man

nj state troopers

April 7,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Knowlton Township NJ, As Troopers, we must rely on our training and experience to make split-second decisions. And that’s just what Trooper Roy Sanchez did when he used a makeshift tourniquet to help save a man’s life after responding to an accidental shooting on Wednesday April 4.

At approximately 3:46 p.m., troopers from Hope Station responded to an accidental shooting at a residence in Knowlton Township, Warren County. When Tpr. Sanchez arrived, he discovered the victim sustained an accidental gunshot wound to the leg.

Tpr. Sanchez radioed to dispatch requesting advanced life support, but knew he had to tend to the victim’s heavily-bleeding leg by applying a tourniquet. Using a nearby computer cable and a decorative arrow, which was hanging on the wall, Tpr. Sanchez created a makeshift tourniquet to apply to the victim’s leg.

A short time later, Trooper I Aaron Coleman and Trooper Michael Butler arrived on scene and helped moved a desk in order to render further aid to the victim. When advanced emergency personnel arrived, they used Quick Clot gauze, which was provided by troopers, to control the bleeding and applied a second tourniquet before transporting the victim to Lehigh Valley Hospital, where he was last listed as in stable condition.

Great job by all of the Troops involved, whose quick and decisive actions undoubtedly increased the victim’s chances of survival.

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HUGIN CAMPAIGN: HAPPY INDICTMENT ANNIVERSARY, SENATOR MENENDEZ

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file photo by Boyd Loving

April 2,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Senatorial candidate Bob Hugin reminds us of the anniversary of our ethically challenged senator ‘s indictment . There is no special schedule for New Jersey Transit or state holiday planned .

“New Jersey deserves a Senator who will represent them with honesty and integrity in Washington and fight for them every day—not one who spends his time trying to stay one step ahead of the law.” said Hugin Communications Director Megan Piwowar.  “The more voters compare Menendez’s failed, corrupt track record with Bob Hugin’s background as a former Marine and job-creating business leader, we are confident that New Jersey voters will elect Bob Hugin and give our state a Senator we can be proud of again.”

Senator Menendez narrowly avoided federal prison, and still faces an investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee where his shady behavior will continue to embarrass New Jersey. It’s why the New York Times and Star Ledger both called on Menendez to resign from office.  He refused to listen and announced his re-election plans last week.

“Our new :60 ad highlights Senator Menendez’s embarrassing tenure as Senator, where his biggest accomplishment was trying to bury an investigation into his best friend’s scheme to defraud Medicare, and becoming synonymous with federal investigations, private jets, fancy vacations and strong-arming people to get visas for his married best friends foreign girlfriends,” said Piwowar.  “New Jersey is 50 out of 50—dead last—in what we get back from Washington for the amount of tax dollars we send down there. Instead of fixing that, Senator Menendez was too busy serving himself and his big donors. New Jersey deserves better. It’s time for a change.”

BACKGROUND

  • SEN. MENENDEZ ADMITTED HE ACCEPTED EXPENSIVE GIFTS, INCLUDING LAVISH VACATIONS, FROM CONVICTED FELON, DR. MELGEN.
  • THE NEW YORK TIMES AND STAR LEDGER CALLED FOR SENATOR MENENDEZ TO RESIGN.
  • UNDER SENATOR MENENDEZ NEW JERSEY IS BIGGEST LOSER—RANKS 50 OUT OF 50 IN MONEY SENT TO WASHINGTON THAT COMES BACK TO THE STATE
MENENDEZ ADMITTED HE ACCEPTED EXPENSIVE GIFTS, INCLUDING LAVISH VACATIONS, FROM CONVICTED FELON

ACCORDING TO THE INDICTMENT, SENATOR MENENDEZ WAS ACCUSED OF ACCEPTING PRIVATE PLANE FIGHTS AND OTHER GIFTS FROM MELGEN IN EXCHANGE FOR MENENDEZ’S ASSISTANCE. “In exchange, the former chair of the senate foreign relations committee is accused of accepting several private plane flights to a Caribbean resort, other gifts such as a luxury Paris hotel stay and a bounty of campaign donations, according to the indictment. The physician, who was also indicted, even contributed $40,000 to the politician’s legal defense fund involving a recall issue.” (Jay Weaver, “Sen. Robert Menendez, South Florida Eye Doctor Indicted In Federal Corruption Case; Corruption,” The Miami Herald, 4/1/15)

SEN. MENENDEZ VIOLATED SENATE ETHICS RULES BY FAILING TO REPORT OR PAY FOR TRIPS ON MELGEN’S PRIVATE PLANE OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS. “He conceded he had not paid for or properly reported four flights (two round-trips) on Melgen’s private jet and wrote a check to belatedly comply with Senate ethics rules. A year later, his campaign reimbursed Melgen for a third trip. Both times Menendez aides assured reporters that these were oversights and that the senator’s travel had been thoroughly reviewed. But a federal indictment charging Menendez with corruption has revealed free flights the senator never disclosed or paid for – nine others for him, sometimes with a guest – in apparent violation of Senate ethics rules.” (Jonathan Tamari, “Failure To Report Free Trips May Be Used As Evidence Against Menendez, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/12/15)

THE NEW YORK TIMES AND THE STAR-LEDGER CALLED FOR MENENDEZ TO RESIGN

THE NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD: “Mr. Menendez is evidently not in a hurry to get to the stage of contrition, having warned on Wednesday that he’s ‘not going anywhere.’ He would be doing a disservice to New Jersey by clinging to power as a disgraced politician. His colleagues in the Senate should demand that he step aside.” (Editorial, “Step Down, Senator Robert Menendez, The New York Times, 4/2/15)

THE STAR-LEDGER EDITORIAL BOARD: “U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez now begins a fight for his political life that could last for years. New Jersey would be better off if he would resign and conduct that battle on his own time. The state needs a respected senator who is focused on his job, not a tarnished defendant who spends his days fending off credible charges of corruption and raising money for his legal defense.” (Editorial, “Menendez: Resign And Spare Us the Drama, The Star Ledger, 4/1/15)

UNDER MENENDEZ NEW JERSEY IS BIGGEST LOSER WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES AND SPENDING

UNDER MENENDEZ, NEW JERSEY IS 50 OUT OF 50. “The biggest losers when it comes to taxes and spending are New Jersey, Wyoming and Connecticut. New Jersey gets back just 77 cents for every dollar it pays, while Wyoming gets back 81 cents and Connecticut gets 83 cents.” (“Tax Day 2017: Which State Sends Most Taxes to D.C.?”, The Associated Press, 4/16/17)

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WalletHub Ranks New Jersey 7th Highest Taxed State, before Murphy’s Big Tax Increase

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March 31,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, On April 18, Uncle Sam will once again take his cut from everyone’s earnings this past year. And many taxpayers are already wondering what that haircut on their finances will look like. However, with such a complex tax code further convoluted by the way taxes are imposed on Americans based on their individual household characteristics, it’s hard to tell unless you wrote the tax policies yourself.

To determine which states’ residents bear the biggest tax burdens, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states across the three tax types that make up state tax burden — property taxes, individual income taxes, and sales and excise taxes — as a percentage of total personal income in the state. Read on for our findings, commentary from a panel of tax experts and a full description of our methodology

One simple ratio known as the “tax burden” helps cut through the confusion. Not to be confused with tax rates, which vary widely based on an individual’s particular circumstances, tax burden measures the exact proportion of total personal income that residents pay toward state and local taxes. And it isn’t uniform across the U.S., either.

Surprisingly New Jersey did not take the top spot as most over taxed state , in came in 7th worst ,bumped from 6th by fast decaying Connecticut that managed to tax two of its largest tax payers out of the state GE and Aetna. Of course this is before Governor Murphy gets his way pushing through his massive tax increases.

According to WalletHub’s analysts
1 New York  total tax 12.94% property taxes 4.55% individual  4.76% sales and excise 3.63%
2 Hawaii total tax11.27% property taxes 2.11%  individual 2.64% sales and excise 6.52%
3 Vermont total tax10.75% property taxes 4.96%  individual 2.29% sales and excise 3.50%
4 Maine total tax10.73% property taxes 4.65%  individual 2.58% sales and excise3.50%
5 Minnesota total tax10.24%  property taxes 2.87% individual  3.59% sales and excise 3.78%
6 Connecticut total tax10.23% property taxes 4.16% individual  3.24% sales and excise 2.83%
7 New Jersey total tax10.14% property taxes 5.31% individual  2.32% sales and excise 2.51%
8 Rhode Island total tax10.09% property taxes 4.80%  individual 2.15% sales and excise 3.14%
9 Illinois total tax10.00% property taxes 4.14%  individual 2.66%  sales and excise3.20%
10 California total tax 9.52% property taxes 2.72%  individual 3.44% sales and excise 3.36%