Detroit not alone, expect more bankrupt cities: Expert
Michelle Fox | @MFoxCNBC 11 Hours AgoCNBC.com
Expect more U.S. cities to face bankruptcy like Detroit, former New York Lieutenant Gov. Richard Ravitch told CNBC’s “Street Signs” Thursday.
“There are many more [cities] that are facing enormous fiscal squeezes… who are cutting education, cutting infrastructure investments and borrowing as long as the bond market permits,” he said.
Ravitch, who is advising Detroit’s bankruptcy judge, wrote about his prediction in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal last week.
Fournier: VA Scandal ‘One of the Lowest Points’ of Obama’s Presidency
By Andrew Johnson May 22, 2014 10:15 AM
President Obama’s poor handling of the mismanagement at the Department of Veterans Affairs could plague his presidency as an all-time low point, saysNational Journal’s Ron Fournier.
“The fact of the matter is the political response to this thing has been both dishonest and way too weak,” he said on Wednesday’s Special Report. “I think this may be one of the lowest points of his presidency.”
Fournier said not only has the Obama administration been misleading in its response to allegations of incidents of malpractice in VA facilities across the country that led to the death of several veterans waiting for care, but also that President Obama has failed to live up to his promise to improve the department.
“The president has known the VA has been a mess for a long time, and hasn’t done anything to get it fixed,” he said. “It’s gotten worse recently — at least for the last two years, we’ve known we’ve had these problems and nothing’s been done.”
Senate Candidate Brian Goldberg alleged to have violated federal campaign finance laws
BREAKING; Brian Goldberg, a candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Cory Booker was just featured on Chasing New Jerseyin a story alleging he violated federal campaign finance laws by paying a staff member from corporate funds.
As soon as a link from Chasing New Jersey becomes available, it will be posted.
https://www.my9nj.com/story/25588365/candidate-for-nj-senate-dodging-allegations-from-former-campaign-worker
Will there be a federal investigation into these serious charges? Will Goldberg be forced to suspend his campaign, seek legal counsel and prepare to be criminally tried in federal court are all questions that are prompted by the Chasing New Jersey story.
Christie Embraces Irresponsible Spending says credit agencies are the ‘same group of folks who allowed the financial crisis to occur’
TRENTON – Don’t put too much stock in those Wall Street rating agency downgrades, says Gov. Chris Christie.
The governor, whose administration has been at the helm during six credit rating downgrades over the course of his tenure to date, says he’s not worried about additional downgrades. Christie said he finds it interesting they “continue to downgrade the people who try to act responsibly,” but added he doesn’t live in fear of rating agencies.
“No, I don’t fear it,” he said Wednesday during a Statehouse news conference.
“This is the same group of folks who allowed the financial crisis to occur,” he said, arguing they “sat on their hands collecting huge fees” from clients during the financial collapse and essentially got paid “to look the other way,” he said.
“I don’t know how much credibility these places have,” Christie said. (Arco/PolitickerNJ)
CHRISTIE’S QUID PRO QUO: WILL IT CHANGE DIRECTION OF TOP COURT?
t’s unclear whether the renomination of state Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner will change the direction of the New Jersey’s highest court.
But Gov. Chris Christie’s action yesterday, taken as part of a deal to add a Republican to the bench, resolves a question that had concerned the state’s legal community. Some, however, say it does not negate the need for a constitutional amendment essentially giving judges lifetime tenure to ensure the continued independence of the state’s judiciary. (O’Dea/NJSpotlight)
Codey introduces Port bill to avoid conflicts and encourage transparency
TRENTON — State Sen. Richard Codey introduced disclosure legislation intended to end conflicts of interest, encourage whistle blowing, and invite public input involving the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and other bi-state agencies.
Codey’s legislation, introduced on Monday, comes amid a flurry of reform proposals prompted by revelations that September’s George Washington Bridge lane closures were carried out by political appointees of Gov. Chris Christie for what was widely suspected to be a political retribution against Fort Lee’s Democratic mayor. A report by a law firm hired by Christie’s office asserted there was no evidence that the governor had advance knowledge of the closures.
Under the Codey legislation, agency board members and executives would be required to disclose whether they or family members have a financial interest in any company doing business with the agency, and would prohibit their participation in related discussions or votes when conflicts arise.
Prosecutors are now looking into whether former Port Authority board members were in conflict involving agency actions that benefited their private firms or clients. (Strunsky/Star-Ledger)
CD3 CANDIATE TOM MACARTHUR’S YORK INSURANCE : FAR MORE THAN THREE ISOLATED INCIDENTS
Wednesday, May 21st, 2014 @ 5:29PM in News, Press Releases
May 21, 2014
LAVALLETTE, NJ – In a very clear contrast this morning on Dom Giordano’s radio program, former mayor Steve Lonegan proved to voters that he’s the only conservative in this race.
As predicted, liberal Tom MacArthur repeatedly distorted his own record, misrepresented Steve Lonegan’s record, and provided very little substance to which conservatives can identify.
Most disappointing is MacArthur’s continual denial of any wrongdoing in relation to the hundreds of families across the country left victimized by his York claims adjustment company.
“We handled over a million claims when I was running York and the best Steve can do is come out with three that he says prove some terrible thing. There are some lawsuits in insurance. But three out of over a million?” (Dom Giordano Debate, 5/21/2014)
Let’s pump the brakes, Tom. You’re entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts.
Tom MacArthur’s company has been hit with far more lawsuits over delayed claims or unfair payouts on claims than just the three egregious acts documented time after time.
Lawsuit upon lawsuit arose on Tom MacArthur’s watch. Some were settled after he claims to have left the company, but each and every incident listed below was set in to motion while he was at the helm of York.
A FEW OF THE MANY AB– USES SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF TOM MACARTHUR’S INSURANCE COMPANY
York Was Cited for Over 100 Violations for Mishandling Claims in the 2008 Sayre Fire in Sylmar, California
Victim Gary Rivera was given a lowball value by York, then illegally stalled through reassignment to multiple adjusters; hundreds of others had the same problems. (SC Public Radio, 12/23/2009)
The State of California took enforcement action but York paid only a $285,000 settlement. (Law360.com, 9/26/2012)
Watch this ad featuring Sylmar fire victims Jodene and Doug Finch.
York Refused to Pay Claims Following 2008 Hurricane Ike
York Did Not Handle Houston Baptist University’s Claims in good faith. (The Collegian, 9/8/2010) Only after being sued, York paid a large settlement and required a confidentiality agreement. (The Collegian, 2/24/2011)
Tom MacArthur’s company has been sued repeatedly for slow walking claims of victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Hurricane Ike in Texas, and Hurricane Ivan in Florida.
The following chronological list of suits contain but a few of the most egregious summaries of the lawsuits filed against MacArthur and York:
– On November 18, 2002, York and their client Providence Co. were successfully sued in federal court for failing to pay out an insurance policy in a timely manner. The Court concluded that Providence and York “adopts an excessively narrow interpretation” of their insurance policy so as not to have to pay out. (CAT Internet, et al v. Providence Co., et al).
– On June 20, 2003, York Insurance Company successfully exploited a technicality to avoid paying out a bodily injury claim filed against by Houston Well Center, Inc. (York Insurance Company v. Houston Wellness Center, Inc.)
– On February 7, 2005, The Bearington Collection sued York and its client, Providence Washington Insurance Company for breach of contract and failure to pay out. York and its client, Providence Washington Insurance Company, quickly settled.
– In 2005, York sued for slow walking payments to Hurricane Ivan victims in Florida, something that they were later accused with Hurricane Ike victims in Texas. Their client, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, faced a “bad faith” lawsuit due to the way it handled hurricane payment claims in 2004.
– In 2005, York Claims Services and their client, Lloyd’s of London, was sued by Ken Shaw, president of the Red River Warehouse in Monroe, Louisiana. Red River Warehouse had flooded and a representative of York Claims Service repeatedly low-balled on the costs of the damage. York settled with Red River in 2007.
– In 2006, Timothy Nicholes was badly injured when he was hit by an under insured motorist. He sued York Claim Services and their client, New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG subsidiary, after they ignored his injury claim for months. York and New Hampshire settled out of court just three months later.
– In 2007, Jeffrey Trauth, a property and business owner in New Orleans, Louisiana, had his principal place of business and rental properties flooded by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and filed suit against York for repeatedly slow walking his hurricane damage claims. The money to pay for the damage done came out of Trauth’s pockets. York Claims Service and its client, Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation “deliberately and in bad faith underadjusted [Trauth’s] claims, and paid them less than [Trauth] was owed under their policy, employing many illegal and captious tactics along the way,” according to a complaint filed against York. York settled out of court after two years of litigation.
– In 2008, York Insurance Services Group was sued by The Sportman’s Company of Hattiesburg, Inc for slow-walking on property damage claims. In 2011, Jerry and Kris Chernik sued York Risk Services Group and their client Lexington Insurance Company for breach of contract. Again, in 2011, Stephen McGue sued York Risk Services Group and their client New Hampshire Insurance Company for slow walking claims.
– In September 2009, Dollar Rent-A-Car settled in a lawsuit with York Claims Services for slow-walking payment for a customer who had gotten into an accident in Las Vegas. (Travelers Indemnity Company of America v. Dollar Rent-A-Car)
– In December 2009, Houston Baptist University sued York, and their client ACE American Insurance Company, an AIG subsidiary, for slow walking and delaying payment of hurricane damage sustained to one of their buildings. York was forced to settle, according to the Daily Mail.
– In October 2010, Kynto Ventures, LLC, sued Chubb Custom Insurance and York Risk Service Group. Again, York was accused of slow-walking claims. https://dockets.justia.com/docket/texas/txsdce/4:2010cv03803/813237
– In 2013, York Risk Services was again successfully sued by Kent State University Board of Trustees for slow walking payment for $2.1 million in damages from an early 2009 construction project when MacArthur was CEO. https://www.courtlistener.com/ca6/5btE/kent-state-university-board-of-trustees-v-lexingto/
According to PACER, Several Additional Lawsuits Have Been Filed Against MacArthur’s York Company:
Robin Zahran and Karen Zahran vs. York Insurance Company
CAT Internet Services, INC; Internet Supply, INC. vs. York Insurance Company
Robin Zahran, Karen Zahran vs. York Insurance Company
Houston Wellness Center, INC. vs. York Insurance Company
Bearington Collection, INC. vs. York Insurance Company
Elmer Amendt vs. York Insurance Company
Desimone Aviles vs. York Claims Service
Houston Baptist University vs. York Claims Service
William Johnson vs. York Claims Service
Red River Warehouse vs. York Claim Service
Timothy Nicholes vs. York Claims Services
Jeffrey Trauth, Trauth Design Management LLC. vs. York Claims Service
Jeffrey Trauth, Trauth Design Management LLC. vs. York Claims Service
Jerald M. Alexander vs. York Claims Service
Martin Sokoloff vs. York Claims Service
Lynn K. Bailey vs. York Claims Service
Guadalupe Magally Escobar vs. York Claims Service
Calofe Enterprises, LLC vs. York Claims Service
Leisure Life Senior Apartment Housing vs. York Claims Services
Look out, everyone: The nation’s school lunch lady, Michelle Obama, is mad.
With her federal nutrition program under fire across the country and now on Capitol Hill, Mrs. Obama put out a “forceful” call to arms this week to “health activists,” according to The Washington Post.
She’s cracking the whip. Her orders are clear: There must be no escape. The East Wing and its sycophants zealously oppose any effort to alter, delay or waive top-down school meal rules. Big Lunch must be guarded at all costs.
Progressives blame kid-hating Republicans and greedy businesses for the revolt against Mrs. Obama’s failed policies. But the truth is right around the corner in your students’ cafeterias. Districts are losing money.
Ridgewood father, daughter team up to write children’s book
MAY 20, 2014 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014, 10:21 AM BY DARIUS AMOS STAFF WRITER
An innocent bedtime story shared once upon a time between father and daughter has become the cornerstone of a new children’s book series that is intended to brighten the days of pediatric cancer patients.
Come September, Ridgewood resident and author Anthony Fasano hopes to share the invented world of Purpee the Purple Dragon and his friends with young readers who are undergoing treatment or are required to stay in hospitals.
The books tell the story of Purpee, who along with Stinky the Skunk, twin turtles Shelly and Sunny, and Smoky the Dragon, head out on a whirlwind of adventures.
Each story, Fasano said, includes excitement but also offers moral lessons for the young audience.
The make-believe characters and stories as well as the concept to deliver them to sick children, he said, was actually a family decision.
Like many dads, Fasano told tall tales to his three children in an effort to guide them to sleep.
The RHS History Bowl Club Varsity Team finished in the top thirty-two of over 100 teams in a recent national championship in Washington, D.C. In the individual tournament, junior Benjamin Bechtold finished thirty-first out of almost 200 competing students. The RHS History Bowl Club is an academic competition club that travels to different locations to compete in history knowledge. Students can earn an academic varsity letter through participation. The club is advised by Laura Fleming.
The RHS Boys Track team took third place in the Bergen County Championships on May 9 and 10. Michael Zeno won a silver medal in the 110 meter hurdles, and along with third place finish from Luke Dublirer in the 800 meters and a fourth place finish from Jamal Locke in the javelin. The Ridgewood boys had an excellent season, winning their division at the Jack Yockers Bergen County relays and taking first place at the Big North Freedom Division. Congratulations to coach Josh Saladino and all his boys on a great season.
For the second year, RHS Spanish students participated in the National Spanish Exam. Thirty out of 190 RHS students received either gold, silver, or bronze national status. To achieve gold status one must score in the ninety-fifth percentile or higher; silver winners scored in the eighty-fifth percentile or higher; bronze medalists scored in the seventy-fifth percentile or higher.
The RHS Ridgewood Crew team gold medaled in seven events at the Garden State Regatta on April 26. An annual event, the regatta is the Garden State Scholastic Championship and the New Jersey qualifier for those teams that will advance to the Scholastic Rowing Association of America Regatta in May.
The RHS Winter Guard placed in the top 10 in the Mid-Atlantic Indoor Championships in South Brunswick on April 12. This was the team’s first year competing in the advanced-level, Scholastic A class, which includes nationally ranked teams.
Democrat Congressman: ‘We’ve Proved That Communism Works’
Democratic Florida Rep. Joe Garcia — fresh off being caught eating his own earwax on camera — was caught red-handed (or is it yellow-fingered?) in another gaffe this week, claiming that low crime rates in border cities with lots of federal immigration workers is proof that “Communism works.”
Garcia made the comment during a Google hangout he convened last week to talk about comprehensive immigration reform with supporters. The Democrat attempted to point out how, for all their talk about limited government, many Republicans are fine spending loads of government money on border security.
“Let me give you an example, the kind of money we’ve poured in,” he said. “So the most dangerous — sorry, the safest city in America is El Paso, Texas. It happens to be across the border from the most dangerous city in the Americas, which is Juarez. Right?”
“And two of the safest cities in America, two of them are on the border with Mexico,” Garcia continued. “And of course, the reason is we’ve proved that Communism works. If you give everybody a good government job, there’s no crime.”
BFMS Holds Public Observance of Memorial Day Today May 22
On Thursday, May 22, Benjamin Franklin Middle School will host the second “Evening of Remembrance” in honor of Memorial Day. Students, parents, teachers, veterans — all are welcome to participate. The event will take place in the BFMS Auditorium starting at 7:30 p.m.
This year marks the 70th Anniversary of D-Day and the BFMS community will be looking closely at honoring the memory of “The Bedford Boys,” a small Virginia town that lost 19 young men that day. The evening will feature student poems, reflections and a video telling the story of the Bedford Boys. BFMS students will also be decorating luminaries for display that evening. They will also be selling luminaries in honor of veterans and the fallen.
To purchase a luminary in memory of a relative or friend, please send $10 payable to BFMS c/o Mollie Van Horne at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, 335 N. Van Dien Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450, no later than May 16. The proceeds of the sale of the luminaries will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Christie puts off property-tax rebates to ease budget problems
MAY 21, 2014, 11:39 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2014, 11:47 PM BY JOHN REITMEYER AND MICHAEL LINHORST STATE HO– USE BUREAU THE RECORD
Senior citizens, disabled residents and other homeowners who are among the more than a million people enrolled in New Jersey’s Homestead program will not get their property tax relief this year.
That relief — in the form of a credit on annual property tax bills — is again being delayed by Governor Christie and his administration, who blame another bad budget year.
The latest delay means people won’t see this benefit until May 2015 — nearly two years since the last time the tax-relief credit was available.
“When you’re running out of money, you’ve got to manage your cash carefully,” Christie said on Wednesday, defending the decision to delay the credit as part of a plan to reduce his proposed budget by $1.7 billion. “You’ve got to prioritize your bills and decide which ones you absolutely must pay.”
Christie has now postponed the Homestead program three times since taking office in early 2010. Property taxes in New Jersey are still rising, but not by as much as they had when Christie took office and before he pushed for a 2 percent cap on increases. But they are still growing, to a record high statewide average of $7,988 last year.
Millennial Vote/FacebookLast week Youth Engagement Fund and Project New America released a new survey on millennial ideology. Millennials—roughly defined as those aged 18 to 33—are my people. I tend to stick up for us. I tend to take heart in this generation’s support for marriage equality and ending the drug war, among other things…
But holy geez Gen Y, this is a poor showing. On measures from “creating jobs” to “making college affordable” to “protecting the rights of women,” millennials overwhelmingly said they favored greater government involvement. And when asked whether they would rather have government “off their backs” or “on their side,” 59 percent of millennials voted for friendly paternalism.
For the survey, Harstad Strategic Research polled more than 2,000 18- to 31-year-olds in March and April 2014. Of course, it should be noted that Youth Engagement Fund, Project New America, and Harstad are all progressive organizations. Maybe there’s some subtle linguistic bias driving these results?
Education Spending Is Up, Test Scores Aren’t. Who’s to Blame?
Lindsey Burke
May 18, 2014 at 6:08 pm
The U.S. Department of Education recently released the 2013 results of math and reading achievement for 12th graders on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. It’s hard to say what’s been achieved.
According to the NAEP—a standardized test often referred to as the nation’s “report card”—just 26 percent of the country’s 12th graders are proficient in math. Only 38 percent are proficient in reading. Those numbers are entirely unchanged since 2009, when the NAEP was last administered.
Notably, reading achievement was significantly higher overall in 1992 when the NAEP exam was first administered in reading. Forty percent of students were proficient in reading in 1992. The new NAEP scores confirm the outcomes found on the NAEP long-term-trend assessment, which has assessed reading achievement since 1971 and math achievement since 1973. Twelfth graders today perform no better in reading than high school seniors of the early 1970s.
The new NAEP study also revealed worrisome increases in achievement gaps.
